The gap between "I should" and "I will" is where fitness goals go to die.
Antonio Pugliese has coached over 100 busy professionals. The pattern is always the same: the ones who transform aren't the ones with more time or better genetics. They're the ones who closed that gap quickly.
The difference between people who transform their health and people who stay stuck isn't discipline, genetics, or free time. It's the speed between decision and action.
The Decision Gap
Most people live in the gap between "I should" and "I will."
They think about joining a gym. They research meal plans. They bookmark workout videos. They wait for Monday. Then the first of the month. Then January.
Antonio has built his entire coaching philosophy around closing this gap:
"One of the biggest things in my personal journey has been the ability to limit the amount of time I take to make a decision and then act on that decision."
He's seen it play out with hundreds of clients. The ones who transform aren't the ones with perfect circumstances. They're the ones who said yes before they felt ready.
The Busy Professional Trap
Antonio specializes in coaching nine-to-fivers. HR managers. Desk workers. People drowning in meetings and responsibilities.
These clients always have reasons:
- "I have kids."
- "I'm working 60 hours a week."
- "I don't have time to meal prep."
He doesn't argue with them. He reframes:
"At the end of the day, you could be busy. You could have kids, you could be working 60 hours a week. You could be doing everything under the sun, but it all comes down to saying yes to yourself."
The busy schedule isn't the problem. The inability to commit despite the schedule is.
The Ripple Effect
Here's what Antonio discovered that surprised even him: saying yes to fitness often unlocks everything else.
"I have had people come through my program who have said yes to themselves in this setting, and then it translates to work, translates to relationships and other things."
For some clients, this is their first experience ever following through on a commitment to themselves. They've achieved in their careers. They've built families. But they've never proven to themselves that they can transform their own body.
Once they do, the skill transfers everywhere.
How to Close the Gap
If you're stuck in "I should" mode, here's Antonio's framework:
1. Limit the decision window. Don't give yourself days to "think about it." The longer you deliberate, the more reasons you'll find not to act.
2. Lower the barrier to entry. You don't need the perfect gym, the ideal diet, or a full hour. Start with what you can do today.
3. Say yes, then figure it out. Commit first. The logistics work themselves out when there's no option to quit.
"The biggest thing you need to do is limit the barrier to entry. And you also need to limit the amount of time you take to make an act on a decision. If you could do that, you're going to be ahead of 90% of people."
The Identity Shift
This isn't about fitness hacks. It's about becoming someone who keeps promises to themselves.
Some people have never experienced that. They've spent years breaking commitments to their own health while honoring every commitment to others.
Saying yes to yourself -quickly, decisively, before you're "ready" -is the first step to becoming someone who follows through.
When you truly want something, obstacles become logistics to solve, not reasons to quit.
What are you waiting to say yes to?
Antonio Pugliese coaches busy professionals on building sustainable fitness habits. Follow him on Instagram @pugliese.fitness.