173 | Why You're So Motivated Monday… But Give Up by Wednesday

Do you start a new diet every Monday, only to find yourself falling off track by Wednesday or Thursday?

You plan your healthy meals, buy the groceries, commit to your workouts—and then real life happens. Work gets stressful. Your kids need you. You don't sleep well. You have a birthday dinner. And suddenly, the weight loss plan you were so motivated to follow is completely out the window.

Then you blame yourself.

You tell yourself you need more willpower, motivation, discipline or self-control.

But what if that's not actually the problem?

In this episode of Master Your Metabolism After 40, we're taking a closer look at why women over 40 struggle to stick to a diet, why you keep starting over with weight loss, and what is really happening in your brain and body when your motivation disappears.

If you're trying to lose weight after 40 and feel like you can follow a plan for a few days but never seem to make it last, this episode will help you understand why—and what to do differently.

You'll learn how dopamine, your prefrontal cortex, stress, fatigue, automatic habits, hunger and appetite regulation can all influence your ability to follow through with a new nutrition or exercise plan.

We'll also talk about why overly restrictive diets can make sustainable weight loss after 40 more difficult—and why the answer isn't simply to eat less, exercise more and try harder.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Why starting a new diet can feel so exciting and motivating

How dopamine is involved in motivation, reward and anticipation when you decide to “start fresh”