Breaking Free from Restrictive Diets: My Journey to Food Freedom and Hormone Balance
When it comes to eating well and taking care of our bodies, one thing I always stress to my clients is this: eating enough matters more than eating “perfectly.” I’ve talked about this before on the podcast, but today, I want to take you a little deeper into why I’m so passionate about this approach—and why I don’t believe in restrictive diets.
I want to share my own journey with you, a journey that started back in high school during the height of the Special K Diet era. If you don’t remember that, it was basically a marketing strategy where you ate Special K cereal for one or two meals a day as a way to lose weight. It was everywhere. I remember girls in high school skipping lunch, bragging about not eating, and using that as a weird sort of status symbol. It’s wild to think about now, but that was the culture.
The Era of Calorie Tracking
When I got to college, calorie tracking became my new obsession. MyFitnessPal was basically my best friend. I logged every bite of food, scanned barcodes, and made sure I stayed within a certain number of calories every single day. And I’m a type-A personality, so I thrived on the structure.
I remember going to The Cheesecake Factory for my birthday. I looked up the calories for my favorite pasta dish and a slice of cheesecake ahead of time. I mapped out my entire day of eating around that meal so that I could fit it into my calorie budget.
When my food arrived, I immediately divided my plate into three portions and only ate one-third of it. I did the same with the cheesecake—taking only a few bites and saving the rest. At the time, I was proud of my willpower. But looking back now, I see how disconnected I was from my own body. I wasn’t listening to hunger or fullness cues—I was listening to an app on my phone.
A Life-Changing Moment
My perspective on food and eating shifted dramatically a few years later when my grandfather got pneumonia and was hospitalized. During his stay, we found out he was aspirating—his food and drink weren’t going down properly and were getting into his lungs. The doctors told him he couldn’t eat anymore. He had to get a feeding tube, and suddenly, the joy of sharing a meal with his family was taken away from him.
For him, food wasn’t just about fuel—it was about connection, celebration, and living. He loved eating and sharing meals with his family, and I watched him lose that in an instant. It was heartbreaking, and it completely changed the way I viewed food.
We eventually got a second opinion, and with intense therapy, he regained his ability to eat certain foods. But that experience opened my eyes to the idea that food is so much more than just numbers on a label. It’s part of our memories, our connections, and the way we celebrate life.
Why I Don’t Believe in Restriction
Since that experience, I’ve let go of restrictive dieting. I don’t micromanage my food intake anymore, and I certainly don’t recommend it for my clients. I work with so many moms who are exhausted, burnt out, and trying to do it all—and the last thing they need is another layer of stress around food.
When you look back at your life, will you remember the exact number on the scale? Or will you remember the moments with your kids—baking cookies, sharing birthday cake, enjoying a spontaneous ice cream run? That’s what I want for myself and for you. Food is meant to nourish us, yes, but it’s also meant to be enjoyed.
Finding Balance and Healing
Now, I teach my clients to ditch the diet culture and instead focus on nourishing their bodies. My focus is on eating enough, balancing hormones, and feeling good. Not just for today, but for the long run. It’s about building a life where food is both nourishing and enjoyable.
That doesn’t mean you go off the rails. It’s not about eating a package of Oreos every day. It’s about finding balance, enjoying your life, and supporting your body with what it needs to thrive.
Ready to Find Food Freedom and Balance Your Hormones?
If you’re tired of dieting and feeling stuck in the cycle of restriction and guilt, I’d love to help you. I currently have six client openings, and the first three to sign up for my 1:1 package will get a free HTMA retest—which is incredibly helpful for tracking your progress and making customized tweaks as we go.
If you’re ready to finally feel good in your body without the stress of calorie counting or restriction, apply to work with me. You deserve to feel good, strong, and confident—and I can help you get there.