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As of today, I am standing on the verge of a new weight loss accomplishment: my lowest point in 3 years. I am literally teetering on the edge of a personal milestone – a big one, toward which I’ve been working for a while now. Today I want desperately to cross that threshold, break through this plateau, and set the weight loss ball solidly rolling downhill again. I feel as though I’ve been pushing the weight loss rock uphill for the past few months in anticipation of this moment, and today, it is finally here.

So how do I create the momentum to make it happen?

The concept of momentum fascinates me. For such a powerful force, momentum requires such a little spark to get started. My first big memory of experiencing the power of momentum was when I was 5 years old living in the Seattle area during the golden age of the Seattle Supersonics.

At the final game of the 1978-79 NBA championship series, from the moment we set foot in the gigantic Kingdome the overwhelming sensation of energy permeated every atom in the space, and not just because of the notorious echo. As the game progressed and the Sonics’ momentum built, I very clearly remember it feeling similar to standing directly in front of a loudspeaker at a rock concert – it is a very physical experience, and a powerful influencer.

The Sonics’ momentum ultimately worked in their favor; they won the game and the title. The exuberance of the crowd was overwhelming.

In fact, the momentum that had built was so contagious that it felt as though you could fly if you simply had the will to do it.

We all harness momentum in various ways, but sometimes it’s difficult to really latch onto it when we need it most. Great athletes and musicians can do it on demand. The beauty is, momentum only needs a small spark to get you going, and all of us have the power to light that fire.

So how do you kick off the spark of momentum?

10 simple ways to build weight loss momentum

1. Use what you know inspires you, even if it’s trivial. It may sound or feel silly at first, but indulging your sense of inspiration to do great things can be a great catalyst for finding momentum. For me, I find tremendous inspiration in film. There are a couple of films that I find particularly inspiring when it comes to fitness that generally depict the story of people achieving greatness.

Again, it may sound silly or obvious, but I know that I often forget to do the simplest things, of which this is one. Remember, all you really need is a tiny spark to get momentum started. So if you have something that inspires you to reach for greatness, by all means, use it.

2. Use the power of your senses to your advantage. We are sensory creatures, without question. We are moved by the things we see, hear, touch, smell, and taste. To build momentum, rather than being afraid of that last sense mentioned (taste), focus on capitalizing on the power of your senses. How?

Here’s an experiment: try focusing on the satisfaction of a single sense for a day. For example, decide for today that you are going to concentrate on noticing the beauty of visual things. Decide that today, you will savor the visual beauty around you above all other senses.

You will find that if you decide to focus on one sense for a day, it helps you retain focus in general. It helps you to head off that feeling of being “out of control” with your other senses. This sense of control can be empowering, which helps you to find the momentum for personal change that you’re looking for. Again, it only needs to be a small spark. Be inspired by your senses.

3. When it comes to weight loss, give yourself some credit. I read time and again where weight loss writers are disappointed because they only lost half a pound this week. Believe me, I know that sense of frustration when you are expecting more. However, always remember: a loss is a loss – even if it’s tiny. Take the credit for small progress. And then build on that with each small step. Building on small successes is how great things are often accomplished.

4. Do one simple thing throughout the day. Example? Drink Water – but NOT because it’s good for you. It is the most cliché tip in the weight loss world, but I am recommending it not for the health reason, but for something even simpler: Because it’s easy. I’m a believer in small steps, and building momentum starts with small things. Decide that for today, “I am drinking my water.”

5. Get outside. I know personally that I tend to cash in on momentum in the wrong ways – and in the process, I sometimes stop it dead in it’s tracks; if I’ve got writing momentum for example, I tend to sit in front of my desk, take my meals there, and generally shut out the outside physical world. BIG MISTAKE. I find the greatest personal momentum when I get outside and move through the physical world around me. And again, make it a small goal. This isn’t about exercise, so much as it is about finding mental energy. Your goal should be to get outside for any length of time, and take credit for doing so.

6. Hang out with like-minded individuals. If you want momentum, make sure the company that you keep wants you to succeed. Does that mean you need to hang out with fitness junkies? Not necessarily. If you have friends who are driven to achieve their goals, fitness or otherwise, you will find that momentum is contagious. Use it to your advantage.

7. Use the power of physical manifestation. To kick off that spark of momentum, try this: Write down your goals, using a pen and paper, repeat that process several times, and then read each one out loud.

For some reason, the physical act of putting pen to paper has a powerful influence on a lot of us. It is compounded by the physical act of repeating it, out loud. You don’t have to yell it, although it might not hurt.

If you feel your momentum slowing, do it again, all the way through. Write it down several times, and say it out loud. It gives you a sense of empowerment, and maybe helps us all to not take ourselves too seriously.

8. Get away from your goal by doing something completely unrelated. This is the “fresh perspective” concept which essentially says that if you focus on something else, intently, for the purpose of completely forgetting about all of the messy wiring that builds around a big goal, that you will gain clarity when you return to that big goal. For me, this is accomplished with things like playing my guitar. When I remember to do so, I stop and play for a little while, and then return to the task that is giving me trouble.

Again, you are looking for that small spark that will kick of momentum in a positive direction, and sometimes that spark is sitting right in front of you waiting to be discovered. Getting a fresh perspective may help you to see it.

9. Leave the TV off for a day. If asked, most of us would argue that we are not really influenced by television ads; the modern, jaded TV viewer really doesn’t take notice of such mundane things, right? Not necessarily. The television, particularly commercial television, is a powerful influencer. There is a reason why large companies spend tens of millions of dollars on television ad campaigns. The goal is to inject the presence of their product or message into your mind – and for this, TV works incredibly well. The best ads are the ones that you think don’t work. If the advertiser has convinced you to think about the concept that you have the power to decide over their ad, guess what?

They’re in your head. Mission accomplished.

Think of it another way: If you wanted to kick off the spark of momentum to avoid fast food for example, would it make sense to purposely subject yourself to dozens and dozens of images created by very smart people whose sole goal is to stimulate cravings for foods you’re trying to avoid?

10. Don’t think: DO. If you want to kick off momentum, thinking (as opposed to doing) is really your enemy. Don’t spend a lot of time cogitating over how and what and where and when, just start. Begin NOW. World-class musicians and athletes have this trait in common: When they are on their game, they are not thinking about being on their game.

My Father-in-law is an accomplished jazz musician, which from my amateur guitarist perspective is an incredible feat. The thing is, when I think of him, I don’t think that he “plays” jazz; the man IS jazz. He lives and breathes it. And when he is at his best, that is what he is doing – he’s not thinking about jazz; he is simply living and breathing – and the manifestation of his living and breathing is jazz brilliance.

In other words, he doesn’t think; he DOES. And when he is in that space, his momentum is gigantic. The pure power of the experience is simply overwhelming, and nearly unstoppable.

So can I do it?

I’m gonna’ give it a shot. Today, I am trying several of these techniques, including writing my objective down (and saying it out loud) (check), getting outside (next), and drinking water (check).

Tomorrow I’ll let you know how it went. Keep your fingers crossed – which I certainly am (hey maybe that should be point number 11 on the list….. ).

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