We do quite few things simply because we enjoy them. We do other things because we know they are good for us, or will help us or others in some way, even though they might not be pleasant or easy.

When it comes to your health, making a significant change can be daunting. Some of us gravitate to things we know will be difficult or where we know success is not available to everyone. The challenge can be fun and rewarding. Others choose things they enjoy, even if their choice may provide results slower than other paths. Sticking with things they enjoy may help keep them going longer. It all depends on the person.

When it comes to health via nutrition and fitness, there’s a. important “healthy” balance to be struck between difficult and fun.

If you have a significant health issue that is caused or exacerbated by being out of shape or overweight, then you may want to choose the difficult, but faster results path. Diving into a big change in your Nutrition isn’t always easy, but sometimes the struggle is absolutely worth the improvement in your health and lifespan.

For others, improving your fitness will help you better handle the stress of your job or other areas of your life. This can also lead to a large improvement of your overall health and mindset. Stress can have serious impacts on your health and relationships, and working out is directly tied to helping people deal with stress in a healthy way. Making the time to workout for 5 days a week isn’t easy for most, either. It takes a large commitment and the choice to put your health first.

The above two examples, big changes in your nutrition, or committing to working out 5 days a week are both difficult. But, the benefits are significant and can make changes quickly. However, making larger changes and bigger commitments can start to take the fun out of starting something new or even workouts that you enjoy. Too much of a good thing, for some, can actually end up counterproductive.

Being able to have fun with the process is totally ok. Some think unless they’re making massive changes, it’s not worth the time. This is entirely false. Some of the best success I’ve seen in many years or coaching is those that start slow and steady, and those who have patience, and are willing to trust the process. Rushing changes in a “30 day cleanse” or “20 day challenge” usually doesn’t allow changes to stay much longer than the 20-30 day time window.

If you really want to make a change, and have the luxury of not having a life-threatening issue facing you down, start something small. Add 2 workouts a week to your schedule or start doing a once a month nutrition consultation to work on healthy choices. These are simple things that can be new and fun, and when you choose to start small, you can easily accomplish small steps, thus giving you early wins and successes to encourage you.

Achievement doesn’t always have to be a giant, life altering challenge. Success can be found through one small change or habit at a time.