The Cocoa Pebbles Confession: Why Willpower Isn't Your Problem

“Don't judge me," she said, covering her mouth as she chewed. In her hand? A mini taco, dripping with creamy sauce. I smiled. "I don’t judge. My first breakfast every day is Cocoa Pebbles with chocolate milk.”

This conversation happened at a recent networking event while I was chatting with other women about our businesses. After I bravely admitted that I’m a dietitian who eats Cocoa Pebbles for breakfast, one of the women asked, “What kind of dietitian are you?”

“The kind who is a realist,” I said.

Is Cocoa Pebbles a healthy breakfast? Not really. One serving has a full tablespoon of sugar and almost no fiber or protein. But it does have some vitamins and minerals—and most importantly, I love it. It’s chocolaty, crunchy, and the cold chocolate milk makes it so good. And eating cocoa pebbles makes me feel like I’m indulging. Not allowing myself to eat cocoa pebbles or any other food I want would make me feel deprived and that is a recipe for disaster. The more we restrict, the more we crave. And when we finally give in? It’s rarely in moderation. We overdo it, feel guilty, and convince ourselves we’ve failed—so we quit. Sound familiar?"

When it comes to weight loss, the number one reason people say they fail is lack of willpower. But why? Because they’re forcing themselves to follow a plan they hate—one with rigid rules that ban their favorite foods. That’s a recipe for failure.

That kind of eating plan leads straight to burnout, frustration, and feeling like a failure. No thanks. You deserve better.

You don’t need more willpower—you need a better plan. Let’s build one together. Book a free call, and let’s talk about what a sustainable, realistic approach to eating would look like for you.