Perseverance

At the beginning of learning any new skill, including the building of a new habit, there will be a struggle. Suffice it to say that it is NOT easy. Specifically, with changes in dietary habits, when you are first attempting to figure out what works for you (and what doesn’t) it will take a larger amount of effort and expenditure of mental energy. It takes much thought and planning, including trying out new foods and strategies that can be uncomfortable. Overall it can be frustrating, especially when the return on this investment might not meet your expectation. However, it is through trial and error… and going back to the drawing board that we grow and progress.

Back to the drawing board

Unfortunately, the required amount of work at the beginning deters many from continuing to try. The misconception is that the effort required at the start will always be required. I say “misconception” because this couldn’t be any further from the truth. As with the learning of any new skill, it takes more work and mental energy at the start but with time and experience we become efficient and it requires less of our attention.

A good analogy for this is when you consider the progression in learning to ride a bicycle. At first it will seem rather difficult to balance the bike and to simply stay upright. Many will employ training wheels to aid in developing the balance and confidence to continue.

As a side note, I feel that a coach is like a set of training wheels for improving dietary skills.

Before long the training wheels are off and you can effortlessly navigate any terrain on a bicycle. And as confidence grows some move on to riding “no-handed” or learning tricks such as “ghost-riding” your back for large distances. Well… maybe not all of us progressed to adding tricks. I was fond of ghost-riding my bike recklessly towards the ditch to watch it flip into the air. I recall it being oddly satisfying to do.

 

 

My point is this, please don’t give up on your goals so easily. Expect that at the beginning it will take more concentration and effort, but that it isn’t that way forever. Hang in there just a little bit longer and you just might surprise yourself with what you can accomplish.