Here’s something nobody tells you when you start your fitness journey:
The urgency is killing your progress.
I see it every day. Someone decides they’re “finally getting serious” about their health. They set a 30-day deadline. They go all-in. They burn out in week three. Sound familiar?
After 20 years of coaching, I’ve learned something counterintuitive: The people who treat fitness like they have infinite time are the ones who actually transform.
The Scarcity Trap
Most people approach fitness from scarcity:
- “I need to lose 20 pounds in 8 weeks or I’m a failure”
- “I have to work out 6 days a week or it doesn’t count”
- “I can’t miss a single meal plan or I’ll ruin everything”
- “I need results NOW or I’ll give up”
This is the desperate energy of someone who thinks time is running out. Spoiler alert: It’s not.
The Abundance Mindset
Here’s what I tell my clients who actually succeed:
“You have infinite time to get this right.”
Not because deadlines don’t matter, but because sustainable change happens when you stop rushing and start building.
Think about it:
- What’s the cost of taking an extra month to build a habit that lasts 20 years?
- What’s the value of perfecting your form instead of racing through reps?
- What happens when you choose the right nutrition plan instead of the fastest one?
You win. Every time.
This Is Your Home
Your body isn’t a project with a deadline. It’s your home.
You don’t rush building a home. You take time to get the foundation right. You invest in quality materials. You make choices you can live with for decades, not just survive for weeks.
When you approach fitness like you’re building a home instead of fighting a fire, everything changes:
- ✅ You can be selective about what works for YOUR body
- ✅ You can experiment without pressure
- ✅ You can optimize for sustainability, not speed
- ✅ You can build something that lasts
The Math That Changes Everything
Let me show you why this matters:
Scarcity Approach:
- Goal: Lose 30 pounds in 90 days
- Method: Extreme calorie restriction + excessive cardio
- Result: Burnout at day 45, regain all weight by day 120
- Net result after 1 year: Back to square one, discouraged
Abundance Approach:
- Goal: Build sustainable habits over 6 months
- Method: Moderate deficit + strength training + enjoyable movement
- Result: Steady progress, small wins, sustainable lifestyle
- Net result after 1 year: 25 pounds lost, muscle gained, habits locked in, confidence up
Who wins? The person who had “all the time in the world.”
What This Looks Like In Practice
Instead of: “I need to work out 6 days a week or I’m failing”
Try: “I’m going to nail 3 perfect workouts this week and build from there”
Instead of: “I can’t eat any carbs for the next 12 weeks”
Try: “I’m going to learn what portion sizes work for my body”
Instead of: “I have to see results in 30 days”
Try: “I’m going to feel better every month for the next year”
See the difference? One is panic. The other is power.
The Midnight Realization
You know when clarity hits? Usually around midnight when you’re supposed to be sleeping but your brain decides it’s philosophy hour. 🤣
Here’s mine: People who rush through fitness are like people who rush through Margaritaville. You’re missing the whole point, friend.
Jimmy Buffett didn’t write about frantically optimizing your beach time. He wrote about being there. Fully. Enjoying it. Making it last.
Your fitness journey? Same deal.
For the Entrepreneurs Reading This
You already know this from business:
The desperate entrepreneur chasing quick wins? They burn out or build something fragile.
The patient entrepreneur building something sustainable? They’re still standing a decade later.
Your health is no different. You’re not sprinting to an exit. You’re building an empire that has to last 40+ more years.
Act accordingly.
The Real Secret
Here’s what 20 years of coaching has taught me:
The clients who succeed aren’t the ones with the most willpower or the strictest plans. They’re the ones who realize they have permission to take their time.
They experiment. They adjust. They forgive themselves. They keep going.
They treat their body like their home—something to build, grow, nurture, foster, and believe in.
No urgency. Just passionate vision. And infinite runway to get it right.
Your Assignment (If You Choose to Accept It)
This week, I want you to try something radical:
Give yourself permission to slow down.
- Take an extra rest day if your body needs it
- Spend 10 minutes perfecting your squat form instead of rushing through sets
- Cook one meal you actually enjoy instead of choking down “diet food”
- Go for a walk just because it feels good, not because you “have to burn calories”
Notice what happens when you stop rushing.
Notice how it feels to build instead of fight.
Notice how much more sustainable it becomes.
The Bottom Line
You’re not running out of time.
You have infinite runway to build the body and life you want.
The only question is: Are you going to rush through it and burn out, or are you going to build something that lasts?
I’m betting on the latter. Because you’re reading this, which means you’re the type of person who thinks deeper than “lose 10 pounds fast.”
Welcome home. Let’s build this thing right.
—
P.S. If you’re a parent reading this while your kids are (finally) asleep, I see you. The same principle applies to parenting: you’re not running out of time with your kids. You’re building a relationship that lasts a lifetime. Slow down. Enjoy it. You’ve got this.
P.P.S. Yes, that was a Midnight Toker reference. If you got it, we’re friends now. If you didn’t, Google it. You’re welcome. 🤣
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