👀 The biggest MISTAKES I've made with my health...

13 things that DIDN'T work for me

For as long as I can remember, healthy living has been a passion of mine.

Both professionally and personally, I never wanted to settle for “good enough” when it came to my wellbeing. I wanted to thrive in my health.

And while this passion for wellness has undoubtedly benefitted me, it has also led to some periods of obsession, fixation, and wasting time (and money) on things that, um, didn’t work.

I’m realizing that through the various phases of life, I’ve always sort of treated myself kind of like a health guinea pig— experimenting with different forms of eating, constantly adjusting my workouts, trying the newest wellness “hacks” of the moment, and beyond.

And before I FINALLY found my current version of my health — one that feels grounded, sustainable, and non-obsessive — I went through many years being swept up in the latest and greatest health fads, trends, and societal expectations. Gosh, I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

So, in today’s post I’m reflecting on it all and sharing what I consider to be the 13 biggest mistakes I’ve made with my health… plus how I approach things now. 

Before we dive in I just want to give a little content warning that since I’m unpacking some of my personal health journey in this post, I will be mentioning topics related to dieting, weight, disordered eating, and compulsive exercise. I know these can be very sensitive topics, so if you’d like to skip this post I absolutely understand, validate, and send you so much love! (If you’re interested, you can explore some other, non-health-related posts I’ve written here)

With that, let’s get into the top health mistakes I’ve made throughout my life. 

🥦 1. Shooting for intense calorie deficits

For many, many years, I lived my life in calorie deficits… both unintentionally and (sometimes) intentionally. Diet culture really seeped into my brain as a teenager — I was *constantly* thinking about how many calories I’d consumed and burned.

And, for the better part of a decade, I was letting calories rule how I ate rather than nutrients. 

While a constant calorie deficit doesn’t immediately mean your body is running on empty, it DOES mean that the gas light is probably on. If you’re not nourishing yourself with nutrient-dense foods, your body doesn’t have all the resources it needs to feel energetic & vibrant, move & groove your body, think clearly, have plump & healthy skin, and generally have the energy to move through the world.

Are all calorie deficits bad? No. When done responsibly, gradually, and for a limited time. But are sustained calorie deficits potentially harmful? Yes.

For the vast majority of my teens and early 20s, I thought I was being “healthy” by consistently living in a calorie deficit, but in reality I was depriving myself, my body, my organs, and missing out on some amazing energy in the process!

🧘🏻‍♀️ 2. Thinking that ONE thing was going to solve the problem

If I was ever in a rut with my health or feeling frustrated, I would often fixate on one specific thing as the catch-all "solution”.

Maybe it was that I needed to work out more. Or start meditating. Or go to the sauna 3x per week. Or eat more protein.

Whatever “it” was, I would typically hyperfixate on ONE wellness thing, and convince myself that was the secret to solving every qualm with my health.

And while these individual things can be helpful, true healing comes from a variety of angles. I firmly believe there’s never going to be one singular quick fix to anything.

It’s easy to get swept up in blanket solutions— like, oh! If I just started wearing an oura ring or going to pilates, that would solve it all.

And while a singular focus can be great for goal-setting, just remember that the answer isn’t ever going to be found in any one thing. Instead, a truly healthy and sustainable life comes from a multifaceted approach. 

🕐 3. Intermittent fasting

Let me guess, you’ve seen the amazing data, research, and evidence in support of intermittent fasting? Yeah, I did too.

And it is compelling!

With benefits being listed of weight loss, improved metabolic health, increased longevity, and improved cell turnover, it’s easy to to be intrigued.

But…

Did you know that MOST of the research done on intermittent fasting has been conducted primarily on male populations? Not women.

Well, I didn’t know that.

And for nearly a year, I intermittent fasted— often having my first meal of the day at noon… or even later. 😅 Each morning, I would sip on coffee and water all morning until I was “allowed” to eat, and…