Want to Lose Weight? Here Is What to Do Instead of Starting Another Diet

 Have you ever told yourself: This is it. This is the week I start the diet, the planner, the new morning routine. This time it’s going to stick!
Only to find yourself two weeks in... overwhelmed, tired, and rummaging through the pantry with a spoonful of peanut butter wondering, Why can't I just get it together?

If that sounds familiar, I want to give you a big virtual hug—and let you know:
You are not the problem.
The diet mentality is.

Diets, Organizers, and Expert Advice—Oh My!

When life feels messy—whether it's the scale creeping up or your sewing room swallowing you whole—it’s tempting to believe the answer is just one more system away.

A new eating plan.

A color-coded organizer.

Hiring a productivity coach.

But what if I told you those things aren’t the solution?
They’re distractions.

Back in 2018, I hit my own wall. My youngest of five kids was heading to school. I was the heaviest I’d ever been (outside of pregnancy), exhausted, and spiralling in self-doubt.

So what did I do?
I hired a life coach.
Not a weight-loss coach.
Not a dietician.
Not a gym instructor.

And that’s what changed everything.

Why Diets Don’t Work (And What Does)

Diets operate on this belief:
“You can’t be trusted. Follow this instead.”

They treat you like the problem—and then sell you a fix.

But what happens when life goes sideways?

When you pack your sewing machine with the wrong foot (true story from one of my members), or your kid tells you something that breaks your mama heart, or dinner burns and the dog’s barking and your day just unravels?

That’s where most diets fall apart.
They don’t teach you how to live.
They teach you how to perform.

And when performance drops, so does your confidence.

Stop Trying to Be "Fixed"—Start Being You

Here’s what I’ve seen over and over: Women who’ve had successful careers, raised beautiful families, and shown up for others 110%… often feel like they are the ones who need fixing.

But what if the real shift isn’t in what you eat—but how you think?

Instead of another diet, what if you tried:

Building emotional resilience
Learning how to sit with discomfort
Getting curious instead of critical
Listening to your actual needs instead of numbing them with snacks, scrolling, or self-doubt

You don’t need to become someone else to lose weight or feel good.
You need to become more you—the you you’re becoming.

The Quest You’re Already On 

Think of your journey like a quest (like Frodo or Harry Potter). At the beginning, those heroes didn’t feel qualified. They were scared, unsure, and totally new to the adventure.

But here’s what they had:
A willingness to try
Guides to help them along the way
Faith that who they were becoming was worth it

You’re on a quest too. You’re learning to:

• Trust yourself around food

• Understand what your body actually needs

• Say no to shame and yes to curiosity

• Take responsibility for your time, energy, and choices

Not because you’re broken, but because you’re growing.

What If the Real You Hasn’t Shown Up Yet?

Dr. Benjamin Hardy wrote a book I love called Personality Isn’t Permanent, and he shares something powerful:
Your “authentic self” isn’t who you are right now.
It’s who you most believe in and aspire to become.

So if you’ve tried 17 diets and still don’t feel at home in your body—what if that’s not failure? What if that’s the beginning of your becoming?

You're like my zucchini plants—just starting, not fully developed yet. Still full of life, growth, and potential.

And you don’t need another diet.
You need tools. You need support. You need you.

So... What Should You Do Instead?

Here’s what I recommend:

Start paying attention to your thoughts, especially when you feel overwhelmed.
Talk back to the shame gremlins: “I’m allowed to grow slowly.”
Stop outsourcing your wisdom. You’re not broken—you just haven’t had the tools.
Join a community that helps you do the inner work (I happen to have a really good one 😉).
Get help when needed—not because you’re failing, but because you're ready for real support.

Want to Quit Dieting for Good?

If you're tired of giving your power away and you’re ready to make lasting change (the kind that feels like freedom, not punishment), I invite you to book a free 20-minute call with me.

We’ll talk about where you are, what’s keeping you stuck, and what your next right step could be.

No pressure. Just real help.
→ Book a consult with Dara

Or, come join my lifetime membership where I help women just like you lose mental and physical weight—without dieting, drama, or guilt.

Final Thought: You’re Already on the Journey

Remember: You’re not starting from scratch.
You’re starting from experience.
From wisdom. From a deep desire for something more.

You’re on your quest. You’ve already packed your bags.
Now let’s make sure you’re headed in the right direction.

📣 Watch Episode 208: What to Do Instead of Starting Another Diet on YouTube, listen wherever you get your podcasts—or right here on the blog!

You’ve got this.
And I’ve got you.
Let’s go.