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Reclaiming My Story

Michelle Johnson-Farley Author Interview

The Same 20 is a candid, detailed, and emotionally resonant guide for anyone who is tired of losing and gaining the same 20 pounds over and over, offering readers a buffet of dieting strategies. Why was this an important book for you to write?

Because I lived the cycle, I now help people break.

The Same 20 wasn’t just a concept, it was my reality.
The same 20 pounds lost and regained.
The same 20 promises made every Monday.
The same 20 thoughts of negative self-talk and “I’ll be better tomorrow.”

Writing this book was my way of reclaiming my story and offering others a way off of the diet roller coaster. 

I didn’t want to write a “how-to” manual filled with shame and restriction.
I wanted to write a permission slip to eat, to rest, to reset based on your individual needs – without starting over.

This book exists because no one told me that consistency could be gentle.

That is has very little to do with what you put in your mouth and everything to do with mindset.  
That results could come without punishment.
And that freedom was possible – without being perfect.

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

One of the core ideas I wanted to share is this:
You’re not broken – your approach is.

Struggles with food, weight, or habits aren’t about willpower, they’re about mindset.
Most people are stuck in the same all-or-nothing cycle: the same 20 pounds, the same thought loops, the same emotional patterns.
That’s what The Same 20 is really about.

I wrote this book to offer something different- not perfection, but permission:
Permission to show up imperfectly.
To start small.
To make progress without pressure.
To stop chasing discipline and start building self-trust.

Because sustainable change doesn’t come from shame or restriction, it comes from learning to love and care for yourself, even when it’s messy.

I also wanted to challenge the “clean eating” and “grind harder” narratives we’ve been sold. Those extremes don’t teach self-trust, they teach burnout.

This book is about rewriting the script from “I’ll start over Monday” to “I know how to keep going,  because I believe I’m worth it.”

That’s the shift that sets you free.

What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?

What surprises me most, and moves me every time, is how many people say,
“I felt like you were writing about me.”

They thought they were the only one restarting every Monday, negotiating with food all day, or feeling shame after slipping.

What they respond to first isn’t the strategy, it’s the relief.
The relief of being seen.
The relief that this isn’t just about food, it’s about mindset.
The relief of finally having words for something they’ve carried alone for years.

And most of all, the permission to stop being so hard on themselves.

That reaction always reminds me just how isolating this cycle can feel, and how powerful it is when someone finally realizes they’re not alone. I didn’t expect that kind of emotional connection to be the first thing readers mention, but it tells me this book is doing exactly what I hoped it would:  Breaking shame before it breaks us.

What is one thing that you hope readers take away from The Same 20?

The Same 20 isn’t about quick fixes.
It’s about mindset & finding a sustainable way of life that works for you.

So many people are sold the idea that they’re broken, that with enough discipline, weight loss, or motivation, they’ll finally be worthy.

But what they actually need is a shift:
From fixing themselves to caring for themselves.

This book is about rewriting the story.
It’s not about a number on the scale, it’s about honoring your body as the vessel for your life.

Progress doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from patterns– small, consistent choices rooted in self-respect, not punishment.

I want readers to walk away knowing this:
You don’t have to earn rest.
You don’t need to undo joy.
You are already worth the effort -even on the messy days.

Because when you shift the question from
“How do I fix myself?” to “How can I take care of myself?” that’s when everything changes.

That’s the real freedom.

And that’s what I hope The Same 20 helps people find.

Author Links: Website | Instagram | YouTube

End the dieting ups and downs and twists and turns forever
Dieting is often compared to riding a roller coaster as you gain and lose the same 20 pounds over and over again. If you’re ready to get off the roller coaster and never look back, The Same 20 can help you choose the right diet to achieve that goal.
Registered dietitian nutritionist Michelle Johnson has tried dozens of diets, sparing you the stress of doing so. In The Same 20, Michelle explains why you lose and gain and gain and lose weight and what affect this has on your physical and mental health.
She then reveals how nine popular diets can lead to weight loss. Do you like the idea of eating what you want, but don’t feel the need to eat around the clock? Try intermittent fasting. Want to eat well and help the planet at the same time? Maybe a flexitarian diet or vegetarian lifestyle is for you. Need to cut bad stuff out of your diet? Try the no-sugar or alkaline diet for better health.
The Same 20 offers menus, pros and cons, special considerations, and grocery lists for each diet. You’ll also get encouragement and advice for choosing a diet you can maintain over time to get the weight off and, most importantly, keep it off while still meeting your health and wellness goals, having fun, and enjoying the journey.
In The Same 20, you discover
* How you wind up on the dieting roller coaster and the impact it has on your body
* How to identify your personal motivation, also known as your “why”
* How to decode diets, enabling you to select the best nutrition path for your life and weight goals
* How to get off the diet roller coaster and stay off
The Same 20 is all about personalizing your diet journey and providing you with the confidence to rip up your ticket to the weight-loss roller coaster once and for all!

The Same 20

Michelle Johnson-Farley’s The Same 20 is a candid, detailed, and emotionally resonant guide for anyone who has ridden the “diet roller coaster” of losing and gaining the same 20 pounds over and over. Drawing from her personal experiences as a registered dietitian and personal trainer, Farley offers a buffet of dieting strategies—from calorie counting and keto to veganism and intermittent fasting—interwoven with scientific explanations, motivational advice, and emotional introspection. The book encourages readers to uncover their why, make sustainable lifestyle changes, and ditch the destructive cycle of fad diets in favor of holistic well-being.

Farley’s writing is grounded, funny, and vulnerable in just the right doses. I appreciated how she didn’t sugarcoat the science or the mental toll dieting takes. Her breakdown of how diets mess with metabolism, hormones, and emotional health hit close to home. And her tone is friendly but firm, like a coach who won’t let you quit, even on your worst day. It was refreshing to see a book that doesn’t glorify quick fixes but instead champions small, meaningful shifts.

Her thoroughness is undeniable. The practical meal plans, science-backed explanations, and gentle encouragement make it more than just a guide—it feels like a survival kit for dieters who are emotionally drained and physically stuck. I found myself highlighting phrases like, “Life is short, eat a cupcake,” not just because they’re witty, but because they get to the heart of the matter: balance.

The Same 20 is a perfect read for people who are exhausted by diet culture but still crave guidance to take charge of their health. It’s for the parent juggling kids and self-care, the young adult burnt out by trends, or the midlifer trying to finally “get it right.” If you’ve ever stood in front of a mirror thinking, “Here we go again,” this book is for you.

Pages: 402 | ASIN : B0BPF293WD

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