Why You Keep Starting Over
(Spoiler: It’s Not a Discipline Problem)
There is one thing that derails your progress when it comes to weight loss more than anything else. And I’ll tell you what that is (and what to do about it) in a minute.
But first, can you relate?
It’s a new month, so on Sunday, I spent time going through the kids’ school calendar. I color code it with highlighters so that I can tell at a glance who has hot lunch on any given day, along with any other events, field trips, and reminders.
First of all, I’m so thankful that our Catholic school has so many robust programs and options available, I don’t want to discount that! But as a busy mom with three kids in school, a baby at home, and a full-time job, to say it felt overwhelming this month is an understatement.
And yet, when it comes to the school stuff, or anything for the kids really, it all comes together. No matter how overwhelmed I feel, every day I manage to pack lunches, find clean uniforms, go to work, get everyone to and from their extracurricular activities, make dinner, nurse the baby, do homework, and at least ten other things that I can’t think of right now. And I’m pretty sure you’re doing the same things.
Why, then, is it so different when it comes to our health goals? Why are they the first things to go when life gets “too busy”?
It’s the mental load of it all. And frankly, it’s decision fatigue.
As moms, we’re pretty much pros at doing everything for everyone else all the time. But that often comes at the expense of our health.
We’re either too tired, too overstimulated, or too overwhelmed, and adding one more thing to our already overflowing plate threatens to crash the whole thing down.
So, we wait. Or we start and then stop. We sit down on Sunday with our meal plans, only to have it all crash and burn by Wednesday, because it’s just too much to carry by ourselves.
But if we don’t prioritize our own health, who will?
Here’s the thing… getting your health back on track doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing event. Whether your goal is to lose weight, get rid of bloating, or stop crashing by 2pm, you don’t have to do it by piling more things onto your to do list.
My hot take?
You need to make it simpler. You don’t need more discipline or willpower.
Remember when I told you I’d share the number one thing derailing your progress? It’s lack of structure and support.
I very rarely talk with women who want to lose weight and genuinely have no idea what to do. Every time we open Instagram, we’re told to eat more protein, track macros, or drink our body weight in water. (Insert eye roll here.)
But when you’re in the thick of it, raising kids and trying to keep it all together, the question becomes HOW?!
Let me be the first to say, especially if no one has told you this yet… you don’t have to do all of that stuff to lose weight or feel better in your body. I promise.
In a society that values instant results, we’ve developed an unrealistic understanding that if you try something for your health and you don’t immediately see a measurable change, it didn’t work.
That’s just not true though.
As cliche as this may sound, small changes really can create a big impact. But you have to stick with them longer than a few weeks to really see the difference.
Instead of starting more new things or creating more rules for yourself (like “I’m going to wake up early and exercise every day,” or “I’m going to stop eating X, Y, or Z food because it’s ‘bad,’”), I’m telling you that you need to do less. So much less. Like just pick ONE thing.
But here’s the catch: you choose that one thing, and then you work on building consistency. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but you do have to just keep going with it, even when you slip up.
We’re going to change your mindset from “starting over” to “keep going.” Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. If you mess up or forget, it’s fine. Just keep going.
Consistency is better than intensity. When you focus on one change at a time and work on repeating it until it becomes second nature, that’s when the magic happens.
And we see this even in our faith. Why do you think we say the Hail Mary over and over again in the rosary? Or pray the same prayer for nine days in a row during a novena?
There’s holiness in repetition.
So now I’m going to challenge you to try it out in real life. Starting TODAY. Not when “life gets less busy,” or after you have time to plan and overthink it to death.
Pick ONE thing to do for your health. The smaller the better. Your brain is going to try to tell you that if it’s too small it isn’t worth it but just trust me on this.
If you’re not sure what to do, here are some ideas:
Drink a glass of water before your morning coffee
Add ONE ten-minute walk to your day (ideally after a meal)
Pre-plan a balanced breakfast centered around protein, fiber, and fat, to eat on repeat this week (when decision fatigue hits, boring is better!)
Don’t scroll on your phone when you get into bed
Whatever you pick, plan to stick with it for the next week. Then see if you can stretch it to two. Or even the whole month.
And I want you to notice how you feel. Do you have more energy? Less bloating? Less irritability? Take time to really sit and notice. I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
If you have big goals this year, especially around weight loss, creating structure and having support can make all the difference.
And if you’re struggling with one or both of these things or just wish you had someone who could help you create them and stay accountable, I can help.
⭐I’m opening up two 1:1 health coaching spots for Catholic women who want to lose 10 lbs in the next 2 months without restrictive diets, shots, or expensive supplements.
If that sounds like you, book a clarity call and we’ll talk about whether this kind of support would be the right next step.
Chat soon!
xoxo,
Andrea
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Fiat Wellness helps Catholic moms stop starting over by building sustainable health habits rooted in physiology and faith. Learn more at fiatwellness.co.