Picture this Reader,

It’s Monday morning. I’m at Costco.
Flatbed in hand. Confidence… not so much.

Now, if you’ve never driven a Costco flatbed before, let me just say this:

It should require a license. And possibly a small ceremony.

Because there I am (every Monday for the past 3.5 years)… taking corners like I'm driving a cruise ship in a fricking kiddie pool.

BANG. Into the end aisle.
BANG. Into a tower of bananas.

Soft tap (okay fine, heel nudge) into an unsuspecting shopper.

(if looks could kill that would have been my very last trip to Costco)

(Sorry again. If you’re reading this… it was me.)

And the wild part?

I kept doing the SAME thing.
Same turns. Same angles. Same BANG into the boxes like it was my job.

Over. And over. And over again. (for 3.5 dang years)

Like, Nat… maybe today’s the day we try… I don’t know… a wider turn? or going around the obstacle??

But no. I was committed. 😂

Now enter: Marks.

Marks goes to Costco and suddenly it’s Fast & Furious: Flatbed Edition.

He’s weaving. He’s gliding. He's breaking the pacing record. All while stacking that thing three layers high like some warehouse wizard.

People stop him - multiple times - without fail.
​“Excuse me, do you work here?”

WHAT? The confidence.

Meanwhile, I’m over here apologizing to a pallet of almond flour.

BUT. Last week… something changed.

I’m cruising (yes, cruising) through Costco when a woman stops me and says:

“Hi! Do you know where the granola is?” (my insides leapt with joy!)

And without hesitation…
I pointed her exactly where to go.

Then she asked for Montreal steak spice.

AND I KNEW THAT TOO.

And before she walked away, I hit her with a casual:

“Anything else you need?”

No one has ever mistaken me for someone who knows what they’re doing in Costco and I was flexing my Non-Employee-Of-The-Month muscles!

I didn’t suddenly become a different person over those years.

I just stopped smashing into the same obstacles… and learned how to go around them.

And my friend… yep, this is where the switch happens!

This is exactly what's happening in your health right now.

You’re not broken. You’re not “bad at this.”

You’re just stuck… repeatedly driving your flatbed into the same end aisle of bacon bits.

Let’s fix that, shall we?

🚧 END AISLE #1: “I don’t have time to exercise.”

BANG.
Every day. Same thought.

But what if…

Instead of trying to carve out a perfect 60-minute workout (which never happens), you simply stepped back… and went around?

👉 Walk while you wait to pick up your kids
👉 Plan to arrive 15 minutes early and go for a walk
👉 Exercise right after work and walk in your work clothes and a pair of sneakers (for 30 minutes)

10 minutes here, 15 minutes there… it counts more than you think.

You don’t need more time. You need a new route.

🚧 END AISLE #2: “I’m too exhausted to cook.”

Oh, I feel this one in my soul.

Because 6pm hits and suddenly making dinner feels like an insurmountable chore.

So instead of forcing yourself to become a gourmet chef on a Tuesday…

Step back. Go around.

👉 Cook once, eat twice (or three times… we love leftovers)​
👉 Have a “no-brain” meal always ready (eggs, wraps, rotisserie chicken magic)​
👉 Make double when you do have energy (future-you will want to hug you)

We’re not aiming for perfect meals. We’re aiming for repeatable ones.

🚧 END AISLE #3: “I’ll start Monday.”

Ah yes. The weekend free-for-all.

Where Friday night turns into: “Well… I’ll just restart on Monday.”

And suddenly all the progress from the week? Gone like your patience with a bad flatbed driver at Costco on a Monday.

So instead…

Step back. Go around.

👉 Keep your habits light but consistent on weekends
👉 Enjoy your food (yes, including the fun stuff) without the “all-or-nothing” spiral
👉 Think: “How would the best version of me handle this?”

Balance beats burnout. Every time.

TRUTH BOMB: 💣 (that you might not be able to hear from all the end-aisle banging noise)

Health isn’t built in big, dramatic moments.

It’s built in the small, repeatable decisions you make… while living your actual life.

Not while obsessing. Not while overthinking.
And definitely not while banging your metaphorical flatbed into the same problem… again and again.

That’s exactly why I spew about health and nutrition whenever I can.

Because you deserve to feel:

✔ Confident with your plan
✔ In control of your decisions
✔ Like something finally… fits your life

So this week, I want you to ask yourself: where am I just… repeatedly hitting the same wall?

And more importantly… what would it look like to go around it instead? (using the flatbed in your mind)

Until next week - watch your heels at Costco...

Nat - flatbed-certified (ish) shopper 🚛