The Power of Striving for the B
When we set out to make a change, such as to lose weight, we often set big, grandiose goals and we picture perfection. We decide we’re going to cut out all carbs, go keto, stick to a strict intermittent fasting schedule, or exercise every day for an hour. We believe that to be successful we must be perfect. But what if perfection isn’t the path to success, but the very thing setting you up for failure? As a dietitian, I see it all the time: clients trying so hard to achieve their goals with rigid, all-or-nothing strategies. These plans might work if every day were a regular, calm, stress-free Tuesday with no surprises or challenges. But life is not like that. Life is always throwing curveballs our way—stressful deadlines, busy schedules, illness, sleepless nights—and our “perfect” plans crumble under pressure.
When life happens, our unattainable perfectionist goals are often the first things to fall off our to-do list. Maybe you eat a little snack during your fasting window, skip a workout, or reach for the sweet, salty, crunchy comfort food when you’re stressed. And what comes next? The self-criticism: “I failed…. I’m trying so hard, and nothing works…It’s hopeless.” This “failure” spirals into giving up altogether—feeling frustrated, disappointed, burned out. Those "A+" ambitions turn into a cycle of guilt and defeat, making long-term change feel impossible.
But what if you didn’t aim for perfection? What if, instead of striving for the A, you worked toward a B? Striving for the B doesn’t mean settling or giving up on your goals. It means focusing on smaller, more doable actions that you can practice consistently, even on your toughest days. For example, instead of committing to cooking every meal at home, you might aim to cook dinner four nights a week and have healthy convenience options on hand for the others. Or it might mean making a commitment to get to the gym three times a week instead of five.
The magic of the B approach lies in its ability to keep you moving forward. And there is nothing to say that you can’t go for the A on the days you know you can make it happen. By lowering the bar, you build your self-confidence and open the door to experimentation and growth. As you gain confidence in making better choices most of the time, you'll find yourself naturally reaching higher levels of success. Results come not from being perfect, but from being consistent. So, take a deep breath, aim for your “B,” and watch how far it takes you.
