My Body Tutor : No More Excuses

One of the many rationalizations we all face is the good old “Enjoy life now!”

When I eat healthfully and exercise – I feel better, in other words, happier, than if I didn’t.

But I love cookies. I love ice cream. I love hamburgers. I really do!

And I indulge!

However, I make sure I’m indulging for the right reasons and that I really do want what I’m eating and not just eating it because it’s available.

This leads to the whole now versus later debate we all have with ourselves.

“Screw Adam, screw MBT, screw the Daily Feedback! I want to enjoy life now!” you rationalize.

That’s the devil on your shoulder talking to the Body Tutor.

So try this thought on for size:

Why not enjoy life now, even if it means more health problems later?

Go for that cookie! Go for that burger! Go for that ice cream! Do it all the time!

But it seems to me, unless you are already taking heroin you aren’t being true to your own philosophy. Why not enjoy a good high now? Who cares what happens later!?

Most of us, though, have always thought about later on…and not now.

Usually, we wake up and do the things we do, to set ourselves up for a better future.

The one downside of planning ahead is that you may enjoy today a tad less. The upside is that your future might be a bit better! Maybe even a lot better!

Either way, we’re going to suffer (I say this word very loosely) from the pain of discipline or the pain of regret and disappointment.

I’m not saying my approach is right, but I don’t think it’s fair to call the “live for today” approach any kind of philosophy unless you’re also quitting your job, doing heroin, living at McDonald’s and only doing what feels the best every minute of your life.

Junkies have a philosophy. You have rationalizations.

Now there’s always a twist:

It turns out – I actually enjoy today more when I eat and exercise for the future. We all have days when we do nothing but eat and watch TV which are certainly fun. But I always feel even better when I’m eating right and exercising.

It turns out living and planning for the future will also make you happier today.