We've all been there, that moment when you step up to the scale, wondering if all the hard work we've put in will show up on this tiny digital screen. Where else in our lives do our feelings waver so strongly between dread and elation? 

If my credit score changes by 3 points in either direction my day is not altered, but 3 pounds?  Depending on the direction of the swing and my current goals, I'm either hating the world or feeling on top of it.

I have these feelings all the time, but over the last 15 or so years, I've been fortunate enough to work with clients of all shapes and sizes, with all sorts of goals for their fitness and health.  Seeing such a broad variety of goals has afforded me something we all seem to lack: PERSPECTIVE.

When I message with Natural Scienceclients (or those who are thinking about ordering Natural Science products) I often hear the same words coming out: SOMETHING WRONG, STUCK, FRUSTRATED, FAILING, ONLY Xlbs DOWN...

When I see these words (or anything similar) I know the first step to help the client is to CHANGE THEIR PERSPECTIVE.  Now we can pause for thousands of people to collectively roll their eyes and say "Easier said than done, Sam".  Now that we all have that out of our systems, let's talk about HOW we can do that. 

Here is a real example:

The first step is to Take a Picture.  Why, because we then have our starting point.  Without a starting point, you can't measure progress.  Having a picture also allows us to view over time our TANGIBLE results. What's more motivating, someone telling you they have lost 10 pounds, or seeing that person's before/after picture showing their new found confidence?

The second step, and this is a tough one, put that picture away for 30 days. Why 30 days? That is a reasonable amount of time to see some form of physical change, whether that is 2 pounds or 10 pounds, it's enough time for your transformation to start.  It's also enough time to not get caught up in daily changes of water retention, bloating, inflammation and constipation (all reasons for increases in weight that have ZERO to do with body fat) 

Now, when I here phrases like 'I can tell' or 'I'm sure' what that really means is I THINK or I FEEL, these are emotional thoughts, which are not always based on the truth.  If we give ourselves 30 days, we have the ability to move past these daily ups and downs.

With a little support, and a request for progress picture-taking, this was the follow up message a couple weeks later:

 Followed 2 weeks later by this:

Finally, at the 8 week mark, I received some very exciting messages:

By shifting her perspective from reading the number on a scale every day, or on how her clothes fit day to day, this Client was able to shift her perspective from the Micro (day to day changes) to the Macro (the changes made over time).  This kept her motivation at an all-time high and allowed her to transform her physique into something she loves. 

Ultimately, that is the goal, to change our perspective from obsessing over a daily weight or feeling to viewing progress pictures on a monthly basis, which gives ourselves the time to see actual progress.

That is the goal, wake up every day focused on the process, and trusting that the results will follow. If we can do this, then we can learn to enjoy the journey.   My friends, let's start focusing on Progress...Not Perfection.

  Regards,

  Sam Bishop

  President, Natural Science