Transcript: Forget the Scale: Why Celebrating Small Wins Is the Secret to Staying Consistent
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Ashley introduces the episode's focus on celebrating milestones beyond the scale, framing it through her personal tendency to quit when things get hard and her effort to stay excited about working out and life.
What if I told you that the key to staying excited about your workouts is to celebrate every milestone? Would you believe me? What's up you guys? Famous Ashley Grant here. Welcome to More Movement Please, the podcast where I hope to inspire you to move your body more. Today I want to talk about the importance of celebrating milestones that go beyond the scale. I've talked about this a little bit in the past, but I really want to just drum it in y 'all because... I'm the type of person that whenever things get hard I am known to quit and I have been trying really really hard lately to focus on all the things that get me excited about work and working out and life and all the things and because I guess the best reason I could say it is because I really want to enjoy every aspect of my life for. I was reading this thing about how, you know, you need to make your life feel as magical as it is. And, you know,
Ashley admits she is a naturally negative and easily depressed person, and describes her active effort to look for reasons to smile — including reframing painful workouts as proof her body handled something hard.
instead of saying you're pouring yourself a drink, say that you're adding elixir to a glass. Or instead of saying that you're just getting up for the day, think about the fact that it's a new opportunity to have your dreams come true that day. Or basically just looking at all of the positive sides of life. The reality is that I'm a pretty negative person and I'm trying to actively work against that. A lot of people that meet me wouldn't know that I'm a pretty negative person, but I'm very pessimistic and very, very easily depressed, I guess you'd say. And I'm trying actively to look at all the reasons to smile in life and look at all the reasons to enjoy life. Whenever things get hard, I have been trying to be a lot better about looking at the good things. So when the workouts hurt, I think, wow, my body just did that. Or if work gets a little bit difficult, I think, wow, look at all the people that I've helped or all of
the clients that I've brought leads to or, you know, just flipping the script, basically. And so when I celebrate these milestones, it's not just to be. You know, one of those annoying Pollyannas who's like, oh my God, everything's wonderful. Because the truth is, no, things aren't always wonderful. Things sometimes really, really hurt. Sometimes I do still have days where I don't want to work out. I do still have days where I wake up and I'm like, oh God, I don't know if I can handle the dumbbells today or whatever.
But I'm trying to instead flip the script. And I kind of want to encourage you to do the same. Look at all of the reasons that... you can enjoy your workout today. Look at all the reasons that you can enjoy moving your body today and focus on the end result. Focus on what's going to happen after the workout is over. You're going to feel that elation. You're going to feel that pride. You're going to feel that joy of the fact that you actually did it. And yeah, you might feel like, oh man, this really hurts. But think about how awesome it is that you've got to hurt. I know it sounds weird, but to be able to actually complete a workout means, wow, your body actually was able to handle it. And your body is a lot stronger than you think it is. And that's one of the things that has been said to me many times.
And I guess I really didn't take it to heart because it's very easy for me to instead look at it at like all the things I can't do. But when you start focusing on the things that you can do, man, that's when things get really magical and really joyful. And so I guess the whole point of this is that I just want to say. You know, if you are finally starting to move your body and it's starting to hurt, look at all the things that you were able to accomplish this week. And if you haven't started moving your body, start.
Ashley reflects on being over 270 days and 550+ workouts in, contrasting that with last July when she struggled to get two hours of class a week, climb a flight of stairs, or even bend over to paint her toenails.
Start moving your body and think about what's going to happen after you begin. Think about the things you can work towards and the milestones you too can achieve. I'm over 270 days in and I'm 550 plus workouts in. And I have no plans of slowing down. And it's wild to me that I'm working out as much as I am because I think back to that girl back last July. And I just I remember how much I struggled to even get two hours of class in in a week. I remember how much I struggled to get to the door from my car. I remember how much I struggled to get up a flight of stairs or. God, just do anything. Like I know I've talked about that many times in the past, but sometimes it just really hits you hard how things were and how things are. And I even was telling my instructor Rhonda yesterday, I sent her a message and I kind of want to share it with y 'all. It's wild sometimes thinking about how much my body
has changed. The things I struggle with that are easier now, like even painting my toenails used to be a struggle because I couldn't reach them. Not so. And y 'all, so true. I remember having trouble just bending over to paint my toenails. I remember how hard it was to sometimes even tie my shoelaces. And you could contort your body and get into different positions. But it's just wild how things that were so difficult are now so much easier. And I'm so grateful.
And so if you take nothing else from this episode. I want you to take away this. Celebrate every milestone. Celebrate every action you take. Celebrate every bit of movement that you can get into your day. And if you haven't started moving, start now. It's going to feel better. It's going to suck a little bit sometimes. That's just a fact, but it's worth it. And I'm rooting for you. And I, oh gosh, y 'all, I just, I want you to move your bodies more. Like that's the whole point of this podcast is to encourage you to move your bodies more. So onwards and upwards, my friends.
Have you worked out today?