You know the feeling when you have been going to the gym since January and you decide to put on a shirt that you have not worn for a while and IT FITS!

You feel like rejoicing. It feels a little snug, but it looks good enough to wear to work. At work you receive a few compliments on how great you are looking. Aren’t those type of days wonderful?

Yes, it was only one shirt. You have not gone down a pants or dress size and you only weigh three or so pounds less than when you started working out in January. Still, you feel changes slowly starting to happen.

But, when you think about all the changes that you have noticed, you still find it hard to celebrate. Why is it so hard to celebrate the small stuff? We constantly qualify our successes by saying things like, “well, I weigh that today, but I’ll probably just go back up tomorrow” or, “this dress feels a little more comfortable, but it’s probably my imagination”. Our minds are filled with negativity.

Remember, this fitness journey is about making healthier choices, feeling better and weight management. A lot of times we revert to that old diet mentality: If I can just go down a pants or dress size that is how I know I am making progress.

When we are trying to make better choices, we need to allow ourselves a little grace. Quit the scale and celebrate the little successes — the healthy lunches we pack instead of going out for lunch, eating a proper breakfast, taking the children to the Botanical Gardens and running around with them instead of sitting on the bench with our cell phones, drinking more water.

Rather than beating yourself up about how long it is taking to reach your destination, take a moment and consider how much territory you have already covered. Maybe the love handles are still hanging on, but you have started eating healthier and you are feeling more energetic and confident.

You have started to ride your bike again after neglecting it since last summer. These are the kind of things you need to acknowledge as progress.

If you are doing anything at all, even if it is just shifting your attitude, making smarter choices, or developing your health and fitness knowledge base, you are building momentum and opening up pathways to larger accomplishments. Embrace your journey, take pride in your accomplishments and B-Active For Life.

• Betty Doyling is a certified fitness trainer and figure competitor with more than eight years of experience. Check her out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/B.ActiveForLife