10 Comments
User's avatar
Jane Duncan Rogers's avatar

I particularly love the idea ‘you don’t lose everything, you just lose momentum’. So true. It’s so easy to throw the baby out with the bathwater when it often isn’t necessary.

Expand full comment
Philipp Maerzhaeuser's avatar

Yes Jane, we need to differentiate between the two.

I didn’t know that proverb exists not just in Germany, where I come from😊

Expand full comment
Christina Marlett's avatar

Love this article Philipp. I'm a big believer in asking "What can I do?" It might be the bare minimum and I subscribe to the idea that something is better than nothing, even if it's just one rep or one breath. Thank you for your authenticity.

Expand full comment
Philipp Maerzhaeuser's avatar

Hi Christina,

thank you so much for your kind words, that means a lot.

You have been practicing what I try to suggest in the article. Have a great weekend

Expand full comment
Sara Redondo, MD's avatar

Such a powerful and honest post, Philipp. Setbacks happen, but that doesn’t mean starting from zero, and your analogy of reopening a minimized window captures that perfectly. A grounded, motivating reminder that resilience is built through how we respond, not how perfectly we perform.

Expand full comment
Dr Christine DiBlasio's avatar

"When participants returned to training, they bounced back faster than expected. Because the body didn’t forget. It remembered." Now, we just need to remember that the body remembers! Having had several fitness detours due to surgeries etc., each time I learned something new. I tried a new activity that was more body friendly, and in the end, have more activities to choose from. But it is definitely a mental challenge to be sidelined for a time.

Expand full comment
Philipp Maerzhaeuser's avatar

Forced or voluntary breaks - they end a streak. What counts is that we take it for what it is, just a temporary defeat.

But I know that is easier said than done!

I love how you said that, Christine: “Now we just need to remember that our body remembers.”

My advice is for getting back in track is: What is the easiest thing I can do today instead of what is the best thing to do for my health.

Low entry barrier

Expand full comment
Dr Christine DiBlasio's avatar

Perfect. Low bar. I can step over that!

Expand full comment
Louise Morris's avatar

Thanks, this is such good advice. I'm definitely guilty of resisting going back to training because it's hard after a break. Perhaps this is exactly what I needed to read today.

Expand full comment
Philipp Maerzhaeuser's avatar

Hey Louise,

wonderful! I’m really happy to see my article hit home and if it helps you to get back into your routines after a slip-up, then that’s the best thing that can happen.

Thank you for sharing this and enjoy your workouts. It sounds cliche, but better get back to it than beat yourself up because of a break.

Expand full comment