Eating More, Weighing Less: What Finally Worked for Me

For years, I struggled with eating healthier. I had every excuse in the book:

I didn’t know how to read nutrition labels.
I caved to cravings constantly.
I used my kids and our busy schedule as a reason to grab takeout.
I was “too busy” to plan meals or cook.

But the truth? I just wasn’t ready to change. I told myself, “I’ll start tomorrow,” more times than I could count. And those tomorrows kept rolling into weeks. A single Starbucks treat turned into three a week. A plan to get back on track got pushed to Monday, then the next Monday.

The Turning Point

Then came January 2025. Something shifted. I joined a small nutrition group through my CrossFit gym, and it was an absolute game-changer.

I had already been consistent with my workouts, but I never saw the results I was hoping for. Why? Because my nutrition wasn’t aligned with my goals. I knew it was time to do something different.

That group opened my eyes. I found a gym community that felt like home, with supportive coaches and an incredible nutrition coach who showed me what fueling my body really looks like. I learned that eating more of the right foods could actually make me feel better—stronger, fuller, and more energized.

Tracking My Food: A Wake-Up Call

One of our first tasks in the group was tracking everything we ate in an app called Cronometer. It was eye-opening. I quickly realized how unbalanced my meals were: lots of carbs, barely any protein, and wild swings in calories.

With my coach’s guidance, I made small changes. We worked together to find my maintenance calories—basically, the number of calories my body needs each day to maintain its current weight without gaining or losing—and build balanced meals that actually fueled my body. Before I knew it, I was eating around 2,000 calories a day, 150g of protein—and I could not believe how full I was all the time. I honestly felt like I was stuffing my face all day long.

But my coach kept reminding me: “Trust the process.” And eventually, my body adjusted. That constant full feeling faded, and I actually started feeling hungry again when it was time to eat. It was such a shift for me to learn that fueling my body properly could feel good and natural.

The wild part? I wasn’t gaining weight. I started losing weight while eating more than I ever had before. That’s what happens when you fuel your body the right way. And through it all, I kept hearing my coach’s words: “Trust the process.”

Learning to Trust the Scale (and Myself)

One of the hardest parts? Weighing myself every single day. It felt vulnerable. Some days I’d gain a pound or two overnight, and it was emotionally tough not to let that spiral me.

But again, I leaned on the tools. I used the Happy Scale app (yep, even upgraded to the paid version – data nerd here!), and I began to see the bigger picture: trends over time, not daily fluctuations.

Now, 2.5 months later, I’ve lost 7.2 pounds. But more than that? I’ve gained confidence, energy, better sleep, and a stronger connection with my goals.

Aligning My Habits With My Goals

During one of our group sessions, my coach asked: “Do your habits align with your goals?”

That hit me. Hard.

I realized they didn’t—but they could. And that’s when everything changed. I stopped viewing healthy eating as punishment and started seeing it as a form of self-respect. My habits began to reflect the person I wanted to become.

Atomic Habits in Real Life

The timing couldn’t have been better—I had just finished reading Atomic Habits (Amazon) by James Clear. The idea of focusing on 1% better every day resonated so deeply with what we were doing in the nutrition group.

Instead of aiming for perfection, I set small daily goals: hit my protein target, drink enough water, prep my meals. Little by little, those actions became habits. And those habits became part of my identity.

Looking Ahead

This is only the beginning. My nutrition journey isn’t about short-term fixes or chasing a number on the scale. It’s about fueling my body, honoring my goals, and becoming the best version of myself—one meal, one choice, one day at a time.

If you’ve ever struggled with nutrition or felt stuck in a cycle of excuses, you’re not alone. And it’s never too late to change. Find a coach, a community, or a program that gives you the support and structure you need.

Most importantly: trust the process.

Have you ever experienced a shift like this in your own health journey? Let me know in the comments or reach out if you want to connect. We’re all in this together.