Comfort Breaks, Not Exit Ramps

You know the feeling. You're halfway through your wellness journey, things get challenging, and that little voice whispers, "Maybe I should just quit." Or worse, "Maybe this is just how I'm supposed to be at this age."

These thoughts might sound logical, even comforting, but they're actually sneaky little escape hatches that can derail your entire health transformation. Let me tell you a story about a mountain hike that taught me the crucial difference between taking a comfort break and taking an exit ramp.

Over the 4th of July, I hiked Mount Timpanogos here in Utah. I see this mountain every day from my house, but trust me, you don't really know a mountain until you're sweating your way up it at 7 AM. And I was completely unprepared.

I let my husband handle all the planning, so I went in blind. We were up at 5:15, I hadn't eaten a sufficient breakfast, didn't hydrate properly, and wasn't thinking straight. Almost immediately, I felt it - fatigue in mind and body, heavy legs, scattered thoughts. I felt really off.

My husband kept gently offering, "We can turn back at any time," which was kind but planted a sneaky seed in my brain. The more I thought about turning back, the harder the hike felt. I was already talking myself into quitting.

The Sneaky Thoughts That Sabotage Your Progress

That thought "I can turn back at any time" wasn't helping me. It was creating self-sabotage. Every steep switchback became a temptation I didn't need.

This is exactly what happens in our health journeys. That thought "I can just stop anytime" might seem harmless, but it becomes an escape hatch your brain keeps eyeing the second things feel hard.

I remember in my early 40s, when I was exhausted, had constant headaches, felt bloated and uncomfortable. I didn't feel beautiful, sexy, or like myself. The sneaky thoughts started creeping in: "Maybe this is just what being in your 40s is like." "Maybe this is normal and I just need to get used to it." "At least I'm not as big as her." "I actually look pretty good for my age, just a little plump."

While those thoughts gave momentary relief, they also gave me an exit ramp. They made it easier to settle, to stay stuck, because by comparison, I wasn't the worst case.

The problem: Those thoughts were robbing me of how I really wanted to feel - energetic, comfortable in my own skin, radiant, alive. The comparison game felt like permission to stay stuck.

What Sneaky Thoughts Are You Entertaining?

What thoughts are giving you permission to quit or settle? Maybe they sound like:

"At least I'm not as bad as I used to be." "Other people have more weight to lose." "I've tried so many times - maybe this is just how it is for me." "My husband doesn't seem to mind, so maybe I shouldn't either." "I just want to enjoy life - I don't want to be obsessed with health." "I've got too much going on right now. I'll get serious about it later." "I'm not getting any younger. It's probably too late anyway."

These thoughts might sound logical, kind, or accepting, but they quietly kill your momentum. They convince you to pull over and call it "good enough."

But do you want good enough? Deep down, don't you want freedom, energy, confidence, and vitality?

Listen to that voice: Even when I had those sneaky thoughts about accepting decline, another voice kept tapping my shoulder saying, "No, I think there's more." If you hear that voice, listen to it. There IS more.

The Power of Shifting Your Focus

On the mountain, I made a crucial decision. I stopped thinking about turning back and decided to focus on making it to "the saddle" - the point where you can see both valleys, about a mile from the summit.

I eliminated the temptation to quit and set a realistic, purposeful goal. That one shift made a huge difference. Quitting was officially off the table.

The wellness parallel: When you focus on the whole mountain instead of your next step, you get discouraged. But when you focus on what's next - planning three simple meals this week, walking after dinner, drinking more water today - you create momentum.

You don't need to stay stuck in the drama of "should I keep going or give up?" When you focus on what's next, not what's wrong, you go from quitting to continuing.

The Importance of Realistic Expectations

Halfway up the mountain, I finally asked my husband for the hike stats. I'd been going completely blind, assuming it would be like our previous hike - 11 miles with 1,600 feet elevation gain.

This hike? 12 miles with almost 5,000 feet elevation gain. No wonder I was struggling! I had completely wrong expectations and it was messing with my head. I started questioning whether I'd lost strength or stamina.

Sound familiar? How many times do we walk into health journeys thinking it'll be like our 20s or 30s? Thinking we can push through with sheer willpower, maybe without proper fuel or support?

It's no wonder we feel defeated. It's not because we fail - it's because our expectations are completely misaligned.

We've been conditioned by diet culture and social media to think we can starve ourselves, literally and metaphorically. We're taught that discipline means ignoring our body's needs. We're given plans that work only short-term, then feel like failures when they don't last.

The truth: Sustainable health comes from properly fueling your body and mind, understanding what your journey actually looks like, and removing the "I can quit anytime" option.

Comfort Breaks vs Exit Ramps: The Game-Changing Difference

Once I understood the scope of the trail, instead of giving myself an exit ramp, I gave myself something different: permission to take as many breaks as I needed.

I didn't need to complete the hike in record time. I could pause, rest, and gather myself mentally and physically. That simple shift changed my entire experience.

Dan Sullivan, an amazing entrepreneur coach, says this: "Continued growth requires a balance between stretching ourselves beyond where we're comfortable and taking comfort breaks at those new levels so they begin to feel normal."

Comfort breaks are not quitting - they're resting. The trick is keeping comfort breaks short enough that you don't lose momentum.

Sometimes we need to eat that metaphorical sandwich, reset expectations, and get perspective - but not stop entirely.

The Real Path vs the Sugar-Coated Version

It's time to understand what your wellness journey actually looks like. Not the sugar-coated version sold by diet culture or quick fixes, not the "lose 10 pounds in two weeks" plan, but the real path.

The real path includes hard moments, slow progress, learning curves, and genuine growth. When we get honest about what the road looks like, we stop being shocked when we hit hills. We stop thinking something's wrong with us and realize, "This is just part of the trail. I can handle this."

What I Discovered on the Mountain

That hike ended up being incredible. I saw things I wouldn't have seen if I'd turned around - beautiful wildflowers, spectacular views, a moose with her baby, a mountain goat with her kid. I never regretted continuing, even though it was hard.

I didn't summit that day, but I got exactly what I needed and more. Sometimes we need clarity, confidence, and renewed commitment to keep climbing.

The parallel: There's beauty along your wellness journey too. Unexpected amazing things happen when you just keep going.

Your Next Step Forward

If you're on your climb right now - whether in health, habits, mindset, or your relationship with yourself - remember this: The trail might be steep, but you are strong.

You don't need to sprint. You don't need perfection. You just need to keep moving, one intentional step at a time.

Here's your action plan:

• Fuel yourself, mind and body

• Reset your expectations to reality (ignore diet culture promises)

• Identify the sneaky thoughts offering you exit ramps

• Replace "I can quit anytime" with "I can take breaks when needed"

• Focus on your next small step, not the whole mountain

  
  

What Thoughts Are Lulling You to Sleep?

What thoughts are lulling you to sleep motivationally? Is it comparing yourself to others? "I'll start tomorrow"? "I'm just weak and need more willpower"? "I'll never get there anyway"?

Maybe it's time to let go of those thoughts and create more empowering ones. Maybe it's time to stop thinking about quitting and start planning strategic comfort breaks.

You are not alone in this climb. The trail might be challenging, but you're stronger than you realize. Every step forward - no matter how small - is evidence of your growing strength and commitment to the person you're becoming.

Ready for more strategies to stay on your wellness path when things get challenging? Listen to the full episode of Wellness Mastery with Jen Hoyer for the complete mountain story and tools for navigating obstacles in your health transformation.

Listen to Episode 29: Comfort Breaks, Not Exit Ramps