Last week, I asked a poll question in our community group: “What non-scale victory have you celebrated lately?” The most common responses were “Choosing nutritious meals more consistently” and “Walked farther or moved more than usual.” With some sharing personal wins like “Stopped drinking diet soda.”
It’s inspiring to see how many of you are feeling successful, without focusing solely on the scale. Because when it comes to eating well and caring for your body, it’s easy to get caught up in numbers: weight, calories, steps, or pounds lost. And while those metrics are important, they’re only a small part of the bigger picture.
Creating lasting health.
For those unfamiliar, a non-scale victory (NSV) is a positive step forward in your health that may not be immediately visible when you weigh yourself. As you create Optimal Health and Wellbeing, you will unlock hundreds of non-scale victories.
Non-scale victories are powerful signs that your Healthy Habits are working. They can help remind us that success isn’t only about weight—it’s making intentional choices, and acknowledging the small changes that add up over time. Some examples of NSVs include:
- Trying a new healthy recipe and loving it.
- Walking farther or faster than you could a few weeks ago.
- Feeling more in control during meals or at social gatherings.
- Sleeping better, having more energy, or feeling less bloated.
- Feeling more comfortable in your clothes.
When you achieve a NSV, write it down, either in your LifeBook or in your journal. These are an important part of your journey, and they are worth recording and remembering!
And don’t forget to celebrate! Whether that means getting a massage, starting a “victory jar,” or writing these moments down in your journal, recognizing these important shifts can help take your focus from the numbers on the scale to the bigger picture of your health and wellbeing, especially when the scale slows down or stops altogether.
It’s easy to feel stuck.
Progress isn’t always a straight line, and it definitely isn’t always about the number on the scale. Next time you catch yourself feeling discouraged, take a moment to check in:
- Have I made more mindful food choices lately?
- Am I drinking more water?
- Do I feel stronger or more energized during workouts?
- Am I learning more about what fuels me and what drains me?
- Are my clothes fitting more comfortably?
If the answer is yes to any of those, you’re likely making progress—real, measurable, sustainable progress.
Keep moving forward, one step at a time.
As you continue on your health journey, remember that transformation happens in layers. Every mindful decision, every small shift in behavior, builds a stronger foundation for lasting change.
Non-scale victories are more than just milestones—they’re proof that you’re aligning your daily habits with the life you want to live. So celebrate them fully. Let them fuel your motivation and remind you why you started. Your progress is real, and it’s unfolding in powerful, meaningful ways—whether the scale slows or not.