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
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.
thing about how, you know, you need to make your
life feel as magical as it is. And, you know,
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
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.
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.
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?