What makes you stop?

During a session last week with a client we were working on planks.

We’re working on core strength because she’s a bad ass taiko player and needs that good strength and stability.

Planks aren’t just a good exercise for the core though, in fact if ever there was an exercise that was a good metaphor for weight loss, it’s the plank.

Planks are isometric exercises, exercises that work the muscles without movement. And that’s the hard bit.

You can get into the position
You can get out

But can you hold it?

Some people drop out of the plank when their back starts to hurt
When their arms give way

But mostly…

mostly it’s that overwhelming feeling of “I should stop now”.

Our brains have had enough.
We can’t handle this amount of discomfort.

And it’s not just the physical act of holding the plank, it’s the agony of not moving.

No movement = no distractions.

No distractions from the deep core muscles starting to contract and burn

And your inner voice perks up…

“I bloody HATE planks. And I’m in a plank. I’m uncomfortable. That’s it. I’m giving up”

It’s easier to stop.

Weight loss is a lot like the plank.

We start the diet.
And the first day or so is easy

Then it starts to burn.

One eye on the bathroom scales
The other on the kitchen scales

After a few weeks or so we experience one of two things

1. No change in weight = give up

2. Some change but the hard work you’re putting in isn’t worth the results = give up

Sound familiar?

The reason it’s so hard to push through both of these situations is that we’ve given ourselves the option of stopping.

Muscles are burning.
It’s uncomfortable.

It’s time to stop.

Moderating some of your favourite foods? It’s uncomfortable.

Experiencing hunger, possibly for the first time ever? It’s uncomfortable.

It’s time to stop.

^^^^ and it is ok to stop. If you’re happy to give up on the results.

The good news is that there is a positive side, when you choose to see it.

The plank is one of the hardest exercises out there and
the more you do it,
the longer you can hold it,
the stronger you get

The same is true with weight loss.

You make those changes to your lifestyle, be it increased exercise or changes in food

And each day that passes gets easier
The more practice you have the easier it becomes to make it a habit

The longer you keep that habit, the easier it is to maintain that new weight.

The trick is to fight past that initial feeling of wanting to stop when it gets a bit difficult.

When faced with moments that are hard you need to be even stronger than you thought