(Why Accepting Bad Habits Quietly Is More Dangerous Than You Think)
Every now and then, you come across an idea so simple — but so brutally honest — that it hits harder than any heavy barbell.
For me, this one came from a book I’m reading at the moment: The Best Hour of Their Day by Jason Ackerman. Jason is a highly respected CrossFit coach, affiliate owner, seminar staff trainer, and someone who has lived the realities of this lifestyle at the highest level.
And he tells a story that stopped me in my tracks.
It’s about buying new jeans.
The Moment Jason Almost Bought New Jeans
Jason was deep into running his affiliate. Like most gym owners, he poured his energy into everyone else — coaching, managing, mentoring, helping people change their lives.
But somewhere along the way, he started dropping his own habits. He trained less. He slept less. He ate worse. He gained weight.
One day, he walked into a clothing store because his jeans didn’t fit anymore. He had gone from a size 32 to a size 36.
And just before buying the bigger size, something clicked:
“If I buy these jeans, I’m accepting the version of myself I don’t actually want to be.”
That moment became a turning point. Not because the jeans were the problem — but because buying them would mean accepting a new normal that was created by unintentional, unhealthy habits.
Why This Hits So Close to Home
This isn’t just a gym-owner problem. It’s a human problem.
We all go through seasons where life pulls us away from ourselves:
- You have kids → suddenly your whole life revolves around them.
- You get married → you focus on building a life together.
- Work gets busy → your job eats your time, energy, and routines.
- Stress hits → you cope in ways that aren’t always positive.
And slowly, quietly, without noticing…
the habits slip.
Not dramatically. Not overnight.
But gradually enough that you don’t fight back.
And before you know it, your “new jeans moment” arrives — literally or metaphorically.
Buying New Jeans = Accepting Bad Habits as ‘Normal’
The message behind “don’t buy new jeans” is this:
When something in your life slips, don’t adjust everything around the bad habit.
Fix the habit instead.
It’s not about pants.
It’s about:
- not normalising weight gain caused by neglecting yourself
- not normalising skipping training because “life is busy”
- not normalising bad eating because “this is just how things are now”
- not normalising drinking every night because “work is stressful”
- not normalising sleeping poorly because “you’re used to it”
- not normalising being tired all the time because “everyone else is tired too”
Buying new jeans is what happens when you adapt to the bad habit instead of correcting the behaviour.
And once you accept it, it becomes your standard — and that’s where things start snowballing.
Other ‘New Jeans’ Examples You Might Recognise
Here are a few that hit home for many people:
- Buying bigger shirts instead of training consistently again
- Drinking coffee all day instead of fixing poor sleep
- Buying more takeaways instead of planning meals
- Switching to looser sports bras instead of working on fitness again
- Avoiding social events because you don’t like how you feel physically
- Increasing your alcohol tolerance instead of reducing your intake
- Telling yourself you’re “just not a morning person” instead of fixing your routine
These are all “new jeans” moments — habits becoming normal, even though deep down you know they don’t serve you.
The Real Question for You
We all have something.
So here’s the challenge I want you to ask yourself:
Where in your life have you started “buying new jeans”?
What habits have you accepted — instead of addressing?
- Are you skipping workouts more often?
- Eating on the go too much?
- Sleeping terribly and telling yourself it’s normal?
- Drinking more than you used to?
- Letting stress dictate your behaviour?
- Neglecting small but important routines (nutrition, stretching, mobility, hydration)?
This isn’t about guilt.
It’s about awareness — and self-respect.
You Don’t Have to Overhaul Your Life. You Just Have to Stop Buying Bigger Jeans.
The moment you decide:
❌ “I’m not going to adjust my life around the bad habits.”
✔️ “I’m going to adjust my habits back toward the life I want.”
That’s the moment everything changes.
It doesn’t require perfection.
It requires honesty.
Before You Go…
Take a second to reflect:
Where in your life are you about to buy new jeans?
And what small step can you take this week to stop that shift before it becomes your new normal?
If you want help with habits, training, accountability, nutrition — we’re here for you.
That’s literally what CrossFit Alberton exists for.
Strong habits = strong lives.
Let’s fix the habits, not buy the jeans.
