The Comeback Trail

in·er·tia (ĭ-nûrˈshə). noun. The tendency of a body at rest to remain at rest or of a body in motion to stay in motion, unless acted upon by a force.

As far as I know, Sir Isaac Newton was more physics expert than fitness expert. But his First Law of Motion, from which the concept of inertia was derived, offers an important insight for people trying to stay on The Comeback Trail.

Even the most dedicated people will occasionally miss a scheduled workout, usually for reasons beyond their control, such as work and family responsibilities, illness or injuries. Nothing wrong with that; life has a way of disrupting our best-laid plans. But when a layoff of a few days turns into weeks of inactivity, that’s inertia working against you.

Fortunately, the flip side of inertia (a body in motion tends to stay in motion) can be just as powerful. Even the most modest efforts to kick-start your workout regimen — deciding to get on the floor and do 30 pushups, say, or going out for an easy three-mile run — can quickly get you back on track. It means you have to impose your will on inertia — that’s the “force” acting upon it — but once you do, Sir Isaac’s theory starts working in your favor, and you’ll find yourself right back in the workout groove.

– Chris Nerney