"None of my clothes fit, but I still weigh the same! Why am I not losing weight?"
"My form is improving on my lifts, but my numbers aren't going up. Am I getting weaker?"
If you've asked these questions or know someone who has (and needed to figure out how to respond), then you are my target audience.
"Losing weight" is likely the most common reason that many people begin an exercise regimen. When they say "losing weight," they are almost certainly referring to excess body fat. Many people become dismayed when, after a month or more of working out, the scale has barely moved. Does that mean they are doing something wrong? Not necessarily.
So, let's take a step back and ask a question—How should we define success? Many would tell you their scale dictates their progress, and while it does tell you 'something' about your body, it's far from everything.
Let's examine: Say you have two men in front of you, and you can view the balance in their bank account. The first man has $10,000, and the second has $75,000. Knowing this information, can you tell me which man is wealthier? Let's look at net worth instead:
Man, two has some retirement and other assets, bringing his total to $150,000.
Man One, however, owns major stocks and real estate and keeps most of his money in high-interest savings accounts. His net worth is $1.7M.
By only using one metric, we cannot see the whole story. Man One was far wealthier, even though their bank's cash account told a different story. This is similar to a scale—it doesn't tell you the whole story!
When you start lifting, your muscles will retain more water and eventually grow. The scale won't capture that detail… instead, throw in a couple of extra measurements (Lifting numbers, waist circumference, etc.).
Success shows up in a variety of ways, and we shouldn't limit ourselves to measuring it with a single modality. If you only measured wealth by the money in your bank, you would never buy assets - thereby missing out on vast financial opportunity.
And like financial assets, your body will take time to develop. With that time, you will see growth. Wealth is more than your bank account, and fitness is more than a number on a scale.