Slow progress is better than no progress.

So lately I've been feeling a bit down in the dumps about my body, feeling fatter than normal and scared of going back to how I was years ago. I knew my fat percentage had gone up in the last few months due to bulking but felt as though I had no results where muscle gain was concerned.

I have put on around a stone since may. I have gone up a dress size and an inch and a half on my hips and waist.I always track my weight, body fat percentage and measurements so I was aware of this gain in what I thought was fat. I also track my workouts and weights used.

Recently I began to follow Jamie Easons From Flat To All That transformation programme . I did so as I was getting a bit bored at the gym and I had enjoyed it previously (coincidentally this time last year). I am now using heavier weights. Knowing I still had my workout diary from last year I thought I would have a look. This made me think about comparing everything I had recorded from this time last year and my god am I glad I did so.

My stats November 2015 vs 2016 Weight 8st 5Ibs 9st 6Ibs Body fat% 20.3% 20.3% Fat mass 24Ibs 27Ibs Lean mass 94Ibs 106Ibs Cals per day 1755 2280 Cardio per week 3 x 20-30mins 0

This means I have Gained 15Ibs Body fat % has stayed the same Gained 3Ibs fat Gained 12Ibs lean mass Eating 525 more calories every day Doing no cardio as a posed to 3 20-30 min sessions a week.

This made me feel so much better about my fitness journey. I am now aware I have gained only 3Ibs of fat to 12Ibs of lean mass. Fat is much easier to lose than muscle is to gain. It also means my training is working and I am gaining muscle after all. Therefore my hard work, time and discipline was not all for nothing.

The message I want to leave you with is believe in yourself don't doubt your efforts. What gets measured gets managed. Tracking everything helps you to see the bigger picture when you feel you have plateaued and can not see the results for your own self doubt. At the end of the day slow progress is better than no progress. Trust the process and just keep going. Don't give up.