You know, I don’t write enough I-I-I-Inspirations about celebrating small wins. In fact, the only way to create big wins (weight loss, dropping sizes, baggy clothes, etc.,) is by having small wins.

Getting the body we want is about the accrued power of 1000’s of meals, and 100’s of workouts. Each one counts just as much as the next one. But like with everything in life, it’s unrealistic to expect rainbows and butterflies all the time.

Dealing with the lows is the hardest part, of course. And that’s why staying consistent is so challenging.

But even in the worst situations there can be a win. Really.

Let’s explore:

Let’s say we’re in the middle of a binge, and we typically eat a carton of ice cream. Leaving even a few bites – is a win nonetheless. That’s progress!

Let’s say we really don’t want to exercise. So we don’t! Typically, we would then proceed to be inactive all day. But instead we do 50 jumping jacks before we shower. That’s progress. It’s a win nonetheless!

Let’s say we have a terrible day of eating. We’re disgusted with ourselves so we choose not to submit our daily feedback, as we usually do, when we’re unhappy with how we eat. But instead, we submit it, and are as open and honest as possible.

(I learn the most about myself, and you, when the going is tough. Not when things are going great. It’s smooth sailing when it’s going great. The greatest growth happens when the sh*t hits the fan. And it ALWAYS will.)

While these can be seen as negative things, they can also be seen as wins.

No, it’s not perfect. But it’s progress. Besides, we don’t live in a perfect world. We live in a progressive one.

Although change can seem daunting at times, it’s very possible. It takes a lot of work. It takes a lot of effort. And lots of courage. But mostly, it takes a willingness to change.

And part of that is not only celebrating the good but also how the bad is getting less bad.

P.S. On Monday, I asked a bonus question at the bottom of the inspiration. Many of you said the opposite of subliminal messaging but I was looking for the actual name. So, unfortunately, there is no winner. And unfortunately, not one of you tried taking the comedy route. Why so serious?

I totally understand how in the face of GINORMOUS temptation it’s easy to start questioning why we’re doing this. In the face of GINORMOUS temptation our motivation fades.

That’s because our rational and long term mind is asleep while our irrational and short term mind is W I D E awake.

But even so, even after all of my rational/irrational talk, what’s the point of this? Why bother?

I figure now (TEMPTATION) is as good a time (TEMPTATION) as ever to remind (TEMPTATION) you why because (TEMPTATION) there is temptation everywhere (TEMPTATION).

(See what I just did there?)

But first let’s start with the question, “Why?”

Why do you want to lose weight? Why do you want to get more fit? Why do you want to accomplish your professional goals? Why do you want to accomplish your personal goals? What is your goal in life?

When I ask people these questions, I get a lot of different answers.

Whatever your goal is, think about the answer to the next question: Why?

And then keep asking yourself why.

What’s so fascinating to me is that if we keep asking ourselves, “Why?” enough times, we’ll arrive at the same answer that most people do.

We’re all doing what we do because we believe it’ll ultimately make us happier.

I think the end goal of anything we do is: happiness. However, I think happiness is a very ambiguous term. Instead, I’m very interested in how I can become happier (and how I can help other people become happier).

Not that I’m unhappy. I’ve always been a happy person.

But why not be as happy as I possibly can be? Life is short right?

We might as well be as happy as we possibly can be.

These questions and thoughts are what led me to write all of these posts.

So, here’s a question I’ve been noodling on and it helps me a lot:

“Will this make me happier?”

But you have to be honest with yourself when you ask that to yourself.

Let’s explore a little:

I’m not saying I’m unhappy when I’m shoveling a burger and fries into my face. I’m not saying I’m unhappy when I’m eating ice cream. No. Not at all. That makes me happy. At least, while I’m eating it.

I’m saying I’m happier when I eat healthfully.

I’m not saying I’m unhappy when I’m lounging around watching TV. That’s fun!

I’m saying I’m happier when I’m moving around and enjoying my fitness! That’s more fun!

I’m not saying I’m unhappy when I have a great meal and overeat because the food is just so tasty.

I’m saying I’m happier when I leave the table feeling satisfied and not stuffed.

When are you happier if you’re really and truly honest with yourself?

(And of course, our rational and long term mind knows the answers. The challenge is that in the face of temptation everywhere – we lose sight of what makes us happier because we’re thinking irrationally. By asking yourself this question it helps you to think rationally, and that’s the key.)

Bonus: In the 4th paragraph, I had a little fun. Is there a name for that. I’m genuinely asking because I don’t know. The first person to tell me wins a special prize to be announced in my next inspiration. And if there isn’t a special name, the funniest response wins. You have until noon Wednesday, 12/15 EST.

This thought keeps popping up in my head: It’s so easy to succeed because it’s so easy to fail.

It’s so easy to just give in and have that junk food. It’s so easy to just say, “Forget it, I’ll go to the gym tomorrow.” It’s so easy to just say, “Ya know what? I want that candy.”

Most people give in. They can’t say no to themselves. They can’t resist.

But who is in control here?

Here’s the problem we all face: this attitude of giving in and being easy on ourselves is contagious. It slowly spreads to other aspects of our life.

“Well, I’ll just hand in my project at work even though it’s not that good…it is what it is.”

“Eh, I’ll stop studying now. I’ll pass the test. It doesn’t matter anyway.”

“Ugh, I’m so tired. Screw it! I’m sleeping late.”

There’s a million examples in which going that extra few inches makes all of the difference. And we face that choice of whether we want to go that extra inch or not every single day.

Here’s an experiment:

Raise your hand in the air.

Now raise it one inch higher.

See what happens when we’re pushed?

We can always try a little harder. We can always be pushed a little more.

It’s that inch, that extra effort, that makes all of the difference.

It’s so easy to succeed because it’s so easy to fail. It’s so easy to just give in. It’s so easy to just stop running when our legs are uncomfortable. It’s so easy to just say, “This is too uncomfortable, I’m having that junk food!”

But when we’re hard on ourselves, life gets easier.

And it’s the hard that makes it great. It’s the hard that brings us the satisfaction and fulfillment and sense of accomplishment.

That = joy.

Besides, if it was easy everyone would do it. But nothing worth doing is easy. Because if everyone could do it, it wouldn’t be valuable. Scarcity = valuable.

So let’s go that extra inch for the rest of today. Let’s push ourselves a leeettttle bit harder. Let’s say no to something we’d usually say yes to.

That inch is where all the joy is in.

Enjoy it.

–

We believe that daily and personal accountability is THE key to success. Otherwise, it’s just too easy to make excuses and rationalize those excuses, and ultimately, fail, once again on our pursuit of realizing our body’s full potential.

We’re so sure of our program and system that we put our money where our mouth is. Click here to contact us today so we can set up a time to speak about your goals and challenges and get you started. I ask you, if not now, then when?

People always ask me what my favorite spice is so I figured I’d share it with you right here, right now.

But I’m not going to just tell it to you because that would be booooring.

Getting the body we want is about 3 things: Eating right. Exercising. And doing those two things consistently.

Unfortunately, it’s the consistency part that’s so hard.

Besides the usual culprits like rationalizing, procrastinating and justifying – consistency is even harder because it can get so boring.

Variety is the spice of life, right?

Not in our case.

And because consistency can get boring we bounce from one fad diet to the next, always in search of the newest fad diet, instead of focusing on what actually works.

We all know deep down, the secret to success is —> doing the right things over and over and over and over again. And doing the right things over and over and over and over again. And doing the right things over and over and over again.

No matter what diet we follow, what program we’re on, or what ‘magic pill’ we take (they don’t exist!), if we want to be successful, eventually, we’re going to have to do the actual work.

And the actual work means eating right, eating less, and moving more…consistently.

There is no escaping this! I repeat: We can’t escape the work if we want results.

Once in a blue moon, a client will ask me if I get bored of what I do. “Don’t you get bored of replying to my Daily Feedbacks every day?

“It’s an honest question.

The answer is absolutely not! Because I know each Daily Feedback will lead us one step closer to where we want to be. Each daily feedback is a critical part of this journey. Every meal counts. Every workout counts.

And what really drives me, and what I really love, is the thrill I get when you email me and say “Damn! This is working!” “My pants feel loose!” “I hate you because I have to buy new clothes!” That’s what gets me out of bed every morning. That’s what keeps me up at night.

THIS is what I live for!

Because I know we can’t escape the discomfort we have to endure, we just can’t. Nor can we escape the day to day consistency we have to stick to, which isn’t sexy whatsoever – even though, it’s ridiculously effective!

And because it’s so easy to avoid the inevitable – being consistent and sticking with a sensible eating and exercise plan – I know (in fact, I’m 1000% convinced) daily and personal accountability and support is what makes ALL of the difference.

No one said it’s easy. Nor sexy. But ask anyone who’s pursued anything worth doing —> usually, things that are hard to obtain or else it wouldn’t be worth all that much nor would it be inspiring – and they’re certainly convinced it’s worth it.

So let’s embrace the consistency for today and this week.

And when it feels a little boring, that’s our time to lean in even more and make more change happen. Because like our moods, we have ups and downs. And when we’re up, it feels easy.

But when it’s easy, we quickly forget about the inevitable downs that 9.9 times out of 10 knock us off our tracks for good.

Until we start something else and repeat the cycle over and over again. But not on my watch.

Oh and my favorite spice in the world?

I’ll tell you what. The 7th person to reply to contact me with the right answer will win a FREE month of MBT. This way you can once and for all – stay consistent with your diet and exercise!