This one goes out to the people who say you only live once #YOLO

It's interesting.

Once in a while when I talk with a person who doesn't appear to be healthy and fit, they'll say: "You know, I only live once. And we're all going to die anyway so what's the point of my weight loss efforts."

There is a reason they are saying this, and it's not as obvious as you might think. I'll go into that next week.

Instead, let's tackle head on the point of us only living once so what's the point of our weight loss efforts.

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I talk and write a lot about our short term/irrational mind versus our long term/rational mind. Our long term/rational mind is where our true dreams and desires are. Our short term/irrational mind doesn't care about the future. It wants pleasure...and it wants it NOW!

Our short term mind is constantly sabotaging us in the form of thoughts like, "You deserve this cookie, go for it. You only live once!" "Why bother exercising?" "Don't you want to be happy now?"

Here's the challenge we all wrestle with: Balancing living for tomorrow with living for today.

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The reason why I've been able to stick with MBT since February of 2007 is because I truly believe in what we're doing, and I know what I offer works. I believe in what we do 1000% and my belief only gets stronger each and every day.

Persistence isn't about doing the same things over and over. It's about wanting the same thing over and over. (I believe our short term/irrational mind is constantly trying to chip away at what we really want because it's easier to maintain the status quo.)

And something I've wanted for as long as I can remember - and something I'll always want - is to live the happiest life I can, and to help others do the same.

One fact remains constant and it's what drives me:  When I eat healthfully and exercise, I feel better. In other words, happier, than when I don't.

BELIEVE ME! I love cookies. I love ice cream. I love hamburgers. I really do. It's a constant battle. And I indulge. But, I try to only indulge for the right reasons.

Even when I do indulge, I still don't feel as good as when I eat healthfully.

Which brings me to the question we always ask our selves, "Why am I not enjoying NOW?"

"We're all gonna die anyway!" some people say.

Which circles us back to the...

NOW versus later debate.

"Screw Adam, screw MBT, screw the Daily Feedback! I want to enjoy life now!"

That's the devil on our shoulder talking to the Body Tutor. That's our irrational, short term mind yelling at our rational, long term mind.

So try this thought on for size:

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

Really.

Go for that cookie! Go for that burger! Go for that ice cream!

BUT! It seems to me, unless you are already doing heroin then you aren't being true to your own philosophy. Why not enjoy a good high now? Who cares what happens later!?

Interestingly, all of us have always thought about later on, and not now.

Think about the first 20 or so years of our life. Everything we did in school was to set ourselves up for a better future.

The one downside of planning ahead is that we may enjoy today a tad less. The upside is that our future might be a bit better! Maybe, A LOT better!

I'm not saying my thinking here is the best, but I think you get my point.

I don't think it's fair to call the "you only live once aka YOLO" approach any kind of philosophy unless you're also quitting your job, doing heroin, living at your favorite restaurant, and only doing what feels the best every minute of your life.

Junkies have a philosophy. We have rationalizations.

Now there's always a twist:

1. It turns out, we actually enjoy today MORE when we eat and exercise for the future. We've all had days when do nothing but eat and watch TV - at least I have. I always feel better when I'm eating right and exercising. Always! I know you do too.

2. I've never done drugs. Had/have no desire. I'm not saying you should. It was just to make a point. Actually, as a public service announcement I'll write it: don't do drugs!

3. It turns out that when we live and plan for the future it'll also make us happier TODAY!

Why not make it a happier weekend?

-Adam

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P.S. I've thought and written a lot about the subject of happiness because I think that's our end goal. You can read all of my posts on happiness on my other blog here.

P.P.S. Wow, Steve Jobs passed away one year ago today. He inspired me to "Think Different." Thank you, Steve! R.I.P. You really lived.