Like most 40-ish guys, you work/live in an environment where there is always a random candy dish – at home, in a lobby, or possibly even on your desk.

It’s Just 1 tiny M&M

As I walked past the candy dish in our house last night, I reached in for an M&M just like hundreds of times before, maybe thousands. And like most ‘junk’ food, who can stop with just one tiny M&M? No thought or plan or even malicious intent – just habit.

After a few had “melted in my mouth and not my hands“, I saw an email from Not So Average Joe inquiring on tomorrow’s workout. I responded with the norm and then mentioned… oh yeah, need to start with a mile on the treadmill to burn off some chocolate candy.

That got me thinking… How far would I need to run to burn off those bad choices?

Imagine if you did eat just one…

What amount of exercise would it take to burn those calories?

After a little research, I will never look at some foods in the same way. Ever.

Warning!!!
If you enjoy junk food and don’t want to be great, don’t read any further!

This will mess with you for a bit.

Everyone has seen a football field. I want you to keep in mind that it took one second to grab and eat that M&M. One second. One second between good and great…

Now imagine it is you standing under the goal post in one end zone looking down the field to the other goal post.

That is 120 yards. Now imagine walking, jogging, or running that length. When you arrive at the opposite goal post, open the bag of M&M’s and eat only one.

Congratulations! By moving your good, or not so good, body that 120 yards you have successfully burned off that single M&M. Go ahead, you deserve it, right.

From now on, think about the 120 yards every time you absentmindedly consider putting an M&M in your mouth. Is your craving worth all that sacrifice for one? Oh yeah, a candy sized bag of M&M’s contains 50 M&M’s… or 3 miles just to break even!

Even the folks at Mars Inc have the M&M’s on a treadmill.

Calories Reality Check

Want some more junk food for thought?

• If you think a peanut M&M is a healthier option – think again. Better lace up the running shoes….one of those chocolate/peanut miracles requires a 200 yard effort to burn off.
• If you like the salt instead of sweet… one Dorito’s chip is also a 200 yard stroll.
• A normal sized Chocolate Chip cookie? 10 football fields or 1000 yards.
• If you are really ready to step up the pace, try running a football field 50 times to burn off a Snickers bar.
• By this time you are probably thirsty. If you prefer Bud Light over water, you will need to run 18 football fields to burn off that 1 tasty beverage.
• What if you prefer the real King of Beers instead of the Light version…..that’s 3600 yards for each Red Snapper!
• Finally, the most recognized fast food sandwich of all time… the Big Mac. Why stop there? Get the fries and shake and get ready for an all day event. Now you are looking at 250 football fields! Yep, about the distance of a 1/2 marathon.

Scary. Unless you LOVE cardio or being not so great.

Don’t be afraid to give up the good and go for the great!

Time for a healthy change!

Think before you act. Do you really enjoy the taste of a bag of M&M’s enough to run 3 miles?

I’m no longer going to settle for merely good. I’m taking the high road and going for freaking GREAT!

Humans are not dogs; Stop rewarding yourself with food. Good boy.

There are 146,000,000,000 M&M’s sold each year… try going for the Great for a few weeks. If it doesn’t work out for you, there will be plenty of M&M’s left on the shelves to buy.

Join me on the journey for fitness or keep attempting to fill a void in your life by stuffing your mouth with empty and meaningless foods. Foods you don’t think about. Foods you consume without purpose or thought.

Simple rule to live by for the next few weeks – get it straight in your head and believe it:

FOOD is FUEL!
You driving an F1 racer, a monster truck, or a yugo?

We’ll meet shortly… I’ll be the guy with the six pack abs. Who will you choose to follow?
# 1 – That Guy, or
# 2 – The Average Joe eating Doritos on the beach with crumbs on his belly roll

If nothing else, think about being on the goal line – one second left. Will you let the game fly by you, eat the M&M, and take a knee, or will you commit, trust in what you know, find a good team to help along the way and achieve greatness?

Sincerely,
That Guy