I am writing this entry the day after the stock market imploded once again with investors losing lots of $$$ as the major indices shed LOTS of points. I am certain that financial consultants are fielding MANY calls from their anxious clients as portfolio balances have taken a nosedive for the last several weeks. I would bet that the most usual, calming/soothing words from these advisors are all about the “long term” looking rosy, i.e. if you look at the data from over a hundred years, the stock market will always go up in the long term, despite occasional short term “hiccups”. Many advisors tell their clients to not even look at their holdings daily, weekly or even monthly, as this may cause anxiety in the short term if losses are seen.
Let’s bring this discussion to the weight control arena: Many people, especially when they start a weight control effort, ride the roller coaster of day to day (or week to week) fluctuations. They are elated when the weight drops significantly in a week and show despair if the weight goes up or remains the same. I try to reassure my patients that the LONG TERM results are truly what matters…not what transpires day to day or week to week. Obviously, we need more “win” weeks in weight loss than weeks in which weight gain occurs for the long term to show a decrease.
During your journey to shed weight, please always focus on the long term results. Losing lots of weight quickly and then putting the weight back on is ultimately a waste of time and money spent. Short term weight loss is beneficial to those people striving for a reduced clothes size or a more youthful/healthy appearance for a specific event coming up. However, to lower the risk of heart attacks, stroke, diabetes and cancer (as well as looking younger and healthier years into the future) the LONG TERM is what counts.
My favorite “Wall Street” movie: “Wolf Of Wallstreet” with DiCaprio. Here is a very old song that was in the soundtrack: Moonlight In Vermont…a GREAT Ella Fitzgerald tune.
