Love Life And Lose Weight

71: When It’s Time To Stop Food Planning & What to Do Instead


Listen Later

If you’ve ever felt trapped by food planning or overwhelmed by the pressure to stick to your meal plans, this episode is for you. Today, we’re diving into why food planning might not be the best strategy for your long-term success and how to replace it with a more intuitive, sustainable approach. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel empowered to make confident food choices in the moment, build trust with your body, and find freedom in your eating habits.

We’ll start by exploring the signs that food planning is no longer serving you. Are you eating just because it’s “on the plan,” even when you’re not hungry? Or maybe the thought of planning leaves you anxious or guilty because you’re tired of trying to follow rigid rules. When food planning becomes restrictive, it disconnects you from your body’s natural cues and prevents you from learning how your eating habits affect your energy, hunger, and results. I’ll guide you through the transition to food logging, a flexible tool that builds awareness without the rigidity of planning.

You’ll learn practical strategies like using a two-column food log—one for what you expect to eat and one for what you actually ate—or letting go of expectations altogether and simply observing your habits. We’ll talk about planning for types of food rather than specific meals, how to set intentional “overeats” in advance, and why reflecting on your weekly patterns is the key to making lasting changes. By the end of the episode, you’ll understand how to use food awareness tools to create sustainable weight loss, not as a compliance tool that forces you into perfection.

Coach Homework:

  1. Reflect on your current relationship with food planning—does it empower you or restrict you?
  2. If it feels restrictive, commit to food logging for the next week instead. Decide which days you’ll try it and track your experiences.
  3. Mark your calendar for a review session at the end of the week to see how food logging works for you.

It’s time to step away from rigid plans and into a new way of eating that feels aligned, flexible, and supportive of your goals. Listen now and start creating the freedom and trust you deserve in your relationship with food!

Support the show

🎁 Become a VIP Subscriber at HBeardsley.com/subscribe
Get two free gifts, subscriber-only tips, and an exclusive VIP discount on my digital Follow-Through Planner.

🛠️ This planner is the perfect tool to help you reach your weight goals & build the habits —and your future self—will thank you for.
Check it out here: HBeardsley.com/planner

📲 Connect with me on Instagram @ThriveInMidlife and join the conversation under this Episode's reel.

Audio engineering by Young Cub Audio.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Love Life And Lose WeightBy Heather Beardsley

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

182 ratings


More shows like Love Life And Lose Weight

View all
Half Size Me by Heather A. Robertson

Half Size Me

2,214 Listeners

The Life Coach School Podcast by Brooke Castillo

The Life Coach School Podcast

8,798 Listeners

CONSISTENT by Primal Potential by Elizabeth Benton

CONSISTENT by Primal Potential

2,606 Listeners

Brain over Binge Podcast by Kathryn Hansen

Brain over Binge Podcast

703 Listeners

Losing 100 Pounds with Corinne by Corinne Crabtree

Losing 100 Pounds with Corinne

7,518 Listeners

The Jordan Syatt Podcast by Jordan Syatt

The Jordan Syatt Podcast

3,734 Listeners

The Dr. Hyman Show by Dr. Mark Hyman

The Dr. Hyman Show

9,292 Listeners

Why We Overeat with Maggie Sterling by Maggie Sterling

Why We Overeat with Maggie Sterling

900 Listeners

Real Life Weight Loss by Corey Little

Real Life Weight Loss

343 Listeners

Weight Loss for Women Over 40 Podcast by Nikki Ternay

Weight Loss for Women Over 40 Podcast

66 Listeners

Weight Loss Mindset by Weight Loss Mindset

Weight Loss Mindset

97 Listeners

Hot, Healthy, Never Hungry by Lauren Hubert MS, Registered Dietitian | Healthy Eating & Weight Loss Tips

Hot, Healthy, Never Hungry

502 Listeners

The Mel Robbins Podcast by Mel Robbins

The Mel Robbins Podcast

19,601 Listeners

Healthy Beyond 40 | Lose Weight, Healthier Habits, Healthy Eating, More Energy, Feel Better, Lose Belly Fat, Weight Loss, Sugar Cravings by Michele Riechman | Online Personal Trainer, Health Coach, Yoga Teacher

Healthy Beyond 40 | Lose Weight, Healthier Habits, Healthy Eating, More Energy, Feel Better, Lose Belly Fat, Weight Loss, Sugar Cravings

107 Listeners

Mindin' My Wellness by Dani Marenburg | Macros, Nutrition and Flexible Dieting Tips

Mindin' My Wellness

385 Listeners