Beyond Quitter’s Day: A Challenger’s Health Journey

For years, I was numb to my own health.

The number on the scale crept higher, my energy plummeted, and I made excuses instead of changes. I was stuck in a cycle of failed resolutions and fading motivation, convinced that this was just “how it was.” The New Year was less a date on the calendar and more a reflection of my own inner struggle. Truthfully, I was afraid to challenge myself, afraid to step outside my comfort zone and face the possibility of failure. But eventually, something shifted. I finally acknowledged how deep I was in the deep end, and I knew I deserved better.

This isn’t just another blog about New Year’s resolutions; it’s a story about reclaiming my health, and how you can too. It’s about embracing that “challenger spirit” – something we do here at LOOMIS, as a challenger brand agency should — but this spirit comes to life not just in our work, but in those deeply personal areas of our lives where change feels the scariest. Because when we challenge ourselves to grow, to push beyond our comfort zones, and to strive for better, we create a ripple effect that impacts every aspect of our lives. For me, that began with turning away from the numbness I felt about my health.

I challenged myself to be honest.

The truth was my numbness had become a kind of shield. It protected me from facing how much I’d let myself go, how much I’d settled for “good enough” when I knew deep down I deserved incredible. Like those times at work when you hit a creative wall, when that “challenger spirit” feels dormant, we settle for the safe, predictable route instead of pushing boundaries and exploring new possibilities. That was me. I hid behind the shield, but it was suffocating. It kept me trapped in a cycle of self-sabotage and disappointment. Every time I “quit” and gave up on my goals, it reinforced that belief that I wasn’t capable of change, that I was destined to be stuck in this unhealthy version of myself. And that, my friends, was the most exhausting part of all.

Then, one day, it was like a switch flipped in my brain. I stepped on the scale and saw a number staring back at me – almost 300 pounds. A few pounds away from a number I never thought I’d see. It wasn’t just a number anymore; it was a wake-up call, a blaring siren telling me I was heading down a dangerous path. In that moment, fear and defiance collided. I was terrified of what might happen if I didn’t change, but I was also fiercely determined to prove to myself that I could make change happen. This time, something was different. Instead of diving headfirst into another extreme makeover plan, I told myself, “Baby steps.” I made it about progress, not perfection. About building sustainable habits, not chasing quick fixes. This time I would prove it to myself.

I challenged myself to embrace the struggle.

Here’s the truth: we all struggle. It’s part of being human. But throwing in the towel, accepting defeat, and telling ourselves “this is just how it is” – that’s what’s truly damaging. Not just to our bodies, but to our minds and mental health. It’s so much harder to carry the weight of “I quit” than it is to keep putting one foot in front of the other, even when it feels impossible. Every time I gave up, it chipped away at my self-belief. I started to wonder if I was even capable of achieving my goals, if I was destined to be stuck in this unhealthy version of myself. To make matters worse, I kept all this to myself, shoving my feelings down deep. 

I had more energy, more confidence, and a whole lot more peace of mind. And WOW the results were addicting.

I realized one of my biggest hurdles was the unrealistic expectations I’d set for myself. I fell into the trap of comparison, thinking I had to transform into a fitness model overnight.
When I inevitably didn’t, the disappointment was crushing. I’d lose momentum, tell myself I wasn’t “cut out for this,” and the cycle would repeat.

This wasn’t too different than those moments at work when we set overly ambitious goals or try to do everything ourselves without relying on our team’s expertise: those times when we’re facing a tight deadline or a particularly challenging project in our careers. The pressure mounts, creative blocks emerge, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. We all know how detrimental that can be to a creative led agency. But I’ve come to realize that these struggles are incredibly common, both in our personal and work lives.

At work we all strive to make an impact, push boundaries, and achieve great things, but we all have times when we feel like giving up. I discovered that many of the things embraced by our work culture applied to my healthcare journey as well.

• Remember your why. We regularly revisit goals and remind ourselves about the impact our work has on our clients and their customers. This helps us reconnect to that shared purpose and reignite our passion for creating meaningful impact.

• Remain realistic. Overly ambitious targets set us up for failure. Instead, break down large projects into smaller, more manageable tasks and celebrate each milestone along the way. Recognize progress as a journey not a destination, and that every step forward is worth celebrating.

• Avoid burnout: Pushing ourselves too hard and too fast can leave us exhausted and discouraged. That’s why we prioritize work-life balance and encourage each other to take breaks, recharge, and come back refreshed. We understand that sustainable success requires taking care of ourselves, both physically and mentally.

• Don’t be afraid to fail. When we’re afraid to mess up, we can avoid taking action altogether. At LOOMIS, we foster a culture of experimentation and learning, where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth. We embrace a “challenger mindset” and encourage each other to take risks, knowing that even failures can lead to valuable insights.

• Strength in numbers. Open communication and collaboration create a supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable asking for help and sharing ideas. We know that we’re stronger together and that by supporting each other, we can achieve even greater things. Instead of going it alone, keeping everything inside, share your journey with people with similar goals. And celebrate together when you reach them!

Whether it’s a personal health goal or in your professional life, it’s important to recognize that setbacks are totally normal. Everyone is human. We’re not robots! The key is to anticipate those bumps in the road and have a plan for getting back on track. It’s about learning from our mistakes, adjusting our approach, and most importantly, being kind to ourselves. Resilience is not about avoiding challenges; it’s about navigating them with grace, determination, and a healthy dose of self-compassion. When we embrace those challenges as opportunities for growth, we emerge stronger and more capable than ever before.

I challenged myself to stay on track.

So, how do we break free from a cycle of quitting to create lasting change? As I had to realize, there are no magic formulas or overnight transformations. Real change happens when we build sustainable habits, one step at a time. My brother, a total fitness fanatic, used to tell me: “Give me six months, and I’ll change your life.” He constantly tried to get me to commit to some intense workout plan, and I knew he meant it, but I also knew becoming a gym rat wasn’t my style. My brother thrives on that fast-paced, results-driven approach, but I needed something different: something I could gradually adapt to and that felt sustainable for the long haul, even if it meant taking two years instead of six months to reach my goals.

And that’s the key, isn’t it? Finding what works for you, in all aspects of your life. LOOMIS helps us understand ourselves better, and how to work best ourselves and with our teammates, by giving us access to things like DiSC® (a personal assessment tool that helps us better understand work styles to reduce conflict and improve working relationships).

Here are some other strategies that can be game-changers, both at work and in our personal lives:

Start with baby steps. As I mentioned earlier, sometimes you just gotta ease yourself in. Start Small, Dream Big: in my healthcare journey, the “baby steps” mantra was crucial. However, you can apply this to just about any goal that seems daunting. It starts by recognizing that lasting change takes time and consistent effort. One of my first wellness “baby steps” was using MyFitnessPal to track everything I consumed. Yes, everything! It wasn’t about restriction or deprivation; it was about gathering data. Seeing those numbers laid out in front of me gave me a clear picture of my eating habits and helped me identify areas where I could make gradual improvements. Start slow and gather information so you can make informed choices.

Then, break it down. Big goals can feel overwhelming. I learned to break them down into smaller, more achievable milestones. Instead of aiming for a massive weight loss goal right away, I focused on smaller targets. Each step of the journey felt feasible and allowed me to celebrate progress along the way.

Find a way to enjoy it. This is part mindset, part logistics. I used to force myself to do workouts I dreaded. No wonder I quit! The gym scene just wasn’t for me. But then I realized my hyperactive German Shepherd could be my secret weapon. I turned our daily walks into longer, more purposeful exercise sessions. Now, I’ve come to appreciate walking as the ultimate exercise. It’s sustainable, enjoyable, and far less daunting than a hardcore gym routine. Those long walks also help me clear my head and generate new ideas, and my overall improved health means I bring my best self to whatever I’m doing — personally or professionally.

When you enjoy what you do, you don’t work a day in your life, right? Same philosophy. For me, working at an agency where you feel valued, and you enjoy the people around you, it all seems less like work.

Embrace your support system, even if it’s unconventional. If I’m being completely honest, I wasn’t great at this part. My instinct is to keep things to myself. But I’ve come to realize the immense power of having a support system to lean on. As I started seeing physical results, the compliments and encouragement from my family, friends, and coworkers poured in. It was like having a whole team of cheerleaders, encouraging me and reminding me that my efforts were paying off. Whether it’s your partner, friends, family, coworkers or even a furry companion, having people (or pups!) in your corner can make all the difference. We’re fortunate to have a team that truly embodies this spirit of support and collaboration. We celebrate each other’s wins, offer encouragement during challenges, and know that we’re stronger together.

Don’t forget your mental health. My journey was about so much more than just the physical. I discovered that prioritizing my mental health was essential for staying on track. Stress, anxiety, and negative self-talk can sabotage even the best intentions. It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers on the scale or the miles walked, but true well-being starts from within. Mindfulness made a big difference: taking those few minutes each day to quiet my mind, check in with my emotions, and refocus my intentions. It allowed me to approach my health journey with a sense of calm and purpose, even when things got challenging. And that same sense of mindfulness can help us navigate the demands of agency life with greater focus and resilience.

Focus on progress, not perfection. Embrace the journey. There will be slip-ups, setbacks, and days when motivation is nowhere to be found. That’s okay! It’s not about being perfect; it’s about progress. Focus on how far you’ve come, not how far you have to go. Changing your mindset to approach it as a marathon, not a sprint can help. Go into it knowing there will be days when you crush your goals and days when you just barely make it through. All of that is okay. The key is to keep moving forward, one step at a time.

Celebrate small victories. It’s important to acknowledge your wins. Every step forward, no matter how small, deserves to be celebrated. Treat yourself, share your accomplishments, or simply take a moment to acknowledge your own success. It’s easy to get caught up in the pursuit of the “end goal,” but the truth is, the journey is where the magic happens. Each milestone reached, each healthy choice made, each time you push past your comfort zone – these are all victories worth celebrating: in your personal and professional life.

Change how you think. So much of my success was not just about what I did; it’s about how I thought about what I was doing. I can be my own worst critic. Every slip-up, every craving, every moment of fatigue was met with a barrage of negative self-talk. “You’re not strong enough,” “You’ll never stick with it,” “You’re just not cut out for this.” Sound familiar? I needed to flip the script or those thoughts would become self-fulfilling prophecies. If you believe you’re going to fail, you will. I started consciously challenging those negative thoughts. Instead of “I can’t,” I started asking myself, “How can I?” Instead of focusing on my limitations, I started celebrating my strengths. It was a gradual shift, but it made a world of difference. I was thinking about things like a challenger, finding creative solutions, ignoring the naysayers (even when they were me).

It’s not about being perfect; it’s about getting back up and trying again. So, the next time you find yourself in a spiral of self-criticism, whatever the situation, take a deep breath and ask yourself: “What would I say to a friend dealing with this?” Chances are, you’d offer them compassion and encouragement. Why not offer the same to yourself?

Getting out of your comfort zone.
I can’t help but see parallels between what I learned during my wellness journey and the values that LOOMIS embodies. Our agency thrives on a “challenger culture” – a commitment to excellence, purposeful ambition, and a willingness to push boundaries. That same spirit has driven me to push out of my comfort zone, overcome obstacles, and celebrate every victory.

LOOMIS also places a strong emphasis on teamwork, community, and open communication. While I initially tackled this challenge solo, I’ve come to appreciate the incredible support system LOOMIS provides. In the same way that the agency fosters a culture of collaboration and open communication, I’ve found that sharing my journey with my colleagues has been incredibly motivating and empowering. It’s a constant reminder that we’re all in this together, striving for growth and making a meaningful impact, both individually and as a team.

Prioritizing your health – both physical and mental – is essential for not only your personal life but your success in your career. It’s about finding that balance, that sense of well-being that allows us to bring our best selves to work and to life.

Write your narrative for 2025.

Quitter’s Day doesn’t have to be a destiny. We can choose to keep going, one foot in front of the other. Sometimes literally. Find ways to be kind to yourself, celebrate your wins, and never give up on your goals. But most importantly, remember your “why.” Why did you embark on this journey in the first place? Was it to find more balance in your life? To feel more confident in your own skin? To simply feel good in your body and mind?

My “why “was about taking control of my health, proving to myself that I could do hard things, and finally prioritizing my well-being. And let me tell you, that feeling of accomplishment is worth more than any cheat meal (though let’s be real, I still enjoyed my Friday pizza nights throughout my entire journey! And still do!). It’s all about finding that balance, right? This journey is about so much more than just the physical; it’s about cultivating a lifestyle that nourishes your mind, body, and soul. And it doesn’t have to be tied to a New Year’s resolution either. My own journey started on September 1st! Whenever that “aha” moment hits, that’s the perfect time to begin.

“Remembering the why” threads through our work lives as well – always keeping in mind why we got into this business: to help create strong brands by helping communicate their “why” to their customers.

PAUL BROMFIELD is Director of Program Management at LOOMIS, the country’s leading challenger brand advertising agency and a top Dallas advertising agency for digital, social, mobile and user experience. For more about challenger branding, advertising, and marketing, leadership, culture, and other inspirations that will drive your success, visit our blog BARK! The Voice of the Underdog and catch up on all of our posts.

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