#8. Mirror, mirror on the wall... Monday, August 17, 2020 Blah, blah, blah, who's the fittest of them all? Whatever mirror you're asking, it probably hasn't seen all of humanity. It's gotten a good (perhaps R-rated) look at you, some roommates if you have them, maybe a few friends or family members. The sample of reflections is pretty small. Let's call it a dozen people, assuming you're not running a bed and breakfast. "Am I fitter than my peers?" That's the unspoken question we all wonder as we stand in the bathroom (or closet or wherever the mirror is) and look at our lumps and curves appraisingly. But that's not a line of curiosity any of us should be indulging. Comparing ourselves in this way ("Am I leaner than Chloe? Are my abs tighter than Gavin's? Are my glutes mightier than Voldemort's?") is neither helpful nor healthful. It would be far better to wonder: Of all of the yous your mirror has reflected in the last couple of years, which you is the fittest? Today's? Last month's? A year ago's? That pane of self-indulgent glass hanging on your wall is a reliable authority on that subject... and little else. Okay, here are this week's tips: Tip 1) Don't compare your body to anyone else's. That's you in the mirror. Pretending it's someone else can only ruin moods and expectations; it never enhances them. Your starting point is your own. Your rate of progress is your own. Your goals are your own. It is at least unhelpful, and probably harmful, to populate the mirror with your peers. Tip 2) When tracking your progress, make sure to use a variety of measurements. Not just a mirror, or a weight scale, as these will not tell you the entire story. Each one gives you a paragraph at best. So use several metrics. Appearance. Weight. Tightness of clothes. Belt loops. More objectively measured circumferences. Some calculation of body composition. And so on. You might find yourself thriving in some of these and stagnant in others. Improvement can be inconspicuous at times, but if you know how to look for it, you're sure to turn up encouragement. Tip 3) It's helpful to have a second opinion on your progress. A weekly workout buddy ("We go running every Thursday, rain or shine!") or a personal trainer will see the changing of your body differently. We see ourselves every day. Progress between one mirror glance and the next is invisible. If it isn't -- if you can see your results overnight -- then you're either crazy or you're doing something wrong. So allow select members of your community in on your journey, and occasionally listen to their commentary.