How Paper Towels Help You Lose Fat
The Paper Towel Theory was popularized by Bob White.
Get two rolls of paper towels. Put one on the left and one on the right. The left side is you now. Think of this as your “before” photo. It will remain unchanged. The right side is your progress during your fat loss get healthy process. The core of the roll represents lean and–most importantly–healthy you. The paper towels are the fat that’s covering lean, healthy you.
[NOTE: NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER compromise/sacrifice your health to be more lean/skinny/ripped. Always put your health first.]
“You have to get healthy to lose weight NOT lose weight to get healthy.” – Diane Schwarzbein
Each day, after successfully following your fat loss get healthy plan, tear off one sheet from the roll on the right. This represents a tiny bit of fat loss improved health. At the end of the week, do a side-by-side comparison. What do you see?
No. Noticeable. Difference.
That’s right— the two rolls look the same.
“BUT, STEVE, I FOLLOWED MY [pro-metabolic] NUTRITION PLAN, WORKED OUT THREE TIMES, WALKED A BIT, SLEPT WELL… WTF! THIS ISN’T WORKING! YOU’RE A THIEF AND A LIAR! YOU’RE IN CAHOOTS WITH BIG PAPER TOWEL! THE MOON LANDING WAS FAKED!
After questioning your entire existence you agree to trust the process for another week. At the end of the week, you’re seven sheets closer to lean healthy you but still no major difference visually. BUT… you feel great. So you stay the course.
Weeks go by. You make deposits into your Health Savings Account and tear off more sheets. You’re living your life and realize you haven’t even compared the two rolls in a month. Out of curiosity, you say…
“Ah, what the hell… let’s see the side-by-side… GOOD LAWD!”
You’re noticeably leaner, stronger, sexier, more confident, your crop tops fit better… you’re feeling great — better than ever, actually. You continue following your systems & processes— the EXACT SAME systems & processes that got you here (with minor tweaks along the way)…
Then, one day, there are no more sheets to tear off. You’re lean, healthy you! Congratulations!
“Ok, now what?”
Lift weights, carry groceries.
To maintain lean, healthy you, do the same stuff that got you here. It’s paramount that your health & fitness lifestyle is enjoyable & sustainable for-e-ver. There’s no going back to your old ways.
Key takeaways from Bob White’s Paper Towel Theory…
Sustainable (and maintainable) fat loss health is a slowww process. One sheet at a time… just keep tearing.
Trust the process. Don’t stress over the lack of day-to-day changes. You won’t notice visual changes for a while. That’s normal.
BE lean, healthy you right now. Make the same choices now that lean, healthy you makes when you’re lean, healthy you in the future.
