Are you absolutely fed up with being overweight? Does it mess with your self-confidence and make you withdraw from social situations?
You look in the mirror and wish things were different. You feel trapped in a body that doesn’t reflect the real you. The frustration runs deep—you hate buying clothes, can’t take compliments, and avoid going out with friends because of how you feel about yourself.
Do you ever feel like you’ve lost control when it comes to food? Maybe you’ve joked about being a sugar “addict” to cover up the real struggle underneath.
Or, are you a binge eater who battles with those cravings, only to feel like your efforts are pointless?
If you nodded your head at any of these questions, you might have more going on with your weight than just what’s on your plate.
Don’t get me wrong, weight loss mostly comes down to what you eat. But, we often overlook the mental and emotional hurdles that make choosing the right foods so difficult—and the frustration that comes when even our best efforts seem not to pay off.
Since we launched Real Meal Revolution in 2013, we’ve been diving deep into this question:
Is weight a mental game or a physical one?
We see it firsthand with our clients—and there are two standout types that keep this conversation going (although, believe me, we work with way more than just these two).
Two Opposite Experiences
Meet ‘Type 1’ and ‘Type 2’: Two very different journeys, same starting point.
Type 1: Picture someone who’s over 50kg overweight. They walk into Real Meal Revolution, get the advice they need, stick to it, and watch the weight melt away. They leave at their goal weight, just as happy as the day they walked in, like it was no big deal. They nailed it. Their transformation? Nutritional insight, behaviour change, body change—simple and smooth.
Type 2: Now, imagine someone with just 5-10kg to lose. But here’s the twist—they’re absolutely miserable. They hate their body, they struggle with every step of the process, and no matter what progress they make on the scale, their mindset never shifts. Even when they hit their target, they’re still not happy.
The Big Question: How can someone 50kg overweight see themselves as “just a bit chubby” while someone with only 10kg to lose feels disgusted with themselves? And how does one client effortlessly stay on track for life, while the other can’t make it past a week, despite having every resource at their fingertips?
What’s up with the two clients?
Understanding Your Weight Journey: Biology vs. Psychology
Let’s break it down: One client might have a biology issue, where they’ve been munching on the wrong foods for a long time. The solution? With the right knowledge, they can start eating well and see results.
On the flip side, we have the psychology issue. This client knows what they should eat to shed those pesky pounds but struggles to stick to any diet. They’ve been there, done that, but it feels like nothing works.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. This distinction is subtle yet crucial. The first person can shift their habits with some good guidance, while the second one needs a deeper dive into their mindset.
It’s not about a shiny new diet; it’s about addressing what’s holding them back. Often, I hear people say, “I need to get my act together and see a dietitian.” But a dietitian might just serve up a personalised version of what you already know about healthy eating.
Getting your act together means tackling your ‘act’—the way you present yourself and perceive your journey. It’s not just about what’s on your plate.
If you’re struggling to eat clean, simply telling yourself to “eat clean” is like advising an alcoholic to just stop drinking. It’s a tricky road to navigate.
“Hey, I get it! You’re having a tough time quitting drinking. But what’ll help is if you just stop drinking.” Not exactly helpful, right?
The truth is, if you can’t stick to a diet for more than four weeks (and let’s be honest, that’s 98% of dieters), you need more than dietary advice. This is where the psychology comes in.
One of the perks of going keto or Banting is that reducing carbs can lower your cravings for more food—that’s pure biology! But even with lower carbs, those emotional cravings can still creep in, and no amount of dietary discipline will shake them off (unless you’ve got a serious stomach bug!).
You’ve probably been told you need more willpower or discipline. Sure, you’re tough enough to reach your goals, but what if I told you there are tools that aren’t often discussed?
That’s where our in-house psychologist, Victoria Webster, steps in. She runs eating psychology workshops every Friday, designed to help you tackle the challenges I just mentioned.
If you find yourself feeling angry, introverted, insecure, or riddled with self-doubt, these workshops could be the perfect starting point for your journey to transformation.
