The ONE Step Most Women Skip in Weight Loss
Most women are doing everything right. They're eating clean. They're moving their bodies. They're trying so hard. But they're still stuck in the same frustrating cycle.
If this sounds like you, I want you to know two things: You're not alone, and it's not your fault.
At Inspired Well, I've worked with countless women who've tried every diet, followed every plan, and still can't seem to make lasting progress. And through my own weight loss journey and years of coaching, I've discovered something powerful:
If we don't address what's happening in our minds first, none of the rest of it sticks.
Today, I want to talk about the piece most women completely skip over the very thing that changes everything.
The Real Problem: Your Thoughts Are Creating Your Reality
Have you ever considered that your thoughts are actually creating your life?
You have about 30,000 thoughts every day. And here's what research shows: most of those thoughts are negative or fear-based unless we intentionally renew them.
Here's how it works, and this is critical to understand:
Your thoughts create your beliefs.
Your beliefs shape your emotions.
Your emotions drive your behaviors.
And those behaviors create your results.
Let me give you an example. If you're always thinking, "I always fail at weight loss," your emotions are going to line up with that thought. You're going to feel discouraged.
And when you feel discouraged, your actions are going to follow. You might quit early or stop trying. And then your results just confirm what you already believed.
It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
But here's the beautiful part: Romans 12:2 reminds us, "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
We don't have to stay stuck in these old ways of thinking. We can actually change the patterns that have been holding us back.
Why This Problem Feels So Overwhelming
Maybe you've tried positive thinking before. Maybe you've told yourself you need more discipline or willpower. But nothing seems to stick long-term.
Here's what's really happening: Most weight loss programs focus heavily on what you eat and how you move. But they ignore the other critical factors like what's happening in your mind, your stress levels, your sleep quality, and even the toxins in your environment.
When you don't address all six areas of wellness (nutrition, sleep, stress, movement, detox, and mindset), you end up feeling discouraged. You blame yourself. You think you just need to try harder.
But the truth is, your body isn't broken. Your mind just needs to be renewed.
And when you're carrying the weight of trying to do everything perfectly while also caring for your family, managing your responsibilities, and trying to show up for your purpose it's exhausting. The overwhelm becomes part of the problem.
Your negative thoughts become automatic. They run on repeat. And every day, they're shaping your choices without you even realizing it.
What Happens If You Ignore Mindset
Leaving your mindset unaddressed doesn't just mean struggling with weight. Over time, the consequences compound:
Your self-talk becomes more critical. You start believing lies about your worth, your body, and your ability to change. The voice in your head tells you you're failing and you believe it.
Your stress increases. Negative thought patterns keep your body in a state of chronic stress, raising cortisol and making weight loss even harder.
Your habits stay the same. If your thoughts haven't changed, your behaviors won't either. You'll keep repeating the same cycles that haven't worked before.
Your identity stays stuck. You'll continue to see yourself as someone who "can't lose weight" or "always fails" and you'll live up to that belief.
Your purpose feels out of reach. When you're stuck in frustration and discouragement, it's hard to step into the vibrant, abundant life God created you for.
Ignoring mindset means allowing your thoughts to run on autopilot and those automatic thoughts are often lies that keep you stuck.
Practical Strategies to Renew Your Mind
So how do you actually do this? Here are powerful, practical strategies you can start using today:
1. Identify the Lie, Replace It With Truth
Think about a thought that plays again and again in your mind. Maybe it's a negative thought about your body. Maybe it's "I always fail at weight loss."
Take that thought and write it down. Then go to scripture and find a truth that speaks to that lie.
For example:
Lie: "I always fail at weight loss."
Truth: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13) Or "I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me" (Romans 8:37) which means I have the power to overcome this struggle.
When you remind yourself that you are more than a conqueror, you're not just saying nice words. You're declaring that through Christ, you have the strength to break old patterns and create new ones. You're not destined to fail you're equipped to succeed.
Every day when you get out of bed, remind yourself of that truth. And any time that lie comes back, you combat it with scripture.
2. Audit What You're Feeding Your Mind
You've probably heard the phrase, "You are what you eat." But it's not just about food it's also about what you're feeding your mind.
Everything you see, hear, and dwell on becomes the information your brain uses to shape your thoughts. And here's what's interesting: your mind can't tell the difference between what's real and what's just repetition.
The more often you hear something, the easier it is for your brain to believe it. (That's actually one of the ways people come to believe a lie they hear it over and over again.)
So ask yourself: What am I feeding my mind every single day? Is it life-giving? Is it moving me toward the person God created me to be or pulling me away?
Take some time to reflect on all the sources coming at you on a daily basis. Think about social media, news, the people you're around, the groups you're part of.
Then take a small step: Take one thing you've identified as negative and replace it with something life-giving. It could be scripture reading, praise and worship music, or a podcast that reminds you of who you are.
Remember: When you change your inputs, you change your outlook.
3. Train Your Brain to Look for Victory (The RAS)
Did you know you can actually train your brain to look for the positive instead of the negative?
I don't know about you, but I would much rather my brain look for evidence of victory and freedom than defeat and bondage.
Let me introduce you to a part of your brain called the Reticular Activating System (RAS).
Here's how it works: When you visualize or speak something, your brain goes to work looking for evidence that what you spoke or visualized is actually true.
So when you visualize honoring and caring for the body God gave you, or when you speak scriptural truths over your life, the RAS goes to work all day long looking for evidence that it's true.
That's a lot better than your brain looking for evidence of defeat and failure.
4. Understand Neural Pathways (And How to Rewire Your Brain)
Here's something really fascinating: Every time you have a thought, that thought actually creates a physical pathway in your brain.
When you have a thought over and over again, it becomes a deep, well-worn rut. That thought becomes automatic.
But here's the good news: You can create new neural pathways. You can build new ruts.
And as you neglect the old ways of thinking that are unhealthy, those pathways actually fill in and go away. It's kind of like a path in the woods that no one walks on anymore.
5. Daily Practices: Visualize and Speak Truth
Take some time to reflect this week on what your words and mental pictures say about what you believe is possible for your life.
Each morning, I encourage you to visualize yourself walking out your health goals successfully. Then speak some scripture over your life.
Something like:
"I'm more than a conqueror." (Romans 8:37)
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)
Watch how your emotions shift. Watch how your choices start to follow your focus.
Just remember: You are not at the mercy of your thoughts. You can actually rewire your brain to align with truth, freedom, and the life God has for you.
The Wheel of Wellness: Why Mindset Comes First
At Inspired Well, I use the Wheel of Wellness framework to help women see the full picture. Mindset is the first area we address because it affects everything else.
Your mindset influences:
Nutrition – What you choose to eat
Sleep – Your ability to rest and recover
Stress – How you respond to challenges
Movement – Your motivation to move your body
Detox – Your commitment to reducing toxic load
When you address mindset first, the other five areas start to fall into place. But when you skip mindset and jump straight to food and exercise, you set yourself up for frustration.
That's why so many women feel stuck. They're working on the other areas without addressing the foundation.
When you bring all six together starting with mindset that's when true transformation happens.
The Benefits of Renewing Your Mind
When you renew your mind and align your thoughts with truth, everything changes:
Your self-talk becomes compassionate. You start seeing yourself the way God sees you fearfully and wonderfully made.
Your stress decreases. When you catch negative thoughts and replace them with truth, your nervous system calms.
Your habits shift naturally. When your thoughts change, your behaviors follow. You make better choices without relying on willpower.
Your energy increases. You're no longer weighed down by discouragement and defeat. You feel hopeful and motivated.
Your purpose becomes clear. When your mind is aligned with truth, you can step into the vibrant, abundant life God created you for.
Healing from within isn't a quick fix it's a transformation. And when you ground it in your identity in Christ, the journey becomes one of grace, not guilt.
Simple Action Steps You Can Take Today
Ready to get started? Here are your first steps:
Identify one limiting belief. Write it down, then find a scripture truth that replaces it.
Audit your inputs. What are you feeding your mind daily? Replace one negative source with something life-giving.
Visualize success. Each morning, spend 2 minutes visualizing yourself walking out your health goals.
Speak truth over your life. Choose one scripture or affirmation and say it aloud every day.
Download the Wheel of Wellness assessment to see which areas need your attention most: https://inspiredwell.org/wheel
The Cost of Ignoring Mindset
When you ignore your mindset, you're not just accepting temporary frustration. You're allowing negative thought patterns to run on autopilot. You're reinforcing neural pathways that keep you stuck.
Every day spent thinking the same thoughts is a day your brain strengthens those old ruts. And every day you don't renew your mind is a day you stay in the same cycles.
Your body was created to heal. Your brain was designed to change. When you renew your mind with truth, you build new pathways to freedom.
Take the First Step Toward Transformation
If you're ready to renew your mind and break free from the thoughts that have been holding you back, Inspired Well is here to support you.
The Inspired Change Course walks you step-by-step through how to identify lies and limiting beliefs, and retrain your brain to work for you, not against you. When your mind is aligned with truth, everything else falls into place.
Join the Inspired Change Course today: https://inspiredwell.org/inspired-change
Download the FREE Wheel of Wellness assessment: https://inspiredwell.org/wheel
You were created for more than this cycle of frustration. You were created for freedom, vibrant health, and fulfilling the purpose God has for you.
And remember: Every time you catch a negative thought and replace it with truth, you're building new pathways to freedom. Those small shifts add up to lasting transformation in your mind, your body, and your life.
Take the first step today. Your transformation starts in your mind.
