You want to lose weight, but you lack discipline

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Today we’re diving into a topic that hits home for so many of us: discipline. You’ve heard it before, right? “You’re just not disciplined enough.” Maybe you’ve even said it to yourself while struggling to stick to a workout plan or healthy eating routine. But here’s the tea: discipline isn’t the real issue. And I’m going to tell you why.

The Problem with Discipline

Discipline gets a lot of credit in the weight loss world. It’s often framed as the magic ingredient that separates success from failure. But let’s keep it real: your mind and body aren’t wired to embrace change overnight.

When you try to implement a new habit, your brain’s primary job is to keep you safe. Change? It’s scary to your brain. Even if your current habits aren’t serving you, they feel comfortable, predictable, and safe. That’s why making a big lifestyle shift often feels like swimming upstream. You’re not lazy or lacking willpower—you’re human.

Instead of beating yourself up for not being “disciplined enough,” let’s flip the script and focus on working with your brain, not against it.

Shifting the Mindset

The secret sauce to lasting change isn’t forcing yourself to be more disciplined—it’s rewiring how you think about the changes you want to make. When you create a framework that feels manageable and safe, your brain is way more likely to get on board. Let’s dive into three strategies to make that happen.

Strategy 1: Start Small and Build Momentum

The number-one mistake we make when starting a new routine is setting massive, overwhelming goals. Listen, nobody’s going from couch potato to marathon runner in a week. When you aim too high, you’re setting yourself up for burnout—and when you inevitably struggle, it’s easy to blame a “lack of discipline.”

Instead, start small. Like, ridiculously small. Think 10 minutes of movement a day instead of committing to an hour-long workout. Replace one snack with something healthier, instead of overhauling your entire diet. These small wins help your brain see that change isn’t as scary as it seems. Bonus: small changes build momentum, and momentum is what creates lasting habits.

Strategy 2: Create a New Identity

Your identity shapes your actions. If you see yourself as someone who struggles with weight loss, guess what? You’ll act in ways that reinforce that belief. But if you start identifying as someone who prioritizes their health, your actions will naturally begin to align with that.

Here’s how to do it: Instead of saying, “I’m trying to lose weight,” say, “I’m someone who moves my body every day because it makes me feel good.” Swap “I’m on a diet” with “I’m someone who nourishes my body with food that energizes me.” Over time, this shift makes healthy habits feel like a natural part of who you are, not a chore you have to force yourself to do.

Strategy 3: Celebrate Every Single Win

We’re so conditioned to focus on the end goal that we forget to acknowledge the progress we make along the way. But here’s the thing: celebrating small wins is crucial for rewiring your brain.

Every time you take a step in the right direction—no matter how small—take a moment to celebrate. Maybe you chose water over soda at lunch. Maybe you did 10 squats while brushing your teeth. Whatever it is, hype yourself up! This positive reinforcement tells your brain, “Hey, this change feels good!” and makes it more likely you’ll stick with it.

Final Thoughts

Sis, discipline isn’t the problem—your approach might just need a little tweak. When you start small, shift your identity, and celebrate every win, you’re not relying on sheer willpower to make changes. Instead, you’re working with your brain to create habits that actually stick.

So, the next time you catch yourself thinking, “I’m just not disciplined enough,” remind yourself: you don’t need more discipline. You need a plan that feels doable, sustainable, and—most importantly—aligned with the amazing, healthy, thriving person you’re becoming.

Got a win to celebrate? Drop it in the comments below! Let’s hype each other up and keep smashing those goals—one baby step at a time.