How to Ditch Self-Limiting Beliefs and Embrace Your Potential
In this episode of Get Sculpted, hosts Marilynn, Tijana, & Jordanna discuss overcoming self-limiting beliefs to achieve your fitness goals.
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What if the real reason you are not achieving your health and fitness goals has nothing to do with your body, your age, or how busy your schedule is? What if the thing actually holding you back is your self-limiting beliefs? In this eye-opening episode, we’re digging deep into the stories we tell ourselves that keep us from reaching our full potential in fitness and in life.
Throughout our collective years of coaching, we’ve identified five of the most common self-limiting beliefs that hold women back from achieving their health and fitness goals. We break down how these beliefs not only impact your fitness journey, but can ripple through every aspect of your life. Most importantly, we reveal why these barriers are often just fear in disguise.
In this episode, we cover:
How to identify and reframe the common self-limiting belief, "I'm too old to get fit." You’ll hear the story of Tammy, a client in her 60s who's more active than people half her age!
Why the "I don't have time" excuse is actually a prioritization issue, and how to start with just 30 minutes three times a week to build sustainable fitness habits
Practical strategies for overcoming the belief that "nothing works for me" by treating yourself as a scientist collecting data rather than seeing your attempts as failures
A proven five-step process for transforming self-limiting beliefs, including recognition, challenge, replacement, visualization, and community support
Research-backed visualization techniques used by athletes
You’ll hear real client examples and our personal experiences as we guide you through practical strategies to rewrite these limiting narratives into empowering truths. With a little bit of tough love and a whole lot of compassion, this episode will give you the tools you need to recognize self-limiting beliefs and transform them into your stepping stones toward success!
Maintaining fitness isn't a burden; it’s an investment in your health. Think of it like a financial bank — those small, consistent efforts will lead to greater returns over time.
- Tijana
Do you have a story about overcoming self-limiting beliefs or an insight from this episode? We’d love to hear from you! Send us a DM or comment on our latest post on social media. Your journey might inspire someone else to take their first step!
Links & Mentioned Resources
Ep 7: Sculpting Your 2.0 Self: Vision, Goals, and Action
Martha Stewart Netflix documentary
Martha Stewart on Sports Illustrated
Connect with Get Sculpted:
Thanks for joining us on this episode of Get Sculpted! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify to help us reach even more women ready to cut through the noise and get the real deal on fat loss, muscle building, and what it really takes to build their 2.0 sculpted self inside and out.
This podcast is brought to you in partnership with Leah Bryant Co.
More about the Get Sculpted Podcast
Welcome to Get Sculpted, the podcast designed for women ready to transform their bodies and level up their lives with science-based strategies and actionable advice.
We dive into the essentials of fat loss, muscle building, and metabolism optimization by helping you work smarter, not harder.
This isn’t about quick fixes or fad diets; it’s about creating sustainable habits and stacking wins. We’ll help you fuel your body, strengthen your mindset, and build your 2.0 sculpted self from the inside out.
We’re your hosts, Jordanna, Marilynn, and Tijana. We have over 20 years of collective experience in the training, nutrition, and body transformation business, with over 1000 transformations and counting.
Ready to get stronger, more empowered, and embrace a healthier, more resilient you? Join us every week and start sculpting the life you deserve!
The unedited podcast transcript for this episode of the Get Sculpted podcast follows:
What if the real reason you are not achieving your health and fitness goals has nothing to do with your body, your age, or how busy your schedule is? What if the thing that is actually holding you back is what's going on between your ears? And by that, we mean your thoughts.
The Power of Self-Limiting Beliefs
[Marilynn] That's what we're talking about today—something every single woman deals with. I know I've dealt with it, and I'm sure you ladies have as well. We’re talking about self-limiting beliefs: the stories we tell ourselves that stop us from taking action. These thoughts feel so real and true, but it's actually just fear holding you back.These fears aren't just sabotaging your fitness goals; they can be sabotaging your relationships, your career, and your happiness. So today, we’re going to break down the five most common self-limiting beliefs that keep women stuck. We'll show you how to reframe them into something more empowering, and we’ll give you simple, practical steps to start rewriting those stories in your head.
Before we do that, I want to stress something my therapist always tells me: the thoughts and beliefs you tell yourself are not always fact. In fact, most of the time, they're not. They’re just stories. Today, we’re all about rewriting those stories so you can build the body and life you want. It’s January, the goals are real, so let's do it.
Self-Limiting Belief #1: "I’m Too Old to Get Fit or Make Change"
[Marilynn] Are you ready, ladies? Let’s start with self-limiting belief number one: "I’m too old to get fit or make change." How often have we heard that?[Tijana] Too often. Look at Martha Stewart—she’s always reinventing herself and was on Sports Illustrated at 83.
[Marilynn] Exactly, there’s no expiration date on getting healthy and fit. In fact, it becomes more important as you age—especially during perimenopause and beyond. You need to strength train, maintain muscle, build bone density, fuel your body, and keep moving. Age does not define what you’re capable of—your mindset and actions do.
Reframe: Instead of saying "I'm too old," say "My age does not limit my strength or potential." [Marilynn] Take Tammy, a client in her sixties, who is more active than many people half her age. She skis, rafts, cycles, lifts heavy at the gym, travels, and lives her best life. She proves age isn’t a barrier.
Self-Limiting Belief #2: "I Don’t Have Time to Prioritize Myself"
[Tijana] This is very common, especially for busy moms. But do we really believe this, or are we just not making ourselves a priority? We make time for what’s important. Your life depends on being fit, healthy, and strong.Reframe: "Taking care of myself is an investment in my health and my family. I can start small and build from there."
[Tijana] Don’t jump to an hour five times a week if you’re doing nothing now. Start with 30 minutes three times a week. Stack wins. This is like depositing into a health bank. Small, consistent deposits add up.
Self-Limiting Belief #3: "I’ve Tried Everything and Nothing Works for Me"
[Jordanna] This one comes up all the time. Let’s be honest: You haven’t tried everything—you just haven’t found what works for you yet. Remember, failure is part of the process. Every "no" or "not working" is just data guiding you to what will eventually work.Reframe: Instead of "Nothing works," try "I’m learning what doesn’t work so I can find what does."
[Jordanna] Think like a scientist. Each attempt is an experiment. If it fails, you learn and move on. Remove the emotion and focus on the facts. This helps you grow and move closer to success.
Self-Limiting Belief #4: "I’m Not Disciplined Enough"
[Marilynn] No one is born perfectly disciplined. Discipline is a skill that you build through daily, consistent habits. It’s like a muscle—the more you use it, the stronger it becomes.Reframe: "Discipline grows from small daily actions. I can start with something simple and build from there."
[Marilynn] Even a small action like a 5-minute walk can create momentum. Action creates results, which creates motivation. Keep celebrating small wins to build that discipline muscle over time.
Self-Limiting Belief #5: "It’s Selfish to Spend Time and Money on Myself"
[Tijana] Many moms and caregivers feel this way. But think about how this belief has served you. Often, it leaves you depleted. When you invest in yourself—your health, your fitness, your mindset—you become a better mom, partner, friend, and person overall.Reframe: "Taking care of myself is selfless, not selfish, because it allows me to show up as my best self for others."
[Tijana] This isn’t just about workouts and macros—it’s about a lifestyle change that benefits every area of your life and sets a powerful example for those around you.
Steps to Shift Your Mindset
We’ve outlined five common self-limiting beliefs and how to reframe them. Now, let’s talk action steps to help you shift your mindset. Recognize the Belief and Challenge It: Notice when you get stuck. Ask: Is this really true? Whose voice is this? Replace the Belief with an Empowering Truth: Turn "I can’t" into "I can start small." Use Visualization: Picture your success in vivid detail. Athletes do this. It helps your brain believe in the possibility. Take Tiny Actions Aligned with Your New Belief: Start small—a 1-minute meditation, a 5-minute walk, a glass of water in the morning. Stay Connected to a Supportive Community: Don’t do this alone. Find people who uplift you, hold you accountable, and celebrate your wins.
Putting It All Into Practice
[Tijana] Action is key. Start before you feel ready. Embrace imperfection and measure your progress in multiple ways. Each small step forward adds up. How you do anything is how you do everything.[Marilynn] We covered a lot today, but remember: your beliefs shape your actions, and your actions create your reality. We want you to take action now. Think about one belief you're going to let go of and reframe today. What action will you take to prove this new belief is real? Share it with us. Tag us on social media. We love cheering you on and seeing the impact of these mindset shifts.
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If this episode resonated, please share it with a friend who needs to hear it. Don’t forget to rate and review the podcast so we can reach more amazing women like you.[Marilynn] Don’t miss next week’s episode on how to optimize your metabolism so you can stay lean for life. [Marilynn & Tijana] Bye!