Before Dieting... | Uncovering Eating Patterns and Weight Cycles

episode artwork

Bronwyn Fletcher

14 October 2025

6m 43s

Rethinking Weight Goals

00:00

06:43

Most women measure weight ‘success’ with a single number on the bathroom scale. That single metric is narrow, punishing, and often misleading. In this episode, Bronwyn explains why a range of measures makes progress visible, why SMART goals often backfire in weight cycling, and how to set outcomes that actually match what you want in your life.

You’ll hear some goals are imposed from outside (family, partners, doctors, social media) and how ‘indirect goals’ like ‘I’ll be confident when I’m lighter’ can send you down the wrong path. We finish with practical, non-scale measures you can use right now.

Summary

    • A single number isn’t a reliable measure; weight naturally fluctuates.
    • SMART goals assume straight lines and willpower, not complex systems.
    • Check the source of your goal: imposed, borrowed, or indirect?
    • Swap ‘the number’ for measures that matter to you (mobility, energy, mental space).

Try this

    • Ask: ‘What outcome do I really want? Health, mobility, energy, confidence?’
    • Choose 2–3 alternate measures to track for the next month.
    • DM Me (Bronwyn) on LinkedIn with your measurers.

If this helped, follow, rate and share the episode with a friend who’s stuck on the bathroom scale.

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