The Action Factory Podcast

#177 - If What You're Doing Isn't Working… Try 'ANYTHING' Else

Stuck in the same old cycle with food, cravings, or motivation?
Maybe it’s time to do something completely different.
In this episode, I share a message that might just change the game: If what you're doing isn’t working, try ANYTHING else.
Even if it’s silly. Especially if it’s silly.
You’ll hear:
Why a water pistol solved a years-long family feud
How switching sides of the bed healed a marriage
The genius of supermodels and champagne on trains (courtesy of Rory Sutherland) Why logic kills magic, and what that means for your weight journey
Six real, quirky, and surprisingly effective pattern-interrupts you can use today This isn’t about willpower. It’s about breaking patterns, having fun, and building momentum in unexpected ways.
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👣 What to do next...
If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on — and how to start changing from that level:👉 https://quit-your-diet.com
You’ll get:✔️ A custom PDF based on your quiz results✔️ A support video made just for your stage✔️ The first 3 chapters of Quit Your Diet: Think to Shrink✔️ Free lifetime membership with tools, downloads, and invites
🎥 Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:👉 https://www.youtube.com/@Quityourdiet
🎓 Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.
☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/quityourdiet
📚 Explore more tools and resources at:👉 https://www.actionfactorypublishing.com
Thanks for tuning in — and remember:The healthiest decision you could make might be quitting diets for good.
 

#176 - Breaking Free from Food Obsession: Why Real Change Starts in the Mind

Imagine treating a drink problem by selling someone branded low-alcohol beer. Sounds ridiculous, right?
Yet that’s exactly how we often approach weight problems , with food diaries, calorie counting, and obsession disguised as control.
In this episode, I share what really works when it comes to lasting change, not willpower, but identity shifts.
We’ll explore:
The flawed mindset behind most weight-loss tactics
Why obsession is the enemy of progress
What a revolutionary NHS project taught me about food and psychology
The power of “building boats” and why purpose can outperform any diet
How real transformation happens at the top of the change pyramid, not the bottom
This isn’t about fixing your “relationship with food.” It’s about moving your focus entirely, toward something more meaningful, more fulfilling, and more you.
If that sounds like the shift you’ve been looking for, there’s enough in the free membership area at actionfactorypublishing.com to get you started today. And don’t forget the 12-question quiz to find your level on the change pyramid, link’s somewhere around here.
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👣 What to do next...
If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on — and how to start changing from that level:👉 https://quit-your-diet.com
You’ll get:✔️ A custom PDF based on your quiz results✔️ A support video made just for your stage✔️ The first 3 chapters of Quit Your Diet: Think to Shrink✔️ Free lifetime membership with tools, downloads, and invites
🎥 Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:👉 https://www.youtube.com/@Quityourdiet
🎓 Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.
☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/quityourdiet
📚 Explore more tools and resources at:👉 https://www.actionfactorypublishing.com
Thanks for tuning in — and remember:The healthiest decision you could make might be quitting diets for good.
 

#175 - Celebrating Victory Over diet Culture - Quit Your Diet

In this episode, I’ll show you how to build your personal D-Day (Diet Day) using a 14-day roadmap that leads to real, lasting change.
We’ll explore how preparation, mindset, and strong signals can shift you from diet chaos to total clarity.
We’ll cover:
Why you must build up to the day you quit your diet
How the MAP method (Map, Align, Proceed) sets you up for success
The powerful “3 feet or 3 miles” rule from beekeeping, and how it applies to habits What happens after Diet Day, your VE Day (Victory & Empowerment)
If you’ve struggled with yo-yo dieting and are ready to take back control, not just of your weight, but your life, this episode gives you the tools to do it.
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👣 What to do next...
If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on — and how to start changing from that level:👉 https://quit-your-diet.com
You’ll get:✔️ A custom PDF based on your quiz results✔️ A support video made just for your stage✔️ The first 3 chapters of Quit Your Diet: Think to Shrink✔️ Free lifetime membership with tools, downloads, and invites
🎥 Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:👉 https://www.youtube.com/@Quityourdiet
🎓 Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.
☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/quityourdiet
📚 Explore more tools and resources at:👉 https://www.actionfactorypublishing.com
Thanks for tuning in — and remember:The healthiest decision you could make might be quitting diets for good.
 

#174 - It's Not The Answers you Get, but The Questions You Ask

What if the key to quitting your diet isn’t willpower, but asking better questions?
In this episode, I’ll share one of the most powerful tools from Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and show how it can rewire your mindset around weight, failure, and progress.
We’ll explore:
Why some people see themselves as “lucky” and what it means for your mindset
How to spot the cracks in your “perfect problem”
The 4 essential SFBT principles I use to help people change without obsessing over weight
A simple one-line tool to flip negative self-talk in the moment If you’ve had enough of diets, calorie counters and meal plans, this episode is for you.
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👣 What to do next...
If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on — and how to start changing from that level:👉 https://quit-your-diet.com
You’ll get:✔️ A custom PDF based on your quiz results✔️ A support video made just for your stage✔️ The first 3 chapters of Quit Your Diet: Think to Shrink✔️ Free lifetime membership with tools, downloads, and invites
🎥 Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:👉 https://www.youtube.com/@Quityourdiet
🎓 Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.
☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/quityourdiet
📚 Explore more tools and resources at:👉 https://www.actionfactorypublishing.com
Thanks for tuning in — and remember:The healthiest decision you could make might be quitting diets for good.
 

#173 -What About My Health? | Separating Weight from Wellbeing

As a cyclist, I've noticed something that might surprise you, and it challenges a common belief we all hold: there's often no direct correlation between size and fitness.
I've been on 80-mile rides, head down, pushing through, only to be passed by people considerably bigger than me. This isn't scientific fact, just my own observation, but it makes me question the rigid link we've created between wellness and weight.
I'm Michael Dawson, author of "Quit Your Diet Think to Shrink," and if you're done with calorie counters, meal plans, and constantly obsessing about food, you're in the right place. I'm here to help you build a 14-day roadmap to quitting diets forever, and I believe I can provide you with enough tools to do that absolutely free. My advice isn't medical, and you should always consult a professional for health concerns.
But I want to explore an instinctive truth: what if we could loosen that link between size and fitness a little bit? What if the solution to our weight struggles isn't more dieting, but something entirely different, something that non-dieters already embody? I'll explain why obsessing about problems (like weight) isn't the answer, and why focusing on the solution is.
____________________________________________
👣 What to do next...
If today’s episode hit home, take the FREE quiz to find out which level your weight obsession lives on — and how to start changing from that level:👉 https://quit-your-diet.com
You’ll get:✔️ A custom PDF based on your quiz results✔️ A support video made just for your stage✔️ The first 3 chapters of Quit Your Diet: Think to Shrink✔️ Free lifetime membership with tools, downloads, and invites
🎥 Prefer video? You can watch this episode and the rest of the series over on the Quit Your Diet YouTube channel:👉 https://www.youtube.com/@Quityourdiet
🎓 Become a site member today and get early, free access to my full training course when it launches.
☕ Like what you’re hearing? Support the show on Buy Me a Coffee and get exclusive invites to my monthly live coffee mornings:👉 https://buymeacoffee.com/quityourdiet
📚 Explore more tools and resources at:👉 https://www.actionfactorypublishing.com
Thanks for tuning in — and remember:The healthiest decision you could make might be quitting diets for good.