Are you tired of the endless cycle of fat loss attempts that start strong but fizzle out quickly? Do you feel like you are either 100% perfect or completely out of control when it comes to your diet? It’s likely your all-or-nothing mentality that’s to blame.
First of all, let’s talk about what we mean by an all-or-nothing mentality. Essentially, it’s the idea that in order to achieve your goals, you have to be perfect all the time, otherwise what’s the point right? This might involve cutting out entire food groups, exercising for hours every day, or sticking to a rigid routine no matter what else is going on in your life. While this approach might seem like the best way to get results as quickly as possible, it can actually be preventing you from making progress.
Let’s explore why and how embracing a more balanced approach can lead you to long-lasting success in your fat loss journey.
1. Realistic goals and expectations:
When you’re trapped in the all-or-nothing mindset, you tend to set unrealistic goals for yourself. The pressure to achieve perfection can be overwhelming and discouraging. And when you don’t reach the targets you set for yourself, you tell yourself it’s not working and you give up. Sound familiar? By setting yourself more realistic goals that are achievable and sustainable, and by understanding that fat loss is not a linear process and that you won’t lose weight every single week, you’ll be more likely to keep going. Start small and celebrate each milestone along the way. Remember, progress is progress, no matter how small!
2. Ditching restriction:
Here’s the thing: life is meant to be enjoyed, even when you’re trying to lose fat. When you have an all-or-nothing mentality you often think that you need to avoid your favourite foods or social situations that involve food – which leads you to follow overly restrictive diets. When you follow a more flexible approach with your diet, you realise that no foods are off limits and that you can get results without starving yourself or feeling miserable. It’s all about finding a balance that nourishes your body and satisfies your cravings, allows you to create an enjoyable diet that you can actually stick to for long enough to get results, and subsequently ensures your long-term success.
3. Banishing guilt and self-sabotage:
One of the major pitfalls of the all-or-nothing mentality is the guilt that follows any slip-up. You’ve been perfect all week and then give in to your cravings and indulge in a single piece of cake, and suddenly, you think you’ve ruined everything. This self-sabotage often leads to a downward spiral, where you throw in the towel and abandon your efforts altogether. But guess what? Slip-ups happen to the best of us! By adopting a more balanced approach, you can learn to forgive yourself, accept imperfections, and bounce back from setbacks without derailing your progress.
4. Progress over perfection:
Many of us fall into the trap of thinking that unless we adhere to our fat loss plan 100%, we won’t achieve our desired results. But the truth is, consistency is far more important than perfection. As we always say, a good enough plan that you can follow consistently is always going to be better than a perfect plan that you can only stick to sometimes. In other words, the more flexible you are with your diet and your training and the better you are at adapting to challenges or situations that aren’t ideal – the more likely you are going to be to make progress.
It might seem impossible, but you can break free from the all-or-nothing mindset. It all starts with embracing the power of small steps. Every positive change, no matter how small, counts towards your overall progress. Instead of trying to overhaul your entire lifestyle overnight or committing to more than you can manage, focus on making gradual changes that are more manageable and sustainable.
So it’s time to FINALLY ditch the all-or-nothing mindset and pave the way for long-lasting success on your fat loss journey. You’ve got this!
Need help with embracing a more balanced approach when it comes to losing fat? We’re here to help! We’ve got 2 spots left for our Premium 1:1 Coaching. Click here to find out more about it and if it’s the right fit for you.