Almost 400 years ago, Isaac Newton realized that an object in motion tends to remain in motion – the first law of motion. While this applies in a direct physics perspective, it also applies to our habits and the daily choices that we make.
Momentum makes life easier.
When we are able to layer good habits and repeated efforts, it creates a cascading effect where the weight of our previous choices makes the next (good) choice progressivelyeasier. From this reasoning the first choices in a new direction, or coming from a stopped position, will require more energy and effort to start the ball rolling.
Recognizing these two small concepts from a logical perspective, we can understand both the requirements for starting something new and realize the power of our ingrained habits, whether positive or negative – slowing down a freight train to make it go a completely new direction takes a massive amount of energy.
A third point to acknowledge is that our momentum can become a powerful force that drags us forward beyond productive training – overtraining.
So, we need more work to start from scratch, and even more work to reverse directions, but once we are moving the process becomes easier. Finally, this momentum must be controlled lest it speed out of control and lead to overtraining, or obsession.
Practically speaking we aren’t doing physics. We are using a different kind of mental energy to create our motion towards our desired goal. With this in mind, we can break some of the rules that might be required to move a physical object.
For instance, if you set off a series of fire crackers to explode in serial detonation, they are never going to launch a rocket into orbit. However, a series of small action steps can and will lead to huge progress in your health and fitness down the road.
If you’re new to training and looking to get stronger, something as simple as adding an extra egg or two to your breakfast will make a difference in your ability to grow and use muscle. I use this example because I saw it happen over and over at my CrossFit gym in the San Francisco Bay Area years ago. Vegetarian clients – generally low protein intake – struggling to balance on lunges or squat down with their own bodyweight for months and months were able to stand strong, stabilize their body, and start building up weight just weeks after a short conversation where I encouraged them to try eating a single egg with their normal breakfast on a daily basis.
This example seems extreme, but I’ve seen it with more experienced athletes in my 1-1 online coaching as well. If you are low on protein, becoming conscious of protein intake is low hanging fruit that can help you build momentum in your training. Personally, I’m a 175 lb athlete, and I try to eat around 180g daily…
Nutritional adjustments are great because the adaptation is very quick when you find a missing piece and can fill that space with the right puzzle piece. Training and lifestyle adjustments take longer, but over the long term form the rest of the puzzle.
Getting to bed at the same time regularly, sleeping 7-8 hours, keeping the same goals in training cycle after cycle and getting those workouts done, etc. are all going to layer and support one another from a physiological standpoint as well as in building your decision making momentum.
When you feel progress and associate that progress with your choices, a connection is made to that choice in your brain and you want to keep making it, so that decision in the future becomes something you can’t wait to make again day after day.
Many have told me that much of what I post on instagram is unrelatable, or maybe beyond what the average person might want to achieve or even imagine is possible. For this reason, I wanted to share my perspective on training and the process of building progress from the beginning.
Always remember that change is difficult, but after the beginning, that change gains momentum and will become automatic. As a bonus, these changes, if they are consistent, will create noticeable progress regardless of your skill level, especially for beginners struggling to make the right choice each day.
Make a small choice each day to support yourself and make it consistent – eat your egg – and you will be creating the same momentum I carry into my day when I roll out of bed in the morning.
