Willpower Is Overrated: One Trick to See Changes

When it comes to achieving health and fitness goals, willpower often gets too much credit. We’re told to resist cravings, push through temptations, and simply “try harder” — but how often does that work long term? The truth is, willpower is a finite resource, and exhausting it can set you up for failure. The good news?

There’s a better way to make lasting behavioural changes: choice architecture. In other words, changing the environment and context of your behaviour.

Why Willpower Alone Doesn’t Work

Willpower is like a muscle. It gets fatigued the more you use it. Think about the days when you’re stressed, tired, or overwhelmed — those are the times when your willpower is at its weakest. That’s why late-night snacking, skipping workouts, or giving in to fast food often happens after a long day.

Relying on willpower also creates an exhausting cycle of decision-making. Should you eat the cake or the salad? Skip the gym or push through? The more decisions you have to make, the more likely you are to give in to the easier, less healthy choice.

Instead of constantly battling temptation, the key to real change is reducing the number of decisions you need to make. And that starts with building better habits and setting up your environment for success.

The Power of Habit Building

Habits are the cornerstone of long-term success. Unlike willpower, which requires constant effort, habits run on autopilot. Once established, they require minimal mental energy to maintain.

To build a habit:

Start Small: Begin with one manageable change. For example, swap one snack a day with a healthy, high-protein option like SousFeed.
Be Consistent: Consistency is more important than perfection. Commit to your new habit daily, even if it’s a small step forward.
Stack Habits: Pair your new habit with an existing one. For instance, defrost your SousFeed chicken right after brewing your morning coffee or before your evening Netflix session.

Pre-Commitment: A Proven Strategy for Success

Pre-commitment is a powerful psychological tool that helps you follow through on your goals. It’s about making decisions in advance to avoid relying on willpower in the moment.

Here’s how pre-commitment can work for your nutrition:

Stock Your Fridge with Healthy Options: Instead of buying junk food and telling yourself you’ll resist, fill your fridge with ready-to-eat, nutritious options like SousFeed. When hunger strikes, you’ll naturally reach for what’s available.
Plan Your Meals: Decide in advance what you’ll eat for the week. Pre-portioning meals eliminates the need to decide when you’re tired or hungry.
Create Barriers to Unhealthy Choices: Make it harder to access junk food. Keep it out of your home instead of keeping it at hard-to-reach places (otherwise, you'll spend the day thinking about it). If it’s not easily available, you’re less likely to eat it.

Why Stocking SousFeed Makes All the Difference

At the heart of pre-commitment and habit-building is the principle of convenience and rewards. Healthy choices need to be just as easy and tasty than unhealthy ones to build a good eating habit. That’s where SousFeed comes in.

SousFeed’s sous-vide chicken breasts are:

Ready-to-Eat: No cooking, chopping, or cleaning required. Just defrost, heat, and enjoy.
Nutritious: Packed with over 30g of lean protein per serving, SousFeed fuels your body with what it needs to thrive.
Delicious: With bold flavours like Tikka Masala, Smoked Harissa, and Pesto, every meal feels indulgent without the guilt.
Flexible: Mix and match with other items to suit your macros and preferences.

By keeping your freezer stocked with SousFeed, you eliminate the guesswork and effort that often lead to unhealthy choices. When your meals are ready and waiting, you’re far more likely to stay on track.

Actionable Tips to Start Today

Clean Out Your Kitchen: Remove temptations by getting rid of what doesn't serve your goals.
Plan Your Week: Set aside time to plan meals and snacks. Use a calendar or app to remind yourself of your pre-commitments, or use a subscription to keep your healthy supplies coming (we offer that here at SousFeed!).
;) Stock Up on SousFeed: Order a variety of flavours to keep your fridge full of convenient, high-protein options.
Set Up Visual Cues: Place healthy items at eye level in your fridge or pantry. For instance, keep SousFeed packs front and centre so they’re the first thing you see.
Celebrate Small Wins: Every time you make a healthy choice, acknowledge your progress. Small wins add up to big changes.

The Bottom Line

Willpower is overrated. The secret to lasting behavioural change lies in creating an environment that supports your goals. By building better habits, pre-committing to healthy choices, and stocking your fridge with great protein options, you’re setting yourself up for success without the constant battle of resisting temptation.

Start small, stay consistent, and make healthy living effortless.