Why Being “Perfect” Set Me Back Years
For years, I thought fat loss meant being perfect.
Perfect meals. Perfect workouts. Perfect discipline.
And every time I slipped up, even a little, I’d throw it all away.
One “bad” meal?
I’d tell myself I’d ruined it.
That was it. I’d “failed” and had to start fresh Monday.
One missed workout?
I might as well write off the day…
And Monday never got easier.
That all-or-nothing mindset didn’t just hold me back.
It set me back.
The Perfection Spiral
If you’ve ever tried to lose fat by being flawless, you’ll know this cycle:
→ Monday to Thursday: “Clean” food, strict workouts, discipline on lock.
→ Friday: Energy crashes, cravings hit.
→ Saturday: Blowout meals, drinks, “I’ll start again Monday.”
→ Sunday: Guilt.
By the time Monday rolled around, I’d undone the whole week.
The harder I tried to be perfect, the further away results got.
Why Perfection Fails
Here’s the science:
Your body adapts to restriction.
Cut calories too low, and metabolism slows. Hunger hormones (ghrelin) go up. Stress hormone (cortisol) rises. Cravings intensify.Your brain doesn’t forget.
When you tell yourself certain foods are “off-limits,” you want them more. Restriction fuels obsession.Your energy tanks.
Low calories plus high stress = no fuel for training or focus. That’s why you crash by Friday.
It’s not about lacking willpower. It’s about biology.
The Shift That Changed Everything
What finally changed for me, and for the CEOs I coach now, was dropping the obsession with perfection and focusing on systems.
Not clean eating.
Not endless cardio.
Not chasing sweat.
But a framework that works in real life:
→ Protein first at every meal to preserve muscle and keep hunger stable.
→ Carbs as fuel for performance and recovery - not the enemy.
→ Strategic strength training 2-3x per week to build a metabolism that burns more at rest.
→ Walking daily to regulate blood sugar and stress without draining energy.
→ Weekly averages, not daily perfection - one meal never ruins progress.
Why This Works for High Performers
CEOs and high-level professionals thrive on structure.
But when they apply “all or nothing” thinking to fat loss, they burn out.
The truth is, you don’t need perfection.
You need consistency.
And consistency comes from a plan you can actually live with - business trips, late nights, social dinners and all.
My clients don’t lose 20-30lbs because they’re perfect.
They lose it because they follow a system that adapts to them, not the other way around.
Bottom Line
Being perfect set me back years.
Because fat loss isn’t about being flawless.
It’s about being consistent.
And when you stop chasing perfection and start following structure… that’s when fat loss finally sticks.
P.S. If you’re not already subscribed to my free newsletter, I share weekly tips to help you lose weight without giving up your favourite foods or doing endless cardio. You can subscribe here.
You can build a strong, lean, focused body at any age. But you need the right tools. If you want help building a strategy that works with your life, not against it, you can start by booking a free call here.
