What I'd Never Tell My Clients to Do This Summer

Summer. Long days, backyard cookouts, vacation photos flooding your feed - and if you're like most of the women I work with, a low-grade anxiety humming underneath it all. Because somewhere along the way, summer became a test. A before-and-after. A countdown to a version of yourself you're supposed to be.

I'm here to flip that script. As a health coach and Functional Practitioner who has walked alongside women through decades of diet cycles, I can tell you honestly; the advice you've been given for summer? A lot of it is making things worse. So let me tell you what I'd never, ever tell my clients to do.

1. I'd Never Tell You to Start a Crash Diet Before a Vacation

Starving yourself for two weeks before a beach trip doesn't just fail - it backfires. It spikes your cortisol (your stress hormone), disrupts your blood sugar, and triggers your body's famine response. The result? You arrive at your destination depleted, irritable, and obsessing over every bite. That's not a vacation. That's punishment with a view.

What I tell my clients instead: nourish your body before travel. Eat in a way that gives you steady energy and a clear mind - so you can actually be present for the moments you've been looking forward to.

2. I'd Never Tell You to Skip the Party Because You're "Being Good"

Food is connection. Summer gatherings are memories in the making. When women tell me they avoided a birthday dinner or sat out at a cookout because they were "on a plan," my heart breaks a little. Life cannot be lived in the waiting room of a smaller body.

Health is not a punishment. It's a foundation - and a strong foundation lets you show up fully, eat the potato salad with your sister, and walk away feeling like yourself, not like you failed.

3. I'd Never Tell You That Motivation Is What You Need

Motivation is fleeting. It's highest on Monday morning and lowest by Thursday afternoon. If you're waiting to feel motivated before you take care of yourself, you'll be waiting a long time.

What actually works is rhythm. Small, consistent actions that align with how your body actually functions - not willpower, not punishment, not another 30-day challenge. Real, sustainable habits rooted in how you feel, not how you look.

The Real Summer Invitation

This summer, I want you to go to the party. Wear the swimsuit. Order the dessert. And also drink your water, move your body in ways that feel good, and get some sleep. Not because you're trying to shrink yourself - but because you deserve to feel alive in the skin you're in, right now.

That's the kind of summer I'm here to help you build. If you're ready to stop following the rules that never worked and start building a foundation that actually does, I'd love to talk. My Heal Your Gut Program is now open. Click here to find out more.