A tale of 2 timelines …
One of the great paradoxical concepts in fitness and nutrition is the timeline effect.
The faster we go …
The longer it takes.
We’re programmed for instant gratification.
It doesn’t help that the world around us has catered to our desire for instant gratification.
Most technological advancements have been in the name of convenience or speed.
Think: Amazon.
We aren’t patient enough to wait 3-5 business days for a delivery …
We need it now.
We carry that very same mindset into our pursuit of our physical goals.
Logically, we know it takes time to make progress.
Emotionally, we want it now.
In the battle of logic vs. emotion … emotion will win 9 times out of 10.
This idea is better illustrated with a real life example.
Can you relate to this yo-yo dieting story?
Mary wants to lose 10 lbs.
She feels uncomfortable.
Her clothes are getting tighter.
She can’t look at herself in the mirror.
And, she’s too self conscious to wear a bikini in public.
She thinks to herself …
If I could just be 10 lbs. lighter, I’d be happier.
More confident.
And, I’d be able to rock the shit out of this bikini without feeling insecure.
Those feelings are strong.
She can physically feel those feelings when she envisions her future self looking fit on the beach.
And, who wants to wait to feel that way?
Mary wants it like yesterday.
She starts looking for some fast ways to drop 10 lbs.
Boom … she finds a program online where she tracks her calories and the promise is that she’ll lose 10 lbs.
Program length: 6 weeks.
Program method: 1200 calories.
Outcome: Mary loses 10 lbs.
Sustainability outcome: Mary gains back 12 lbs. over the course of the next 12 weeks.
Time to try another weight loss program …
Mary feels demoralized.
She didn’t even get a chance to rock her bikini because after losing 10 lbs., she didn’t feel like she was quite where she wanted to be.
And, after gaining 12 lbs., she now feels like she’s 15 lbs. away from her goal.
Mary and her husband have a trip coming up in a couple of months.
So, she jumps into another diet.
Program length: 8 weeks.
Program method: HCG diet (800 calories).
Outcome: Mary loses 20 lbs.
Sustainability outcome: Mary went off the rails on vacation. Felt completely out of control around food. Came back 8 lbs. heavier and then gained another 15 lbs. over the course of 10 weeks.
This was incredibly frustrating to Mary.
The fucked up part is that she has remained super consistent with her training.
She rarely ever misses a workout and feels like she puts in a lot of effort, without much to show for it.
The thoughts of “why bother” start to creep in and Mary spends the next 6 months having a pity party for herself.
She keeps training but completely ignores her nutrition.
She’s firmly entrenched in the “nothing” phase of the all or nothing cycle.
Until there’s another vacation on the horizon.
Mary starts to panic.
There’s no way she’s going on this trip looking the way she looks.
She thinks back to what got her the quickest result last time.
And here we go again …
Program length: 8 weeks.
Program method: HCG diet (800 calories).
Program outcome: Mary loses 12 lbs.
Sustainability outcome: Once again, Mary went off the rails on vacation. She came back 5 lbs. heavier and then gained 10 lbs. over the next 8 weeks.
For those keeping score at home …
Total time invested: Approximately 1.5 years.
Net outcome: A weight gain of 3 lbs.
Here’s how Mary learned to make progress faster
I wish I could tell you that was the moment that Mary realized the quick fix approach was delaying her progress.
It wasn’t.
She stayed in this very cycle for YEARS.
Afraid to eat more.
Always wanting immediate results.
Always gravitating towards restrictive programs.
Always gaining the weight back.
Eventually, Mary reached her tipping point.
Want to know how her second timeline played out?
Here’s how it went down …
Mary scheduled a call with me.
Told me that she’s frightened because she doesn’t know how to play the long game but knows it’s exactly what she needs.
She even said the words … “If I don’t change, I’ll keep getting what I always got.”
Mary joined POP coaching.
Program length: 6 months.
Program method: The POP Method … Neurotyping, Metabolic Priming, Lifestyle Integration.
Outcome: Mary lost 15 lbs.
Sustainability outcome: Mary graduated and continued on her own. In the 3 months since graduating from POP, she lost another 7 lbs. and has never felt better.
The end.
Are you ready to FINALLY make progress for good?
So, when you consider what it’s costing you to try to shortcut the process …
Consider Mary’s story.
And, think back to the time you’ve already spent seeking instant gratification.
Maybe it’s time to make that investment and commitment to yourself.
To do things the right way.
Or keep trying to rip the bandaid off.
What’s the saying … 37th time’s a charm??
Something like that 😉
If you’re ready to finally end the all or nothing cycle, make progress, and reach your goals and SUSTAIN them … Shoot me a private message on FB.
