One of the most frustrating forms of sabotage is chasing an old version of ourselves. Even if we do instinctively know that it’s a fruitless task, it’s something we often do that leaves us spinning our wheels in frustration and overwhelm because we’re chasing a goal that is not physically possible.

We cannot make our body look exactly like someone else's body, because we have different musculoskeletal structures and physiology.

Likewise, we cannot make our current body look exactly like our past body.

Our goals backfire when we compare our before and after to others'; they backfire even worse when we compare our "now" to our past “transformations.”

So often I will start to work with a new client whose goals look something like this:

"I want to get back to my pre-baby body"

"I want to get back to my high school weight or fitness level"

"I want to get back to my pre-pandemic self"

The problem: these goals are unachievable.

They don’t work.

We can't have that pre-baby body, because this new body didn't carry and birth to a new human.

We can't have our old high school body because we are no longer adolescents who haven't fully matured into adulthood.

We can't be as fit as we were pre-pandemic because that body is not this body.

The body we now live in, in this current moment, lives in different circumstances.

Those circumstances may be better or worse, but they are no doubt different.

We face different stressors, different relationships, different responsibilities, and different lifestyles. None of that means we cannot change; it just means that change may look different.

We can have a post-baby body that, in time, feels more comfortable than our pre-baby body.

We can feel even better in our skin and in our bodies than we did in high school.

We can be even fitter and leaner than we were in the past.

In a podcast episode recorded a few months ago, the ladies from Butter Your Macros and I talked through some of the sticky goals we often see with clients, as well as how we can combat self-sabotage, how we can feel best in our bodies as we work towards goals we have, and how we can leave behind unrealistic expectations (like chasing the old version of ourselves) and instead focus on bigger and better things.

We believe that the best way to achieve your specific goals is working with a coach who creates a plan specific to you - your needs, your preferences, and your goals. A sustainable approach to our nutrition is essential to long-term habits and success. For high support coaching and guidance, apply for our 1:1 Nutrition Coaching here.