When you’re trying to lose weight and be a healthier version of yourself, the scale can be a real jerk. For so many people the scale fools them into thinking that it’s the be all end all of your weight loss journey.

Recently a friend reached out to me because she was dealing with her scale being a jerk and I remembered a time when I let those numbers dictate my success (or failure) in losing weight. I’ve been trying to lose those last fifteen “baby weight” pounds for more than a decade now and I’ve decided that my love of food and hatered of exercise are a big factor. More on that another time though.

Don’t get me wrong, the scale has a place in the big picture, it’s an important tool, but it’s NOT the big picture…It’s just a little tree.

I weigh myself almost everyday but I’ve learned not to let the numbers get me down.

The numbers the scale shows me everyday are a guide to what’s going on and I use them to help keep me accountable. The morning after I eat like crap, the scale shows me. It helps me to say, “Ok, you had one day of eating like you’re about to be executed, it’s not a good idea to do that again today.”

Another thing to consider when looking at those sometimes depressing numbers, have you started a new workout routine? Muscle weighs more than fat, so as you replace your fat with muscule you might see an uptick on the scale. Also when working out, your muscles hold on to fluid to help repair and grow.

Have a salty meal? Maybe that number on the scale is reflecting some extra water weight that needs to be flushed out.

So if the scale can be a real jerk, how do you know if your weight loss efforts are paying off?

Simple, how do you feel?

Do you have more energy? Do your pants fit a little better? Is your shirt not hugging you where it used to? Look at your face, has it thinned out a little?

Those are the true measure of your efforts, not some number your scale spits out at you. Use if for what it is, one of many ways to keep you accountable to yourself. Look at your numbers over the course of weeks and months, not days.

Just because the scale can be a real jerk doesn’t mean you should let it derail your efforts. You got this!

I’m generally not one who sets New Year’s resolutions, I’ve always felt that I was just setting myself up for failure. 2017 sucked for so many reasons and over the course of the last few days I’ve decided that I need to take some action.

I don’t know that I’d call what is to follow resolutions as much as aspirations for self improvement. I need to get my mental house in order. I need to get healthy and stay healthy. I need to be a better me. So hello 2018 and hello to a better me.

First, I’m going to stop cheating on my activity rings on my Apple Watch. The only person I’ve been cheating myself by faking workouts to close my rings each day. In 2018 if I don’t close them then I don’t close them. It may seem silly but sometimes the silly things are important too.

To piggyback off my activity rings, I’m going to do thirty minutes of activity a day. Whether it be a walk around Longwood Gardens, a run, some time on the elliptical or a karate class, I’m going to be active daily. I figure doing something everyday will not only help my physical health but it will help my mental health as well.

I’ve found a pretty little notebook and I plan to use it to start a gratitude journal. I started something similar a while back with my #ThreeHappyThings but in typical Mychal fashion I had no follow through. Even on the worst of days there is always something to be grateful for. In 2018 I will use my pretty little notebook to reflect and record what I’m grateful for. I just have to remember to take it with me when I travel.

Speaking of books, I’m going to continue my reading challenge in 2018. In 2017 I read 40 books from February through December. I’ve decided that I’m going to read 45 books in 2018. On a related note, I’ll be posting the second half of my 2017 book list soon. Click HERE for the first half.

Here we go into 2018 with a plan to make it my best year yet. Hell, I’d settle for a small improvement over last year.

How will you make 2018 YOUR best year yet?