Today is NOT the Day You're Going to Quit

In the beginning stages of adopting a diet and exercise plan, there is only one idea that's important; there was no yesterday, and there is no tomorrow.  There is only here, now. 

The first mistake people so commonly make when trying to make lifestyle changes is that they beat themselves to death with the idea of from now on.  From now on, I will work out every day!  From now on, I will eat only steamed vegetables, broiled chicken, and fruit!  From now on, I will be a pillar of willpower!

And then life happens.  If you're lucky, and you don't completely derail yourself from the get-go being daunted by that attitude, you make it down the road aways and even see some progress.  But, sooner or later, something really fucks with your mojo.  In the past two years, I've had an unexpected pregnancy, a miscarriage, surgery, a suicidal family member...yeah, a lot has gone on that has completely challenged my willpower and motivation, at least in the short-term.  Black-and-white thinking was not what got me through.  Just being here, now, *was*.

Don't waste the mental and emotional energy on trying to map out the rest of your life as this perfect picture of health and vitality.  Are you going to get there?  YES!  Will it take commitment?  ABSOLUTELY!  But what happens when you fuck up?  When your REAL life deviates from that perfect roadmap you planned?

I'll tell you what happens, to the vast majority of people.  They get completely derailed, and never get back on track.  That one day, that one mistake, and they believe that they have FAILED.  And no matter how many successful yesterdays they had, all they can see is that their perfect roadmap HAS A FLAW IN IT NOW.  And so, they give up.

Listen, folks.  In diet and exercise, it doesn't matter what you were doing yesterday.  And it doesn't matter whether or not you succeed tomorrow.  All that matters is *today*.  TODAY is NOT THE DAY YOU ARE GOING TO QUIT.

TODAY IS NOT THE DAY YOU ARE GOING TO STOP BY THE DRIVE-THROUGH.

TODAY IS NOT THE DAY YOU WILL SKIP YOUR WORKOUT.

TODAY IS NOT THAT DAY.

Don't worry about tomorrow, it can take care of itself.  Forget whatever happened yesterday, it's ancient history.  All that matters, is that, just for today, you have commitment.  Just for today, you have purpose.  Just for THIS ONE DAY, you will not cave. 

Anyone can live through any sort of constraint for 24 hours.  Anyone can obey the rules for just one day.  It's positively easy.  So just today, follow your plan. 

When tomorrow gets here, guess what?  It's today again.  And remember...today is not the day you're going to quit.

Let's not try to plan out our lives, based on what we think we know today.  What we know today, is true today, and that's as far as you can count on it.  So for today, stay the course.  Just choose just for this day, to eat right and exercise.

Every day, get up, and make that choice again, just for today.  That pie will still be there tomorrow.  Those cookies will still be waiting to be eaten for dessert.  That treadmill can be passed up for the rest of your life.  Just for today, stay the course.

Today...is NOT the day you're going to quit.

Don't Think.  Just GO!  Just for Today.