Welcome back, friend!

If you’re here because you’re trying to lose weight (and keep it off) but you feel like you’re constantly falling short, this episode is for you.

So often, I hear from clients who are actually making great progress, “I thought I’d be further along by now.”

Their brains spiral down the same anxious questions many of us ask when we’re trying to lose weight: Am I a slow loser? Is something wrong with me? Is this not working? Am I “cheating” without realizing it?

And my answer was: no, no, no, no, no. The problem isn’t their effort. The problem their expectations.

We’ve been conditioned to want results immediately — to lose weight fast — and when that doesn’t happen, we assume we’re failing. We live in a world where you can have anything delivered overnight, so we expect our bodies to work the same way. And that mindset makes it really hard to stay consistent with the boring-but-effective stuff that actually creates long-term progress: meal prep, tracking, hydration, sleep, strength training, daily movement — the unsexy systems.

And here’s what I really want you to take from part one of this series: expectations and comparisons don’t just make you feel bad — they can directly lead to quitting, weight cycling, and worse overall health, because they convince you your progress “isn’t enough” even when it’s objectively significant.

Now, I’m not here to crush your hope. I want you to dream big. I want you to believe you can change. But I also want you to understand reality so you can stop getting in your own way — and stop letting the scale dictate your peace.

The expectations that sabotage weight loss

• A “magic number” goal weight in your head that decides whether you’ve succeeded or failed
• A timeline you believe you should hit (and you mentally calculate it like: 2 pounds/week = done by ___ date)
• The belief that it should be easy once you decide you’re “really ready”
• The belief that progress should be constant and linear (down every day/week/month)
• The belief that you should be perfect with food, exercise, water, sleep, and stress every single day
• Comparison as a measuring stick (assuming you should lose weight the same way or at the same rate as someone else)

And let me say this clearly: you can do everything “right” — high protein diet, low carb diet, tracking, workouts, even meal prep — and the scale can still fluctuate. That doesn’t mean you’re gaining fat or failing. It means you’re human. Bodies are not robots.

My challenge for you (do this today)

• Write down your “shoulds.” (Example: “I should have lost more weight by now.”)
• Ask: Is it true? (Logically, factually — not emotionally.)
• Write the truth. (Example: “My weight loss isn’t linear, but I’m making consistent choices and getting stronger.”)
• Write how you’ll remind yourself daily. (A sticky note, a phone reminder, journaling, a morning mantra, or repeating it when the scale messes with you.)

Because when your expectations aren’t met, it’s so easy to spiral into “what’s the point?” and then self-sabotage. But the truth is: one off day, one off weekend, even one off week doesn’t erase you. The difference between people who maintain progress and people who stay stuck isn’t perfection — it’s how they respond after they slip.

This is Part 1 of my three-part series, and today was all about the unrealistic expectations and comparisons that sabotage the actual process of weight loss. Next week, we’ll get into how these same patterns can sabotage long-term maintenance and lead right back to weight cycling — even after you worked so hard to lose weight in the first place.

And if you’ve been stuck in that loop, I want you to listen to the full episode — because I promise, the goal isn’t just to lose weight fast. The goal is to lose weight in a way you can actually live with… and keep.

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FINALLY move the chains on your weight loss goals and start making progress with your Winning at Weight Loss Breakthrough Session! This is a 1 hour, 1 on 1 coaching session where I will complete a full lifestyle audit & give you the game plan you need to start WINNING. Click here to get started: https://bit.ly/winatweightlossnow

Join my free email list for weekly inspo, first dibs on new offers and recaps of the week’s podcast episodes: https://bit.ly/mtanweekly

Email me: sam@theanchorednutrition.com

Hey you, welcome back! I’m so glad you’re here. 😊

In today’s episode, I’m talking about something that sounds simple, but is honestly a game-changer for long-term weight loss: your meal prep system (or what I’m starting to call “food prep,” because meal prep doesn’t have to be an all-day event).

I kick things off by sharing my Winning at Weight Loss Breakthrough Session—a one-hour lifestyle audit where I look at your daily habits, intake, and the real obstacle that’s keeping you stuck. Then I coach you on the most realistic next step to finally break through and start making progress.

From there, we dive into the real topic: why success doesn’t come from motivation or willpower—it comes from systems. I love James Clear’s reminder: we don’t rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the level of our systems. And when it comes to weight loss, meal prep (or having a plan for food) is one of the strongest systems you can build.

I explain my ideal routine—making a list, shopping not hungry, washing and chopping produce right away, and prepping proteins/carbs/veggies so future-me isn’t forced to make hard choices when I’m tired and hungry. But I also share how, when life is busy, I lean on a meal delivery service—and why that can still support your goals if you choose wisely.

The heart of this episode is for anyone who’s tired of the “same old chicken” routine. Prioritizing protein does not mean gnawing on chicken breast all day. I walk through how to hit your protein goals without massive portions by adding what I call “protein pizzazz”—simple boosts like cottage cheese, Greek yogurt sauces, beans, quinoa, and even supplements—so meals stay satisfying, balanced, and not boring.

If you want the full list of protein boosts and my real-life examples, listen to the episode—and don’t forget to leave a quick review if it helped you! 💙

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FINALLY move the chains on your weight loss goals and start making progress with your Winning at Weight Loss Breakthrough Session! This is a 1 hour, 1 on 1 coaching session where I will complete a full lifestyle audit & give you the game plan you need to start WINNING. Click here to get started: https://bit.ly/winatweightlossnow

Join my free email list for weekly inspo, first dibs on new offers and recaps of the week’s podcast episodes: https://bit.ly/mtanweekly

Email me: sam@theanchorednutrition.com

Who loves carbs??

Me! 🙋🏻‍♀️

In this episode, I’m tackling one of the most misunderstood—and unfairly villainized—topics in nutrition: carbohydrates.

When I ask people what carbs are, most answers sound the same: bread, pasta, rice, cookies, cake, bagels. And while those foods are carbohydrates, they’re only part of the story. Many people genuinely believe they “don’t eat carbs at all,” yet when we review their intake, carbohydrates are clearly present—they just don’t recognize fruits, vegetables, and whole grains as carbs too.

So let’s clear that up. We have three main macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and fat. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains all fall under the carbohydrate category, along with breads and sweets. And yes—your body actually prefers carbohydrates as its primary fuel source.

I explain why you can lose weight on a low-carb diet, just like you can lose weight on low-fat, low-protein, keto, paleo, or pretty much any diet—because weight loss ultimately comes down to being in a calorie deficit. But here’s the key difference: the quality of carbohydrates matters far more than cutting them out entirely.

Simple, ultra-processed carbs tend to be calorie-dense, low in fiber, and quick to digest—meaning they don’t keep us full and often send us on a blood-sugar rollercoaster that fuels cravings, overeating, mood swings, and guilt. In contrast, complex carbohydrates—like fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains—provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They’re more filling, gentler on blood sugar, and far more supportive of both physical and mental health.

I also break down what “low-carb,” “moderate-carb,” and very low-carb (keto) actually mean, using real numbers and real-life examples—plus why high protein doesn’t mean zero carbs. When protein is prioritized, it actually allows more flexibility with carbohydrates, not less.

Bottom line: you don’t have to fear carbs to lose weight. You can prioritize protein, choose high-quality carbohydrates, stay in a calorie deficit, and still enjoy your food—without the binge-restrict cycle.

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FINALLY move the chains on your weight loss goals and start making progress with your Winning at Weight Loss Breakthrough Session! This is a 1 hour, 1 on 1 coaching session where I will complete a full lifestyle audit & give you the game plan you need to start WINNING. Click here to get started: https://sambaronenutrition.myflodesk.com/ukqndwhtid

Join my free email list for weekly inspo, first dibs on new offers and recaps of the week’s podcast episodes: https://sambaronenutrition.myflodesk.com/morethananumber

Email me: sam@theanchorednutrition.com