Progress, tracking.....how do you know you are there?

With good weather normally comes a reflection of your health and fitness goals, but do you really know if you are achieving them? We have discussed the point of setting SMART goals before so you can have a clear outline of where you are headed and then if you know you have reached the set goal.

But how are you measuring and tracking your progress? Here is a snap shot of what I personally do. I have multiple goals from strength, running specific and yes, body composition. I track and measure these in multiple forms.

My Garmin watch is perfect for monitoring speed progression in my running and tracks my distances accumulated and I can review this for fatigue across a workout. Data is saved in both my Garmin account and Strava and then reflected against the timelines set in my goals for achievement.

My diary tracks goals, hand written for connection to them and within this my girth measurements as part of my composition testing. I started doing girths after the birth of my first son and it has been amazing watching the changes in these contrasting to weight and body fat percentage. I use Tanita scales for tracking of weight and body fat percentage, which also reflects the changes in muscle density.

Everyone has a journey and also finds there path is not always a straight one. Key components to achieving your goals isn't always about just diet and exercise. Have you considered how much rest you are getting as the body heals and recovers when we rest (this is where your progress is made). High stress will also reduce your capacity to achieve your goals, reduction of activities that stress you and incorporation of deep breathing/relaxation is key to shift you out of a 'flight and fight' state to a calmer place. Finally a good supplementation regime to give your body all the goodies it needs to perform optimally from the inside out.

A good gut health program combined with all of the above strategies should place you in a good position for goal achievement. Happy planning and I would love to hear about your success stories!!