Motivation Monday: The Real Connection Between Weight Loss and Willpower

If you’ve ever tried to lose weight, then you might have noticed a common struggle that tends to come up again and again: the concept of willpower. Or, more specifically, the lack thereof it. People who are trying to lose weight frequently say that they struggle with the willpower to overcome temptations. So often, this makes people feel frustrated, weak and even defeated.

So much of this comes from what we’ve been told or taught about dieting in the past. That’s the idea that “dieting” is all about giving foods up. Frankly, that model sets people up for failure from the start. Being told that certain foods are off limits seems to make most people crave them more. And it’s nearly impossible to eliminate entire sets of food groups from your diet, as so many eating plans do.

But when people begin one of these plans, and they ultimately fail, it often sets them further back—sometimes to the point of just giving up entirely.

We’re here to say that it doesn’t have to be that way.

Let’s look at the definition of willpower. It’s a noun that means, “control exerted to do something or restrain impulses.”

When we try to exert control over food impulses by making significant changes or eliminating large groups or categories of food, it can ultimately go awry. For the vast majority of people, it’s simply not sustainable. This is why so many people have shared that they’ve tried (and failed) at multiple “diets” in the past. And this is how people tend to end up in an unhealthy pattern of yo-yo dieting.

Weight Loss Without Deprivation

All of this is why Nutrisystem has always been so adamant about making smart substitutions that don’t leave you feeling deprived. People seem to have the most success when they don’t feel like they’re missing out in any way. And why should they? Food is such a big part of our lives—and it’s meant to be enjoyed.

For that reason, we are focused on helping people to make healthy changes while still getting to enjoy foods that they love. And we make it super simple!

Our easy-to-prep meals and snacks are perfectly portioned versions of all of your favorite foods, including pizza, burgers, pasta, and even desserts like cookies and cupcakes. Plus, we deliver them directly to your door for the ultimate convenience!

In addition to our heat-and-eat meals, we also teach you how to make smarter food choices in your everyday life. This way, you can lose the weight AND learn how to keep it off. With our tasty recipes, dining out tips and healthy cooking guidance, you can enjoy all of the deliciousness that life has to offer all while you reach your weight loss goals.

When people don’t feel like they’re giving up all of the things that they enjoy, they can have much greater success. Plus, they don’t feel like a failure or that they’re weak when they reach for those favorite foods—a common feeling with so many other diet plans.

The truth is you can do hard things—you have done hard things. But setting up impossible goals around eating really only sets you up for failure. And it has nothing to do with weakness and everything to do with unrealistic standards.

Shift Your Focus

At the end of the day, it’s all about shifting your focus to long-term, sustainable goals and removing the idea of willpower from the equation. Humans simply don’t have endless willpower and eventually you’re going to give in to temptations and feel like you’ve failed.

Instead, by focusing on making reasonable and sustainable changes, while still getting to enjoy food that you love, you can have great success. And, most important, you can feel good about yourself, because you deserve to! You don’t have to be in it on your own, either. Nutrisystem is here to help set you up and support you on your journey.