“What get’s measured, get’s managed”
An old common saying that is often used in the business world also rings true in the fitness world!
January naturally brings a buzz of motivation to hit yearly goals. I don’t mind ‘resolutions’, and I think the new year is a great time to set goals—especially after a Christmas break and some time to reflect. However, as February arrives, many people start to fall off the wagon. I believe tracking your metrics is a great way to stay motivated and engaged while also allowing you to adapt and tweak your training and nutrition as you progress.
The metrics you use will depend on your goals. They might be more aesthetic and body composition-focused (e.g., body fat percentage or muscle mass) or performance-based (e.g., hitting specific numbers or times in lifting or conditioning). I believe tracking these—without becoming obsessive—can be really useful. For example, if your goal is fat loss, don’t weigh yourself every day; instead, check in weekly or monthly to assess whether your training and nutrition are working. This approach helps break long-term goals into short-term targets and builds sustainable habits. If your yearly goal is to lose 6kg of body fat, aiming for half a kilo per month is a good strategy, making weekly or monthly tracking beneficial. The same principle applies to performance-based goals—breaking a long-term objective into smaller steps makes tracking progress more manageable. (Performance goals are typically tracked less frequently.)
Having played in a high-level sporting environment my whole life, I’ve always used key performance indicators (KPIs) as metrics to ensure I was in peak condition. For example, I knew that at 105kg, I had the perfect balance of size and speed. I also tracked performance metrics such as the power clean, broad jump, deadlift, bench press, sprinting, and aerobic endurance. I believe using similar metrics (or others that suit you) can help keep you focused, motivated, and progressing rather than simply going through the motions.
Of course, coming to the gym and training without specific targets is absolutely fine—it’s a million times better than not training at all! However, setting measurable goals and tracking progress can help ensure you’re always improving your health and fitness while giving you that extra drive to become a fitter, healthier version of yourself.
Give us a shout if you’d like to know more!
Mark.