Hey reader
Do you ever think about why weight loss is such a struggle? Or why do healthy habits never seem to stick?
I'm going to assume your answer is yes. Only because I get the feeling we're very much alike, and I know I've contemplated these questions many times over.
I'd also become perplexed because, truthfully, I considered myself to be an intelligent, resourceful woman but, for some reason, couldn't get it together when it came to changing my lifestyle.
Why was it so difficult for me? Why couldn't I take the knowledge I had and make it work?
Looking back, I can better understand why weight loss was so difficult - my limiting beliefs about losing weight kept getting in the way.
Have you ever heard the saying, "Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're right?"
Your mind is the strongest muscle on your weight loss journey and is the deciding factor in whether or not you succeed.
Here are some of the limiting beliefs that held me back from changing my lifestyle.
Limiting belief #1 It's all or nothing
I used to think if I couldn't completely overhaul my life in one day, then why even bother? This mindset often had me throwing in the towel before giving myself a chance to get started.
Now I know that lifestyle changes begin with one habit at a time.
You don't need to become an expert in every weight loss strategy before starting your weight loss journey. If that were true, nobody would succeed.
Also, it's unrealistic to expect to break decades of bad habits overnight. Bad habits run deep. It's how we cope with life, good and bad.
Breaking habits take time, and even the strongest weight loss experts continue to face challenges years after starting their journeys. That's why it's called a journey. It's filled with many roads, hills, valleys, and detours on the way to your destination.
My advice is you don't have to have it all figured out to start. Or the perfect time. Just start and take it one habit at a time.
Limiting belief #2 Zero Time
I'm no stranger to a busy schedule. Trust me; I know what it's like to work full-time with young kids, run a business, and have a million commitments. I get it.
However, I've learned one fundamental lesson: change does not happen without change. Period.
So if I wanted to eat healthier, I needed to make time for meal planning and meal prep.
If I wanted to exercise, I needed to prioritize it; I needed to make my new healthy lifestyle a priority.
After I made it a priority, I learned another lesson.
👉 By taking the time to meal plan and prep, I carved out more time in my schedule during the week. I didn't waste 1-2 hours after a long busy day trying to formulate the makings of a somewhat healthy dinner. Everything was prepped and ready to eat. This also saved me big bucks, considering our take-out bill decreased significantly.
👉 Also, exercise wasn't as inconvenient as I thought and I felt energized and focused after exercise became a regular part of my routine. I feel so good after exercise that I depend on it more psychologically than physically.
Limiting belief #3: Too much work
We live in an instant gratification world. I get it; I'm right there with you. I want it the easy way and right now too! We all do.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way, just like everything in life. Achieving weight loss goals require effort. Yep.
I'm not saying it's going to be "Iron Man Marathon" hard, but it will take some work on your part.
Here's what I learned. You need to pick your hard. 👈 THIS
✅ Is it harder to plan meals for the week and prep on Sunday, or is it harder to squeeze into a pair of jeans that fit a year ago?
✅ Is it harder to wake up early and get to the gym, or is it harder to go through the day exhausted and unfocused?
✅ Is it harder to track your portions, or is it harder to buy a bigger size dress for the wedding?
Pick your hard.
I can tell you that being overweight and unhealthy was much harder than just making healthier eating habits and exercise a priority.
Of course, there are days I want to stay on the couch, but I know one thing, I never once regretted a workout I forced myself to do or missed that extra slice of pizza I didn't eat.
Pick your hard.
Limiting belief #4: Too much money
This might be the biggest lie I told myself. Anytime I thought about healthier habits, all that came to mind was more money. Healthy food is expensive, right? I can't afford a gym membership I'll never use.
I was wrong. And to be honest, I was shocked by this discovery.
When I changed from processed to cleaner foods, I saw my grocery bill go down. Yes, some of the foods were a little more expensive; it's not the foods that made the most significant impact on my budget.
The savings came from planning out my meals and meal prep. Those strategies help me create a grocery budget, reduce food waste, and prevent ordering take-out. I became more intentional with my food. Not only did that help me lose weight, but it also saved money.
Lesson learned - healthy food doesn't cost a fortune.
Limting belief #5: I'm afraid of failing.
I lost count of the number of times I tried to lose weight and failed. However, now that I'm writing this email and thinking about it, I can honestly say I never really gave myself a chance to succeed. With all these limiting beliefs, I was doomed before I even started.
Fortunately, I did have some lightbulb moments and could get it together.
I figured out how to meal plan, prep food ahead of time, stock my freezer, and fit exercise into my life in a way that changed my life forever.
But if there's one thing I've learned, failure will happen, and we shouldn't be afraid of it.
Even 10+ years later, and owner of Organize Yourself Skinny, I find myself in moments where I've failed myself with choices. Some weeks I have this healthy lifestyle thing down, and other times pizza and the couch sometimes win.
I've decided to look at failure differently. When we fail, that means we're trying. Sure we stumbled and got off track, but at least we're trying.
We are all human, nobody is perfect, and failing is part of the weight loss process.
Fall 7 times, get up 8. As long as you keep trying and move forward, you will succeed, no matter what life throws your way.
If you can relate to some (or all) of these limiting beliefs, then I hope this email was helpful. One of the things I talk about in the Organize Yourself Skinny eCourse is the mental side of weight loss; I believe convincing your mind is more than half the battle. After that, you can move on to make significant changes.
If you're ready to learn the tips and strategies to start your weight loss journey, I recommend looking at what the Organize Yourself Skinny eCourse can offer you. Currently, enrollment is open until April 11th and it's 50% off.
| Learn more about the Organize Yourself Skinny eCourse |
Talk to you soon,
Tammy Overhoff
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