Imagine you’re driving down the road, and suddenly—boom—you get a flat tire.
You pull over, heart racing, thinking about the meeting you’re rushing to.
But then, you realize something: if you grab the spare, change the tire quickly, and get back on the road, you’ll probably still make it on time.
Crisis averted, right?
But what if, instead of changing the flat, you grab a knife, walk around your car, and puncture the other three tires?
Now you’re definitely not making it. Sounds absurd, right?
Yet, many of us do this exact thing—not with our cars, but with our fitness journeys.
Let me tell you about my client, Justin.
Justin’s “Flat Tire” Moment
Justin recently traveled to California with his wife and kids to visit the in-laws during the holidays.
His food options?
Gas stations and fast-food joints.
One poor decision led to another.
He stopped tracking his meals because he didn’t want to face the numbers.
Thanksgiving Day came, and he started with a couple of slices of quiche, a glass of orange juice, and a scone.
Before 10am, he’d already hit his daily carb and fat allowance.
He knew dinner would be calorie-heavy, and the stress of that made him spiral.
By the time he returned home, he’d gained back several of the pounds he’d worked so hard to lose.
This was Justin’s flat tire moment.
His choice? Give Up or Patch the Tire
When Justin got back, he had two choices:
- Give up. Tell himself he’d failed, that he wasn’t strong enough, that his goal was a pipe dream. Puncture the rest of the tires.
- Patch the tire. Own the bad week, refocus, and get back on track.
Justin knew calling his coach was the right thing to do.
When we hide things from our coach, they can’t help us.
Making sure your coach knows, when you’re struggling is crucial for effective coaching relationships.
He called me, laid it all out, and made the decision to get back on track immediately.
Despite the setback, he didn’t let a rough week define him or derail his long-term goals.
I reminded him that these things happen and we will still hit his goal on time if he just patches the tire. This is inconvenient but it’s not impossible.
I understood exactly what Justin was going through because I’ve been there myself.
There have been times when I returned from trips feeling defeated, having made poor choices.
In those moments, I reached out to my coach, shared my struggles, and received invaluable tips that I’ve since put into practice.
I have made it through flat tires and Justin will make it through this as well. He’ll still hit his goal as long as he doesn’t give up and pop the other tires.
The Lesson
I’ve seen too many people lose 5, 10, 15 pounds, only to hit one tough week and spiral.
They skip workouts during business trips, make poor food choices at company dinners, and suddenly they’re throwing in the towel.
Here’s the thing: one bad week doesn’t erase all your progress.
It’s like getting a flat tire—it’s inconvenient, sure, but it’s fixable.
Don’t sabotage yourself further by giving up entirely.
The next time you hit a rough patch—whether it’s during the holidays, on a business trip, or just a tough week—remember Justin.
Patch the tire.
Get back on track.
Progress isn’t about never failing; it’s about how quickly you recover when you do.
So, what’s it going to be for you next time?
Will you patch the tire—or puncture the other three?