Beyond the Scale: 5 Reasons to Focus on Healthy Habits This Year

For your resolutions in the past, there’s a good chance weight has been the target. It’s an easy-to-track metric that’s associated with a wide range of health benefits. 

Perhaps this year you’re looking for a way to keep your healthy habits fresh. Hitting a target weight can make it feel as though it’s time to refocus. 

At Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, we can help. We’ve gathered a list of five ways to measure your health that give your bathroom scale a break. 

The truth is, your weight isn’t a complete measure of your health. In fact, as you get close to your target weight and improve your fitness, your weight can climb as you build new muscle mass. That’s right, there’s such a thing as gaining good weight. 

It may be time to look beyond body mass. Consider these additional measures of health and update your goals for 2026. 

Metabolic health

Your metabolism is the biomotor upon which your body functions. Metabolic health can be a key indicator of your health currently and in the future. 

The key markers of a healthy metabolism include: 

• Blood sugar
• Blood pressure
• HDL cholesterol
• Triglycerides
• Waist size

When your metabolism is functioning at a lower level, cellular function in your body becomes disrupted, raising the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, stroke, and some types of cancer. 

Physical activity

When you’re traveling on holiday, there’s the journey and then the destination, where you kick back and relax. It’s easy to think of weight loss as a journey and a destination, too. 

Weight, however, requires maintenance, not relaxation. It’s generally accepted that 30 minutes of moderate low-impact activity (like biking, swimming, or walking) five days a week forms a baseline of cardiovascular health. 

Are you meeting or exceeding this goal? It’s an easy statistic to track, so consider adding it to your health tracking. 

Eating habits

A healthy diet was likely part of your weight loss plan, and it, too, is a healthy habit that continues after you’ve reached your target. Continued diligence addresses your health with every bite. 

Continue to avoid processed foods and saturated fats, while prioritizing fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Build on your previous successes and incorporate additional healthy changes in the new year. 

Preventive health screenings

Access to health care can be an important determining factor in your overall health. Be sure to understand the resources and services available to you, including insurance coverage and community resources. 

You can’t simply wish away poor health. Take the steps you need to get caught up with preventive care in 2026, including well visits and health screenings recommended for your age and condition. Don’t forget dental and vision checks either. 

Mental health

Wellness includes both physical and mental health. They’re not as separate as some may believe. Stress has chemical effects on your body that aren’t meant to be dealt with on a chronic basis. 

Pain conditions can feed anxiety and depression. Depression increases the risk to your cardiovascular condition. Treat your mental health as an important contributor to your overall wellness. 

Contact Bridgewater Primary Care & Cardiology, LLC, online or by phone to arrange a consultation to discuss your health and wellness plan for the coming year. 

We are conveniently located near Boston and proudly extend our services to communities throughout Norfolk, Plymouth, Bristol, and Providence counties, including Braintree, Canton, Stoughton, Westwood, Norwood, and Walpole. 

Whether you're in Foxborough, Easton, Brockton, or Abington, we're just a short drive away. We also welcome clients from West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater, and Middleborough, as well as Taunton, Norton, Mansfield, and Attleboro. 

Our reach extends to Rehoboth, Somerset, Swansea, Fall River, Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, and even further to Wareham, Plymouth, and Pembroke. Rhode Island residents in Providence, East Providence, and Warwick can also rely on our services.