One of the core reasons it is difficult to implement new habits that last is because people make small changes, fail to see a tangible results, and decide to stop.

There is a lag-time between making a change and seeing a result.
“I’ve started to improve my eating habits and have been walking more, why hasn’t my weight shifted yet?”.

Once this type of thinking takes root it is easy to see why people might just give up. But to make meaningful change habits need to persist long enough to break through this plateau, which author James Clear calls the ‘Plateau of Latent Potential’.

“Complaining about not achieving success despite working hard is like complaining about an ice cube not melting when you heated it from 25 to 31 degrees. Your work was not wasted; it was just being stored. All the action happens at 32 degrees” (James Clear)

The Plateau of Latent Potential can be observed below…

We often expect progress to be linear, but this is rarely ever the case, especially not as it pertains to weight loss. The message here is to expect the valley of disappointment and to see it as part of the process. And ultimately it is the commitment to the process that will determine your progress.

So if you find yourself several weeks into the new year not seeing much change yet, don't despair and start changing course. It might be that your efforts have not been wasted, merely stored. You are still in the valley of disappointment. Keep going and your will bust through the plateau. Focus on the process. Focus on your daily habits. You will reach your goal.