For so many people, the scale rules all. While thescale can be a useful tool在您的健康和健身之旅中，当然不是全部。毕竟，规模无法告诉您您是否越来越强，能量更多或可以像孩子一样快。
If you want to shift your focus away from the number on the scale, consider one of the following non-weight-related goals that have helped women live healthier, fitter lives. They just might inspire you to take on the fresh perspective you need to get motivated and empowered to be your healthiest self yet.
For years, digital marketer Amy Ogbonna focused her health and fitness efforts on looking a certain way. The thing is, aesthetics couldn’t make up for the fact she felt unfocused and fatigued throughout the day.
“I was always aware that I needed toimprove my sleep,” Ogbonna says. “For much of my adult life, I’ve considered myself a night owl — and as years have passed, I’vepaid the price for my lack of sleepmore and more.”
These days, Ogbonna sticks to a routine that ensures she’ll score quality zzz’s. “I put my phone on ‘night mode’ after dark, spend the last 30 minutes before bed screen-free, and leave my phone in the living room overnight,” she says.
Ogbonna说，将重点转移到燃烧最大卡路里或以某种方式支持其所需的其余方法的方法中，帮助她了解健康和健身是关于培训和饮食life- 不是一个特定的事件。她说：“如果您会在那场聚会期间和之后感到糟糕的情况下，无论您对聚会看起来都很好，”
A special education coordinator, Lindsay Anderson has always given 120% to her job. To keep the stress of long days at bay, though, she realized she needed to set goals that would hold her accountable for taking care of herself, too.
安德森说：“我也总是需要另一个'事物'来努力工作。”“首先是研究生学校，然后training for a half-marathonand now, this year, it’s toexercise at least three times a week.”
Every Sunday, Anderson looks at her schedule for the week, plans out when she’ll take workout classes and marks them in her planner. On those days, she brings her workout gear with her to work, so she can head straight to class from there.
“Trying new classes and finding workouts I enjoy helps me stay consistent and feel all-around happier,” Anderson says. “I really enjoy having something healthy and motivating to focus on other than work.”
Like many women, social media manager and New York City resident Arielle Weg fell into a cycle of setting — and giving up on — scale-focused health goals. “I would say ‘I’m going to lose 20 pounds,’ without getting more specific or creating a plan,” says Weg. “It wasn’t empowering in any way — and I always fell flat after a few weeks.”
到2019年新年，Weg准备好了set a more attainable, positive goal这与她的体重无关。韦格说：“我一直想成为一名跑步者，所以我决定最终提交并与朋友注册5K。”
Weg used arunning app to coachher three weekly runs — and instead of stressing about the scale, focused oneating to fuel her workoutsand appreciate her body while running. “There’s something amazing about feeling your body get stronger and knowing that you ran better than you did last week,” she says. “The thrill was so much more satisfying than any number the scale could provide.”
Before becoming a mom, Boston-based marketer Lindsay Dougherty was motivated by maintaining her physique and feeling strong and confident. Since getting pregnant, though, “a number on the scale or how much I can lift are the last things on my mind,” she says.
Through the trials and exhaustion of motherhood, Dougherty set her sights on finding ways to clear her head and feel empowered. Often, exercise does the trick.
“I want to use the little spare time I have doing things that make me feel great, and nothing is more satisfying than going for a quick run or taking an energizing class,” says Dougherty. “My body did the most wonderful thing imaginable in making my son, so I just want to keep it strong and healthy!”
Writer and podcaster Olivia Pennelle spent years suffocated by diet culture. “I always felt too big, too tall and not lean enough. I used to find motivation in fitness magazines, but it was more out of self-loathing than empowerment,” she says.
To finally shift her approach to diet and exercise, Pennelle decided to work toward a营养教练认证. “Now I understand the huge potential margin of error with calorie-counting — and that the scale doesn’t really reflect my fitness,” she says.
After working on her nutrition certification, Pennelle has a greater appreciation for her body’s strength and resiliency — and enjoyseating intuitively, following her hunger cues instead of rigid diet rules.
“我获得了一个巨大的投掷或者后的自由感t weight- and calorie-related goals — I even ditched my scale,” she says. “I no longer feel like I’m fighting myself. Instead, I choose what works for me and my body.”
Kelsey Cannon, a writer and brand manager, spent her early life worried about not looking her best and gaining weight. When she joined a CrossFit gym — and embraced the competitive spirit of others — that changed.
“The healthy, yet supportive stream of competition inspired me to push myself in ways I wouldn’t otherwise,” Cannon says. “I picked up those heavier weights or squeaked out thatlast burpeebefore time expired.”
So, Cannon leaned in — and decided to focus her fitness routine on competing with her gym-mates and herself. “It really helped转移我的注意力转向表演of appearance,” she says. “We support each other and push each other to be better.”
A year later, she’s as dedicated to her workout routine — and the fittest and most confident — she’s ever been.
通信顾问Afton能源部居住depression and insomnia, long focused on the external appearance of her body. “I was only focused on physical results — and if I didn’t see them, I’d push through exhaustion or pain to try to achieve them,” Doe says.
在得知研究表明锻炼可以支持她的心理健康问题之后，DOE意识到她的健康和健身方法实际上是适得其反的 - 因此她重新设置了优先事项。
“Now I am more gentle with myself,” she says. “I aim to go to the gym three days a week, but don’t force myself anymore.” For Doe, viewing exercise as medicine and a means to better well-being has helped her enjoy gym time more — and feel all-around happier and more in-tune with her body and mind.
Health and fitness have always been top-priorities for personal trainer Alexandria Bizub. However, for years, she denied her strong, athletic build in an effort to be as lean and thin as possible. “No matter how lean I got, though, I was never fulfilled,” Bizub says. So, when she decided to embrace her natural strength, everything changed.
“My current goals are to get as strong as possible and be proud of the muscle I am building,” she explains. To support this shift in focus, Bizub started competing in powerlifting — and is now even tracking to beat a couple of state records. “I find this extremely empowering,” says Bizub. “I’m going to be recognized for how strong I am, not for what my body looks like.”
By focusing on her own strength, Bizub feels better able to motivate her clients to strive forfeelinggood, too.
For much of her life, Jacqueline Uveges, a social work student, had the tendency to tie to her confidence and worth to her physical appearance. Eager to maintain a healthy exercise routine without sliding down the slippery slope of body- or weight-related goals, Uveges decided to work toward something completely new: a marathon.
“I started out training for a 5K by running one mile, and slowly increasing my distance each week,” says Uveges, who just wanted to finish that first race without walking. From there, the self-esteem boost that came with completing her 5K inspired Uveges to sign up for a half-marathon. “I was totally sold on the high that came after sticking to a plan and working hard,” she says.
Today, Uveges runs five times a week as she prepares to check that marathon off her bucket list. Her legs feeling stronger and clothes fitting differently have been nice bonuses, she says.
