Let’s talk about how to stay strong in your weight loss journey when the universe tests you.

Because it can.
And it will.

Anytime you decide to change your life — your habits, your mindset, your identity — you’re going to feel resistance.

And it’s not random.

You are a creature of habit. Your subconscious beliefs and your identity create the reality you live in. The thoughts you think and the actions you take daily create your results.

So when you try to go from a “fat girl identity” to a “skinny, healthy, confident identity,” part of you panics.

Not because change is bad — but because change is unfamiliar.

Even good change can feel threatening to the subconscious.

That’s why the “tests” show up.

You decide: “This is it. I’m going to the gym every day this month.”

And then:

• you sprain your ankle
• you get sick
• work explodes
• family drama happens
• something “unavoidable” derails you

And your old identity goes:
“See? It’s too hard. It’s not your fault. Just stop trying. Let’s go back to comfort.”

That’s what’s really happening.

So in this video, we’re going through the most common “tests” that show up during weight loss — especially at the beginning and near the end, when you’re close to your goal and the identity shift is at its most intense.

These are all things I experienced — losing 100 pounds at 14 and again in my more recent journey — and even now while maintaining and chasing other goals.

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The Key to Passing Every Test

Before we get into the specific situations, here’s the rule that applies to all of them:

The only way you pass the test is by acting differently than you used to.

That’s it.

Your old identity wants you to react the old way.

Your new identity requires a new response.

You don’t need motivation — you need awareness.

You have to stay conscious enough to catch the moment while it’s happening.

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Test #1: The Party Test

You’re ready to start.

Meals prepped. Gym plan. New era.

And suddenly:

• birthday party
• holiday season
• social weekend
• “we’re going out!” invites

And parties are basically designed to derail you: eating, drinking, desserts, snack tables, peer pressure.

This is especially hard early on because you haven’t built discipline yet.

How to pass it

Option 1: Skip some events.
Yes, I said it.

If your health is on the line — or you know you’ll spiral — you are not selfish for saying no.

Fit people who prioritize their health are not partying constantly. That’s just reality.

And no, I’m not saying skip important events forever. I’m saying sometimes, right now, your goal matters more than being “seen.”

Option 2: Set an intention before you go.
Decide in advance:

• Am I eating there or not?
• If I am, what exactly am I eating?

Because showing up with a vague plan like “I’ll just have one cupcake” is how you end up eating six.

Option 3: Eat before you go.
If you’re like me and abstaining is easier than “moderating,” eat your planned meal first.

Then you can socialize without being hungry, tempted, and irrational.

Option 4: Choose a controlled “party plan.”
If you do eat:

• stick to fruit/veggie tray
• sparkling water/diet soda
• protein if available
• avoid the trigger foods

Option 5: Make it a planned refeed (only if you’re ready).
If you’ve been consistent for a while, and you know you can get right back on track, enjoy the party.

But don’t lie to yourself.
If it’s a refeed, it’s a refeed — then the next day you’re back to routine.

The goal is one day, not a multi-day spiral.

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Test #2: The Bad Day Spiral

This is the one that destroys people.

You were going to start Monday…

Then:

• period hits
• work drama
• fight with boyfriend
• stress stacks up

And your old self goes:
“Screw it. I deserve comfort. I’m getting the food. I’m drinking the wine.”

And in the moment, you know it won’t fix anything — but you don’t care because your emotions are louder than logic.

How to pass it

You have to interrupt the moment with awareness:

“This is a test.”

And then you choose the opposite response:

Instead of:

• couch + wine + binge

You do:

• gym
• walk
• shower + reset
• meal plan anyway
• go to bed early

And yes — it’s not always going to be perfect. Sometimes emotions win.

But the more often you fight back, the more your subconscious learns:
“She’s serious. The old tricks don’t work anymore.”

And then life starts to feel easier because you’re no longer reacting the way you used to.

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Test #3: The Weight Loss Plateau

You’ve been doing everything right.

Then the scale stops moving.

Nothing changes for weeks… even months.

And your old identity whispers:
“See? It’s not working. Quit.”

What’s actually happening

You’ve hit equilibrium:

• your calorie intake matches your output
• your workouts are now what your body has adapted to
• your body is more efficient than it was at a higher weight

How to pass it

You must do something different:

Workout changes

• longer workouts
• higher intensity
• different cardio (walking → running, etc.)
• heavier lifting / progressive overload

Diet changes

• tighten tracking (most people are off more than they think)
• use a food scale
• re-check your calorie needs at your new weight
• adjust down slightly if needed
• increase protein / reduce “extras”

A plateau isn’t proof you can’t do it.
It’s proof you’ve leveled up and need a new strategy.

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Test #4: The Social Pressure Moment

This one hits any time, but especially early and near the end.

You decide to lock in…

And suddenly someone is offering:

• cookies
• brownies
• holiday food
• “just one day!”
• “you look fine!”
• “why are you trying to lose weight?”

Sometimes it’s innocent: food = love, food = hosting.

Sometimes it’s not innocent: your progress triggers people.

Because when you change, it forces them to face what they aren’t changing.

How to pass it

If it’s your close circle: talk to them.
“Please don’t push food on me. I’m trying to change my life.”

Normal people respect that.

If they don’t respect it: that’s a problem.
And yes, you might need to rethink who you keep around you.

If you need a shortcut: lie.
I’m serious.

• “Doctor said my blood sugar is high.”
• “Chocolate makes my throat itchy lately.”
• “My stomach’s been bothering me.”

People will stop. And if they call you out later?
“Yeah, I lied because you wouldn’t leave me alone.”

You’re not here to protect their feelings. You’re here to protect your goals.

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Test #5: The Slip-Up Moment

You’re doing great.

Then you get too hungry, too emotional, too tempted…

And suddenly you’re eating three Cinnabons in your car like a feral raccoon.

Then the shame hits.

And the old pattern begins:
“I already messed up, so today doesn’t count.”
Which becomes:
drive-thru, binge, scale panic, week-long spiral.

How to pass it

The slip-up isn’t the real danger.

The spiral is.

So the moment the slip-up happens, your new identity does this:

1. No guilt spiral. Guilt fuels more overeating.
2. Do not add more damage. Don’t “make it worse.”
3. Reset fast:
   • water
   • brush teeth
   • walk/workout if you can
   • go back to normal eating the next meal
4. Don’t obsess over the scale the next morning.
   You didn’t gain five pounds of fat overnight. It’s water, carbs, bloating.

One slip-up doesn’t ruin you.

Refusing to reset ruins you.

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Test #6: The Victory Lap Trap

You hit a goal.

You feel proud.

And then your brain goes:
“Let’s celebrate with food.”

Which sounds harmless… until your reward system becomes:
progress = binge

That’s how people regain.

Because weight loss isn’t just about losing. It’s about learning how to live.

How to pass it

Stop using food as the main reward.

Use rewards that reinforce your new identity:

• new clothes every 10 lbs
• spa day
• bookstore haul
• fancy coffee
• a workout outfit
• a fun experience that isn’t a binge

Not “bottomless brunch because I was good.”

That’s your old identity trying to reclaim you.

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Test #7: Vacation Mindset

“Calories don’t count on vacation.”

And if you’re someone who binges, a 1–2 week vacation can undo real progress.

You don’t need to be perfect on vacation.

But you also don’t need to treat vacation like a scheduled self-destruction.

How to pass it

Ask: What would the fit version of me do on vacation?

Probably:

• one drink by the pool, not eight
• a walk/run on the beach
• sightseeing = steps
• sharing meals
• choosing healthy-ish mains
• not turning every meal into a competitive sport

Also: you don’t have to eat all day.

Intermittent fasting often happens naturally while traveling — less structure, later meals, more walking.

The point isn’t restriction.

The point is not abandoning your identity.

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Test #8: The Comparison Trap

You’re making progress…

Then you see someone else:

• losing faster
• looking “perfect”
• no loose skin
• no stretch marks
• Ozempic results
• better resources, more support

And you start thinking:
“What’s wrong with me?”
“Why can’t I look like that?”
“What’s the point?”

How to pass it

You can’t compare bodies, circumstances, biology, support systems, or genetics.

Compare only:
you vs. old you.

Progress is progress.

And loose skin/stretch marks? It can be improved — but don’t let it become the reason you quit. You’re still better off than where you came from.

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Final Test: Maintenance Mode

This is the test that takes most people out.

You hit your goal.

And you think you’re done.

But maintenance is where identity really gets tested, because now you’re living in a new body and it can feel weird:

• more attention
• different reactions from people
• “am I really this person now?”
• old habits calling you back because they feel familiar

Also, practically speaking:

You don’t lose weight and then go back to how you used to live.
If you go back to old habits, you go back to old results.

How to pass it

• learn your maintenance calories (track for a while)
• keep working out as a lifestyle
• monitor trends (not daily panic)
• watch for “clothes tightening” signals
• correct early instead of letting it creep

Maintenance is the universe asking:

“Are you ready to be her forever?”

And the answer has to be yes.

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The Bottom Line

The tests will come.

Not because you’re cursed.

Because your identity is changing — and your old identity will fight to stay alive.

Your job is to stay conscious, stay intentional, and respond differently than you used to.

That’s how you win.

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Want More Tough Love?

If you want more tough-love guidance, check out my book 1 Year, 100 Pounds — the story of how I lost 100 pounds at 14, plus how you can do it too.

And if you want a structured, step-by-step way to stay consistent throughout the full year of your transformation, check out my 1 Year New You Guided Weight Loss Journals — based on the exact journaling method I used then and still use today, with pep talks, prompts, and exercises to help you handle situations exactly like the “universe tests” we talked about today.

Links are below.

See you next time.