Chia seeds for weight loss? Only if you want it more than cake

When I was a body-conscious teenager, I started a grapefruit for breakfast habit that has never left. I’ve adapted it slightly, into a grapefruit a day but it’s stuck.

So, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Dr Thomas Seyfried recommend grapefruits when speaking about how to reduce the risk of cancer through diet. The craze of eating a grapefruit a day wasn’t just a myth-fueled trend and I’m now ready to jump on the chia seed trend… ack who am I kidding, I’ve been on it for a while.

The truth is, if weight loss is your goal, a sprinkle of chia seeds isn’t going to help you unless you make it part of a lifestyle that you want more than you want the cake, couch time and rain-free runs. You see, body composition links to healthy living and when it comes to healthy living there is always a convenient excuse.

This morning, I went for a run, the rain was so intense the water on the road was as high as the pavement. I was the recipient of a surprise from a friend and family member who both commented on my commitment to running. Incidentally, the friend and I recently had a conversation about their fear of moving off their healthy eating plan for an event they attended. We both recognised how easy it is to find a reason not to do something.

The "Just one day/I just need to" trap

The problem with "just one day" thinking is that it gives you an easy out. It is an excuse to skip the hard stuff. Healthy living is about prioritising. Even when it makes the other things harder. I noticed as I ran through the water this morning, there were many people out in the rain. People queuing for buses that would take them to work and children walking into school with their parents, for example.

I was the lucky one, the one who would get very wet but could run home and jump straight in the shower. Unlike the children who would need to sit in wet clothes for part of the day. The cars splashed people so intensely there’s no doubt about how wet they’ll be by the time they get to work, with no place to shower and change. The reason they were out in the rain was because wherever they were going was a priority. Not going it is non-negotiable.

Running in the rain is easy, what isn’t always easy is stopping work to go for a run when I haven’t finished what I want to do. What isn’t easy is switching off the TV/computer at bedtime when I really want to carry on. Committing to healthy living means prioritising the commitments you make to yourself. If you’re serious about making a change, you must want it more than you want the excuse.

“You went for a run? In this?” Yep. And you know why? Because I want my health goals more than I want to stay dry and cosy.

That’s the difference. You’ve got to want it more than the reasons you come up with to avoid it.

Chia seeds and running in the rain

Don’t get me wrong, chia seeds are great. They’re packed with fibre, omega-3s, and all kinds of nutrients. But just eating chia seeds won’t do much for you if they’re sprinkled on top of a giant slice of “just one day” thinking. The same goes for that superfood salad or kale smoothie. The health benefits are real, but they’re not the whole story. What really counts is the mindset you bring to the table.

Running in the rain is my chia seed moment. It’s that thing I do even when I don’t really want to because I know it’s part of a bigger picture. It’s not about the immediate payoff (there wasn’t one, trust me. It was cold, wet, and my shoes were wet and smelly). It’s about the long-term commitment to staying active and healthy, even when it’s uncomfortable. Going to bed at 9pm every night so I can get at least eight hours of sleep is difficult especially when I know I could just do a few more things around the house or have a good catch-up with a friend but it keeps me healthy, positive and productive.

That’s where chia seeds fit in. They’re a small part of a much bigger puzzle. They’re not going to make you magically lose weight, but they can help if you’re already committed. They’re part of a lifestyle shift, not a one-off miracle.

Hypnotherapy isn’t just about training your brain to resist biscuits or stop you from clearing your plate. More often, it’s about guiding you to the point where you're truly ready to commit to the changes you need to make, empowering you to embrace a healthier lifestyle where restriction or deprivation are not sacrifices you must make. Rather you make the healthy choice because you want it more than you want the cake.