How To Fail At Weight Loss

Want to fail at weight loss? It’s easier than you think — and most people are already doing it without realizing. Instead of telling you how to succeed, I’m flipping the script. Using Charlie Munger’s Inversion Theory, I’ll show you the common mistakes and mindsets that guarantee failure. The good news? Once you know what not to do, you’ll know exactly how to succeed.

1. How to set yourself up for failure from the start If you want to fail at weight loss, the first thing you need to do is set unrealistic goals. Aim to lose 10 kgs in a month or expect to fit into your old jeans after just a few days of dieting. If fast results are your number one priority, this will only lead to frustration, burnout, and quitting altogether. Michelle's tip for success: Set realistic goals, and plan for your vacations and “black swan events” leaving no room for guesswork.

   
   

2. Choose the worst diets possible To really fail, pick a fad diet that promises magical results with little effort. Bonus points if it's highly restrictive and cuts out entire food groups! Raw food, Coffee-bean diet, juice cleanses, or that ‘lemon water and pepper’ diet — anything that you can’t realistically sustain long-term. You’ll either crash and burn from the sheer misery of it or rebound and gain even more weight once you inevitably stop. Michelle's tip for success: Choose a sustainable eating plan that incorporates all essential nutrients and fits your lifestyle.

   
   

3. Ignore your emotional triggers To ensure you fail, ignore your emotional triggers entirely. Stress eating? Comfort eating? Emotional binge eating? No problem! Remember, a weight loss journey is only about the physical aspect, right? If you ignore the emotional and mental factors, you’ll keep falling back into old habits and never make real progress. Michelle's tip for success: Address emotional eating patterns, seek support if needed, and understand the mental aspect of weight loss.

   
   

4. Be inconsistent with workouts To keep failure within reach, go hard at the gym for a week and then take a break for the next two weeks. Inconsistency is your best friend! And don't bother finding workouts you enjoy — if you dread every session, it’s only a matter of time before you skip the gym entirely. Michelle's tip for success: Find workouts that you actually enjoy, and focus on consistency over intensity. A little every day goes a long way.

   
   

5. Keep it a secret If you really want to fail, don’t tell anyone about your goals. Keep your weight loss journey to yourself so that no one can hold you accountable. The less support you have, the better! It’s much easier to give up when no one knows what you’re trying to achieve. Michelle's tip for success: Share your goals with a supportive community or buddy to stay motivated and accountable.

   
   

6. Live by all-or-nothing mentality Lastly, adopt the all-or-nothing mentality. If you slip up even once, might as well give up entirely! Had a slice of cake at a birthday party? That means your whole week is ruined, right? Go ahead and eat everything in sight. This kind of thinking ensures you stay stuck in the cycle of dieting, failing, and restarting. Michelle's tip for success: Practice flexibility and self-compassion. A small setback doesn’t undo all your hard work.

   
   

7. Ask diet advice from those who are unhealthy or unfit If you're serious about failing, make sure you only seek advice from people who are unhealthy, overweight, or have no clue about fitness. Why would you ask a professional when you can ask someone with no results of their own? Take diet tips from that friend who has tried every fad diet and still struggles with their own weight. Their trial and error is bound to lead you astray. Michelle's tip for success: Seek advice from professionals or people who have successfully achieved the goals you’re striving for.

   
   

8. Sign up for a weight loss program and ghost your coach Now, this one’s classic. Pay for a professional weight loss program, get your meal plan, and then disappear. Ghost on your coach. Don’t respond to their check-ins or show up for your sessions. After all, just signing up should magically make the weight disappear, right? Why bother following through? Michelle's tip for success: Commit fully to your program and communicate regularly with your coach for guidance, accountability, and progress tracking.

   
   

9. Decide you are not going to change anything except paying Want to make sure you don’t see results? Simple. Pay for a weight loss plan but refuse to change your lifestyle, habits, or mindset. Eating late-night snacks? Keep at it. Skipping your workouts? No problem! The sheer act of paying money should be enough to make everything fall into place. No need for effort on your end. Michelle's tip for success: Understand that real transformation requires effort and changes in habits, not just monetary investment.

   
   

10. Value the opinions of others more than your own To really set yourself up for failure, let everyone else’s opinion dictate your journey. Your family doesn’t believe in your diet? Your friends think you’re wasting time with your workouts? Perfect! Let them control your choices. Ignore your own body’s needs and preferences in favor of what everyone else thinks you should be doing. Michelle's tip for success: Trust your instincts, and learn to listen to your body. While advice is helpful, your journey is your own.

    
    

11. Prioritize everyone's nutritional needs above your own If you want to fail, always prioritize cooking for others while neglecting your own nutrition. Feed your family whatever they want, even if it’s unhealthy, and tell yourself you don’t have time to prep your own meals. Moms are especially good at this one. By the time you’re done taking care of everyone else, you have nothing left to give to yourself. Michelle's tip for success: Put your own health first, and find ways to balance your family’s needs with your personal nutrition plan.

    
    

12. Do your own thing with no plan or strategy and hope for the best To ensure failure, skip the planning altogether. Just wing it! Eat whatever seems healthy at the moment, workout sporadically, and hope for the best. No need for structure or a clear strategy. The less direction you have, the more likely you are to drift away from your goals. Michelle's tip for success: Have a clear strategy with specific goals, and follow a structured plan for both diet and exercise.

    
    

13. Poor time management If you want to make sure you fail, treat weight loss as an afterthought. Never schedule time for meal prep or workouts. When things get busy, let your health goals fall by the wayside. Procrastination is your friend! Just wait until the last minute to try to make up for lost time. Rushing to lose weight will undoubtedly lead to burnout and frustration. Michelle's tip for success: Prioritize your health by scheduling specific times for sleep, meal prep and workouts, treating them like unmissable appointments.

    
    

14. Instant gratification To truly fail at weight loss, allow yourself to give in to every temptation. No need for discipline when a cookie or a late-night snack calls your name. Remember, instant gratification is way more important than your long-term goals. If it feels good in the moment, just go for it! Michelle's tip for success: Cultivate self-discipline by setting boundaries and learning to say no to temptations that don't align with your goals.

    
    

15. Neglect your sleep schedule For guaranteed failure, ignore the importance of sleep. Stay up late binge-watching shows, scroll through social media, or work late into the night. Who needs rest when you have that one extra hour to while away? Lack of sleep will surely lead to poor food choices, elevated blood sugar, and decreased motivation. Michelle's tip for success: Establish a consistent sleep routine to ensure you get enough rest, which supports better decision-making and appetite regulation.

    
    

16. Blame-shifting To fail spectacularly, always find someone or something to blame for your lack of progress. Whether it’s your job, your kids, your inlaws or your hectic lifestyle, make sure you shift the responsibility away from yourself. This mindset will help you avoid taking accountability for your choices. Michelle's tip for success: Own your journey. Recognize that your decisions and actions determine your outcomes, and take responsibility for your progress.

    
    

17. Lack of measuring metrics and goals Want to ensure failure? Don’t keep track of your progress or set measurable goals. Weight loss is all about feelings, right? Don’t bother with scales, measurements, or keeping a food tracker. Just go on how you feel; this approach will leave you in the dark about what works and what doesn’t. Michelle's tip for success: Track your progress using specific metrics, like weight, measurements, or how your clothes fit, to adjust your plan effectively.

    
    

18. Stay married to an unsupportive spouse To really hit rock bottom, surround yourself with unsupportive people. If your spouse or friends mock your efforts or tempt you with unhealthy food, let them. Isolation will make it easy to give up when the going gets tough. Michelle's tip for success: Communicate your goals to your loved ones and seek their support. Consider finding a community or friends who share your health ambitions.

    
    

So there you have it — a foolproof recipe for failure. But here’s the real win: by spotting these traps, you already hold the blueprint for success. Weight loss isn’t about being perfect; it’s about avoiding the obvious pitfalls, staying consistent, and choosing better every single day. Fail less, succeed more — it’s that simple.