You're doing everything right.
So why do you still feel off?
These pieces come from patterns I meet over and over in my work: women who eat well, exercise, did everything they were told, and whose bloodwork still comes back "normal" while their bodies clearly aren't: tired, bloated, cycles askew. "In range" isn't the same as well. None of it is written about you in particular. But when something here sounds familiar, it usually means there's a reason no one has gone looking for, and that it's worth a closer look.
You're not overweight, so no one checked your blood sugar
Slim, active, eating well, and still not ovulating properly. Blood sugar is one of the first things skipped in women who don't look like they need it checked.
Preparing for a healthy pregnancy: the part the checklist skips
Preparing for pregnancy is more than folic acid. Why the two to three months before you conceive matter, and which tests are worth asking for beyond the basics.
Your bloods came back normal, but one number was never checked
You feel tired, foggy, or you're trying for a baby, and you've been told everything looks normal. There's a fair chance one quiet marker was never on the panel.
What actually lowered his cholesterol in ten weeks
No miracle, no single trick. A handful of unglamorous changes, aimed at how this particular body works, and a 29-point drop in ten weeks. Here is the whole of it.
Why your genes change your cholesterol plan
The diet that fixed your friend's cholesterol did nothing for you. Often that is not willpower or bad luck. It is the way your particular body is built.
When your cholesterol comes back high
A number came back high and someone said cut the fat or start a statin. Before you do either, it helps to know how to actually read the result.
The cold plunge your nervous system can't afford right now
You started cold showers for calm and resilience, but you feel more wired, not less. Timing matters more than willpower.
What your 3pm crash is telling you about your 8am coffee
Your morning coffee feels essential, even healthy. But the afternoon wall, the second cup, and the restless night might be one connected pattern.
Why beans and lentils leave you bloated
You added beans and lentils for fibre, then spent the afternoon bloated and uncomfortable. The bloating tells you something about your gut, not about beans.
Why your virtuous breakfast stalls your whole morning
You start the day with a cold green smoothie and feel bright, then the morning turns heavy. The timing might not suit your body right now.
Your healthy evening square and your restless night
Your nightly square of good dark chocolate might be the gentlest thing keeping your tired brain switched on when it's trying to wind down.
Skipping breakfast is a tax your body can't always afford
Pushing your first meal to midday is meant to be good for everyone. But if you feel wired then flat, anxious and off-cycle, your body might be paying for it elsewhere.
Why 'good bacteria' is making your bloating worse
Kombucha, kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi are wonderful for many guts. But if yours feels more bloated the more you add, it may be asking for less, not more.
Not all sugar is dessert, but your body can't tell yet
You reach for fruit because it feels like the right choice, then an hour later you're shaky and foggy. It's the speed, not the fruit, and the fix is small.
Eating more protein and absorbing less of it
You upped your protein because everyone said to, but meals sit heavy and you still feel tired. Eating it and using it are not the same thing.
The right mineral in the wrong form is still the wrong move
You tried magnesium for sleep or cramps and it did nothing, or it sent you to the loo. Before you write it off, it's worth knowing about form.
A letter every Sunday.
Each week I write to help you understand your body and leave with one small change you can actually make, because feeling well changes how the rest of life feels. The Sunday letter also brings my new discoveries, workshops, events, and occasional news. Five minutes on a Sunday. Unsubscribe any time.