From Obsessed to Overwhelmed: The Not-So-Healthy Side of “Healthy”
In my early career, I was all-in on the hustle. I tracked every macro, counted every step, and only felt “productive” if I was sore and hungry by the end of the day. I called it dedication. But looking back? A lot of it was driven by fear.
Fear of gaining weight. Fear of falling behind. Fear of what people might think if I took a rest day.
I know now that what felt like self-discipline was really self-punishment. And it’s way more common than we think—especially in wellness spaces that praise extremes.
When “Wellness” Becomes Disordered
Let’s break down a few of the sneaky ways disordered habits hide behind wellness buzzwords:
I used to feel powerful logging every calorie and closing every ring on my tracker. But I also felt anxious when I didn’t. That’s not health – that’s control. And if you feel like your tracker is running you, it might be time to take a step back.
Skipping meals in the name of “clean eating.” Doubling up workouts to “make up for” food. Celebrating weight loss like it’s always a win. These behaviors are everywhere, but they disconnect us from the basics: hunger, fullness, rest, satisfaction.
The pressure to keep up with sculpted abs, perfectly portioned meals, and choreographed “what I eat in a day” videos makes it easy to believe we’re failing. But guess what? Perfection isn’t the goal. Being present in your own body is.
Is It Wellness or Is It a Red Flag?
If you’ve experienced any of the following, it might be time to reassess:
Guilt for taking rest days
Feeling anxious if you don’t track a workout or meal
Eating “off plan” and immediately planning to restrict
Constant mental math about calories in/calories out
These aren’t just annoying habits – they’re warning signs. Health isn’t a number on a screen. It’s energy, mood, flexibility, joy, and peace.
So What Does Healing Look Like?
Leave the tracker on the charger. Move your body in ways that feel good, not just because they burn the most calories. Reconnect with how your body feels, not how it looks.
Curate your social media feed. Listen to non-diet podcasts (shameless plug: Fit Friends Happy Hour!). Work with providers who see you as a whole person, not just a body to “fix.”
Real wellness includes sleeping in, eating dessert, saying no to workouts when your body says rest, and choosing movement that brings joy, not punishment. And if you’re in a messy season? That’s okay too.
Defining “Fit” on Your Own Terms
You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to obsess to be healthy. And you definitely don’t have to punish yourself to be “fit.”
Whether your next step is deleting your tracking app, unfollowing a toxic influencer, or just showing yourself kindness when your body doesn’t look the way it used to—you’re already doing the work.
Let’s keep redefining what health looks like. Not based on calories, weight, or Instagram aesthetics—but on peace, energy, and trust in your own body.
🎧 Listen to the full episode of Fit Friends Happy Hour where we dig deeper into this topic, or grab to my free meal planning template to support your journey away from perfectionism and toward food freedom.
And if you’ve ever had your own “Body Bug moment” – DM me! I love hearing your stories, because this is how we break the cycle… together.
