Hey Reader,

I hope you're having a great day! I am getting ready for a busy summer with three weddings on the books and a trip to the Pacific coast with my brothers. I will be seeing old friends and family which is exciting but....sometimes I start to feel a little panicky, to be honest. I feel myself reverting to the "old "me that would go on a crash diet and buy some exercise program that promised to " shrink" my belly fat. Sound familiar? I realized over the years how destructive this behavior was to my health. I know I am not alone. The new me has a different mindset and attitude. Here are some things that changed for me:

1. I prioritize my health first over my looks and weight.
2. I wear clothes that complement my figure.
3. I don't try to reinvent myself to meet societal expectations.
4. I know I have a natural set point weight at which I look and feel my best. I no longer define myself by a number on the scale, BMI, or any other generic measure.

If you want to lose inches by June without extreme measures, these are the three things I did that helped me start losing inches without dieting.

Self Acceptance

First, I let go of societal influences that made me feel like I was not enough and pushed a narrative that led me to a constant state of discontent. I realized how female body image ideals are constantly changing and how dysfunctional it was to try to keep up with it.

Everything fell into place, and I started losing weight once I realized that my body didn't need to be micromanaged. I just needed to support it appropriately. No more low-calorie diets, food rules, or excessive cardio! I just started paying attention to how my body felt. I experimented with foods, meal combinations, and movement. I created daily habits based on what made me feel more energetic and vibrant.

Accepting yourself doesn't mean you don't want to lose inches or have health goals. It just means you accept that you deserve to support your body in a way that honors your unique needs instead of the generic rules and gimmicks pushed by the diet culture.

Compassion

I learned that my body is constantly working on my behalf. The extra fat stores my body held onto were a sign of stress. My job was to figure out what was stressing my body and learn how I could alleviate that stress. This concept cultivated a more compassionate Angie who was genuinely concerned about herself. I spent less time hating what I didn't like and more time finding ways to support my biological needs. I decided I was enough just as I was, and there wasn't any shame in wanting to lose inches, either. I started buying clothes that complimented my figure instead of cramming into old clothes that no longer fit right. I had the right to look good in my clothes, no matter my size. I felt a positive shift in my mentality right away.

Metrics

I used real data from my own body to guide me. I stumbled upon continuous glucose monitors when I was building a program for type 2 diabetics. I needed to know how they worked so I could teach my clients. Little did I know this would lead to an important self discovery.

I found out I was having large blood sugar spikes several times a day, even with "whole foods". This was contributing to my weight gain, fatigue, foggy brain and anxiety. I worked on personalizing my nutrition using the CGM. Read more about the science here.

I used a body composition scale to determine whether I was building muscle rather than obsessing over hitting a certain weight. I learned that having adequate muscle mass would increase my metabolic rate, inprove my blood sugar trends, and decrease inflammation. I conquered my weight obsession. I was able to determine what exercises worked best for me to build muscle. I changed my exercise routine and I noticed my energy levels started to improve. I wasn't fighting against myself anymore!

To get an InBody Scan, use the link to find a provider near you. You can also purchase a home bioimpedance scale at your local retailer.

Unlearning

I encourage you to try these three strategies if you want to lose body fat, gain confidence, and improve your relationship with yourself and food. As women, we have so much we need to UNLEARN about our health, weight, and mindset!

If you like my approach and want some support while implementing changes to your nutrition plan, I have a couple of programs designed to do just that! Click the link below to schedule a free discovery call to explore which program is right for you.

Reply to this email and let me know what you found helpful!

Your friend,

Angie

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Maple Park, Illinois 60151
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