Episode #18
Stop Starting Over | Jill Erickson on Weight Loss, Healthy Habits & Making Change Last
What if lasting weight health isn’t about being perfect, but about practicing healthy choices long enough that they simply become your normal? In this episode of I’ll Start on Monday, I sit down with my longtime friend Jill Erickson for a candid, funny, and very real conversation about weight loss, maintenance, strength, food, and what it actually takes to create change that lasts. Like so many people, Jill tried diet after diet. They worked temporarily, but eventually the old habits returned. It wasn't until her third attempt at a familiar weight-loss program that something finally clicked. Today, she has maintained a loss of more than 30 pounds for over a decade. But what I love about Jill's story is that she doesn't credit perfection. She talks about learning her own patterns, finding community, building routines, enjoying food without turning every indulgence into a spiral, and recognizing that one difficult day doesn't have to become a difficult month. We also talk about Jill's love of strength training, and how a woman who once wasn't sure she could lift 100 pounds eventually lifted 150 pounds. For Jill, that accomplishment wasn't just physical. It changed what she believed she was capable of. It added to her identity as the woman she is. In this episode, we explore sustainable weight health, moderation versus restriction, the importance of community, getting out of your own head, strength and healthy aging, self-acceptance, and learning how to reset instead of punishing yourself when things don't go according to plan. One of my favorite Jill-isms from our conversation is her “Etch A Sketch” approach to life: Yesterday happened. You can't change it. Clear the screen and begin again today. Because lasting change isn't about never slipping. It's about not letting one slip become a snowball. You don't have to wait for another Monday. Your next choice can be your new beginning.
