I haven’t been perfect this weekend. While I got all my workouts in, my eating has been a little on the high-calorie side, as is apt to happen when family gathers and we celebrate a birthday—in this instance, my husband’s.
In the past, a splurge like I experienced this weekend would have been enough to derail me. I used to suffer from a severe case of perfectionitis where if I didn’t do my diet and exercise perfectly, I would be so hard on myself that I would give up.
Fortunately, I now have a personal “No Regrets” policy. This gives me the ability to start each day with a fresh opportunity to do the very best I can, and to celebrate those actions that are moving me towards my goal.
Being more tolerant and supportive of myself has helped me lift the “all or nothing” requirement that I used to have for success.
This feeling that you have to do your diet and exercise program perfectly or you’ve “blown it” is very common amongst dieters and is one of the primary reasons that people fail to meet their weight-loss goals.
The good news is that you don’t have to be perfect. If you eat a cookie or two, it’s not the end of your diet. But if you give up then and down a pint of ice cream on top of it—well that’s going to be much harder to recover from and your progress for the week will likely be stymied. Too many weeks with no progress and the motivation to continue seeps away and dies.
If you slip, it’s much better to pick back up right where you are.
One way to do this is to let go of regrets. Those cookies might not have been on your eating plan, but hopefully you enjoyed it, and now it’s over and done. Focus on getting back on track with your next meal.
By creating a personal “No Regrets Policy,” you more easily and consistently move towards the best possible version of you.
What do you need to tell yourself to get back on track immediately after you have been less than perfect? What can you do to be more tolerant and supportive of yourself? What difference does that make in helping you meet your goals?
Together we can do it!
Goss Coaching 
I love the no regrets policy! I, too, splurge and then get right back on track. Great post!
Thanks, Kristin! The getting back on track is the most important thing! Progress, not perfection! Thanks for commenting.
I love that you started out stating….”I haven’t been perfect this weekend”. My question is when are we really perfect in terms of our behaviors? What is perfect? It is all about managing expectations….I love the No Regrets Policy — that is about focusing on the past which we can’t change anyway 🙂
Great point! It about not meeting my expectation for how I intended to eat this weekend. And yes, the past is over and done. Can’t change it. Time to focus on today and what we are doing right this moment. That’s were all of our power is. Thanks so much for commenting!
You can’t move forward if you are focused on the past. Hard lesson to learn but so fundamental to success!
Absolutely! Whether it’s yesterday or many years ago. The decision you are making right now is where you true power is. Thanks for commenting. Love you!
I nominated your blog for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Details are on my blog.
Thank you so much, Joyce! I really appreciate it. And you!
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