Measuring Process vs Results

I’m undertaking a new effort to regain strength in my body, repair the aftereffects of some injuries, and generally improve my health. Usually this sort of thing is linked to a goal like “lose XX pounds” but knowing that in the past I’d become unhealthily obsessed with numbers, and that measuring weight is not the same thing as measuring health, I shied away from setting that target. On the other hand, I know that doing some kind of measurement to show progress is key to staying motivated.

My first choice was to make a commitment to the process and measure simply whether or not I did what I said I would do. In this case, it’s 30 minutes of cardio, six times a week. On Sundays, I’d take the day off but still do something physical and restorative like an outside walk or gentle yoga. I am tracking simply whether or not I put in the time.

I still wanted to track something directly related to health, though, so I ordered a smart scale that measures BMI. Having a history of diabetes in my family and already having survived a DVT (actually, two), I figured this is a useful (albeit corollary) stand-in for my overall health.

Earlier this week the scale arrived. Stepping on it I learned that my choice to address my BMI is just in time. Knowing this is a slow number to move, I decided to measure it no more than once a week - I still won’t see change often, but monthly felt too far apart.

This morning a new question arose: When during the week should I measure? It’s Saturday today, do I get on the scale to see the results of the week’s efforts? I decided no. In committing to the process, I’m going to measure on Mondays as a way of seeing my starting point for the next 6 days. Saturday is about results. Monday is about the process, about the work.

I just need to do the work.