A little physics this week.  Inertia is the resistance of any object to a change in its state of motion or rest.  Inertia comes from the Latin word, iners, meaning idle.  In common usage the term "inertia" may refer to an object's amount of resistance to change in velocity, or sometimes to its momentum.

What is your momentum right now?  In other words, in what direction are you going?  Are you moving?  And more importantly, is it the direction you want to be going?  Because unless you apply a different force to your life, you are going to keep going in that direction, according to the law of inertia.

To get the results we want, we have to do something different than what we've been doing.  I know that sounds like common sense, but to put it into practice in our lives seems more like advanced level physics.  It is challenging because of the momentum of our lives.

To change, you first have to be willing to change.  You have to fight through the resistance and overcome the current momentum of your life.  It is one thing to want to lose fifty pounds.  It is quite another thing to want to lose fifty pounds bad enough to get out and walk for an hour in your target heart rate zone just about every day.  Because choosing to walk for an hour a day means saying no to something else in your life and that takes a very strong force.  But it is the only way.

Once you are willing to change, you have to become aware of what it takes to change.  So to lose that fifty pounds, if we read some silly magazine article, all you have to do is take the stairs instead of the elevator and eat dark chocolate while you visualize yourself healthy and fit.  The TRUTH is to lose fifty pounds, you need to create a balanced fitness program for yourself that includes whole foods based eating, strength training, and aerobic exercise.  And you need to take your time and deal with all the old, bad thinking that comes up that got you there to begin with.  And trust me, it will come up.  You know: the all-or-nothing thinking, or the "if this doesn't work in a week it's too slow I quit" thinking, or the I'll never be at my healthiest weight because of my genes, kids, job, spouse, lack of spouse, lack of job, etc.

Once you understand that your body is a biological machine that burns calories of carbohydrates, protein, and fat for fuel then you can get to work.  That means lifting weights.  And getting your walks, runs, bike rides, swims in consistently.  Eating mostly whole foods in healthy portions.  Drinking your water.  Recovering and getting good sleep.  The most challenging part of this is inertia.  You will need to change direction and do things differently.  You simply cannot lose a significant amount of weight or change your health drastically without making some major changes.  Throw out the junk food!  You don't need it.  Shake up your life.  Get outside and walk.  Take a new class.  Your job is to overcome the natural tendency to keep going in the direction you've been going.

This conversation happens frequently:
Client:  I haven't lost a pound and I've been training for 6 months.  It's frustrating.
Sue:  Tell me about your aerobic activity.
Client:  I haven't had time.  [Insert excuse here.]
Sue:  Tell me about how you've been eating.
Client:  I was doing pretty good until the weekend came.
 

This conversation also happens frequently:
Client:  I lost another two pounds this week!  That's 25 total so far.  I feel amazing.
Sue:  Tell me about your aerobic activity.
Client:  I walked almost every day with my HR monitor.  I just made it happen.
Sue:  Tell me about how you've been eating.
Client:  Great!  We've been trying healthy recipes and cooking at home.  I love it.

The difference is not that one has more time than the other.  The difference is not that one has it easier at home than the other.  The difference is not that one has better genes than the other.  Those are all lies!  What makes the difference is when a woman knows it is going to be a challenge but decides to push against the momentum of her life anyway to go in a new direction.  By doing so, she becomes victorious!  An overcomer!  Creating a new path.  Creating a life she loves.  I believe that woman is you.

Now get moving!