You Don’t Know How Far You’ve Come, Unless You Know Where You Started

I am a pack rat. I say it openly, without shame. I have boxes of photos, teenage journals and old magazines that I have no plans of getting rid of anytime soon.  However, I recently I discovered that I do not have anything from the start of my fitness journey. I neglected to save any workout journals or telling progress photos from when I started. Part of that was just carelessness. I had journals that I kept track of my workouts and, after a period of time, my weight.  But I think a big part of it was denial with a little shame thrown in.

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image by Pink Sherbet Photography

I knew I was out of shape and overweight, I just didn’t want the evidence. If memory serves me correct, it was only after weeks of working out that I bravely ventured on the scale. The highest I can remember was 140lbs, but I am fairly certain my peak was more than that.  Now I wish I had the pictures and statistics to measure truly just how far I have come.

I believe to admit the problem you need to own it. You have to take responsibility and acknowledge the unfit and unhealthy life you are leading. So I want all of you to learn from my mistake. I want each of you today to face the facts about where you are and where you need to go.  Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is the following:

• Take photos. Get in your gym clothes or your bathing suit. I know it’s hard, but it will help you start to be comfortable in your own skin. Photos are also one of the best ways to see the progress. Sometimes the mirror deceives us. Taking regular photos gives you an objective measure of your progress.
• Document your weight, % body fat
  

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  and measurments.
  

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  What you measure depends on your goals. I recommend at minimum abdominal, waist, hips and thigh. Write it in the same place you will track your workouts.
• Determine your method for tracking your workouts. Personally I like a journal I can take with me to the gym. Write down every exercise, number of sets, number of reps, amount of weight, rest time for weights and time, distance, method of cardio.

Now that you know where you have started, it will be easier for you to see how far you’ve come.