Let’s talk about something that holds more power over your weight loss journey than any meal plan or fitness routine: your mindset.

Because here’s the truth—if you believe you can’t lose weight, your actions will reflect that belief. You’ll sabotage your efforts, justify unhealthy choices, and give up at the first hurdle. But if you believe you can lose weight—and I mean really believe it—then everything starts to shift. You begin making choices that align with that belief. You start acting like the kind of person who naturally makes healthier choices.

And here’s the thing:  one of the biggest things I’ve noticed over the past 15 years is that so many people come to Slimpod having lost all belief that change is even possible. They’ve tried every diet under the sun. They’ve lost weight, only to put it back on, and with every cycle of yo-yo dieting, their confidence takes a hit. Eventually, they stop believing in themselves altogether.I’ve seen it play out time and time again in people on my programme and have researched it in depth for my book, The Weight’s Over: Take Back Control, out on 13th March.

And when you don’t believe in yourself, why would you even try? But your reality follows your beliefs.

 I completely understand why so many people struggle with this. If you’ve spent years losing weight, only to regain it time and time again, your brain has been trained to expect failure. It doesn’t trust you anymore. It assumes you’ll end up back where you started.

But here’s the thing: your brain is wrong.

I’ve spent years studying the psychology behind weight loss, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that self-belief isn’t some fluffy, wishful-thinking nonsense. It’s the key to unlocking lasting success.

The Science of Self-Belief

Self-belief isn’t just about ‘thinking positively.’ It’s about trusting yourself—trusting that you have the power to change, no matter how many times you’ve struggled in the past. And science backs this up.

Psychologists talk about two key concepts when it comes to belief in ourselves:

1️⃣ Self-Efficacy – This is your confidence in your ability to do something specific—like making healthy food choices, moving your body, or saying no to that second slice of cake. You might feel completely in control at work, as a parent, or in your relationships, but when it comes to weight loss? You might feel lost. That’s because your self-efficacy in this area has been chipped away by years of dieting disappointments.

2️⃣ Self-Belief – This is broader. It’s the trust you have in yourself overall—the belief that you can handle challenges, make things work in your favour, and keep going even when things get tough.

And here’s the best part—both self-efficacy and self-belief are learned.

They are not fixed traits. You’re not born with them or without them. They develop through experience, through action, and through the way you talk to yourself every single day. 

How to Rebuild Your Self-Belief and Take Back Control

If you’ve been stuck in a cycle of self-doubt, here’s how you start shifting your mindset:

✔ Catch Your Inner Critic – Pay attention to the way you talk to yourself. Would you say those things to a friend? If not, don’t say them to yourself. Instead of “I always fail,” try, “I’m learning what works for me.”

✔ Focus on Small Wins – Self-belief grows through action. Set yourself tiny, achievable goals—things so small you can’t fail. Like drinking an extra glass of water today. Or taking a five-minute walk. Success builds success.

✔ Look for Proof You Can Change – Your brain is programmed to notice what confirms your beliefs. If you believe you’ll fail, you’ll see proof everywhere. But if you start looking for signs of progress—like stopping after one biscuit instead of eating the whole pack—you’ll start rewiring your brain to see success instead.

✔ Act ‘As If’ – Start behaving as if you already believe in yourself. Ask yourself, “What would someone who trusts themselves around food do in this situation?” Then do that. You don’t have to feel confident yet—just act like you do, and the belief will follow.