Why "Perfect" is the Enemy of Your Progress: The Power of the B-Minus Rule
- elizabethdehartfit
- Jan 16
- 3 min read
We’ve all been there. It’s Monday morning. Your gym bag is packed, your meal prep is stacked neatly in the fridge, and you are ready to be the "perfect" version of yourself.
But then, life happens.
Maybe the toddler had a meltdown, a meeting ran late, or you reached for a cookie in the breakroom. Suddenly, the "perfect" day is ruined. And because the day is ruined, you figure the whole week is a wash. You tell yourself, "I’ll just start over next Monday."
As a women’s coaching specialist, I see this "All-or-Nothing" mentality more than any other obstacle. It is the single biggest dream-killer in fitness. Today, I want to give you a tool to break that cycle forever: The B-Minus Rule.
The All-or-Nothing Trap
In our minds, we often visualize progress as a straight, upward line. We believe that if we aren't giving 100%, we are failing.
This mindset creates a dangerous cycle:
The Peak: High motivation, restrictive dieting, grueling workouts.
The Slip: Life gets in the way (stress, hunger, fatigue).
The Crash: Guilt and shame lead to "throwing in the towel."
The Wait: Sitting on the sidelines until the "perfect" time to start again.
The problem? The "perfect" time never comes. While you’re waiting for another Monday to be perfect, you’re losing weeks of potential momentum.
Introducing the "B-Minus Rule"
In school, we were taught that an "A" is the goal. In fitness and weight loss, I want you to aim for a B-minus.
A B-minus effort means you showed up. It wasn't pretty, it wasn't Instagram-worthy, and it certainly wasn't "perfect"—but it was consistent.
An A-plus workout: 60 minutes of heavy lifting followed by 20 minutes of cardio.
A B-minus workout: A 15-minute brisk walk and 10 minutes of stretching because that’s all the time you had.
An A-plus meal: Organic kale salad with grilled wild-caught salmon.
A B-minus meal: A rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and a bag of frozen veggies because you were too tired to cook.
The B-minus effort wins every single time. Why? Because you didn't quit. You kept the engine running.
Why B-Minus Beats A-Plus
When you embrace a B-minus life, something magical happens: The shame disappears.
When you remove the pressure to be perfect, you stop "falling off the wagon" because there is no wagon to fall off of. There is only the next choice. If you eat a cookie, your B-minus day just includes a cookie and a healthy dinner. It doesn't include a spiral into a week-long binge.
The Secret: Consistent B-minus effort over a year will transform your body. Sporadic A-plus effort followed by weeks of quitting will keep you exactly where you are today.
Your Challenge for This Week
This Monday, I’m giving you permission to be imperfect.
If you can’t get to the gym for an hour, go for ten minutes. If you can’t meal prep your whole week, just prep your breakfast for tomorrow.
Stop waiting for Monday to be perfect and start making Monday count.
What is one "B-minus" action you can take today to keep your momentum going?
Ready to stop the All-or-Nothing cycle for good? As a weight loss and nutrition specialist, I help women build sustainable habits that fit into their real, messy lives.
P.S. Perfection is a stall tactic. Action is a results-maker. Choose action today!
Comments