Last updated on September 11th, 2020 at 11:44 am
You might be asking yourself: “what does he mean by the compound effect of calorie reduction?” Well, think about compounding in the context of a dollar that is earning interest in the bank. Your dollar earns a specific rate of interest – let’s say this percentage is 5% (I wish I banked with this institution). After one year, your $1 has become $1.05. Compounding takes place when it’s not just $1 anymore that is earning 5% per year, it is $1.05. You are not only earning interest on your principal (the original $1), but you are also earning interest on your interest. It’s no wonder that Albert Einstein is rumored to have said that “compound interest is the most powerful force in the universe.”
So, the compound effect of calorie reduction is the “magic” that happens by consistently reducing your calorie intake over an extended period of time. Just a slight reduction, like consuming 125 calories less per day for 31 months (more on this below), can bring about miraculous results.
The “Magic” Penny
Are you ready for me to blow your mind? Which of these options would you choose:
- $3,000,000 Today
- $0.01 Today; Doubled Every Day For 31 Days
Choosing the $3 million was a great option through day 29, but the compound effect of a penny doubling each day won in the end.
Darren Hardy – The Author of The Compound Effect
Author Darren Hardy shared this magic penny example in his excellent book The Compound Effect. However, he shared another example that shows the compound effect of calorie reduction. An extended excerpt from Darren’s book is included below.
Three Friends, Three Unique Approaches to Life
“Let’s take three buddies who all grew up together. They live in the same neighborhood, with very similar sensibilities. Each makes around $50,000 a year. They’re all married and have average health and body weight, plus a little bit of that dreaded ‘marriage flab.’
“Friend number one, let’s call him Larry, plods along doing as he’s always done. He’s happy, or so he thinks, but complains occasionally that nothing ever changes.
“Friend number two, Scott, starts making some small, seemingly inconsequential, positive changes. He begins reading 10 pages of a good book per day and listening to 30 minutes of something instructional or inspirational on his commute to work. Scott wants to see changes in his life, but doesn’t want to make a fuss over it. He recently read an interview with Dr. Mehmet Oz in SUCCESS magazine and chose one idea from the article to implement in his life: He’s going to cut 125 calories from his diet every day. No big deal. We’re talking maybe a cup of cereal less, trading that can of soda for a bottle of seltzer, switching from mayo to mustard on his sandwich. Doable. He’s also started walking a couple thousand extra steps per day (less than a mile). No grand acts of bravery or effort. Stuff anyone could do. But Scott is determined to stick with these choices, knowing that even though they’re simple, he could also easily be tempted to abandon them.
“Friend number three, Brad, makes a few poor choices. He recently bought a new big-screen TV so he can watch more of his favorite programs. He’s been trying out the recipes he’s seen on the Food Channel—the cheesy casseroles and desserts are his favorites. Oh, and he installed a bar in his family room and added one alcoholic drink per week to his diet. Nothing crazy; Brad just wants to have a little more fun.
The Experiment
“At the end of five months, no perceivable differences exist among Larry, Scott, or Brad. Scott continues to read a little bit every night and listen to audios during his commute; Brad is “enjoying” life and doing less. Larry keeps doing as he always has. Even though each man has his own pattern of behavior, five months isn’t long enough to see any real decline or improvement in their situations. In fact, if you charted the three men’s weights, you’d see a rounding error of zero. They’d look exactly equal.
“At the end of ten months, we still can’t see noticeable changes in any of their lives. It’s not until we get to the end of the eighteenth month that the slightest differences are measurable in these three friends’ appearances.
“But at about month twenty-five, we start seeing really measurable, visible differences. At month twenty-seven, we see an expansive difference. And, by month thirty-one, the change is startling. Brad is now fat while Scott is trim. By simply cutting 125 calories a day, in thirty-one months, Scott has lost thirty-three pounds!
The Compound Effect of Calorie Reduction
“31 months = 940 days
940 days x 125 calories/day = 117,500 calories saved
117,500 calories saved x 1 pound/3,500 calories = 33.5 pounds!
“Brad ate only 125 more calories more a day in that same time frame, and gained 33.5 pounds. Now he weighs 67 pounds more than Scott! But the differences are more significant than weight. Scott’s invested almost one thousand hours reading good books and listening to self-improvement audios; by putting his newly gained knowledge into practice, he’s earned a promotion and a raise. Best of all, his marriage is thriving. Brad? He’s unhappy at work, and his marriage is on the rocks. And Larry? Larry is pretty much exactly where he was two and half years ago, except now he’s a little more bitter about it.
“The phenomenal power of the Compound Effect is that simple. The difference between people who employ the Compound Effect for their benefit compared to their peers who allow the same effect to work against them is almost inconceivable. It looks miraculous! Like magic or quantum leaps. After thirty-one months (or thirty-one years), the person who uses the positive nature of the Compound Effect appears to be an “overnight success.” In reality, his or her profound success was the result of small, smart choices, completed consistently over time.“
Slow and Steady
Technology has made it possible for us to accomplish tasks more quickly than ever. Gone are the days of dial up internet and commercials we can’t skip. Our increasingly connected world also makes it possible to digest information like never before. However, it is important to maintain a proper perspective…
I don’t believe in overnight health solutions. There are individuals who develop an expertise and then share an accelerated path to health; but without small, consistent (compounded) effort over time, it will be impossible to maintain optimal health, no matter how fast you get there.
My Compound Effect Experience
The hardest part about the compound effect is there is no apparent change from day to day. For example, this month (May 2020) I followed the instructions of a YouTuber who claimed that I could get six-pack abs doing a certain set of ab exercises for 22 consecutive days. Because I don’t exercise on Sundays, I had to modify the schedule slightly. However, I have still seen significant results.
That being said, the physical change from day to day has been so slow and imperceptible that at times it has been a bit discouraging. Not to mention that I don’t look like the YouTuber I’m following… yet. However, I’m not just writing about the compound effect because it’s an interesting topic. I’m writing about the compound effect because I have seen it work its magic time and time again in my life. As I maintain a healthy weight and continue to exercise consistently everyday, there is no reason I won’t look like the YouTubers out there in the future. I believe that I can accomplish anything!
Permanent Optimal Health
I have said it before, and I’ll say it again: you are remarkable. I believe that as you make small, yet important, decisions each day, you can enjoy the healthy lifestyle that you desire. You can accomplish your health goals, I have no doubt about it.
Let me conclude with the words of Dr. Wayne Andersen: “There is a powerful solution available to you right now – and it starts with the compounding effect of choice. It’s about making small, doable choices that support health every day. When you make those choices today, and tomorrow, and the next day, day in and day out, the benefits compound much like the penny doubling over time. And in the end, you gain a treasure far more valuable than weight loss alone – you gain permanent optimal health.”