This feels different

Lately I’ve been noticing something unexpected.

My relationship with food is changing.

Not through force.
Not through another “start over Monday” mentality.
Not through shame, restriction, or trying to become a different person.

But through curiosity.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve started studying under Dr. Mindy Pelz as part of her FLAG (Fast Like a Girl) certification program. And instead of simply learning the material intellectually, I decided to experiment with it in my own life first.

‍Not perfectly.

Just honestly.

What’s surprising me most isn’t even the fasting itself.

It’s the shift in how I’m thinking about my body.

For years, I have approached food with a quiet undercurrent of pressure.
What should I eat?
Am I doing this right?
Why is this harder than it used to be?
Why do I know what to do… but not consistently do it?

I think many women quietly carry these questions.

And what I’m beginning to understand is that so much of what we experience around energy, hunger, cravings, motivation, mood, sleep, stress, and even willpower may not simply be a character issue.

Sometimes it’s physiology.
Sometimes it’s hormones.
Sometimes it’s nervous system overload.
Sometimes it’s years of trying to override the body instead of listening to it.

I’m still learning.

But already I’m noticing small shifts.

Less guilt.
More awareness.
More interest in nourishment than punishment.
More curiosity about nutrition, energy, and how food actually makes me feel.
More willingness to notice patterns instead of criticizing myself for them.

And strangely… it feels simpler.

Not because I suddenly have all the answers.
But because I’m no longer approaching my body like a problem to solve.

I’m beginning to approach it like a relationship.

Right now, my first step is surprisingly simple.

I’m focusing less on perfection…
and more on paying attention.

Paying more attention to getting enough protein.
Choosing foods that feel more nourishing and less processed when I can.
Noticing how my body responds.
Watching my energy.
My mood.
My cravings.
My sleep. ‍

And perhaps most importantly…

learning how to become curious instead of critical.

That alone feels like a meaningful shift.

So for now, that’s where I’m beginning.
Not with punishment.
Not with rigid rules.

Just with awareness.
And a willingness to listen differently than I have before.

I don’t know exactly where this journey will lead yet.

But I do know that approaching my body with curiosity instead of criticism already feels different.

And maybe that’s enough for now.

If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to follow along over on Instagram.‍ ‍