Ever notice how one seemingly insignificant poor decision snowballs into another, then another, then another?
Let me give you an example...
Monday morning at 6am your alarm starts blaring. Instead of getting right up and arriving to your scheduled workout on time, you hit snooze and arrive 10 minutes late. During the workout everything feels extra heavy, so you put down your weights and grab something lighter, thinking that it's just going to be one of those days.
At lunch you add a side of chips to your usual chicken salad and grab a diet soda instead of water. During your afternoon break the vending machine calls to you, but you settle instead for another cup of coffee laced with sweet creamer. In the caffeine and sugar induced buzz that follows, you call your honey and announce that instead of eating that sensible dinner at home you guys are going out to your favorite restaurant.
After dinner you decide to settle in with some ice cream and a movie instead of taking the dog on a walk. After all, it's been one of those days.
The next morning at 6am when your alarm starts blaring you skip snooze and reset the whole thing for 7am. You decide that your body really needs a break from all that exercise. After all, the gym will be there tomorrow, right?
It may be there, but at the rate you're going that doesn't matter since you'll be sleeping.
This string of bad decisions is best described as a Domino Effect. I believe that we are all in a constant state of Domino Effect – for better or for worse.
Either you're in the midst of a downward slide, where one bad decision slides right into the next, OR you're bettering yourself and are in the midst of making a string of good decisions.
Good decisions are just as contagious as bad ones.
A great morning workout leads you to choose a healthier lunch and then to skip your afternoon sugar fix. Since you're on a roll, you to eat a healthy dinner and then take the dog out for a brisk walk before getting into bed early enough to wake up refreshed and on time for tomorrow's workout.
Imagine where these two paths will take you in 3 months, 6 months and 12 months. The sting of good decisions will transform you into a fitter, healthier version of yourself--full of energy and confidence.
The string of bad decisions will morph you into a defeated version of yourself--filled with regret and disappointment.
So how do you stay on track?
The most foolproof method I've found is through professional accountability. This means enlisting the support of someone whose job is to make sure that you are getting to your workouts, making sound nutritional choices and getting plenty of rest and hydration.
That's what I do for my clients, and I'm good at it.
I'm passionate about making sure that you continue to strive towards bettering yourself through a fit and active lifestyle, making good decision after good decision.
Wouldn't you like to see yourself after a 12-month string of good decisions? I sure would.
