By Susan Hanna

Tag: starting over

  • What I Wish I Knew Before I Started

    If I could go back and talk to myself before I started, I would not give myself a complicated plan.

    I would not hand myself a long list of rules.

    I would not tell myself to become perfect overnight.

    I would probably say this:

    “Start smaller than you think you need to.”

    When you are tired of how you feel, it is natural to want a big reset.

    You want the new plan.

    The new Monday.

    The version of yourself who finally does everything right.

    I understand that feeling.

    But after losing 70 pounds after 60, I can tell you that real change did not come from becoming perfect all at once.

    It came from learning how to keep coming back.

    That is one thing I wish I knew sooner.

    Coming back matters more than starting perfectly.

    There were days that did not go exactly how I wanted.

    There were days when life was busy.

    There were days when I was tired.

    The difference was learning not to treat one imperfect day like failure.

    I also wish I knew how much simpler the process could be.

    Simple does not mean easy.

    Simple does not mean effortless.

    Simple means usable.

    A routine you can repeat is more useful than a dramatic plan you cannot live with.

    For me, simple routines became important.

    Breakfast.

    Water.

    Protein.

    Movement.

    Strength training.

    Support.

    Those things may not sound exciting, but they helped me build a life I could keep living.

    I wish I knew that strength would matter so much.

    At first, weight loss can feel like it is only about the scale.

    I understand that.

    But over time, I did not just want to be smaller.

    I wanted to feel capable.

    I wanted to feel strong.

    I wanted to feel proud of what my body could still learn.

    Strength training helped me think about my body differently.

    I wish I knew that asking for help was not weakness.

    Many women try to do everything alone because they are embarrassed.

    They think they should already know what to do.

    They think they have failed too many times.

    They think support means someone is going to judge them.

    But real support should not shame you.

    It should help you find the next practical step.

    I wish I knew that products are tools, not magic.

    I do use Herbalife products as tools in my own routine, and I am an independent Herbalife Distributor.

    But products did not do the work for me.

    They do not replace consistency, nutrition habits, movement, strength training, hydration, sleep, or support.

    They can be helpful if they make part of your routine easier.

    But the routine still matters.

    I wish I knew that I did not have to wait until I felt confident.

    Confidence often comes after action, not before it.

    You start with one small thing.

    Then you prove to yourself that you can do it again.

    Then you come back after a messy day.

    Then slowly, you start to see yourself differently.

    If you are at the beginning, please do not let shame make the process heavier than it needs to be.

    You do not have to fix everything this week.

    You do not have to know every answer.

    You do not have to be the most motivated person in the room.

    You just need a first step you can repeat.

    Here is what I would tell the woman I was before I started:

    Start with one routine.

    Make it simple enough to come back to.

    Do not quit after one imperfect day.

    Ask for support before you disappear.

    Remember that strength matters.

    And stop believing it is too late.

    It was not too late for me.

    Starting later still counted.

    Starting small still counted.

    Starting again still counted.

    If you need a simple first week, my free 7-Day Simple Start Plan can help you begin without shame or perfection.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does Susan wish she knew before starting?

    Susan wishes she understood that simple repeatable routines, support, strength, and coming back after imperfect days matter more than trying to be perfect.

    Is it too late to start losing weight after 60?

    Susan’s personal experience is that starting after 60 still counted for her. Results vary, and anyone with medical concerns should talk with a qualified healthcare provider before changing diet, supplement, or exercise routines.

    Did Herbalife products cause Susan’s 70-pound weight loss?

    No. Susan describes Herbalife products as tools in her routine, not magic. Her transformation involved consistent nutrition habits, regular exercise, strength training, support, and lifestyle changes.

    What is the best first step if I feel overwhelmed?

    Start with one repeatable habit. That could be a simple breakfast, drinking more water, walking, paying attention to protein, or asking for support before you quit.

    Next Step

    Get Susan’s free 7-Day Simple Start Plan

    Helpful Links

    Disclosure

    Susan’s results are her personal experience. Results vary. Her transformation involved consistent nutrition habits, regular exercise, strength training, support, and lifestyle changes. Susan Hanna is an independent Herbalife Distributor and may earn income from product purchases. Herbalife products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. This content is for general wellness and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider before changing your diet, supplement routine, or exercise plan, especially if you have a medical condition, take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are using weight-loss medications.

  • How to Start Losing Weight When You Feel Overwhelmed

    When weight loss feels overwhelming, the answer is usually not to make the plan bigger.

    It is to make the first step smaller.

    I know that may sound too simple.

    But I think a lot of women get stuck because they are trying to restart their whole life at once.

    New meals.

    New groceries.

    New workouts.

    New rules.

    New promises.

    New pressure.

    And before they even begin, they already feel behind.

    If that is where you are, I want you to take a breath.

    You do not have to fix everything today.

    You do not have to know every answer.

    You do not have to become a completely different person by Monday morning.

    You need one honest next step.

    That is enough to begin.

    When I lost 70 pounds after 60, I did not get there by creating a perfect life.

    I got there by learning how to come back to simple routines.

    Breakfast.

    Water.

    Protein.

    Movement.

    Strength training.

    Support.

    None of those things are complicated by themselves.

    But when you are discouraged, tired, busy, or pulled in too many directions, even simple things can feel hard.

    That is why the first step matters so much.

    The first thing I would tell a woman who feels overwhelmed is this:

    Do not start with everything.

    Start with one part of the day.

    For many women, that is breakfast.

    Not because breakfast is magic.

    Not because one meal fixes everything.

    But because mornings often set the tone.

    If you skip breakfast, rush through coffee, and spend the rest of the day reacting, it can be harder to make steady choices later.

    So instead of trying to plan your whole day, choose one simple breakfast you can repeat.

    That might be a shake routine if that fits your life.

    It might be eggs.

    It might be Greek yogurt.

    It might be something simple with protein.

    It might be whatever realistic option helps you stop starting the day scattered.

    The exact choice matters less than the repeatability.

    The second step is water.

    Again, not dramatic.

    But useful.

    Put water where you can see it.

    Drink some before the day gets away from you.

    Do not wait until the perfect wellness plan arrives.

    Start with the thing you can do today.

    The third step is movement that does not intimidate you.

    If you have not been moving much, do not punish yourself with a plan you already dread.

    Take a walk.

    Stretch.

    Do a few basic movements at home.

    Start where you are.

    I lift heavy weights four to five times a week now, and strength training is important to me.

    But that does not mean every woman starts there.

    You can begin with a small movement habit and build from it.

    The fourth step is to stop using one imperfect day as proof that you cannot change.

    This is one of the biggest places women lose momentum.

    They have one meal that does not go as planned.

    Then they feel like they ruined the day.

    Then the day becomes the week.

    Then the week becomes another restart.

    But one imperfect choice is not the end.

    Come back to the next simple step.

    If lunch was messy, drink water and make dinner simpler.

    If breakfast did not happen, do not turn that into a reason to give up.

    If you missed a walk, take the next short walk you can.

    The skill is not perfection.

    The skill is returning.

    This is also why support matters.

    When a woman feels overwhelmed, she often thinks she needs to hide until she has it together.

    But that is usually when she needs support the most.

    Not shame.

    Not someone lecturing her.

    Not someone pretending one product or one plan will fix everything.

    Real support helps her find the next practical step.

    I do use Herbalife products as tools in my own routine, and I am an independent Herbalife Distributor.

    For some women, products can make one part of the day easier.

    A shake can simplify breakfast.

    Protein support can help build a more consistent routine.

    But products are not magic.

    They do not replace the rest of the work.

    They do not replace real food, movement, hydration, sleep, support, or consistency.

    They are tools inside a broader routine.

    If you feel overwhelmed, I would not begin by asking, “What is the perfect plan?”

    I would ask:

    What is one meal I can simplify?

    Where can I put water so I actually drink it?

    What movement can I repeat this week?

    Who can I ask for support before I disappear?

    What is the next step after a messy day?

    Those questions are more useful than another dramatic restart.

    You do not have to start with confidence.

    Confidence often comes later.

    You start with one step.

    Then you repeat it.

    Then you come back after real life interrupts you.

    Then slowly, you start to believe that maybe you can keep going.

    If you are overwhelmed today, please do not turn that into shame.

    Overwhelmed means the whole thing feels too big right now.

    So make it smaller.

    Choose breakfast.

    Choose water.

    Choose a short walk.

    Choose protein at one meal.

    Choose to ask for help.

    Choose to come back tomorrow.

    That is why I made my free 7-Day Simple Start Plan.

    It is not a complicated program.

    It is a simple first week for women who need a place to begin without shame or perfection.

    If you are tired of starting over, start there.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the easiest way to start losing weight when I feel overwhelmed?

    Start with one repeatable habit instead of trying to change everything. A simple breakfast, more water, a short walk, or attention to protein at one meal can be a practical first step.

    Should I start with diet or exercise first?

    Start with the part of the day that feels most realistic. For many women, that may be breakfast or water. For others, it may be a short walk. The best first step is the one you can actually repeat.

    Can Herbalife products help if I feel overwhelmed?

    Herbalife products may be useful tools for some women if they make part of the routine simpler. Susan is an independent Herbalife Distributor, but products are not magic and do not replace balanced nutrition, movement, hydration, sleep, support, or consistency.

    What should I do after a messy day?

    Come back to the next simple action. One imperfect day does not have to become a lost week. Start again with water, a simple meal, movement, or asking for support.

    Next Step

    Get Susan’s free 7-Day Simple Start Plan

    Helpful Links

    Disclosure

    Susan’s results are her personal experience. Results vary. Her transformation involved consistent nutrition habits, regular exercise, strength training, support, and lifestyle changes. Susan Hanna is an independent Herbalife Distributor and may earn income from product purchases. Herbalife products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. This content is for general wellness and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider before changing your diet, supplement routine, or exercise plan, especially if you have a medical condition, take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are using weight-loss medications.

  • What to Do After One Bad Day of Eating

    One bad day of eating does not mean you failed.

    It means you had one bad day of eating.

    That may sound obvious, but I think this is where a lot of women lose themselves.

    Not because of the one messy day.

    Because of what they tell themselves after it.

    They say:

    “I ruined everything.”

    “I knew I could not do this.”

    “I might as well wait until Monday.”

    “I already messed up, so what is the point?”

    That thinking can do more damage than the actual food.

    One imperfect day does not have to become a lost week.

    When I lost 70 pounds after 60, I had to learn how to stop turning one hard day into a full restart.

    That was not automatic for me.

    It took practice.

    I had to learn that consistency does not mean every day is perfect.

    Consistency means I know how to come back.

    So if you had one bad day of eating, the first thing I want you to do is stop punishing yourself.

    Do not starve yourself the next day.

    Do not decide you have to do some extreme workout to “make up for it.”

    Do not turn the whole thing into a shame spiral.

    That usually does not create a healthier routine.

    It creates more pressure.

    Instead, come back to the next simple thing.

    Drink water.

    Eat a real meal.

    Pay attention to protein.

    Take a walk if that feels reasonable.

    Go to bed at a normal time.

    Ask for support if you feel embarrassed or stuck.

    Nothing dramatic.

    Just the next honest step.

    The second thing I would tell you is to look at what happened without attacking yourself.

    There is a difference between honesty and shame.

    Honesty asks:

    “What made yesterday harder?”

    Shame says:

    “What is wrong with me?”

    Those are very different questions.

    Maybe you skipped breakfast and then felt out of control later.

    Maybe you did not have anything easy planned.

    Maybe you were tired.

    Maybe the day got stressful.

    Maybe you were taking care of everyone else and did not pay attention to yourself until you were already hungry.

    Maybe it was just a normal human day.

    You can learn from it without making it your identity.

    The third thing is to avoid the Monday trap.

    If today is Wednesday, come back Wednesday.

    If it is Saturday, come back Saturday.

    You do not need a ceremonial restart.

    You do not need a brand-new notebook.

    You do not need to clear the whole pantry and make a speech to yourself.

    You need the next useful choice.

    This is one reason I care so much about simple routines.

    When your routine is simple, it is easier to come back to it.

    Breakfast.

    Water.

    Protein.

    Movement.

    Support.

    Those anchors matter because they give you a place to return.

    If your routine is too complicated, one messy day can make everything feel broken.

    But if your routine is built around repeatable basics, you do not have to rebuild your whole life after one imperfect meal.

    You just return to the basics.

    For me, simple nutrition tools can help with that.

    I do use Herbalife products as tools in my own routine, and I am an independent Herbalife Distributor.

    For some women, a shake routine can make breakfast easier.

    Protein support can help make the next day feel more structured.

    But products are not punishment.

    They are not magic.

    They do not erase yesterday.

    They are simply tools that may help make a routine easier to repeat.

    The bigger picture still matters: real food, water, movement, sleep, support, and consistency.

    The fourth thing is to be careful with the words you use.

    If you call the whole day a disaster, you may act like it was a disaster.

    If you call yourself a failure, you may treat yourself like one.

    But if you say, “That was one messy day, and I know what to do next,” you give yourself a way forward.

    That matters.

    Women over 35 often carry a lot.

    Family.

    Work.

    Caregiving.

    Hormonal changes.

    Busy homes.

    Years of diet history.

    Old disappointment.

    So when one day goes badly, it can stir up a lot more than food.

    That is why support matters.

    Sometimes you need someone to remind you that you are not starting from zero.

    You are returning.

    Here is the reset I would use:

    Do not punish yourself.

    Drink water.

    Eat a simple meal.

    Get some protein.

    Move gently if you can.

    Ask what made the day harder.

    Come back before Monday.

    Repeat the basics.

    That is it.

    Not glamorous.

    Not dramatic.

    But useful.

    If one bad day of eating has turned into a pattern of starting over, my free 7-Day Simple Start Plan can help you build a gentler first week.

    It is simple on purpose.

    It gives you a way to come back without shame, punishment, or perfection.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Did I ruin my progress with one bad day of eating?

    One imperfect day does not have to ruin your progress. The next step is to return to simple basics like water, a real meal, protein, movement if appropriate, and support.

    Should I skip meals after overeating?

    Susan does not recommend using punishment as a reset. A more practical next step is to return to a normal, simple meal and talk with a qualified healthcare professional if you need personalized guidance.

    Can Herbalife products help me reset after a bad day?

    Herbalife products may be tools inside a broader routine for some women, but they do not erase a bad day and are not magic. Susan is an independent Herbalife Distributor and frames products as routine support only.

    What should I do if bad eating days keep happening?

    Look for the pattern without shame. You may need a simpler breakfast, more planning, more support, better meal structure, or professional guidance depending on what is going on.

    Next Step

    Get Susan’s free 7-Day Simple Start Plan

    Helpful Links

    Disclosure

    Susan’s results are her personal experience. Results vary. Her transformation involved consistent nutrition habits, regular exercise, strength training, support, and lifestyle changes. Susan Hanna is an independent Herbalife Distributor and may earn income from product purchases. Herbalife products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. This content is for general wellness and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider before changing your diet, supplement routine, or exercise plan, especially if you have a medical condition, take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a history of eating disorders, or are using weight-loss medications.

  • What I Tell Women Who Are Tired of Starting Over

    If you are tired of starting over, I want to say this gently: maybe you do not need to try harder.

    Maybe you need to start smaller.

    A lot of women blame themselves when a plan does not last. They think they failed because they were not disciplined enough. But sometimes the plan was too complicated, too harsh, or too disconnected from real life.

    You may be tired. You may be busy. You may be caring for everyone else. You may have had a hard season.

    That does not mean change is impossible.

    It means your plan has to respect your life.

    One of the biggest traps is trying to restart your whole life every Monday.

    New meals, new workouts, new rules, new promises, new pressure.

    By Wednesday, real life shows up and the whole thing feels impossible.

    Instead, choose one routine.

    Choose breakfast. Choose water. Choose a short walk. Choose protein at one meal. Choose one backup snack.

    A small routine is not a small thing if it helps you come back tomorrow.

    One imperfect meal does not ruin your progress. One missed walk does not erase your effort. One hard day does not mean you failed.

    The skill is learning how to return without shame.

    You do not have to figure this out alone.

    If you want a gentle first week, I made Susan’s 7-Day Simple Start Plan. It is simple on purpose because I want you to begin, not feel buried.

    Start there. Start small. Come back tomorrow.

    Next Step

    Get Susan’s free 7-Day Simple Start Plan

    Disclosure

    Susan’s results are her personal experience. Results vary. Susan Hanna is an independent Herbalife Distributor and may earn income from product purchases. Herbalife products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. This content is for general wellness and educational purposes only and is not medical advice.