The False Victory Lap:
- GR
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
When Progress Tricks Us Into Stopping Short
How many times do we take a victory lap at the first sign of hope…and quietly stop before the goal is actually complete?
I was watching My 600-lb Life—one of those background shows you half-watch while folding laundry or journaling—when something stopped me mid-thought. At a weigh-in, one young woman didn’t just hit her goal of losing 30 pounds. She blew past it. Nearly 60 pounds down.
If you watch the show, you know the routine. Approval. Encouragement. The next step.
But right before the visit ended, Dr. Now said something that landed like a gut punch:
“This is not a victory lap. This is only the beginning of changing your life and lifestyle. So stick with it, and we’ll have you there in a year.”
Y’all.
Girl.
That line had my half-achieved goals flashing before my eyes.
Because how often do we do this—especially in midlife? We start strong. We see progress. We feel better. We loosen the reins just a little. Holidays happen. Vacations happen. Life happens. And suddenly we’re telling ourselves, “At least I proved I can do it.”
That’s what I now call The False Victory Lap.
When Progress Becomes the Exit Ramp
Midlife women are especially good at getting almost there.
We lose some weight, feel less bloated, have more energy—and then stop short of ever spending a full year in that “feel good” zone. Not chasing a number on the scale, but living with steady energy, emotional balance, focus, and confidence.
We make financial progress—read the books, take the class, practice the skill—then loosen discipline when consistency is required.
We confuse momentum with mastery.
And I say “we” because this is personal.
I’ve never reached my goal weight. I’ve never stayed in that healthy, grounded, clear-headed space for a full year. Not through holidays. Not through vacations. Not through cheat days that quietly turn into cheat seasons.
And discipline? Whether it’s health or finances—especially something as mentally demanding as futures trading—the line between intention and impulse can be as thin as a mouse click.
“You’ve Accomplished a Great Deal… But the Challenges Aren’t Over Yet”
I paused my writing, the show still playing in the background, when I heard Dr. Now say something else—maybe not word for word, but close enough to stick:
“You have accomplished a great deal, but the challenges are not over yet. Keep working on your goals.”
And then he added that if she kept this up, in a year or less she would have a completely different life. Health. Freedom. Possibility.
That’s when it clicked.
We think the confidence comes from the finish line.
But it’s built in the reps.
The slips.
The getting back up.
The discipline practiced when motivation fades.
The boundaries we learn around our limits and non-negotiables.
That’s the journey everyone talks about—but few of us slow down enough to respect.
Why Midlife Changes the Rules
This season of life isn’t about starting from zero. It’s about unlearning the rush.
We’ve lived long enough to know that quick wins don’t equal lasting change. We’re not chasing resolutions anymore—we’re chasing sustainability.
And maybe that’s why visualizing the year
feels better than visualizing the goal.
Seeing yourself show up week after week.
Stacking habits instead of restarting them.
Letting progress be the invitation to continue—not the excuse to pause.
Because the truth is: when one goal is reached, another always follows. We don’t stop evolving. We don’t stop desiring better. We don’t stop becoming.
There is no final victory lap.
A Gentle Call-In (Not a Call-Out)
So here’s the invitation:
Choose one goal—health, finances, or discipline. Just one.
Journal honestly about where you’ve taken false victory laps before. No judgment. Just awareness.
Share this with one safe person—not to pressure you, but to walk with you. Someone who will ask once a week or once a month: "What did you do toward your goal? "
And then listen.
Not to critique. Not to fix. Just to keep you moving.
If this resonated, you’re not alone—and you’re not late.
You’re simply at the part where progress asks for commitment.
And that?
That’s the real beginning.
Let’s Keep Pondering
If this stirred something in you, I’d love to hear it.
Leave a comment, journal it out, or share this with the friend who might be running a little hard on almost-there energy.
And if you want to stay in this space—these honest midlife reflections—join the Pondering Crew. No pressure. Just company on the journey.
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