Why You Can’t Stick to Healthy Habits (And It’s Not Willpower)
Sat Feb 07 2026
Why do healthy habits feel so hard to stick to, even when you really want to change?
In this episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, we break down why willpower and motivation are the wrong tools for long-term health, and why most people fall off track despite their best intentions.
You’ll learn how human nature, delayed rewards, and daily friction quietly sabotage consistency, and how to replace “trying harder” with a simple framework that makes healthy habits feel easier, more enjoyable, and sustainable in real life.
If you’ve ever felt disciplined one week and completely off track the next, this episode will change how you think about nutrition, health, and habit-building.
👉 Apply for a free month of 1-on-1 health and fitness coaching: https://www.vegansuperheroacademy.com/free-month?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organic%2C-description%2C-podcast&utm_campaign=06-feb-2026-audio&utm_content=tvg-podcast-episode-3
In this episode, we cover:
▹ Why willpower is not the real problem
▹ How human nature works against healthy habits
▹ What food noise and decision fatigue are really doing to you
▹ How to build win win habits that feel good now and later
▹ How to make healthy choices easier with simple systems
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If you're new to my channel, my name is Leif Arnesen. I’m an engineer turned nutrition nerd and the founder of The Vegan Gym.
In 2014, a rare cancer diagnosis forced me to completely rethink my life. I adopted a whole-food, plant-based diet, and a few months later, after watching Earthlings, I went vegan overnight — not just for my health, but for the animals.
At first, I struggled to lose fat and get fit as a vegan. But after diving deep into the science, I built a system that transformed my body and my life. That journey led me to start a blog in 2017, which eventually became The Vegan Gym.
Now, our team is on a mission to help 1,000,000 vegans get into the best shape of their lives because we believe that the more healthy, fit vegans there are in the world, the faster veganism will spread.
Let’s work together to inspire change, spread compassion, and thrive on plants! 💪🌱
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevegangym
Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevegangympage
DISCLOSURE
The information shared here is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, exercise routine, or lifestyle.
Music Credit:
MB01VBQWSONPOBJ
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Why do healthy habits feel so hard to stick to, even when you really want to change? In this episode of The Vegan Gym Podcast, we break down why willpower and motivation are the wrong tools for long-term health, and why most people fall off track despite their best intentions. You’ll learn how human nature, delayed rewards, and daily friction quietly sabotage consistency, and how to replace “trying harder” with a simple framework that makes healthy habits feel easier, more enjoyable, and sustainable in real life. If you’ve ever felt disciplined one week and completely off track the next, this episode will change how you think about nutrition, health, and habit-building. 👉 Apply for a free month of 1-on-1 health and fitness coaching: https://www.vegansuperheroacademy.com/free-month?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=organic%2C-description%2C-podcast&utm_campaign=06-feb-2026-audio&utm_content=tvg-podcast-episode-3 In this episode, we cover: ▹ Why willpower is not the real problem ▹ How human nature works against healthy habits ▹ What food noise and decision fatigue are really doing to you ▹ How to build win win habits that feel good now and later ▹ How to make healthy choices easier with simple systems ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ If you're new to my channel, my name is Leif Arnesen. I’m an engineer turned nutrition nerd and the founder of The Vegan Gym. In 2014, a rare cancer diagnosis forced me to completely rethink my life. I adopted a whole-food, plant-based diet, and a few months later, after watching Earthlings, I went vegan overnight — not just for my health, but for the animals. At first, I struggled to lose fat and get fit as a vegan. But after diving deep into the science, I built a system that transformed my body and my life. That journey led me to start a blog in 2017, which eventually became The Vegan Gym. Now, our team is on a mission to help 1,000,000 vegans get into the best shape of their lives because we believe that the more healthy, fit vegans there are in the world, the faster veganism will spread. Let’s work together to inspire change, spread compassion, and thrive on plants! 💪🌱 Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevegangym Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevegangympage DISCLOSURE The information shared here is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, exercise routine, or lifestyle. Music Credit: MB01VBQWSONPOBJ Support the show