In sailing, heading aggressively towards you destination might not be the fastest route. Sailboats cannot sail directly into the wind and sailing directly downwind can be relatively slow. More important than boat speed is progress towards your destination, known as velocity made good (VMG).

Achieving good health can be like sailing. Sometimes an indirect path is faster than an aggressive path that seems faster (at first). If your path is not sustainable, no amount of speed will get you there faster.

Trying to slim down and get lean is a good example. It’s tempting to dramatically cut calories so you lose weight quickly. It works until your body resists and starts shedding muscle and slowing metabolism. When you go back to normal calories, your body tends to overcorrect and you end up heavier (with less muscle) than when you started. You went faster and ended up further from your destination.

Aiming to lose just 1% of your bodyweight per week can be faster in the long run. Small calorie cuts are easier to stick with and you can more easily retain muscle. Your body tends to stabilize slow changes and you are more likely to make sustainable progress towards your goal.

Are you focused on moving fast or making progress towards your destination?