Whether you're on a weight-loss journey because you want to build muscle or live a healthier lifestyle in general, you likely want to have some kind of benchmark to check your progress.

" The more you ignore hunger cues, the more you lose your ability to recognize them, which can lead to binge eating disorder down the line," says Betty Guerrero, RD.

This test will take into account your muscle mass and the amount of calories you burn at rest (otherwise known as your basal metabolic rate).

"If you're not getting enough protein while doing heavy weight training, you will not recover from your workouts enough to perform well, which means that you will not put on as much muscle or burn as much fat," Phil Catadul, a certified personal trainer and nutrition expert, previously told WH.

"Weight loss looks different for a mom of three kids versus a college student because we have to look at how much time there is to dedicate to physical activity, meal prepping, or buying food," explains Guerrero.

These goals should take a little bit of time and patience, but should also be sustainable rather than focusing on quick fixes or short deadlines, Guerrero notes.