Originally published on sfexaminer.com
If you’ve ever stepped on the scale first thing in the morning and let the number dictate your entire mood, you’re not alone. For years, the fitness industry has trained people to think that weight is the ultimate measure of success. But what if that number under your feet is doing more harm than good?
Harsha Pakhal, a Cleveland-based personal trainer, believes it’s time to change the conversation. “The scale isn’t broken,” he says. “You’re just using the wrong tool for the job.” And when the goal is sustainable health, functional movement, and real progress, it's strength, not weight, that you should be tracking.
The Problem with the Scale
That number on the scale only tells a fraction of the story. It doesn’t measure how strong you’ve become, your energy levels, or how confidently you move through the world. Nor does it reflect improved mobility, better posture, or the fact that you can now carry your groceries in one trip.
And for many of Harsha’s clients, that narrow view becomes discouraging fast. “I’ve worked with people who made incredible progress, like lifting more and moving better, but they still felt defeated because the scale barely budged,” he explains. “That’s not a failure of effort. That’s a failure of perspective.”
Strength Is a Smarter Metric
So what should you focus on instead? According to Harsha, the answer is simple: strength. And not just physical strength in terms of how much you can lift (though that’s part of it), but also strength of habit, mindset, and movement.
Here’s what real progress often looks like in Harsha’s training programs:
- You’re lifting heavier or performing more reps with better form.
- You can move through your day with more energy and less discomfort.
- You’re sleeping better, managing stress more effectively, and staying consistent.
- You feel more confident in your body, regardless of what the scale says.
None of these show up on a weigh-in. However, they are undeniable signs that your fitness journey is paying off.
Rewriting the Fitness Narrative
For Harsha Pakhal, it’s all about helping clients reframe their definition of success. He uses a combination of strength tracking, mobility assessments, and lifestyle check-ins to provide people with a more comprehensive picture of their progress. That might mean celebrating the fact that you did push-ups on your toes for the first time or that you walked up a flight of stairs without feeling winded.
It also means ditching the “all or nothing” mindset. “One missed workout doesn’t erase your progress, and one off day doesn’t define your ability,” Harsha says. “I encourage my clients to play the long game and focus on what their bodies can do, not just how they look.”
Progress You Can Feel—Not Just See
One client came to Harsha discouraged. She had been working out consistently, eating well, and doing everything “right,” but the scale hadn’t moved in months. Certain factors had changed, though: She could deadlift more than her body weight. She was sleeping through the night. Her knees no longer hurt when walking downstairs. And for the first time in years, she felt strong.
That’s the kind of progress that matters.
The Takeaway
If the scale makes you feel defeated, perhaps it’s time to step back and take a look around. Are you moving better? Feeling stronger? Sticking with your routine? Then you’re winning.
“Redefining progress is often the first step to real transformation,” Harsha says. “When you stop chasing the scale and start tracking strength, you’ll be amazed by what you gain.”