Weight loss is a goal for many women. Whether it's 10, 25, or 100 pounds, many of us measure our success based on how many pounds we lose. This means many trips to the scale. Each week we anxiously wait to see how much we lost.

Putting so much emphasis on that number on the scale often leads to stress and guilt. If we miss the mark, we're not good enough. If we ate a cupcake that week we worry that we'll be a pound off. This fixation can also lead to missing out on the real reason many choose to lose weight.

Redefine What it Means to Lose Weight

Your journey to losing weight should be about more than just how much you weigh—it should be a journey of self-love. By reinventing why you’re trying to lose weight, you can change your attitude surrounding your weight loss and yourself.

Instead of focusing on the amount of weight you lost, set goals based on other components of your journey. Maybe one day you focus just on adding a new challenge to your workout routine. Or try to eat extra healthy one day. This way, your progress will be determined by the steps you are taking to reach your final goal and not just on the end result.

Connect to Your Reason

While there may be a multitude of reasons why you chose to lose weight, many people begin their journey because they want to improve their health and feel better. Remember, weight loss is not about the size dress you wear, it's about your ability to live your life to the fullest.

Whether you want to feel better about yourself, look better, increase your mobility, or have more energy, that should be the ultimate goal behind your weight loss. The number on the scale will not dictate these milestones. Instead of focusing on how much weight you lost last month, think about how much better you feel.

Remember, weight loss is a journey. Don’t be hard on yourself if you didn’t make as much progress this month or if you had a cheat day, that’s all part of it. Own your experience and keep taking steps, however small, in the right direction. Everyone's weight loss will look different. Your weight loss journey is for you. Do it because you want to feel better not because there’s a number on the scale you want to reach.