Welcome back to a new episode of Boss Body!

With years of experience working with clients struggling with dieting, I’ve seen the emotional rollercoaster that often accompanies attempts to lose weight. If you’ve found yourself gaining and losing the same pounds repeatedly, you’re not alone, and more importantly, it’s not your fault. Diets are often designed to fail.

Today I’ll share insights into why your diet may not be working and what you can do to make a lasting change. From tackling overwhelm with baby steps to shifting your mindset and avoiding misery in your diet, I’ve got you covered for a healthier, sustainable lifestyle. Let’s dive in with the top three dieting mistakes you might be making and how to turn those missteps into successful, lifelong habits.

The Overwhelm Trap

One of the most significant reasons diets fail is that they are simply overwhelming. How many times have you embarked on a new diet plan, motivated and ready for change, only to find yourself buried under a mountain of rules, restrictions, and complex meal plans? You have to count calories, carbs, protein, and fat, and that can quickly become all-consuming and exhausting.

The solution lies in simplicity and incremental changes. Think of weight loss as a marathon, not a sprint. Implement one small, positive change at a time. Start adding one vegetable to each meal, or swap out one processed snack for a healthier option. Once that becomes second nature, introduce another small change.

Picture this: if you improved just 1% each week, you’d be 52% better by the end of the year. Not only does this approach mitigate overwhelm, but it also seamlessly integrates healthy habits into your lifestyle, making them stick.

The Misery of Deprivation

It’s no secret that miserable diets are not sustainable. Strict diets often force you into a state of deprivation—cutting out all carbs, sugars, and favorite foods—which only leads to one outcome: quitting. In the words of a wise yoga instructor I once knew, if you want to avoid an obstacle in the road, don’t look at it; focus on where you want to go instead.

Rather than focusing on what you can’t have, think about what you can add to your diet. Enrich your meals with nutritious, delicious foods that you genuinely enjoy. Follow the 80/20 rule: 80% of the time, stick to healthy eating patterns, and reserve 20% for indulgences. This ensures you’re not living in a constant state of deprivation, making it easier to maintain your new lifestyle.

Ignoring the Emotional and Mental Components

The last reason diets often fail is the lack of attention to emotional and mental well-being. Overeating and weight gain are often not the core problems; they are symptoms of underlying issues. Stress, emotional disturbances, and negative self-talk can trigger unhealthy eating habits.

To make lasting changes, you need to address the emotional and mental components of your eating habits. Are you stress eating? Eating out of boredom? Or perhaps using food to cope with emotional pain? By understanding these triggers, you can begin to address the root causes.

Working on your mindset is crucial. That constant inner critic telling you you’re not good enough needs to be silenced. Replace it with positive affirmations and self-compassion. Start journaling your feelings, seek therapy, or engage in mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga. These activities can help you understand and heal emotional wounds, making it easier to adopt healthy eating habits.

Most diets fail because they’re too overwhelming, too restrictive, and they neglect the crucial mindset and emotional components. By taking baby steps, embracing a balanced approach, and addressing the root emotional and mental causes, you can finally break free from the cycle of losing and gaining weight.

If you’re a busy woman in midlife, dealing with hormonal changes and a slowing metabolism, incorporating these changes is key to achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It’s about creating a way of living that nourishes your body and soul, not just shedding pounds quickly.

Don’t wait for another Monday to start. Begin with one small change today and build on that. Remember, you’re worth the effort. You deserve to feel confident, healthy, and happy in your own skin. Let’s make sustainable, positive changes that last a lifetime!