We have all been there, eating right throughout the week without cheating and getting in our daily workouts and then something gets in our way. The kids are up in the middle of the night and we miss a workout, a family BBQ is scheduled for the weekend and we indulge a little too much. We place an extreme amount of stress upon ourselves to stay on course and when a slip up happens we beat ourselves down. I know I have been on the “All Or Nothing” train but one day I finally realized it wasn’t worth the guilt and horrible feelings I placed upon myself each time it happened. If this sounds all too familiar I know you can break free from “all-or-nothing” thinking. The two most important things you can start practicing today, to help you step off this ride are: finding your “middle ground” and letting “good enough” be good enough.
Your “middle ground” is a satisfying way of eating that you can happily maintain seven days a week. No ups and downs. No on and off. No strict days and cheat days. The middle ground is where the magic happens, because it allows for better overall consistency—and when it comes to results, consistency is king.
By focusing on satiety instead of deprivation, you may find that how you eat on the weekends ends up being very similar to how you eat during the week. Eating in a similar manner every day is much more sustainable and enjoyable than being too restrictive or overindulging (and everything that tends to come with that).
Once in awhile, your schedule goes exactly according to plan, and you’re able to devote enough time to each and every pre-planned workout. However, more often than not, this thing called real life happens, and things don’t go according to plan. This is when you have a choice: you can say ‘forget it!’ or you can learn to navigate less-than-perfect, real-life situations like this, and do your best with what’s available.
Find peace in the fact that something is always better than nothing. Even if it’s not ideal, it’s good enough—and good enough, done over and over again, can make a huge difference. Some days you’ll have enough time to complete your full, hour-long workout. Some days you’ll have the opportunity to just go with the flow and see what you can get done in 30 minutes. And Some days, the only movement you get might be a 10-minute walk. It’s important to remember that the 10-minute walk is better than no walk.
When it comes to feeling your very best, every little bit counts. Getting into bed ten minutes earlier, or doing a five-minute meditation, or taking a 15-minute leisure walk to unwind… it’s all beneficial, and it all adds up!
You will get results based on what you do the overwhelming majority of the time. Being able to enjoy the process is absolutely crucial when it comes to sustainability. Give yourself grace and find your flow when circumstances aren’t optimal, and you will get results.
Figure out what some of your most common challenges are and have some alternate plans in your back pocket for when these situations arise. For example, compile a list of quick workouts you can do when you’re crunched for time, and pick a few ways to boost the flavor—and therefore satisfaction factor—of your meals so that you’re not jonesing for junk food once the weekend rolls around.
Learn to navigate the middle ground and enjoy the big and small success that “good enough” brings. As with a lot of things in life, the more you practice, the easier it feels—way easier than living on the “all-or-nothing” rollercoaster, that’s for sure!
