Episode 98: Why we keep thinking the answer is to try harder

Episode 100: Why My 40s Are My Favourite Decade Yet (It Might Not Be What You Think)

Episode 100 feels like the perfect opportunity to reflect on how much life can change. In this episode, I'm sharing why my 40s have become my favourite decade yet, and it might not be what you think. It isn't because life got easier. It isn't because I've got everything figured out. If anything, it's because I've stopped trying to do everything perfectly and started working with myself instead of against myself. I talk about moving to Barbados, coming home feeling a bit lost, doing things that scared me, learning to take the pressure off, and the small changes that have had the biggest impact on how I feel today. If you've ever felt like you should be doing better, trying harder or getting your life together, I think you'll relate to this one. Website: www.ruthmacfit.com [http://www.ruthmacfit.com/] Instagram: @ruthmacfit

Episode 99: How To Enjoy Your Holiday Without Feeling Like You’ve Ruined Everything

You've got a holiday coming up and you're already worrying about what it's going to do to your progress, or maybe you're thinking you'll just wait until you're back to start focusing on fat loss at all. The all-or-nothing cycle loves a holiday, but it doesn’t have to mean choosing between enjoying yourself and staying on track. In this episode: * Why we treat holidays as the end point instead of just another week * Setting intentions before you go (not rules, intentions) * Enjoying food without feeling over-restricted or like you've overindulged to the point of feeling grim * Protein as an anchor, staying hydrated, movement that feels good * The no-crap cake condition * Why the scales spike after travel * How to come home without extending holiday mode for three weeks Fat loss should work with life and that includes holidays and more social periods of time. Choosing to pause doesn’t mean you’re giving up. If you have any questions about this episode then let me know. You can comment on here or you can message me via instagram - I love to chat. Instagram: @RuthMacFit [www.instagram.com/ruthmacfit] If you’d like some support putting this into practice then we’d love to welcome you inside the mac which is the home of the method. Find out more at www.ruthmacfit.com [http://www.ruthmacfit.com]

Episode 98: Why we keep thinking the answer is to try harder

You know you don't actually love rigid rules. You like having some choice, some flexibility. Then when you're exhausted from constantly thinking about food, wondering if you've already ruined the day, trying to figure out what maintenance even feels like - that's when a strict plan starts to sound appealing. Someone just tells you exactly what to eat and when to work out, and maybe you can finally stop thinking about it all. The thing is, all-or-nothing thinking doesn't feel extreme when you're in it. It feels like you're finally trying properly. Like you're committed this time. In this episode: * Why strict plans feel emotionally relieving at first (before life happens) * The Sunday night "last supper" pattern before Monday's fresh start * Planning for a fantasy version of yourself instead of where you actually are * Why you might spend all day being "good" then find yourself picking in the kitchen at night * The weird contradiction: the busier you get, the more you crave strict rules but the less you can maintain them * Why you don't need to be perfect at being flexible * How minimums give you structure without the pressure I mention the May and June reset we're running. To join us inside Ruth Mac Fit head to www.ruthmacfit.com or get in touch via Instagram at www.instagram.com/ruthmacfit

Episode 97: Self-Sabotage, Food Noise & The "F%ck It" Spiral

You know that moment when you're standing in front of the cupboard thinking "I don't even want this" but you eat it anyway? And then you're left wondering what the hell just happened and why you keep doing this to yourself? This episode is about unpacking what's actually going on in those "fuck it" moments. Spoiler: it's not laziness, it's not lack of willpower, and you're not broken. In this episode I talk about: * Why I'm challenging the term "self-sabotage" (and what's really happening instead) * The most common reasons we eat things we don't actually want * How restriction can backfire and make certain foods feel louder in your head * Why being too tired or under-eating might be driving the behaviour * The role of habit loops and how to start noticing them * What happens when you've been in a deficit for too long * How to be a detective instead of beating yourself up * Practical questions to ask yourself instead of "what's wrong with me?" If you've ever felt stuck in this pattern, this one's for you. Links: * Website: www.ruthmacfit.com [http://www.ruthmacfit.com] for coaching and to join us in our May/June reset. * Instagram: @ruthmacfit [www.instagram.com/ruthmacfit] Got questions or want to chat? Message me directly on Instagram or email me at ruth@ruthmacfit.com

Episode 96: Is Perfectionism Getting in the Way of Your Fat Loss? How to Stop Waiting for the Perfect Week

If you've ever had a week that felt harder than normal and let the whole thing slide because it wasn't going to plan, this one is for you. Perfectionism is one of the sneakiest barriers to fat loss, not because you don't know what to do, but because you're waiting for the perfect conditions to do it. In this episode, I'm talking about why it's the imperfect weeks that build real, lasting progress, how to start from exactly where you are right now, and why lowering your expectations might actually be the thing that gets you further. In this episode: * Why I skipped last week's episode, what sleep and allergies had to do with it, and what it taught me about adapting without giving up * My fat loss phase update: why the scales have been slower and what else I'm paying attention to instead * The flexible vs. rigid restraint research, and why it matters even more when summer and holidays are on the horizon * Why the "push hard until the holiday" approach tends to backfire, and what actually works instead * Real examples from inside the app community showing what realistic consistency looks like in a busy life * The truth about 10,000 steps (it was a marketing campaign, not science) * Why perfectionism around food keeps so many of us stuck, and how to make almost any meal work for you * Strength training and recovery: why more isn't always better, and what the research actually shows * The motivation-action loop, and why waiting until you feel ready is keeping you from starting * Book recommendation: The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy * How progress-based goals and minimums give you something to fall back on without losing the habit * The May/June reset inside the Ruth Mac Fit app: join us for a live goal-setting call on Friday 1st May (recorded for those who can't make it) where we'll look at your goals, the new workouts, and your focus across nutrition, movement and mindset and recovery for the next two months. The aim is to feel genuinely good by summer, not like you're white-knuckling your way through a diet. Available to all members. Find out more here [https://dashboard.ruthmacfit.com/may-june-reset] Got a question or want to share how this landed? Message me directly on Instagram at @ruthmacfit or visit www.ruthmacfit.com [http://www.ruthmacfit.com]. I'd love to hear from you.