Achieve Breakthrough Results with the “Be, Do, Have” Mindset

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Right, let’s cut to the chase. How many times have you started a diet thinking, “Once I lose the weight, then I’ll be the kind of person who eats healthy and enjoys working out”? Or, “Once I hit my goal weight, then I’ll feel confident, happy, and finally have my life together”? That, my friend, is the Have, Do, Be mindset, and it is completely backwards.

If you want lasting weight loss, more energy, and a healthier lifestyle, you need to flip that thinking on its head. You need to start with who you are, because when you become the type of person who prioritises their health, the right actions follow naturally, and the results take care of themselves.

This is where the Be, Do, Have mindset comes in. Instead of waiting to have the body you want before you do the things that make you feel healthy and be the person you want to be, you start by shifting your identity.

Let’s break it down properly.

Understanding the Be, Do, Have Mindset

The Be, Do, Have mindset is about becoming the person first, so that the right actions feel natural and lead to lasting results.

Most people get stuck in the Have, Do, Be trap, which goes like this:

• “Once I have the perfect body, then I’ll do all the right things, and finally be healthy and confident.”

The problem is that this is not how habits work.

Instead, flip the script:

• “I am a healthy, active person. Because of that, I make choices that align with this identity, and as a result, I achieve my goals.”

When I lost over 80 pounds, it was not because I suddenly found the perfect diet. It was because I stopped thinking of myself as “someone who is trying to lose weight” and started thinking of myself as someone who prioritises their health.

And once I did that, the choices that felt impossible before became second nature.

This is why mindset matters more than meal plans or workout routines. You can have the best programme in the world, but if you do not believe you are the kind of person who follows through, you will not stick with it.

So, let’s break down how to implement the Be, Do, Have mindset in a way that actually works.

Be – Developing the Right Mindset

This is where everything starts. Before you even think about what workouts to do or what meals to eat, you need to decide who you are.

Ask yourself:

• What kind of person do I want to be?
• What habits does that person have?
• What daily choices do they make?

If you want to be someone who is fit, healthy, and full of energy, then that person probably:

• Moves their body regularly
• Eats food that fuels them
• Listens to their body rather than following fad diets
• Does not obsess over the number on the scale

Visualisation and Affirmations: Getting Your Brain on Board

Your brain responds to the story you tell it. If you constantly tell yourself, “I always fail at weight loss,” your brain will believe it and make sure you find proof to support that belief.

So, let’s rewrite the script.

Try this:

• Visualisation: Every morning, picture yourself as that healthy, confident person. What do they wear? How do they act? What kind of food do they enjoy?
• Positive affirmations: Repeat statements like, “I am the kind of person who makes healthy choices effortlessly.”

It might feel silly at first, but rewiring your brain is half the battle.

Surround Yourself with Positivity

Your environment plays a big role in shaping your mindset. If you are surrounded by people who constantly complain about dieting, skip workouts, or make you feel guilty for trying to improve yourself, it is going to be an uphill battle.

Swap out:

• Friends who roll their eyes when you order a salad
• Social media accounts that make you feel bad about yourself
• Negative self-talk that tells you this is “just another failed attempt”

For:

• Supportive people who lift you up
• Fitness and mindset content that inspires you
• Daily reminders that you are capable of change

Do – Taking Consistent, Joyful Action

Once you have decided who you are, it is time to act like that person would.

Most people fail at weight loss because they pick actions they hate. If you are dragging yourself through miserable workouts and eating boring salads, no wonder you keep quitting.

The Be, Do, Have mindset says: choose actions you actually enjoy, so they feel effortless.

Finding Joy in Movement

Forget workouts you hate just because they “burn more calories.”

• If you hate running, try weightlifting.
• If the gym makes you anxious, try at-home workouts.
• If structured exercise is not your thing, go for a hike, dance, or do yoga.

The goal is to move because it feels good, not because you are punishing yourself for what you ate.

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Eating in a Way That Aligns with Your Identity

A person who prioritises their health does not diet constantly. They eat in a way that fuels them, satisfies them, and fits their life.

• No more “starting over Monday” after a weekend binge.
• No more restricting yourself so much that you give up.
• Instead, eat how a healthy person eats—with balance, not extremes.

This means:

• Making nutritious choices most of the time
• Enjoying treats without guilt
• Focusing on consistency over perfection

Have – Achieving the Results You Want

Now for the best part—when you focus on being the right person and doing the right things, the results take care of themselves.

Setting Goals That Actually Stick

Instead of saying, “I need to lose 20 pounds,” shift it to:

• “I want to feel stronger and have more energy.”
• “I want to move my body in a way that makes me happy.”

The weight loss will happen naturally when you stop obsessing over it.

Tracking Progress Without Getting Obsessed

Forget only relying on the scale. Try tracking:

• How strong you feel
• How well you sleep
• How your energy levels improve
• How your clothes fit

Because those things matter far more than a number.

Celebrating Small Wins

Every time you make a choice that aligns with your new identity, that is a win.

• Got a workout in, even if it was short? Win.
• Chose a nutritious meal when you could have skipped it? Win.
• Said “I am capable of change” instead of “I always fail”? Massive win.

Final Thoughts: The Be, Do, Have Mindset in Action

If you have been waiting to have the body you want before you act like a healthy person, it is time to flip the script.

Be the kind of person who prioritises their health.
Do the things that person would do.
Have the results as a natural consequence.

Because the truth is, you do not have to wait to be the person you want to be. You can start acting like them today. And when you do, the results will come.

Now, tell me—what is one small way you are going to start being that person today? Let’s hear it.

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Further Reading

• Positive Correlation with Exercise Frequency: Individuals with a growth mindset about fitness are more likely to engage in regular physical exercise. This relationship is mediated by higher self-efficacy and the value they place on fitness (Orvidas, Burnette, & Russell, 2018).
• Impact on Exercise Efficacy: Growth mindsets about fitness lead to increased exercise intentions and improved perceptions of exercise efficacy and value, though direct manipulation of mindsets may not always predict immediate changes in exercise behaviour (Orvidas, Burnette, & Russell, 2018).
• Adaptability and Positive Emotions: Growth mindsets foster adaptability, which in turn enhances positive learning emotions, self-concept, and self-efficacy while reducing anxiety (Zarrinabadi et al., 2021).
• Overall Benefits: Growth mindsets are associated with better mental health, resilience, and well-being, helping individuals to better manage stress and overcome challenges in various aspects of life, including health and fitness (Haimovitz, 2019).