We all know the feeling. You start a new health journey with excitement and determination, thinking this time will be different. You make changes, stick with them for a while, and then… life happens. Stress, busy schedules, holidays, or unexpected challenges knock you off track. Suddenly, all that motivation feels like it’s slipping away.

Here’s the truth: progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about consistency, resilience, and taking small steps every single day.

I want to share the story of one of my clients, Penny. Her journey is a powerful example of how small, consistent actions, even when life throws you curveballs, can create big wins.

Penny’s Journey: From Skepticism to Success

When Penny came to me, she had been practicing intermittent fasting (IF) without a clear strategy. Like so many others, she thought skipping meals was the key to weight loss. But what she didn’t realize was that her approach was wreaking havoc on her body.

Her hormones were out of balance. Her blood sugar levels were all over the place. Her metabolism wasn’t functioning the way it should.

She was skeptical when I told her we needed to increase her calories to restore her body. After all, she came to me for fat loss. Why would eating more help her shed pounds?

Here’s why: her body wasn’t ready for a deficit. To truly optimize her health and metabolism, we focused on three key areas:

1. Balancing hormones.
2. Controlling blood sugar levels.
3. Improving the quality of her food.

By nourishing her body instead of depriving it, Penny’s metabolism began to repair itself. The result? She shed 5 pounds without even being in a caloric deficit.

When Life Happens

But here’s where Penny’s journey gets real.

The holidays arrived, bringing the usual stressors: long to-do lists, holiday obligations, grieving a loved one, and disrupted sleep schedules.

Even though Penny remained mindful of her food choices and protein intake, the stress of the season sent her body into fight-or-flight mode. Her cortisol levels spiked, which made weight loss impossible. She gained back the 5 pounds she had worked so hard to lose.

This is where most people throw in the towel. But not Penny.

What Made Penny Different?

Penny didn’t let her setback define her journey. Instead of falling into the “all-or-nothing” trap, she shifted her mindset.

She said to herself, “This is just a phase because of the holidays. I know what I need to do.”

And she got back to the basics. She focused on balanced meals. She prioritized protein. She took small, consistent actions.

The Science of Stress and Weight Loss

Penny’s story highlights something crucial that many people overlook, the role of stress in weight loss.

You can eat all the healthy foods and still struggle to see progress if your body is under constant stress.

Here’s why:

• Chronic stress raises cortisol levels. This can lead to fat storage, especially around the midsection.
• High cortisol disrupts your sleep, making it harder for your body to recover and regulate hunger hormones.
• Stress can also trigger cravings for high-sugar, high-fat comfort foods. This creates a cycle of inflammation and poor digestion.

What Penny did right was refocusing on the controllable factors. She couldn’t eliminate all her stress, but she could prioritize things like quality sleep (as much as possible), balanced meals to stabilize blood sugar, hydration, and movement to support her overall health.

The Power of a Growth Mindset

What truly sets Penny apart is her mindset.

She didn’t see the holidays as a failure or give up because of a temporary setback. Instead, she viewed it as a phase and reminded herself of what she needed to do to move forward.

This is the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. A fixed mindset says, “I messed up. It’s over.” A growth mindset says, “This is just a bump in the road. I can get back on track.”

Penny’s ability to bounce back is what makes her journey so inspiring. She didn’t need perfect conditions or a fresh start. She just needed to take one small step forward, then another, and another.

What Penny’s Story Teaches Us

If there’s one thing Penny’s journey proves, it’s this:

• Progress happens in the little things you do daily. Small, consistent actions create sustainable change over time.
• Setbacks are normal. They’re part of life, but they don’t define your journey.
• Your mindset is key. Shifting your perspective from “perfect” to “progress” changes everything.

How to Apply This to Your Life

If you’re feeling like you’ve fallen off track, here’s what I want you to do.

Focus on one or two small actions this week.

Start your day with a high-protein smoothie.

Take a 10-minute walk after dinner.

Get to bed 30 minutes earlier.

Remind yourself that this is a journey, not a race. There will be highs and lows, but what matters is that you keep going.

Don’t wait for the perfect time. Start now, with what you can do today.

Wrapping It Up

Penny’s story is a reminder that progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, staying consistent, and trusting the process, even when life gets messy.

If she can do it, so can you.

So, what’s one small step you’ll take this week? I’d love to hear about it in the comments or in your messages.

Remember, I’m always here, cheering you on every step of the way.

Inspired Yet? Wanna be Starting Something?

Penny’s story is a reminder that progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, staying consistent, and trusting the process, even when life gets messy.

If she can do it, so can you.

If you’re ready to make small changes that create big results, join my 4-Week Clean Eating Challenge!

We’ll work on making itty bitty adjustments to your eating plan (this is NOT a diet) that will have a profound effect on:

• Your energy levels (no more afternoon crashes!)
• Your digestion (goodbye bloating!)
• Your moods (because yes, there is a gut-brain connection!)
• Even your hair, skin, and nails (hello, glow-up!)

The key? Starting with small, sustainable changes, not big, overwhelming ones. These little shifts will create a ripple effect that snowballs into bigger transformations.

It’s impossible not to see changes when you start with the right habits.

👉 Join the FREE Challenge today and see how your life transforms in just 4 weeks!

I can’t wait to see what you’ll accomplish.

Cheering you on,