Part of abandoning the all-or-nothing mentality is allowing yourself room for setbacks. We are bound to have lapses on the road to health and wellness, but it is critical that we learn how to handle small failures positively so that we can minimize their long-term destructive effects. One setback is one setback—it is not the end of the world, nor is it the end of your journey toward a better you.

I just look at a bagel and my ass gets bigger!

Thriving. That's fighting... Surviving is barely getting by.

Failure is all a matter of perspective. Think of all the people you admire. I guarantee you they all failed at one time or another. The key is to recognize setbacks for what they really are-entry points for learning, not validation that you aren't good enough. After a disappointment analyze your actions, get feedback from friends, and take inventory of what you could do better next time. This type of self-reflection and improvement will ultimately make success inevitable.

When friends tell you how awesome you look, drop the "I still have more to go" crap. You worked hard and you deserve the compliment!

I want you to feel like you're going to die.

Remember that transformation is a present activity.