momentum in weight loss

​
Earlier today my son, daughter and I were heading back home from the park which is about a one block walk from our house. He was on his bike; and I was pushing my daughter in the overpriced jogging stroller. Exiting the park, the pathway has a low grade incline, which turns 90 degrees onto another path that is a slightly higher incline, which leads onto our adjacent street which is a lower uphill battle. My son started up the initial hill, and at the first sign of resistance he stopped pedaling to "take a break." He then found himself completely incapable of even starting up that very same hill, let alone the next two hills. He was confused and looked at me for an explanation or help. I said, "you just learned a valuable lesson in momentum; the only time you take a break is before you start the hill or after you finish them all."

My son is you. The hills are the psychological and physiological challenges on your way through weight loss. Once you have committed to losing weight, you are traveling up a hill. If you take a single momentary break while you are on the hill, you have made a fatal error in judgement. You will not make it to the top without returning to the bottom again to muster momentum anew. Be all in; or be all out. Lukewarmness is a transgression of Biblical proportions.

If you need to lose 40lbs, ANYTHING shy of 41lbs lost is still climbing the hill. With my most driven clients, we don't slow down until they are 5 or 10lbs past their goal or the leanest physique they desire. When you reward yourself with a break after anything less than the goal number, you have fallen into the trap of Sisyphus. If you aren't familiar with this tale, Sisyphus was a Greek mythological character who eternally rolled a stone up a hill, repeatedly starting over, never to obtain the summit or rest. Coincidentally, this was his punishment for deceitfulness. I see a strong parallel with how honest you must be with yourself.

Once you go after it, commit to nothing less than the summit. Resistance will happen; and you must be prepared to grind through the discomfort in order to reach the peak. Continue pedaling. Do not submit. Keep the momentum.