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The 3 Lessons I Wish I Learned Before Day 1

As I look back on my 8-year journey to lose 100lbs, there are three pivotal lessons that could have saved me countless setbacks, frustrations, and moments of self-doubt had I understood them from the very beginning. These hard-earned truths have become deeply ingrained in my approach to sustainable, lifelong change – and I wish someone had shared them with me sooner.

So let me be that someone for you:

1. Consistency Trumps Motivation

I can vividly recall the countless times I was filled with a sudden and almost palpable sense of motivation. Where it came from? Honestly, I have no clue, but this burning desire to finally transform myself and take control of my health would fill my body and, in those moments, nothing seemed impossible.

I’d spend weeks meticulously planning out my meals, researching the “perfect” workout routines, and diving headfirst into my so-called “new lifestyle” with a crazy sense of determination.

Quickly, and I mean very quickly, as the weeks wore on, that initial spark of motivation would inevitably begin to fade. The novelty would wear off, and the daily grind of sticking to my plan would become increasingly challenging.

How many times have you told yourself, "This is the time! I swear, I'm going to start [insert goal], and change my life!" only to find yourself unmotivated and struggling days, weeks, or months later?

I've done this so many times it's basically laughable.

It was during those moments of waning motivation that I learned the true value of consistency.

Consistency is the unsung hero of any successful journey. It's the ability to show up and put in the work, even when you don't feel like it. It's the discipline to stick to your habits and routines, even when motivation has taken a backseat. It's the understanding that real, lasting change isn't built on sudden bursts of enthusiasm, but rather on the cumulative effect of small, consistent actions over time.

Consistency is the thing that'll get you to the gym on a Friday night when everyone else is going out. It's what stops you from saying "eh, why not?" and cheating on your meal plan just because all your friends are smashing burgers and fries. (That one's extra personal for me - had to throw it in there.)

Looking back, I wish I had understood earlier that motivation is merely the spark that ignites the fire, while consistency is the steady fuel that keeps it burning bright.

2. It's Not Your Goals That Are Unrealistic, It's Your Timelines

How many times have I set out on yet another weight loss journey, fueled by an ambitious goal associated to an unrealistic timeline? I can't even count the number of times I told myself:

only to feel crushed and defeated when I inevitably fell short of those nearly impossible, arbitrary, and honestly unhealthy deadlines.

The truth is, the goals themselves were often achievable – it was the timelines I associated with them that were utterly unrealistic. In my eagerness to see results quickly, I would set myself up for disappointment by expecting rapid, dramatic changes in an impossibly short timeframe.

It wasn't until I truly embraced the concept lifelong change that I stopped feeling like a constant failure. I realized that lasting transformation isn't about crash diets or quick fixes; it's about making small, incremental changes that compound over time. It's about setting realistic expectations and understanding that true, meaningful progress takes patience and perseverance.

I promise you: looking good for that one event will not be as worthwhile or feel as good as making lifetime changes. Once I let go of those unrealistic timelines and focused on the journey itself, rather than arbitrary deadlines, I stopped beating myself up for not meeting impossible standards. Instead, I celebrated each small victory along the way, knowing that every step was bringing me closer to my ultimate goal.

Believe me, the sense of accomplishment and pride that comes from making lasting improvements far outweighs any fleeting satisfaction of looking good for a single event. This journey is about so much more than that!

3. For the love of God, Just Start!

Ah, the paralysis of analysis – a trap I fell into time and time again. I would spend weeks, even months, trying to find the "perfect" routine, the "optimal" macro split, or the "ideal" schedule before even taking the first step. I was so caught up in the pursuit of the perfect plan that I failed to realize the most important lesson of all: just start!

Looking back, there are numerous examples where I wasted months trying to "perfect" everything before even beginning my journey. I thought I needed to have every single detail meticulously planned out, from my workout routine down to the minutiae of my meal prep, before I could even step foot in the gym or the kitchen. I spent countless hours reading studies, scouring YouTube for "How to" videos - damn, if only there were awards for hours spent on fitness YouTube, I would have taken home the grand prize. I watched hours upon hours of content and looked to my friends and family for advice, trying to gather as much information as possible.

But when I finally did start, I quickly realized that no amount of planning could have fully prepared me for the reality:

The gym was intimidating, and I didn't know how to use half the machines. All the grunting and sweating in the weight room made me nervous as hell. I thought everyone would judge me. (btw - no one cares)

I was way weaker than I thought (like...way weaker). None of the weights I had prescribed myself based on online calculators were even remotely doable for me.

The meal plans I had meticulously crafted weren't as enjoyable or affordable as I had hoped.

The gym didn't care about my little spreadsheets - it was an overwhelming reality check. And no matter how much I tried to account for every possible scenario, there were always unforeseen challenges and obstacles to overcome.

This happened time and time again until I finally learned the truth: the stars will never perfectly align, and there will never be a "perfect" time to start. The only way to truly learn and grow is to take that first step, even if it's imperfect, and then course-correct along the way.

Thank you for joining me on today's newsletter. I hope you found value from it and learned something that can help propel you forward on your own journey.