Looking back at my late 20s and early 30s, I realise I spent most of that time dieting. I never truly understood that in order to feel happy again, I needed to let go of the dieting mindset.
And so were the people around me – constantly. The women in my life were always searching for the next best diet. They exercised not for enjoyment or health, but to burn off extra calories or prepare their bodies for summer holidays
No wonder I spent most of my 20s and 30s dieting – it was the language of the women around me, the rhythm of our routines, the silent expectation. Only now do I see how much joy and freedom it quietly stole.
I mostly just followed what I saw others doing. That behaviour felt completely normal to me at the time.
I believed carbs were bad, and if I had chocolate, I felt like I’d ruined all my progress. Then I’d promise to start again – on Monday, or in January. It was such a vicious cycle.
What changed?
After having my daughter nearly ten years ago, things only got worse. I kept searching for a quick 30-day fix diet, but nothing worked. I couldn’t lose the weight as easily as I had in the past – let alone keep it off.
And then it hit me…
I realised that none of the diets worked in the long term. Every time I lost weight, I’d eventually put it back on. The yo-yo dieting cycle felt endless. The only way to break free from the dieting mindset was to do something different.
The turning point came during a trip to the park. My daughter was around two years old, and she ran off, wanting me to chase her. I had no energy to do it. I felt sluggish, unmotivated, and disconnected from the kind of parent I wanted to be.
That moment was pivotal.
I realised I needed to be healthy and fit – not to lose weight, but so I could run with her, play tag, climb monkey bars, and throw a frisbee. I finally understood what I truly wanted from life, and why it mattered so deeply to me.
Confronting that truth was incredibly difficult, but it was the beginning of real change.
My purpose was no longer just to lose weight for myself. My values shifted—now they are Health, Family, and Happiness.
These are my values. Do you know what yours are?
To help you move forward, you need to identify your why: your values, your purpose, and your goals.
HERE are 3 areas to consider
1.Identify your REAL WHY.
Why do you want to change now?
Why is it important to you?
How would it make you feel if you achieved your goal?
Why is it different this time, to the previous occasions?
How would your life change if you made positive changes into your life?
How would you feel if you made those changes?
I want you to sit down and really think about this. Write down how do you feel now and how do you want to feel.
2. The ‘WHAT’
Once you identify your WHY, you need to look at the WHAT.
What do you want to change?
What habits do you want to change?
What habits are currently holding you back? What habits are no longer serving you?
What habits are making you unhappy?
What habits do you want to replace with the new healthy habits to help you with your WHY?
3. The ‘HOW’
How are you going to get there?
How will you move away from where you are now?
How can you improve your nutrition habits?
How can you improve your activity level habits?
How can you improve your mindfulness habits?
How can you improve your workouts routine?
Base your answers for your WHAT & HOW around these 4 pillars to help you with your goals.
- Nutrition
- Workouts – Fitness
- Non – exercise activity
- Mindfulness.
These four pillars will help you understand where you are now – and how you can move forward. Not just for six weeks, but for the rest of your life.
When your why runs deep, your actions follow – even on the hard days, the tired days, the “I don’t feel like it” days. That’s when purpose becomes power.
This way, you can create a routine that suits your current schedule – one you can sustain and genuinely enjoy.
Weight loss will become a by-product of your routine – and you’ll soon realise that you can be happy exercising and eating well, instead of feeling miserable while dieting.
Yes, you’ll have days when it feels like, “What’s the point?” But pushing through and showing up for yourself on those days is what makes the difference, between chasing short-term comfort and committing to long-term benefits that truly improve your quality of life.
Here are 3 tips how you can achieve better results
1. Adjust your expectations.
Let go of the deadline and the obsession with a number. When you focus on the process instead of the pressure, the journey becomes lighter and the results more meaningful.
It took time to get here and it will take time to move forward. Be patient with the process.
Real change isn’t rushed, it’s built.
2. Move away from ALL OR NOTHING.
Start thinking all or something, not all or nothing. There’s always something you can do, even if it’s not perfect. Show up for yourself and stay consistent. Progress will always matter more than perfection.
3. Longevity of your actions
This journey isn’t just about eating less – it’s about eating to nourish your body. It’s about learning what fuels you, what helps you shed fat and keep it off, and what kinds of movement make you feel powerful, energised, and alive.
Give this a go. When you’re clear on where you are and where you want to be, you can start bridging the gap and that’s where real transformation begins.
Ready to stop dieting for good, but not sure where to begin?
You’re not alone. The first step is understanding your why, your values, and what truly works for your body.
I would be really interested to find out how did you find this blog, so please let me know.
Ready to break free from dieting but not sure where to begin?
Let’s chat. Book a free call with me and let’s take the first step together – click the purple button bellow and let’s chat.