The #1 thing holding you back from consistent healthy eating
"Perfectionism is a dangerous state of mind in an imperfect world. " — Robert Hillyer
You might be wondering why my blogpost is coming to you on a Thursday this week.
Well, I was traveling on Tuesday, flying back from visiting my husband’s family in Colombia. That’s usually my writing day, so I didn’t get this blogpost drafted until Wednesday.
Now, I could’ve easily fallen into the perfectionist trap:
“If I can’t write it on Wednesday, the day it’s ‘supposed to’ go out, then maybe it’s not worth writing at all.”
But instead of beating myself up and skipping this week entirely, I decided to do it messy. Because a day late is still good enough.
And this got me thinking…
This perfectionist mindset — waiting for the “right” conditions to take action — is one of the biggest things holding so many women back from building consistent, healthy eating habits.
It shows up in sneaky ways, like:
Overeating on a Thursday and deciding, “I’ll just start over on Monday.”
Missing your protein target one day and thinking, “Since I couldn't hit it, why bother trying again?”
Eating one cookie and finishing the whole box because “I already ruined my diet, so what’s the point?”
Spending hours researching the ‘perfect’ diet plan, instead of just starting with small, simple improvements today.
The truth is, waiting for the perfect time, meal, or plan doesn’t build healthy habits.
👉 Consistent action does.
Even when it’s imperfect, even when it’s MESSY.
Because messy action is always better than no action at all.
So if you want to break free from perfectionism and build consistency,
Here are four steps to help you shift from the perfectionist mindset to taking "good enough" action toward healthier eating habits:
1) Focus on Progress, Not Perfection
Instead of aiming for a perfect day of eating, aim for one small win each day.
Maybe that’s adding a vegetable to lunch or drinking an extra glass of water. Consistent small wins build momentum over time.
2) Give Yourself Permission to Start Over Anytime
There’s no rule that says you have to wait until Monday to reset your habits.
Every meal, every BITE is a chance to begin again. Ate something you didn’t plan? No big deal — just make the next meal or even the next bite a little more aligned with your goals.
3) Set "Good Enough" Goals
Rather than aiming for 100% compliance, aim for 80% consistency.
For example, if your goal is to increase protein, don’t stress about hitting an exact number. Just focus on adding a little more protein to each meal, even if it’s not the "perfect" amount.
4) Use Curiosity Instead of Criticism
When things don’t go as planned, instead of judging yourself, get curious.
Ask: “What made it hard to follow through today?” and “What’s one small thing I can adjust next time?” This mindset shift helps you learn and grow, rather than getting stuck in self-judgment.
At the end of the day, the goal isn’t to eat perfectly.
It’s to build habits that support the life you want to live.
And that’s only possible if you let go of perfection and embrace the messy, imperfect process of learning and growing.
So if you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to start eating healthier — this is your permission to START MESSY.
👉 What’s one “good enough” action you can take today?
Send me a message and let me know! I’d love to cheer you on.
