Struggling with Consistency? Here’s the Real Problem

Listen to the Episode Now:

(If player is taking a while to load, just refresh the page.)

Add the show to your podcast library on Apple (iPhone) Here or Spotify Here.

Listen to These Too:

• RELATED EPISODE: Creating Consistency for Sustainable Weight Loss
• RELATED EPISODE: 4 Simple Steps to Staying on Track When Work is Crazy

Tired of feeling like your eating habits are sabotaging your health and weight loss goals?

I can teach you the skills to overcome eating habits like emotional eating, overeating and mindless eating. And guide you in the most encouraging and supportive way.

Imagine going through your day feeling healthy, confident and free. Start now with a free consultation and you and I will create a personalized plan to guide you there.

Don’t go another day feeling like you do. You deserve so much better than that. Book your free consult below.

Enjoying the Show?

Help make the show more discoverable to others who are frustrated with their eating habits by leaving a rating/review.

Just use the links below (or go right onto the app you normally listen on). Thank you!

• Rate/review on Apple (iTunes) HERE
• Rate on Spotify HERE

Know someone who’d benefit?

Just send them a text with a link to this page.

Read the Transcript:

Struggling With Consistency? Here’s the Real Problem

Hey there, welcome back to the Eating Habits for Life podcast! Have you ever felt super motivated to make a change, whether it’s eating healthier, exercising, or breaking a bad habit—only to find yourself slipping back into old patterns just a few weeks later?

You’re not alone. In fact, this cycle of starting strong and then quitting is one of the biggest challenges I see women face. But here’s the truth: the problem isn’t motivation, and it’s not willpower. It’s largely the way we’re thinking about consistency.

If you’ve struggled with this, especially as a busy woman in healthcare or a high-stress career, this episode is for you. We’re going to break down what’s really going on when you start strong and then quit, why consistency feels so hard, and most importantly, how to make lasting changes without relying on motivation alone.

Plus, stay tuned for when I reveal a time-sensitive bonus gift at the end!

The Myth of Motivation

Let’s talk about motivation for a second. It feels amazing, right? When you’re motivated, you feel unstoppable. You’re excited, making plans (which is so fun!), setting goals, and telling yourself, “This time, I’m really going to do it.”

But motivation is unreliable. It’s a fleeting emotion. It comes and goes, depending on your mood, your energy levels, and what’s happening in your life. And for women in healthcare or other high-stress careers, motivation is often the first thing to disappear when work gets overwhelming.

What happens when you’re exhausted from a long shift, dealing with difficult patients, or handling back-to-back meetings or demanding deadlines? That initial motivation vanishes, and suddenly, the habits you were so committed to don’t feel as urgent or doable anymore. This is where most people assume they’ve failed or that they “just don’t have enough willpower.” But that’s not true at all.

The Real Reason You Struggle With Consistency

The real problem isn’t that you lack motivation or willpower—it’s that you’re relying on them in the first place. Consistency doesn’t come from feeling motivated every day. It comes from having a system in place that makes taking action feel automatic and way easier, even on the hard days.

Think about your morning routine at work. You don’t wake up every morning debating whether or not to go to work, right? You just do it because it’s part of your life. That’s what we need to do with your eating habits. Make them part of your routine, not something that requires constant decision-making and motivation.

What often gets in the way of consistency is:

Emotions, environmental or social triggers, pre-existing habit loops, and mindset.

So addressing any of these will help with consistency. Which is why my clients and I address all of these things when we work together. We don’t rely on motivation or willpower. We don’t try to keep motivation high all the time or “strengthen” willpower. These are incredibly challenging to do and unrealistic goals.

The other things however, can be managed with skills and tools.

Shifting Your Mindset on Consistency

Most people believe that consistency means doing something perfectly every single day. Like you have to get an A+ for the day or week. That’s not realistic. True consistency is about getting back on track quickly when life throws you off course. Plus, learning skills to compensate for low energy, when those unhelpful emotions come into play, and other challenges.

As author James Clear says, it’s not about never missing a day. It’s about not missing two in a row. One bad meal, one stressful day, or one skipped workout doesn’t ruin progress. But when you let one off day turn into five or ten, that’s when it becomes a problem.

The Power of Tiny Commitments

One of the best ways to build consistency is by making your actions so small that they feel ridiculously easy to follow through on.

For example, instead of saying, “I’m going to meal prep all my lunches for the week,” start with something smaller: “I’m going to prepare my lunch for tomorrow.” Instead of committing to a full 30-minute workout, commit to 5 minutes. Once you start, you’ll often do more—but even if you don’t, you’re still reinforcing the habit of showing up.

Planning for the Hard Days

Consistency isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being prepared for the moments when you don’t feel like doing the thing you committed to.

This is where an “if-then” plan can help. It’s a simple strategy that allows you to anticipate obstacles and have a plan for dealing with them.

For example:

• If I’m too tired to cook dinner, then I’ll have my go-to quick meal option ready (like a prepped salad or a healthy frozen meal).
• If I feel stressed and want to snack, then I’ll take five deep breaths and drink a glass of water first.
• If I don’t have time for a workout, then I’ll do a 5-minute stretch before bed.

By planning ahead, you remove the need for willpower in the moment. You don’t have to make a tough decision—you just follow the plan.

Giving Yourself Permission to Be Imperfect

A huge reason why people quit is because they expect perfection. The moment they slip up, they think, “Well, I blew it, so I might as well just start over next week.”

This all-or-nothing thinking is one of the biggest barriers to consistency. Instead of aiming for perfection, aim for progress. Remind yourself that one misstep doesn’t undo all your hard work. The faster you get back on track, the more consistent you’ll become over time.

Takeaway: How to Stay Consistent for the Long Haul

So, let’s recap:

• Motivation is unreliable. You need a system, not willpower.
• Consistency isn’t about being A+ work. It’s about getting back on track quickly.
• Start small. Tiny habits build lasting change.
• Plan for obstacles with “if-then” strategies.
• Let go of all-or-nothing thinking. Progress beats perfection every time.

If you’ve struggled with consistency, you’re not alone. But you’re also not stuck. The key is shifting your mindset, simplifying your habits, managing emotions, your environment, and other barriers, and giving yourself permission to be human.

And if you’re ready to make consistency easier and finally break the cycle of starting strong and quitting, I’d love to help. Book a free consultation with me, and let’s create a plan that actually works for your life. The link is in the show notes.

And if you book your free consultation by February 21st (which is coming up quick!), say “yes” to coaching, and have your first session by the end of February, you’ll receive my exclusive Confidence Continuum: 8-Week Transition Program…completely free.

Think of this like a guarantee ahead of time that when you finish coaching, you’ll feel super confident in maintaining your results. You’ll have the tools, the mindset, and all new habits to keep going without second-guessing yourself.

No more fear of slipping back into old habits, or gaining the weight back.

This is your chance to set yourself up for long-term success, but only if you take action now.

The most popular time slots for career women go the quickest, so book your free consultation today and let’s make this the moment everything changes for you.

Thanks so much for listening, take care and I’ll talk with you next week.