5 Reasons Why You Keep Self-Sabotaging Your Progress—And What to Do Instead

Nancy Leeds Gribble
Aug 27, 2025
4 min read

(Especially for Plant-Based Women Over 50 Who Are So Done With Starting Over)

You ate something “bad,” so the day’s ruined.Might as well finish the cookies and start again Monday, right?But somehow, “Monday” becomes next month… or next year.

If you’re a plant-based woman over 50 who’s used to being able to “do it all” — crushing goals, raising families, building careers — it can feel downright maddening when it seems like willpower just isn’t cutting it anymore.

Let’s get one thing clear: you are not lazy. You are not broken. And you’re definitely not alone.You're just stuck in a pattern that’s built to fail.

In this post, we’ll unpack:

✅ Why self-sabotage shows up (and why it’s NOT your fault)

✅ How to break the cycle of “start over Monday”

✅ What to do instead to stay consistent, empowered, and aligned with your goals

Let’s dig in.

1. You Think One Slip Means Starting Over

The “Clean Slate” Trap

You ate a cookie. Or skipped a workout.Cue the guilt. And before you know it, you're elbows-deep in snacks and swearing you'll “be good” next week.

But here's the truth: one decision doesn’t erase all your progress.

Say it with me: “I can make it right with the very next bite.”

If one tire on your car went flat, would you slash the other three?No way. You’d fix the flat and keep driving.So why do we treat one “off” moment like a total derailment?

What to Do Instead:

Drop the drama. One “off-plan” meal doesn’t define you.
Make your next choice a kind one. A nourishing one. A “still in the game” one.
Progress isn’t ruined — it’s just real.

2. You’ve Been Trained to Label Food as “Good” or “Bad”

The Morality of Muffins

“Ugh, I was so bad this weekend.”Sound familiar?

We’ve been taught that certain foods are virtuous while others are sinful — especially in diet culture. But food doesn’t have a moral compass. You’re not a bad person because you ate a bagel.

And here’s the kicker: labeling foods as “bad” almost guarantees you’ll crave them more — and binge on them when you feel like you’ve already “blown it.”

What to Do Instead:

Replace “good” or “bad” with “supportive” or “less supportive” of your goals
Practice neutrality: food is food — it’s either helping you today or not
Ditch the guilt. Guilt fuels the sabotage loop.

3. You Mistake Progress for Perfection

The All-Or-Nothing Mindset

Success-driven women often fall into this trap:“If I can’t do it perfectly, I won’t do it at all.”

But perfection is a moving target. And when you expect flawless effort 100% of the time, anything less feels like failure — even when you’re still making amazing progress.

Real results come from consistency — not intensity.

What to Do Instead:

Measure your consistency, not your compliance
Create a “minimum baseline” — what does a B- week look like? Aim for that
Reframe “slip-ups” as data, not drama

4. You Only Trust Results You Can See Right Away

The “Why Bother?” Effect

Let’s be honest: when the scale isn’t moving, it can feel like none of it matters.But especially after 50, your body is in hormone flux, and results aren’t always linear or visible.

And that’s when the little voice creeps in: “This isn’t working. Why bother?”So you quit. And that — not the cookie, not the scale — is the real sabotage.

What to Do Instead:

Track non-scale victories:

Better sleep
More energy
Fewer cravings
Strength gains
Improved mood

Focus on becoming the woman who shows up for herself, even when the results are slow.That’s the version of you who wins.

5. You Don’t Actually Have a Back-Up Plan

Hope Isn’t a Strategy

It’s easy to stay on track when your calendar is clear, your fridge is stocked, and motivation is high.But what about vacation? Stressful weeks? Hormonal mood swings?

If your plan only works when life is perfect — it’s not a plan, it’s a fantasy.

What to Do Instead:

Build your “imperfect day” toolkit:
- 3 go-to meals you can always make
- A 10-minute movement option
- Self-talk scripts for tough moments
Remember: something is better than nothing

Think of this as your bounce-back blueprint. When the wheels fall off, you’ve already packed the spare.

🔄 Final Thoughts: Stop Starting Over. Start Sticking With It.

Self-sabotage isn’t a flaw in your personality. It’s a habit. A pattern. A leftover program from years of perfectionism, diet culture, and hustle-mode living.

You don’t need to work harder. You need to treat yourself like someone worth showing up for — even on your messiest days.

💬 What would happen if you didn’t “start over” next Monday? What if you just... kept going?