Hey, Cleanish Squad!

​Listen to me read this email to you​

When I first started trying to lose weight, I followed all the “rules.” Low-calorie everything. Fat-free sauces. Artificial sweeteners. I truly believed if I just ate less—and cut out everything “bad”—I’d get the results I wanted.

And I did lose weight. But I also lost energy, strength, and muscle. I was tired, constantly hungry, and barely holding it together.

Looking back, I had to unlearn a lot of what I thought was true about food and fat loss. These are five of the biggest rules I let go of—and what I do instead.

A few of the food rules I ditched for good:

❌ “Eat as little as possible to lose weight.”​
There was a time I believed the less I ate, the faster I’d lose weight. But all that did was leave me exhausted, hungry, and constantly thinking about food.
​What I do now: I make sure I’m eating enough—especially protein and real food—to stay full, keep my energy up, and preserve muscle. Every time I tried to out-restrict the weight, it backfired.

❌ “Cutting out entire food groups is the fastest way to see results.”​
I used to think the answer was removing carbs completely or going dairy-free just because someone else had success doing it.
​What I do now: I focus on balance—not restriction. I don’t avoid carbs, dairy, or fat—I just choose better versions and pay attention to portions. It’s way more sustainable and more enjoyable.

❌ “As long as it’s low-calorie, it’s fine.”​
I lived on fat-free dressings, diet snacks, and 100-calorie packs for way too long.
​What I do now: I focus on real food that keeps me full and energized. Low-calorie doesn’t mean better if it leaves you starving an hour later.

❌ “You shouldn’t eat after 8pm.”​
I used to panic if I felt hungry at night, thinking I had missed my window.
​What I do now: If I’m truly hungry, I eat—whether it’s 6pm or 9pm. It’s not about the clock. It’s about how much and what I’m eating overall throughout the day.

❌ “Cardio is the only way to burn fat.”​
I forced myself to run—even though I hated it—because I thought that’s what I had to do. Because I hated it so much, I wound up never exercising.
​What I do now: I strength train, walk daily, and focus on building muscle. It’s more effective, more sustainable, and honestly, way more enjoyable for me.

If you’re stuck in the cycle, too…

If you're tired of trying to follow the rules perfectly and still not seeing progress, it's not you. It’s the rules.

That’s exactly what I talk about in my recent video, 10 Lessons I Wish I Knew Before Losing Weight. If any of these food rules hit home, this video will help. Watch the video here.

And if you're ready to stop figuring it all out on your own and want a plan that actually fits your life, that’s what we do in coaching.

​Apply here to work with me 1:1 and let’s create something sustainable, realistic, and effective.

Talk soon,