Don’t let perfection hold you back from your intermittent fasting goals

Have you ever felt like you’ve failed at intermittent fasting?

With all the advice out there, it’s easy to start intermittent fasting with a load of rules, restrictions and expectations filling our head. Social media feeds explode with bodies looking picture-perfect by 16:8 schedules, before-and-after photos promising miraculous transformations, and group members saying it can only be done if you include calorie restriction, keto, low-carb dieting and exercising every day.

I remember when weeks went by and I didn’t lose an ounce on the scale.

Or days when I would be baking and accidentally licked the spoon.

Or when I went out to a social event that started early and ended late, with food tempting me the whole time.

Or when eating one of my favorite meals (my husband is an amazing cook, so there’s many of these) and I just couldn’t stop when I was full, but the plate wasn’t empty.

Or when I got to my goal, and my body wasn’t the perfection I expected it to be.

It’s easy to get swept away by the relentless tide of expectations, feeling like every imperfect fast or pound stubbornly refusing to budge, is a personal failure tattooed in bright red on our forehead.

This pressure to be perfect is often the very thing that sabotages success. We get stuck in the mindset that one slip-up means the end of the journey, throwing us completely off track.

But what if this belief was let go? What if we embraced the beauty of imperfection and realized that every day is a chance to move closer to our goals, even if we don’t hit between the goal posts every time?

A life where we can own our path, honoring our unique needs and navigating our individual journey. No scripts, no comparisons, just authentic existence.

It can be as simple as realizing you can’t fail at intermittent fasting. We fast every day when we sleep. Even if your planned window ends shorter than intended, it’s not a setback. That’s the beauty of flexibility. Do your best today knowing tomorrow you have a new day with renewed focus. Consistency, not perfection, fuels progress.

Imagine waking up without the guilt of yesterday’s “mistake.” Imagine focusing on the progress you’ve made, not the stumbles and hurdles along the way. Imagine celebrating small wins, like hitting your fasting window or moving that belt one more loop.

That’s the power of embracing imperfection. It’s about listening to your body, adjusting your schedule when needed, and celebrating each step you take towards your goals.

If you’re struggling, don’t go it alone. Join my private Facebook group for intermittent fasting support. We’re a community of individuals on the same journey, cheering each other on every step of the way.