The Step That Matters Most
As much as I try to simplify the things that it takes to get in great shape; actually doing what it takes (consistently enough that any of it actually makes a difference) can be really hard.
It doesn’t really help that most of the noise (the loudest voices with the biggest influence) about fitness tends to run a bit…extreme.
“Want to lose 30 pounds in 30 days? Great! We’re going to do a juice fast/”cleanse” for the first 7 days, and then take ourselves as close to starving as possible for the rest of the program by eliminating almost everything that you’ve ever enjoyed eating and drinking.”
Ok, perhaps my parody on the extremism of modern fitness marketing is also a bit…extreme. Fair, but not the point.
The problem with extremes when it comes to sustainable, long-term success with your fitness is that instead of experiencing your fitness journey as an uphill struggle with challenging but manageable obstacles, it becomes a life-or-death struggle to scale a near-vertical mountain without tools or experience.
Extremes create slippery slopes with greater stakes that hasten and exaggerate the consequences of failure. And in an ironic twist of fate…the faster we climb without making sure we can sustain our pace, the harder it’ll be for us to get back on again after we fall.
Sound familiar? It’s an awful lot like the cycle of eating “perfectly” through the week, and then binging HARD once the weekend rolls around…only to do it all over again the next week, and the next week, and the next week.
Process vs. Outcome
Instead of focusing on a particular outcome like how to scale a mountain the fastest way possible (especially without a plan to get back down), I propose shifting into a more process-oriented mindset where more focus is paid to the daily tasks and rituals that need to be done in order to get us to the outcomes we want.
It doesn’t mean we forget about our goals — just that we set our sights on the steps that lay immediately before us, and take each new step as it comes instead of trying to take them all at once.
In other words — focus less on losing 25lbs and more on the behaviors and habits that will get you there.
Otherwise, we create situations where we feel like it’s better to give up on everything (i.e. eating right or getting to sleep on time) because we messed up and didn’t work out (because we were sick, had work meetings, or whatever).
“Good Enough” Is Better Than “Best”
The people who create lasting change do so because they do what they need to, to the best of their ability, regardless of what else is happening in their life.
Sometimes life cooperates and things go better than they do when life is hectic and we have deadlines to meet. Other times, it just seems like we can’t catch a break. But just because something isn’t deemed to be the “best,” doesn’t mean that “good enough” can’t still drive you forward. A thousand baby steps will get you further along than trying to take the whole trip in a few jumps ever will.
One baby step, one choice at a time.
Isn’t that what it comes down to, anyway — our choices? And who makes our choices?
The next time you’re frustrated or unhappy with where you are, remember why you’re there. Focus less on finding someone or something to blame and focus more on your own power to do something about it.
Practice Patience
We can sit around for weeks, months, or even years crying like helpless babies with no power or ability to help ourselves; OR we can put on our big kid pants and face the fact that the choices we make now affect what happens weeks, months, and years from now.
But we have to be patient and understand that each choice we make is all building toward something. Every decision to get to bed at a decent time; to not treat every day like “treat yourself” day; to move our bodies frequently and with focused intent brings us closer to the body that we want for ourselves. We shouldn’t give up because we don’t see results right away.
When you feel lost, re-connect to your driving purpose — the reason you started this journey in the first place — then get back to work, whether you feel like it or not.
If you won’t do it now, why should your future be any different? The step that matters most (and will have the biggest impact in your success) is the one that’s right in front of you. Make sure the horse comes before the cart, and keep moving.
