E. 37 How To Determine When It's Time To End a Dieting Phase

Welcome back to the Self-Selecting Podcast! In Episode 37, I dive into the concept of the sunk cost fallacy and how it manifests in the context of bodybuilding, fat loss, and fitness journeys. I explore how this mindset can trap athletes into continuing ineffective diets, training programs, or competition preps due to their prior investments of time, money, and effort. I offer actionable advice on how to recognize when it's time to pivot and make changes to better align with long-term goals and health. Timestamps: - [00:00] - Introduction and appreciation for listener support - [04:15] - When to end a diet phase and move into a building phase without competition goals - [08:20] - Challenges athletes face when deciding whether to continue dieting or change direction - [09:50] - Introduction to the sunk cost fallacy: Explanation and relevance in fitness - [13:10] - Psychological and financial reasons that keep athletes in unproductive cycles - [15:30] - Impact of sunk cost fallacy on relationships, goals, and fitness outcomes - [17:00] - Recognizing emotional manipulation and rationalizations for staying in a current cycle - [19:45] - Signs indicating it might be time to pivot: Progress inconsistency and burnout - [22:00] - Performing a "diet review" to determine if the current approach is still effective - [24:30] - Understanding dietary debt: Physical and mental costs of long-term restriction - [26:45] - Assessing the sustainability of current dietary and training methods - [29:00] - Exploring opportunity costs and benefits of ending a diet or training phase early - [31:45] - Strategies for managing dietary debt through recovery and reverse dieting - [34:15] - Reframing the conclusion of a diet as a strategic and mature decision - [36:40] - How to manage expectations and align the next phase with long-term goals - [39:05] - The importance of planning for future outcomes and setting realistic benchmarks - [42:00] - Advice on maintaining mental flexibility and adapting plans when needed - [44:00] - Final thoughts on recognizing the sunk cost fallacy and making better future decisions Links and Resources: https://coryfit.com/ Coaching: Let's Chat⁠ https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/15min Consults: Book a Call⁠ https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/one-time-consultation For more content, follow along: ⁠Instagram⁠: https://www.instagram.com/cory_fit/ ⁠Patreon⁠: https://patreon.com/CoryFit?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink