There is an ancient Greek story about an Olympic hero named Milo.
Milo was a six-time wrestling champion at the Ancient Olympic Games in Greece.
The legend is that Milo built his incredible strength through a simple, but profound strategy.
One day, a newborn calf was born near Milo's home. The wrestler decided to lift the small animal up and carry it on his shoulders. The next day, he returned and did the same. Milo continued this strategy for the next four years, hoisting the calf onto his shoulders each day as it grew until he was no longer lifting a calf, but a four-year-old bull.
On the first day of the Olympics, Milo walked the length of the track while carrying a full-grown bull!
Other wrestlers failed to achieve the same strength as Milo as they tried to lift the full-grown bull every day. They kept failing and ended up quitting the training.
What does this teach us about weight loss?
Most of us get very frustrated with weight loss efforts as we try to lift a full-grown bull on the first attempt.
What do I really mean?
We all want instant results and get lured by the fad diets that promise rapid weight loss.
Fad diets not only do not work in long-term but ultimately end up screwing up metabolism and making future attempts at weight loss even more difficult.
Like as if we try to lift the bull on the first attempt without any training we most likely will end up breaking our bones!
We have to understand that weight loss or maintenance is not a sprint but rather an ultra distance race. For sustained weight loss and maintenance of healthy weight, we need a progressive goal setting. What is progressive goal setting for weight loss then?
1)Set up small daily SMART goals
2) Be very specific in your goals and change one unhealthy habit at a time
3) Plan daily healthy rituals that are measurable, attainable and relevant
4) Discipline the mind for the long-term commitment
5) Aim for long-term results and not short-term rewards
