Most everybody wants to talk about being healthy these days. "I need to lose 20 pounds," "I gotta start working out," "Maybe I should eat a salad instead of this pizza." Yeah, yeah, we’ve all been there. But let’s be honest—nobody wants to do the actual work.

🥨 You’re sitting on the couch, remote in one hand, a bag of sourdough hard pretzels in the other, waiting for the magic to happen. What, you think the pounds are just gonna melt off because you thought about going to the gym?

It’s not about losing 30 pounds by next week or turning into a Greek god/goddess overnight. No, you must take it one day at a time. Just win today. Maybe instead of grabbing the double cheeseburger with extra fries, you grab something green. Or maybe, just maybe, you put down the remote, get off the couch, and take a little walk. You don’t need to go all Rocky Balboa, but do something.

Stop stressing about tomorrow, or next month, or next year. You can’t control any of that. But you know what you can control? Today. So quit the excuses, do something healthy, and let’s win today. Then tomorrow, maybe we’ll talk about winning again.

How to Practice Being Healthy Every Day

As someone who has coached thousands of client-athletes over the years, one thing I’ve learned is this: Success leaves clues. And that means if you want to achieve your goals, you should look at what successful people do and apply those principles to your own life.

The majority of people who reach their health and fitness goals don’t have any special genetic advantages or superhuman abilities. Instead, they practice a set of characteristics that anyone can adopt.

1. Belief: Build Confidence by Setting Achievable Goals

Belief in yourself is the foundation of success. But how do you start believing when you’ve failed in the past or feel unsure of your abilities?

The answer is to build confidence with small, achievable goals.

Instead of focusing on losing 30 pounds, set a goal to lose 2 pounds in the next two weeks. If you want to be more active, don’t aim for perfection. Start by committing to a daily walk.

Each small victory reinforces the belief that you can achieve bigger things. As you consistently meet these smaller goals, your confidence—and belief in yourself—will grow.

2. Perseverance: Embrace the Struggle as Part of the Process

We all hit roadblocks, whether it’s a plateau in weight loss, an injury, or just a tough day. But perseverance means embracing those struggles as part of the journey.

When you face setbacks:

• Reframe challenges as opportunities to grow.
• Adjust your plan, not your goal. If a workout feels too hard, scale it down. If you're injured, focus on recovery.
• Keep showing up, even when it feels like nothing is happening.

You might not see progress every day, but those who push through the tough times are the ones who reach their goals in the long run.

3. Consistency: Create a Routine that Works for You

Consistency is the secret to success. But how do you stay consistent when life gets in the way?

It’s all about creating a routine that fits your lifestyle. Here are some actionable steps:

• Schedule your workouts just like you would a meeting. Make them non-negotiable.
• Batch meal prep on Sundays so you’re not scrambling for healthy food during the week.
• Track your progress. Whether it’s with a journal, app, or simple checklist, keep tabs on your daily wins so you can see the cumulative effect over time.

Consistency doesn’t mean perfection. It means sticking to the plan, adjusting when necessary, and staying the course.

4. Willingness to Be Different: Challenge the Norm

If you want to achieve something extraordinary, you have to be willing to step outside of your comfort zone. Most people, who are struggling with obesity, will take the easy route—eating whatever they want, skipping workouts, and complaining about the results they don’t get.

But you’re not most people. You’re someone who’s willing to be different.

Challenge the norm by:

• Choosing health even when it’s inconvenient. Meal prep instead of grabbing fast food.
• Training hard, not just checking off a workout from the list.
• Prioritizing recovery instead of pushing yourself to burnout.

Be the person who commits to growth, even when it’s hard. You’ll find that this willingness to do what others won’t sets you apart.

The Power of Incremental Change

The most successful client-athletes I’ve coached aren’t necessarily the ones who started with the most talent or knowledge. They’re the ones who embraced the power of incremental change.

Every day, they showed up, made small adjustments, and won their day. It’s this daily practice that leads to long-term success.

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the big picture, shift your focus. Forget about the 30 pounds, the back pain, or the long journey ahead. Just focus on winning today. Because when you win today, and then tomorrow, and the next day, you’ll eventually look back and realize how far you’ve come.

To your success,  

Coach Joe  

Joseph Arangio helps 40+ men and women get leaner, stronger, and happier. He's delivered over 100,000 transformation programs to satisfied clients around the globe. If you want to lose weight from home, with the best online personal trainer, or you want to visit the best personal trainer in the Lehigh Valley, you can take a free 14-day trial.