6 Things I Do Now That the Version of Me Chasing "Light & Skinny" Would Hate

People assume that because I have a master's degree in nutrition, I'm super disciplined around food - that I meticulously count every calorie, only eat organic produce, avoid added sugar, and have a perfectly "clean" diet.

But the truth is, the more I've learned about nutrition, the less restrictive I've become.

In fact, the version of me with the least nutrition knowledge was the version of me with the most food rules.

Back then (circa 2009-2011) I believed that being healthy meant eating as little as possible, exercising as much as possible, and maintaining rigid control over my diet.

Today, I know that health is so much more nuanced than that.

And after a masters degree worth of education and 12+ years of experience in the industry, I've realized that many of the food rules I once followed weren't actually helping me, but were keeping me stuck in a cycle of restriction.

Here are a few things I do now that the younger version of me would've hated:

I stopped paying attention to how many calories my workouts burn.

Years ago, I thought the entire purpose of working out was to burn calories.

Now? I exercise because I want to be strong, feel capable carrying groceries, picking up my kids, and hiking on vacation, staying independent as I age, and looking hot as hell.

And yeah, exercise burns calories, but that's become the least interesting thing about moving my body.

I focus on adding nutrients instead of eating fewer calories.

One question used to precede every eating occasion, "How can I make this as low-calorie as possible?"

But now I ask myself something entirely different…

"How can I make this meal more nourishing?"

Can I add protein?

Can I add fruit?

Can I add vegetables?

Can I add fiber?

Can I make this meal more satisfying?

The shift from taking food away to adding nutrients has completely changed my relationship with food.

I don't go to bed hungry.

The old me wore hunger like a badge of honor.

If I went to bed with an empty belly, I convinced myself I was being disciplined.

Today, if I'm hungry before bed, I eat.

Sometimes that's a protein shake and a piece of fruit

Sometimes it’s cereal straight from the box.

But I don’t willingly ignore a hungry belly anymore now that I know eating enough helps me sleep better, recover better, and show up better the next day.

I don't weigh myself every day.

There was a time when I stepped on the scale multiple times a day - heck, multiple times a morning.

Now I step on the scale once or twice a month.

Not because weight doesn't matter (it can be a useful piece of information), but because it tells me very little about whether I'm taking care of myself and how I feel.

Instead, I pay closer attention to the habits and behaviors that actually influence my health, happiness, and progress:

Am I eating enough protein?

Am I including vegetables at most meals?

Am I moving my body regularly?

Am I getting enough sleep?

Am I managing my stress in non-food related ways?

^^ These are the things I actually have control over and directly impact how I feel, look, and perform.

I eat carbohydrates on purpose.

Bread.

Rice.

Potatoes.

Pasta.

Fruit.

Years ago, I thought these foods were dangerous and fattening.

Now I know better and understand that carbohydrates are the body's preferred source of energy - especially for those of us who are active or running after toddlers 24/7.

Carbs aren’t something to fear, they're something to utilize.

I buy convenience foods.

This one surprises people, but I do my best to make the healthy choice as easy as possible.

That means my freezer is full of frozen vegetables.

I use salad kits and pre-chopped produce, whenever possible.

Rotisserie chicken, canned tuna and shrimp cocktail are always in rotation.

And protein shakes save me on busy days.

The younger version of me thought healthy eating had to contain the fewest ingredients possible and be completely “clean”.

The educated nutrition coach in me knows that consistency > perfection and that “the poison is in the dose”. If eating processed foods allows me to get more nutrients and eat more closely aligned with my goals, I’m going to do exactly that.

I let "good enough" be good enough.

This might be the biggest change of all.

Years ago, if I couldn't eat the perfect meal or fit in the perfect workout, I didn’t think it was worth my time.

After years of witnessing that all-or-nothing mindset play out, I know that imperfect and messy action will outperform waiting for “perfect” execution every single time.

A frozen meal with added vegetables is better than the perfect meal you never have time to make.

A 10-minute walk is better than sitting at your desk all day because you couldn’t get 30+ minutes away from work.

A quick strength workout is infinitely better than the perfect workout that never happens.

I focus on doing the best I can given my circumstances and give myself credit for showing up no matter how far from perfect or ideal my best on any given day is.

The biggest takeaway of all?

Health isn't built by perfectly following all the food rules.

It's built through flexible habits you can sustain for years.

Looking back, I didn’t need another diet, or more nutrition information.

I needed someone to help me focus my energy on the behaviors that were actually going to move me closer toward my goal (as opposed to trying every diet hack and food rule I heard about on social media) and permission to stop trying to be perfect.

Ironically, that's exactly what years of studying and applying nutrition gave me - not more rules, restriction, or “discipline”,

but more freedom, flexibility, and fun (not to mention a healthier body and relationship with food!)