It takes about six weeks for a bonafide couch potato to see real results from a fitness program, though feeling the results starts to happen immediately. Unfortunately, many people just aren't that patient, and quit long before they've really even begun.

Going from flab to fit can seem like a long, overwhelming process. But the truth is, every day you stick with it is a day closer to your goal. As the visual evidence in the video above proves.

KingExtreme turns his beer belly into a six-pack and gets buff from head-to-toe. And no, it didn't happen over night. But at the 30-day mark (at least I think it's 30 days, counting changes of boxer shorts), he's clearly made progress.

Whether your goal is to lose weight, build muscle, or both, marking your progress is a great way to recognize small achievements and motivate yourself. You don't have to take a picture of yourself every day for a year, though.

Try one of these easy tips for keeping track:

  • Take a before photo, then snap another pic every six weeks or so.
  • Use a spreadsheet to track your weekly weigh-ins, then turn the data into a graph and watch that line drop down, down, down.
  • Take body measurements -- waist, chest, hips, arms, thighs, for example. Write them down, then remeasure every six weeks.
  • Get creative. Margarita over at Glamour's Shape Up blog says she uses her gym's teeny-tiny towel as a gauge -- now it goes all the way around her waist! Commenters over there have other ideas that don't include weighing in, like trying on a favorite pair of jeans.

If all else fails, there's always the scale. But because you could be building and defining muscle while not losing a pound, there's not much point getting wrapped up in a number.

What's your favorite method for tracking weight loss or fitness progress?

Weight loss