Just an analogy that struck a chord, something of hope & understanding for those in the heat of battle....
Losing weight is similar to taking a long journey on a boat. At first you feel quite comfortable and safe on land and you wonder & worry about what the sea may hold in the way of a long & trying journey. Can you get there or will you get lost on the way, feel trapped & miserable (on a diet) and turn around for a safe harbor?
Then you book mental passage and board your ship.....
As the boat leaves the harbor you have friends cheering you. Most of all, you can readily see the land getting smaller as you move away from it. Indeed; progress is very apparent and results come quickly. Lots of people lose a lot of weight at first.
But then in a matter of time you find youself without reference. Without the land or some reference point, it seems like you're making little or no progress; everything may seem static. You may have weeks where you lose no weight, or if you're working with weights you may even gain weight (but lose body-fat). Just the same; the measure of progress is fleeting.
Then, as you approach land you can see what you've accomplished; as fat melts away and muscle builds, you have two forces driving together to define what you've done. Suddenly the process gets exciting and you realize more then ever the journey you've taken.
The secret is not to hit a buffet once you hit land!
But seriously, more then anything the idea of being in the middle of the sea with little or no reference-points strikes a chord in me. I've been regularly dropping body-fat% but not seeing results on the scale or in my waist. I think looking in the mirror and expecting to see the results is like trying to watch your hair grow. It's tough, and most of us are results driven; it's tough to continue on when you sometimes feel your efforts are futile. But just like that ship out in the open waters, it may seem like nothing is changing, but they are. Stay the course!
Losing weight is similar to taking a long journey on a boat. At first you feel quite comfortable and safe on land and you wonder & worry about what the sea may hold in the way of a long & trying journey. Can you get there or will you get lost on the way, feel trapped & miserable (on a diet) and turn around for a safe harbor?
Then you book mental passage and board your ship.....
As the boat leaves the harbor you have friends cheering you. Most of all, you can readily see the land getting smaller as you move away from it. Indeed; progress is very apparent and results come quickly. Lots of people lose a lot of weight at first.
But then in a matter of time you find youself without reference. Without the land or some reference point, it seems like you're making little or no progress; everything may seem static. You may have weeks where you lose no weight, or if you're working with weights you may even gain weight (but lose body-fat). Just the same; the measure of progress is fleeting.
Then, as you approach land you can see what you've accomplished; as fat melts away and muscle builds, you have two forces driving together to define what you've done. Suddenly the process gets exciting and you realize more then ever the journey you've taken.
The secret is not to hit a buffet once you hit land!
But seriously, more then anything the idea of being in the middle of the sea with little or no reference-points strikes a chord in me. I've been regularly dropping body-fat% but not seeing results on the scale or in my waist. I think looking in the mirror and expecting to see the results is like trying to watch your hair grow. It's tough, and most of us are results driven; it's tough to continue on when you sometimes feel your efforts are futile. But just like that ship out in the open waters, it may seem like nothing is changing, but they are. Stay the course!