North By Northwest to Reach Your Goal

North by Northwest. That's the Hitchcock movie with the crop-dusting scene. And Mount Rushmore. And a plot with more twists and turns than a corkscrew.

Cary Grant, playing innocent advertising guy Mr Thornhill, is mistaken for a spy and ends up being wanted as a murderer all over America. He has to escape from his pursuers many times, over and over again thinking he is free of them. He also has to work out who he can trust, as those who appear to help him are not what they seem.

Isn't this a good metaphor for weight loss?

The road to slimness is full of obstacles, twists and turns. We think we have it all under control then there'll be a birthday, or a celebration dinner, or a night out with friends.

And some of those friends may be less than helpful when they encourage us to have 'Just a small piece of cake' or 'One won't hurt you' or 'You've got to eat something'.

Just remember Cary Grant running through the cornfield. He kept on going. And what did he do on Mount Rushmore? Kept on going. He was hanging on by his fingertips but he didn't let go, even when the villain stood on his fingers.

After all that adventure our intrepid hero marries the girl (having told her that his first two wives left him because nothing ever happened to him!) and we assume it's happily ever after with the villains caught or dead.

So if you feel at times you are hanging on by your fingertips, just remember that persistence will win out in the end. Keep on going, and put the villains and obstacles behind you.

And happy eating!

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