We’re close to the start of a new month, so now would be a good time to check in with ourselves. Here are some things we might want to measure and how often:
1. Weight (daily or weekly). We are certainly more than a number on a scale, but it is a useful metric to track when we are evaluating our fitness journey. Maybe today’s number is a starting point; maybe it is a waypoint on a longer journey; maybe it’s a long-awaited and worked-for achievement. Write it down and then ignore it until the next time.
2. Circumferences (monthly). I like to measure chest (at the nipple line), waist (at the belly button), hips, upper arm, thigh, and calf. This gives a fuller picture of what our workouts are accomplishing because often these numbers change even if the scale doesn’t show progress.
3. Workout days (weekly). How often are we really working out? What days seem to be the toughest for us? How can we organize things for success?
4. Food (daily). Tracking what we eat helps us make good choices. I like apps for this because it takes a lot of the work out of it.
5. HRV (daily). This is a new one I’ve started tracking for myself. It requires a wearable fitness device (I have an Apple Watch, but other kinds also measure it). It stands for Heart Rate Variability. It’s a highly individual measurement, but in general, higher numbers are better. Once we have our baseline (average a week’s measurements), we can use it to decide how hard to work out on a given day. If the number is below average, we want to dial the work back a bit, but we can really go for it if the number is above average.
None of these things is essential, but all are helpful.
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