The Truth About Fat Loss (And What’s Working for Me Right Now)
I found myself slipping down the same rabbit hole I’ve visited many times before—what’s the real secret to losing weight? And let’s be honest, when we talk about "losing weight," what we really mean is losing fat.
The problem? There's so much noise out there. So many trends. So much misinformation that drowns out our own inner wisdom. Our brains crave novelty, and we’re constantly being tempted by the next "breakthrough." (Ozempic, anyone?) But I’m not interested in being a guinea pig. If it hasn’t been studied for decades, it’s not going in my body.
Lately, I noticed something curious—every time I add in some light weight training (just 10–15 minutes, 2–3 times a week) and up my protein intake, I gain weight and feel bulkier. It finally clicked: I’m building muscle, which is great, but unless I’m also in a calorie deficit, I won’t be losing fat. I feel stronger, but my clothes aren’t looser—in fact, they’re a little tighter. And while muscle does boost metabolism, it’s not always enough to burn through the excess.
So what am I doing to shed the 5 winter pounds?
I’m not doing anything drastic. I want a plan I can live with. Here’s what’s been working for me lately:
✅ No extremes. I’m aiming for sustainable, not stressful.
✅ More variety in plant foods. It helps with cravings and nourishes the microbiome.
✅ Listening to my body. A few years ago, I noticed that every time I ate chicken, I felt unusually tired afterward. So I swapped it for sardines. I didn’t change anything else, and without even trying, I lost 7 pounds. I’ve also always felt great after eating grass-fed, humanely raised red meat—especially my homemade 93/7 smash burgers. I keep the portions small, but they leave me feeling nourished and energized, so they remain a regular part of my protein rotation.
This is what works for me. Your needs and preferences might be different. That’s the beauty of it—it’s an experiment.
A few tips I’ve discovered along the way:
Protein timing matters. I do better when I eat most of my protein earlier in the day—at lunch and again around 3:30–5 PM. It gives my body time to digest before bed.
Digestive teas help. Fennel, coriander, and cumin brewed into tea are my go-to.
Plant diversity is key. I'm trying to add at least 2 new herbs or plant foods each week. Our bodies feel satisfied when we’re getting the nutrients they crave, and rotating foods keeps the metabolism guessing.
No harsh rules. I’m not giving up crunchy carrots just because someone on Instagram said so. Strict food rules make me feel boxed in and unhappy. My goal is to enjoy life while gently losing a few pounds.
Turmeric + black pepper shots. I make these myself for natural inflammation support.
No silica in my supplements. I avoid anything with silicon dioxide—our bodies weren’t made to process synthetic fillers.
Ingredient transparency matters. I look at every label. Our bodies were designed to digest real food, not lab-made chemicals.
Mini fiber-rich breads. I bake little breads using psyllium and flaxseeds to get extra fiber and support elimination.
Bouncing over binging. When I find it hard to stop eating after a meal, I bounce on my yoga ball. The rhythmic movement calms my nervous system and eases food-related anxiety.
And yes, I detox—gently, every day. (A bit more intentionally before the full moon. Might as well sync up with the lunar cycle, right?)
I usually finish eating by 7 PM, then wind down with a calming tea and a little raw honey around 8. From there, I fast until about 10 to 12 the next day—unless hormones have other plans (in which case I’ll eat something and head out for a walk). Working from home makes the kitchen too tempting sometimes, so stepping outside has become my go-to pattern interrupter.
Lately, I’ve also been taking little herb or spice shots—whatever feels right in the moment. Right now, I’m loving a combo of oregano, thyme, and marjoram (they are already combined in the spice mix). I just steep some in hot (not boiling) water, strain, cool, add a pinch of Himalayan Pink Salt and sip. It’s simple, earthy, and gives my system that extra nudge.
More on my moon-cycle detox rituals coming soon...
P.S. Our family eats pretty clean.
We avoid “natural flavors,” rarely eat packages foods and never cook with seed oils—including sunflower oil. I keep our meals simple, real, and nourishing. And obviously my family only drinks Rebel Aid Electrolytes when we are going to exercise.