How To Stay On An Exercise Program Even If You're Not Seeing Results Right Away...

I was recently asked this question:

"How can I stay on an exercise program even if I'm not seeing results right away?"

Here's what I answered:

By "results" I assume you mean losing weight. But remember that you may be gaining muscle and losing fat. So, although the scale doesn't change much, your body composition does. And ultimately, that's what the game is all about...

If you haven't measured how much fat you have before you start your weight loss program, the scale can be really misleading. Sometimes, just seeing how your clothes fit on you may be a much more accurate method of watching your progress...

Are you getting stronger and do you have more endurance every workout? If yes, then you are on track and you are already getting "results".

You can't improve what you can't measure. The mirror can be deceiving. Put things on paper. Note down your fat percentage and how much you weigh. Cold numbers don't lie.

Your mind may be playing games with you - especially during a weight loss program. But you will do the smart thing and note things down (something that 95% of people never do - that's why they never lose any weight and they quit after a week).

Try to measure your weight AND fat percentage, say once a week. Do it in the morning on an empty stomach. You may see that you have lost just "a little" fat and you have gained just "a little" muscle. But Rome wasn't built in a day. The way you climb a mountain is one step at a time.

There's a lot to be said about consistency and there's strength in numbers. Small improvements add up over time with TREMENDOUS results. It's what the Japanese call "Kaizen"...