MV15 The Advice I Wish Someone Had Given Me When I Started

The Advice I Wish Someone Had Given Me When I Started

Hey everyone, welcome to today's motivational episode!

As we wrap up this week, I've been reflecting on everything we've covered—the hard lessons learned, the messy reality of transformation, the habits that actually drive results.

And it got me thinking: If I could go back and talk to myself when I first started this journey, what would I say? What advice would I give to save myself years of struggle and confusion?

Today, I want to share that advice with you. Whether you're just starting to change your relationship with food, or you've been at this for a while but feel like you're still figuring it out, this episode is for you.

These are the things I wish someone had told me from day one. The mindset shifts that would have saved me so much pain and frustration.

By the end of this episode, you'll walk away with a different perspective on what this journey actually looks like and what deserves your focus to make real progress.

Let's do this!

Mindset shift

First piece of advice: Start with your thoughts, not your diet.

When I first started, I did what everyone does—I focused on the food. What should I eat? What should I avoid? How much should I have?

Here's what I wish someone had told me: Your relationship with food reflects your relationship with yourself. When you don't address the thoughts and emotions driving your eating, no meal plan in the world will create lasting change.

Start by becoming aware of what you're thinking and feeling when you reach for food. That awareness is worth more than any diet rule.

Second piece of advice: Expect the process to feel uncomfortable. That's exactly where the growth happens.

I used to think that if changing my relationship with food felt hard, I was doing something wrong. I thought it should feel natural and easy once I "got it."

Here's the truth: Your brain is wired to resist change. When you start eating differently, thinking differently, responding to emotions differently, your brain panics and tries to pull you back to familiar patterns.

That discomfort isn't a sign you're failing. It's a sign you're rewiring decades of conditioning. Lean into it. That's where the transformation happens.

Third piece of advice: Focus on consistency over intensity.

I used to go all-in for a few weeks, trying to change everything at once, then burn out and give up. I thought transformation required dramatic action and perfect execution.

Real change happens through small, consistent actions over time. Pausing before eating once a day for a month beats following a perfect meal plan for a week and then abandoning it.

Your brain changes through repetition, not perfection. Show up consistently, even when it's imperfect.

Fourth piece of advice: Your past doesn't predict your future.

I spent so much time thinking, "I've tried everything. Nothing works for me. I'm just someone who struggles with food."

Here's what I wish I'd understood: Every attempt taught you something. Every "failure" gave you information about what doesn't work for you. You're not starting from zero—you're starting with wisdom.

This time is different because you're approaching it differently. You're focusing on your mind first. You're expecting the process to be uncomfortable. You're committing to consistency over intensity.

Fifth piece of advice: Progress isn't always visible, and that's okay.

I used to measure progress by the scale, by how "good" I was with food, by how in control I felt. When those things weren't perfect, I thought I wasn't making progress.

Real progress often happens invisibly:

You think about food less throughout the day. You handle stress without automatically turning to eating. You feel more peaceful around food, even when you're not eating "perfectly." You trust yourself more in food situations that used to feel scary.

These changes happen even when you can't see them. Trust the process even when the results aren't obvious yet.

Weekend application

So here's what I want you to focus on this weekend, and really, moving forward:

Give yourself permission to be a beginner. Even if you've been working on this for months or years, approach it with beginner's mind. Be curious instead of critical. Be patient instead of demanding.

This weekend, practice just one thing: noticing without judging. Notice when you eat, how you feel before and after, what emotions come up around food. Don't try to change anything yet. Just notice.

Remember that every expert was once a beginner. Everyone who has a peaceful relationship with food went through the same messy, uncomfortable process you're going through. You're not behind. You're not broken. You're exactly where you need to be.

And here's the most important thing: Be kind to yourself this weekend. Talk to yourself the way you'd talk to a good friend who's learning something new. Celebrate small wins. Learn from mistakes without making them mean anything about your worth or capability.

You're trying to be conscious, not perfect. You're trying to struggle with more awareness and self-compassion, not to never struggle.

Empowering close

If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be this: You already have everything you need to succeed. You just need to trust the process and be patient with yourself.

The wisdom is already inside you. The capability is already there. You just need to give yourself time and space to develop it.

This journey is about becoming who you already are underneath all the conditioning and fear and old patterns. You're whole and in the process of remembering.

This weekend, treat yourself like someone you love who's learning something important. Because that's exactly what you are.

Your peaceful relationship with food is inevitable if you keep showing up with consistency, curiosity, and self-compassion.

You've got this. I believe in you completely. And I'm so honored to be part of your journey.

Have an amazing weekend, and I'll see you next week!