You’re Winning at Fitness—So Why Does It Feel Like You’re Losing?
Hi, I’m Skip La Cour. I help men like you and me—men who are a little bit older, successful, driven, and determined—finally get fit and healthy for life. I’ve been doing this for decades. But if you don’t fully understand today’s lesson, you could waste months—or even years—chasing your tail in the gym, in the kitchen, and inside your own mind.
There’s one truth that changed how I coach older men forever. It comes from the great Tony Robbins, who once said, “The biggest tragedy in life is when you’re winning… but you feel like you’re losing.” That’s exactly what I see happening with countless men who finally make their health a priority—but can’t tell if they’re doing it right. They’re working hard. They’re staying consistent. But they’re constantly second-guessing their plan. That’s because they’ve never been taught how to measure real progress.
So in this article, I’m going to break it down—how to track your progress without becoming obsessive. How to avoid that common spiral of self-doubt. And how to finally know if your fitness and diet are actually working.
The Problem: You Think You’re Doing It Wrong (Even When You’re Not)
If you’re like most men I coach, you’re not new to success. You’ve built a career, a family, and a reputation. But fitness? You’re just now giving it the time and energy it deserves.
The problem? You’re now diving into an ocean of conflicting fitness advice. Social media influencers. YouTube experts. Keto, intermittent fasting, tracking macros, CrossFit, bodybuilding splits, and on and on. There’s no real sorting mechanism. There’s no context. And most of that advice either doesn’t apply to you—or overwhelms you with stuff that’s way too advanced or totally irrelevant to your goals.
So when you don’t see fast results, you start switching workouts, diets, plans. You doubt your testosterone. Your metabolism. Your age. When the truth is: you might be doing everything right. You just don’t know how to recognize progress when it’s happening.
Let’s Connect! At the end of this article, you’ll have the chance to connect with me directly, get your most pressing questions answered, and receive personalized help. Just text me your picture and fill out the questionnaire at the bottom.
What Is Progress, Really?
Here’s the truth: Most men over 50 are measuring progress the wrong way. They only care about the scale, and if that number doesn’t drop, they panic.
But fat loss—not weight loss—is a tricky, subtle journey. Especially when you’re doing things right. Fat doesn’t melt off every day. Your body fluctuates daily based on sleep, water retention, digestion, and more. So what feels like “no progress” might actually be steady, solid improvement. You just don’t know how to measure it.
Let’s fix that.
The Scale: Use It, Don’t Obsess Over It
Yes, the scale lies—but it can also tell the truth if you know how to listen.
Weighing yourself once a week (say, every Saturday) might seem smart—until you realize your weight can swing 1–2 pounds a day, depending on stress, hydration, food, and sleep. That means you could weigh the exact same on two Saturdays in a row—even though you did lose fat during the week.
Here’s what I recommend:
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Weigh yourself every morning under the same conditions (after bathroom, before food).
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Track those numbers for the week.
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Look for averages and trends over 2–3 weeks—not day-to-day changes.
This gives you a better picture of what’s happening without playing mind games with your motivation.
Progress Pictures: Brutal… But Effective
Most men don’t like taking shirtless pictures. It feels vain, uncomfortable, and awkward. But listen—your mirror lies even more than the scale. It changes based on lighting, posture, and your mood. A picture tells the truth—especially when you line them up over weeks.
Take pictures once a week:
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Front and side angles.
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Same mirror, same lighting, same clothes.
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Every Sunday morning, for example.
You won’t love them at first. But four or five weeks in, you’ll see what the mirror never showed you—and that alone can keep you on track.
Clothes: The Subtle Signal
Pay attention to how your clothes fit—not just around your waist, but in your chest, shoulders, and thighs. As you lose fat and work out, your body composition changes. Shirts may feel looser around the belly but tighter around the arms. That’s a good thing.
And unlike weight, clothes don’t fluctuate day to day. If your pants are fitting better, that’s real progress—without a single step on the scale.
Compliments (And Why You Might Not Believe Them)
You’ll start hearing things like:
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“Are you working out?”
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“You look thinner!”
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“You’re looking strong!”
But here’s the deal: most men don’t believe compliments. We’re conditioned to brush them off, to look for “proof.” But I’m telling you—take those compliments as feedback. They’re based on first impressions, not body fat percentage or scale weight. And often, they’re more accurate than your own negative self-talk.
The Mental Game: Obsession vs. Immersion
Can tracking become obsessive? Sure. But so can watching Netflix, checking emails, or working late. The key is intentionality. If you’re tracking with purpose—to learn, improve, and understand—that’s not obsession. That’s called immersion. And most men need a short, focused period of immersion to lock in the right habits for life.
Yes, there may be moments where you’re “thinking about fitness too much.” But if it leads to a lifetime of knowing exactly what to do? That’s a great trade-off.
Why You Need Accountability (Even If You Know What to Do)
Knowing what to do is one thing. Actually doing it long enough to see results? That’s where men fall short.
That’s why I offer one-on-one coaching. Not just to teach you what to eat or how to train. But to be the guide who gives you feedback, adjusts your plan when needed, and keeps you from quitting the moment doubt creeps in.
You don’t need a cheerleader. You need a coach. One who’s done this himself. One who’s helped hundreds of men like you go from confused to confident—and stay there for life.
If that’s what you want, reach out to me. Let’s talk. See if coaching is right for you. It may not be. But if it is? It’ll be the best decision you ever made for your health.
Thanks for Following This Series
Thank you for being here and following along in my 30 Lessons in 30 Days series. I truly appreciate your time and energy.
Lesson #19 drops tomorrow. We’re more than halfway through—but the biggest breakthroughs are still coming.
Let’s finish strong—together.
Skip La Cour
Workouts for Older Men
Text me at 925-352-4366
Take These Two Easy Steps
1. Text Me Your Picture and Introduce Yourself. Text me a picture at 925-352-4366 so I can see where your body is now. I’ll be able to help you even better. A picture does indeed tell me a “1,000 words” and we’ll be more efficient with our time when we speak on the phone. Whatever you feel comfortable with is fine. I can tell a lot even with your shirt one.
2. Fill Out The Questionnaire Below. This questionnaire will help me learn more about you. Not only will it help me learn more about you and better serve your needs, it will help you gain more clarity as to what you want and what may be stopping you from getting it.
Expect me to reach out to you very soon. I’ll contact you by text, phone call, or email.