Summary of "I Failed To Lose Weight For 10 Years. Here’s What I Learned."

Summary — Key takeaways, strategies, and practical steps

Core problems the speaker identified

The speaker named three limiting beliefs that kept her stuck:

“I’ve tried everything” — but she had only tried many variations of restrictive, willpower-based diets. “I was born this way / can’t change” — a fixed-identity story that made failure feel inevitable and safer than responsibility. “Weight loss must be miserable / I’m not cut out for it” — believing the only routes were extreme deprivation or staying the same.

These beliefs led to behaviors and choices that made sustainable change difficult.

Why past attempts failed

Most diets rely on restriction, strict rules, willpower and deadlines, which are unsustainable long term.
Attaching emotion and judgment to the daily scale reading turns neutral data into punishment.
Deadlines and urgency create pressure; when life interrupts, plans are abandoned.
Prioritizing speed (very low calories, extreme measures) makes the process intolerable and often extends the timeline overall.

Wellness strategies, self-care techniques, and mindset shifts

Stop treating the scale as a moral judge; use it as neutral data or avoid it if it harms motivation.
Remove artificial deadlines and accept that progress is often slower than expected.
Prioritize nourishment and sustainable intake instead of extreme restriction.
Reframe identity: eating habits are learned and can be unlearned and relearned.
Focus on self-care basics: sleep, balanced meals, and movement you enjoy rather than punishing exercise.
Celebrate and reinforce small, non-scale wins to change your internal narrative.

Practical tips and methods (actionable)

Accept that repeating previous methods won’t produce different outcomes.
Ditch deadlines and all-or-nothing timelines; treat progress as long-term and resilient to setbacks.
Ask “What does my body need right now?” instead of “How can I eat the least/burn the most?”
- Nourish with balanced meals.
- Prioritize restorative sleep.
- Move in ways you enjoy (not just to burn calories).
- Allow adequate rest and recovery.
Track and celebrate non-scale victories, for example:
- Stopping a binge early
- Choosing stairs regularly
- Consistent sleep or hydration habits
- Any small behavior change that compounds over time
- Consider a weekly “non-scale victory” check-in to reinforce progress
Get support and accountability when needed:
- Coaching, group programs, or supportive communities can provide structure and outside perspective.
- Accountability is a tool, not a sign of failure.

Behavioral and mindset practices to adopt

Replace shame and self-blame with curiosity and reinforcement of wins.
Praise and reward progress to strengthen new habits.
Move from victim/passivity (“I can’t change”) to responsibility without self-punishment.
Break big goals into small, repeatable behaviors that are sustainable.