“Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.” — Marie Forleo
My husband and I just got back from a long weekend in Miami.
During our trip I didn't workout. I drank more alcohol than I usually do. I ate less healthily than I usually do. I slept less than I usually do.
And,
It. Doesn't. Matter.
It doesn't matter because it was only 4 days.
4 days, which make up roughly 1% of the year.
So I'm not going to stress over it because I know that in the scheme of things it's insignificant.
And that my success isn't made or ruined by the 1% stuff.
👉 I know that my success comes from being consistent with healthy habits for the majority of the year.
But the on and off dieter stresses over the 1% stuff.
They think that a weekend of poor eating means their progress has been "ruined".
And that they need to go to extremes to course correct.
They'll say things like "I was SO BAD in Miami" and "I'm going to be REALLY GOOD to make up for it".
They make a plan to do extra cardio, cut out all carbs and skip breakfast for a week.
Which lasts until they get invited out for Happy Hour drinks on Thursday.
And "only ONE drink" turns into four plus half a pizza.
Then it's basically the weekend, so they'll "reign it in" again on Monday.
And around and around they go.
Repeating the same patterns and getting nowhere.
But a balanced eater knows that the occasional indulgent weekend isn't the end of the world,
And that they don't need to "kickstart" or "reboot" anything.
A balanced eater knows that all they need to do is get back to focusing on the basics, just like they do for the majority of the year.
Things like:
✅ Getting adequate protein (.75-1 gram/pound of body weight) ✅ Eating 5-10 servings of fruits and vegetables per day ✅ Prioritizing whole grain and high fiber carbohydrates ✅ Staying hydrated (~half body weight in ounces) ✅ Eating slowly and to 80% full ✅ Managing stress and cravings ✅ Strength training a minimum of 3x/week ✅ Sleeping 7-9 hours/night
Because a balanced eater knows that staying consistent with that stuff MOST of the time not only gives them the results they want to see,
It gives them the freedom to fully enjoy the 1% stuff without guilt or retribution,
And it allows them to honor their physical health as well as their mental, emotional and social health.
So, it's back to the basics for me this week.
🛒 I placed a grocery order on our way home from the airport so that we'd be fully stocked the next morning. 📅 I made sure my workouts were scheduled in my calendar. 🥛 I put my favorite water glass (a giant mason jar) on my desk so that I'm reminded to drink. 😴 I went back to my usual sleep routine.
But more importantly, I didn't beat myself up for having a great time with my husband, friends and family.
And hopefully, the next time you have an overly indulgent weekend, neither will you.
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