Hey there. Until my early 30’s I struggled with the endless cycle of weight loss and regain. Like many of you, I spent countless nights lying awake wondering why I couldn’t reach or maintain my goals. Was it my lack of effort? My willpower? My ability to stick with a plan? I want you to know this: it’s not you.

The weight loss industry thrives on our insecurities. It convinces us that we’re not enough as we are and that happiness is just one magical number on the scale away. Sometimes these messages are loud and obvious, other times subtle and insidious. Either way, they plant the belief that we are to blame when the reality is much simpler: we’ve been following their broken system.

Real, lasting progress doesn’t come from restrictive diets or punishing exercise routines. It starts with your preferences. Think about it:

If you’re going to do this for the rest of your life, why wouldn’t you base it on the foods and activities you actually enjoy?

Starting with your preferences lays the foundation for consistency, and consistency is the secret to sustainable success.

Let’s talk food. So many of us have foods we label as “bad” or “off-limits.” But when nothing is off-limits, the power those foods have over us begins to fade. If you’ve spent years avoiding cake, you might want a slice every day at first. That’s okay. Over time, your body and mind will adjust. Eventually, you’ll realize you don’t even crave it as much. It finds its proper place in your eating habits, not as forbidden fruit, but as one small piece of a bigger picture.

The same goes for exercise. What are you willing and able to do? Start there. Whether it’s a short walk, stretching in bed, or mobility work, your consistency will grow when it’s rooted in your current abilities and preferences. This approach isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing what works for you and building on that over time.

Preferences are not static. They change, evolve, and adapt as you do. But by always coming back to what you enjoy and can sustain, you’ll build a lifestyle that’s flexible and forgiving—one that supports you, rather than guilts you, through life’s ups and downs.

If you’re ready to build a foundation rooted in your preferences, I invite you to join The YLF Experience. You’ll learn how to create a sustainable, guilt-free plan for the rest of your life. Sign up here.