Measure success beyond the scale to track weight-loss progress
- 2 Minutes Read
Joanna Kriehn, MS, RDN, CDCES - Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES)
Although the scale can seem like your best friend and worst enemy any given day, there are other ways to track weight-loss progress that may be more motivational. Get creative and move beyond the scale to notice other health metrics to track your weight-loss progress.
Other health metrics that matter when you track weight-loss progress
It is natural to emphasize the number on the scale when it comes to losing weight. Yet, achieving optimal health involves seeing your whole self and addressing additional factors that contribute to overall well-being.
MyNetDiary makes it easy to track various metrics using the Notes, Trackers, and Measurement features.
Energy level
Has your energy level shifted as a result of your weight-loss efforts? Losing weight and improving your diet is a sure-fire way to improve energy levels. In particular, did you know that eating whole-food, well-rounded meals can help boost and maintain your energy level? The healthy plate method makes mapping out well-rounded meals so easy. Make sure to add as many colorful foods as you can to punch up the nutrition.
Take some time each day to check in with your overall energy level. What patterns do you see emerging?
Mood
Has your mood shifted as a result of losing weight? One research study showed a positive correlation between weight loss and improved mood during the first six months of weight loss. Perhaps this was related to being active, as activity increased during this period. Do you find you are in a better mood on days you exercise?
Hunger level
Many of us eat (consciously or unconsciously) when we are not physically hungry and fail to stop eating when we are full. Learn the nuances around how to tell if you are hungry to better support weight loss and weight maintenance.
MyNetDiary's Trackers and Custom Tracker features explained
Utilize the Trackers feature for cholesterol and blood pressure tracking. Did you know essential health metrics like these may improve with weight loss?
From your dashboard, track these metrics or create a custom tracker for energy level, mood, hunger, etc. You can log as many readings per day as needed. Once you have recorded a few days' worth of data, you can review this information on the charts screen.
Watch this two-minute video to learn how to configure your Dashboard to access and use the custom tracker feature.
Keeping notes in the app
Keeping notes on your thoughts and progress can help you understand and control eating habits along your weight-loss journey. MyNetDiary provides easy access to daily notes functionality directly from the Dashboard.
Days with notes entered will have a small checkmark added to the staple icon to help you see at a glance whether you have entered notes for this day.
Measurements
Since your weight varies throughout the day based on your food and fluid intake, many people find it more motivating to track body measurements. Record waist, hip, thigh, and other measurements to help acknowledge progress. Customize your dashboard to make this tracking feature readily available.
Sleep
You can also track your hours of sleep as a measurement. According to the National Sleep Foundation, most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a night, yet many of us average less. Not getting enough sleep impacts metabolism, hormones, and appetite.
How have your sleep patterns shifted since starting your weight-loss journey?
To learn more about the relationship between sleep and weight, as well as tips for a good night's sleep, click here.
MyNetDiary makes it easy for you to track your weight-loss progress using the scale and a variety of other health metrics. Moving beyond the scale helps you notice potentially unexpected benefits of weight loss, such as a better mood, improved sleep, and lower blood pressure. Gaining a broader picture of your health and evaluating many metrics helps you see your whole self. Your health is more than a number on a scale!
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Jan 17, 2022
