The One Word Sabotaging Your Weight Loss Mindset (and How to Fix It)

Have you ever said something like…

“How could I ever lose this weight?”
“How could I ever stay consistent with meal prep?”
“How could I ever get off these medications?”

If you’ve asked yourself anything like that — this post is for you.

Because today, we’re going to flip that “how could I ever…” energy into something that actually moves you forward. No more spiraling, no more feeling stuck. Just a simple mindset shift that can help you take your first (or next) step.

The Overwhelm Trap

When we’re overwhelmed, exhausted, or frustrated, our language starts to reflect it.
We default to self-talk that feels hopeless:

• “How could I ever stay on track?”

• “How could I ever stop quitting on myself?”

• “How could I ever be the kind of person who ___?”

It feels heavy. Final. Unfixable.

And yet — we can fix it. With just one word.

Grab a Pen: Quick Mindset Reframe Exercise

This works best if you actually do it, so actually go grab a piece of paper. Ready?

1. Write the words: How could I ever…

2. Fill in something that feels real for you.

   • “How could I ever lose 50 pounds?”

   • “How could I ever get my eating habits together?”

   • “How could I ever stop self-sabotaging?”

Now, read it out loud.

How does it feel? Heavy, right?

Now do this: cross off the word “ever.”
Read the sentence again:

• “How could I lose 50 pounds?”

• “How could I get my eating habits together?”

Feels different, doesn’t it?

That tiny shift — removing just one word — turns a hopeless statement into a question that invites possibility.

Suddenly, you’re not declaring defeat. You’re inviting strategy.

Why This Works

I’m a nutrition coach, yes. But I also know the best nutrition programs also address mindset — because without mindset, nutrition goals don’t stick.

Words matter. The way you speak to yourself matters. When you remove emotionally charged, dramatic language like “ever,” you make room for clarity. For action. For momentum.

Because now the question becomes:

👉 Well… how could I lose 50 pounds?
👉 What would that actually look like for me?
👉 What would the first step be?

And boom — you’ve gone from stuck to strategic.

The Real Work Starts Here

This is the kind of mindset work I weave into The Well Fed Way, my 9-week coaching program where we don’t just talk macros or calories — we build a new relationship with food, habits, and self-talk.

Every week, we pair nutrition strategies with mindset tools like this one, because your brain has to come with you on the journey — or you’ll always end up starting over.

Ready to take the next step?

✨ Grab my free Meal Prep Guide to simplify your food choices.
💪 Explore The Well Fed Way Program and learn how we rewire your habits from the inside out.

You’re not stuck. You just need a new way of talking to yourself.

Let’s change the story — one word at a time.

Coach Ashleigh 💪🦈