Rowing a boat...
In a post in the "On Topic" forum I used a couple of boat-related analogies to describe weight loss.
I have one more...rowing a boat. I am all about analogies, especially maritime analogies, probably comes from growing up and living near the water.
When you row a boat (I'm not talking competitive rowing here, just conveyance) there are phases, which I will make up bullshit terms for.
The "power phase" where the oars are in the water, you're pushing against the blocks and really leaning back into it in a burst of energy, and driving the boat forward.
The "pause phase" not with every stroke, but occasionally, you pause after the power phase and you watch the world go by, catch your breath, turn around and check your heading. The boat is still moving forward from the momentum of the recent power phase, but you are "resting on your oars."
The "recharge phase" preparing to take another stroke, at this point you are coiling your body, pushing the oars up and forward, getting ready to cut in and stroke again. For a moment as you coil up you are moving your body contrary to the motion of the boat-moving backwards. But it is necessary in order to be ready to pull again.
Weight loss (along with a lot of life's endeavors), seems to me, is very much like that. Sometimes you are driving forward, doing everything right, moving well and sometimes you are resting on your oars. Sometimes you are preparing to move forward even though it might seem like you're not.
It is all well and good. All except for the current. If you are running with the current you make rapid progress. You can pause and still move forward, But if the current is against you, if you take too many pauses and too long to recharge, you stop moving forward and can even move backward!
Life is the current, your emotions are the current. Things you do not consciously control that bear against you.
Then there is fatigue. You can fight against the current until you exhaust yourself out or you can change your bearing so as not to fight the current head on. Row longer at less intensity. Progress slows but you don't go backward, you just don't go forward real fast either. But you can manage.
I guess that's where I am. Struggling against the current, tacking back and forth not making any obvious progress toward my goal, but still moving, every once in awhile diving straight in and getting ahead, but burning out and losing some ground. Then resuming. Getting tired. The trouble is that if I stop rowing, I will drift backward with the current into morbid obesity. My own personal current is very strong.
Up half the night with an ill child. Some rest would be good. But not today.
David C.
) is complex carbohydrates. Sugars, but low on the Glycemic index, and lots and lots of fiber. IF you decided to bring brown rice dishes, salads, and your favorite fruit to work, and ate like that religiously, you might find it much easier to resist doughnuts and junk like that. Or not. This is merely a suggestion, but I highly recommend it as it is working for me thus far. Well, anyway, we're rooting for your success!!!
