Inputs vs. Outputs: What matters in your nutrition, fitness, and health?
Wearable technology, Usage apps, live time streaming, and even food and nutrition apps all have categories that itemize and register your projected exercise outputs. As all of these avenue’s have become more and more popular (what up, COVID) I’ve noticed a dramatic shift in the attention to what these devices and platforms are telling you.
“Why was my calorie output lower today from the same workout I had last week when it was 150 calories higher?”
“{insert nutrition logging app here} told me my 40 minute workout burned 300 calories, should I eat extra today?”
“My apple watch had my highest movement score, but why is the scale not moving?”
The above are examples of questions I get, from friends, family, clients, and social media acquaintances alike. Don’t get me wrong when I say this, they’re all awesome questions, and I want these questions. But the answer typically pisses people off.
Your device, app platform, or whatever is giving you that information...is lying to you. You’re receiving output information (projected/estimated output information at that…) where you have minimal control over the accuracy of that information and it has little to do with your body’s physiological improvements.
You see, when it comes to fat loss, building muscle, and even improving other health metrics like resting heart rate (RHR), heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure, or cholesterol, the key information to track isn’t the outputs your receiving, it’s to track the inputs you (literally you, the human reading this right now) are providing.
Inputs like...
Calories eaten.
Breaking down that calorie input to total grams of protein eaten.
Exercise minutes per day/ per week/ per month.
Amount of weight lifted in your workouts (oh hey, progressive overload).
Ounces of water you drink per day.
Daily amounts of caffeine.
And maybe the most important input, the consistency to which you do things on the list above on a month over month basis, because, you know, health doesn’t improve overnight.
The inputs we can enter can be entered and tracked with amazing accuracy. You can measure food to the gram or ounce. You can track the volume of our training sessions. You can log the minutes of movement and water you’ve drank. You can go on Etsy and order a cool habit calendar that keeps everything organized. Okay, maybe the Etsy thing is a touch overboard, but style points definitely count.
The input is where you need to direct your attention. The inputs can be consistent and aren’t subjective to a third party’s opinion. With input numbers you are 100% in control and that’s a damn good feeling.
Outputs are out. Inputs are in.
Focus on what you can control.
I’m super pumped to now be offering (publicly offering…) online personal training. After 12 years of in-person coaching (which I’m still doing, no worries there), I’m excited to have this online offering for those not nearby the Rave Cave in RIchmond, Vermont.
If you’re interested, and want to check it out, click the button below. There’s no upfront cost to get started, and I like for clients to experience online coaching for a week before committing to the program. If you think this is something for you, I’d love to be a part of your journey!