Feel your best by June! How I am finding myself after Burnout, Covid, and loosing "70lbs" of me.

I lost myself slowly, one “just get through this week” at a time.

My only solo trip to Oregon. I walked 7-15 miles a day through hills, mountains, and the city.

After COVID, I was anxious in a way I’d never experienced before. Not just regular stress—business survival stress. I thought the scariest part would be the inconsistency of work… but what I didn’t expect was the opposite: an influx of guests who were desperate to take care of themselves.

And because I care deeply about my guests, my business, and the experience I provide… I responded by working more. A lot more.

Like 60+ hour weeks.And then spending my days off in front of my computer for seven hours trying to automate the backend of my business—despite not being super technical. It didn’t get easier. It got harder. And every second away from the laptop felt like I wasn’t doing what mattered.

At that point, survival looked like income. And I made myself less important than the bills.

So I barely walked. I soothed myself with convenient foods because “I don’t have time” became the answer to everything. We even had a home gym… and I still couldn’t make myself use it.

Then last Christmas happened.

I was getting ready for a friend’s birthday party and it took me over an hour to figure out what to wear because none of my nice clothes fit. I ended up in stretch pants and a loose blouse to hide my stomach.

Later that night, we took a group photo.When I saw it, I thought: How did I get here?

No one knows how much I hated this photoshoot for work. I was so miserable.

Especially with my history—running, cooking, lifting, loving movement.

But stress doesn’t care what you used to love.And peri-menopause didn’t exactly show up as a helpful assistant either.

I wasn’t sleeping. I was irritable. I was anxious all the time. I avoided fun and friends because in my brain I hadn’t “earned it.” And I had put on almost 70 pounds since 2019 and hadn't uploaded a single photo of myself to facebook or instagram since 2022 that wasn't business related.

I was drowning.

Why June Matters to Me

Summer isn't about bikini's. I'm 46. Who am I kidding?! But it is my playtime. Anyone who knows me knows I’m a summer baby at heart. ☀️

And in Chicago? We don’t get unlimited summer. We get like… six weeks of sun, give or take. So when I imagined “feeling better,” I didn’t picture being perfect.

I pictured being present.

🌊 the beach

🚶‍♀️ walking the riverfront

🥕 the joy of a community farmers market

👖 wearing my favorite denim shorts

🏃‍♀️ jogging my block again without getting winded

My goal by June isn’t a number. It’s a moment:A 3-mile run that takes me to the riverfront path behind Lane Tech—when the flowers bloom and the city feels alive again.

That’s my June.

The Turning Point (and why it wasn’t January 1st)

I’m not a New Year’s resolution girl. Nothing stings like setting a goal and then feeling like you “failed.” But that photo… it did something to me.

And timing-wise, with opening a new salon space, I wanted to look and feel my best when it was time to cut the ribbon. End of year became the beginning.

The hardest part was admitting something I didn’t want to admit:

My brain remembered the ease of running at my peak.My body was carrying 70 extra pounds on my knees.

And starting meant facing the shame of being a “gym person” who couldn’t bench what she used to—or run the way she used to.

So I made a deal with myself:

I would stop trying to do ALL THE THINGS…and start doing a few things consistently.

What I’m Doing Instead (and why it’s working)

Here’s what I don’t do:

🚫 I don’t weigh food

🚫 I don’t log food

🚫 I don’t count steps

🚫 I’m not giving up my morning coffee (please be serious)

That stuff spikes my anxiety. It feels like taking a daily test. And I’m an adult—I don’t want to feel like a high schooler getting scolded for not finishing homework.

Here’s what I do do:

1) Protein first 🍽️

I prioritize protein at every meal—not because I’m chasing perfection, but because it helps me feel stable and satisfied.

And here’s a trick that’s been weirdly helpful:I eat the protein first, before I move on to what I actually crave.

Because I love potatoes, rice, pasta, and basically any vegetable I can get my face on. 😂

I was vegetarian for a long time and I don’t naturally crave protein. I’ll eat it—no problem—but it’s not what I reach for. So “protein first” is my simple anchor. (If you keep an eye on the blog I'll likely share some recipies in the coming days.)

I do my best finishing the salmon before I eat my vegs. I stay fuller longer, but I also minimize my blood sugar spiking. Which is that feeling of sleepniess when you eat.

2) Simple swaps, not suffering 🧀

Some TikTok trends actually helped (I know, I know). Cottage cheese mixed into things has been an easy way to add 20–30g protein without making my life harder.

Not a diet. Not a punishment.Just… a little structure that makes it easier to show up. If you haven't tried a protein yogurt cheesecake breakfast. Heres a link.

Pinterest for Meal Ideas

3) Boredom + consistency > drama 🧠

This might be the biggest one:

I’m tired of every decision feeling like it has to be solved through a hard uphill climb.

This season, I’m choosing boredom and consistency over chaos and reinvention.

And I’m proud of that. Because it’s not flashy.But it’s sustainable.

The Truth: Weight Gain Wasn’t “One Thing”

For me, weight gain was a culmination of everything at once:

💼 being a responsible adult in the dead run of her career

🧾 bills and pressure and survival-mode thinking

🧠 stress + lack of boundaries

🌀 peri-menopause shifts

🙃 shrinking my needs so the business could survive

And the painful part? Realizing that when I diminished myself, my client list diminished too. In a huge way. I paid a price overall and my worst fears were realized.

My shame got louder than I realized. And it started deciding what I did—and didn’t—deserve.

That’s when I knew: I had to change.

Not to be skinny. Not to be “good.”But to find myself again after I melted my identity into one job.

Because I’m not just a salon owner. I’m a whole person.

A Quick Word on GLP-1s (with zero judgment)

GLP-1s aren’t off the table for me. I haven’t decided, but I understand why people choose support.

I’ll be honest: when I hear clients talk about the relief of “food noise” quieting down… I feel envy. And also hope.

I support any guest who makes the decision to ask for help—and nobody should be ashamed of that. Life is lifing for all of us.

This isn’t about being skinny.It’s about feeling like yourself again.

My “Feel Better by June” Plan (for real people)

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Okay… same,” here’s what I’d offer you:

✅ Pick ONE goal that feels like summer

Not a scale goal. A life goal.Examples:🏃‍♀️ jog 1 mile without stopping👖 fit comfortably into your favorite shorts😴 sleep through the night more often🚶‍♀️ take a Sunday walk and actually enjoy it

✅ Choose 2 habits you can repeat

Not 12. Two.Ideas:🥩 protein at every meal🚶‍♀️ 20-minute walk 3x/week💧 more water (don’t overcomplicate it)🛏️ bedtime routine that protects sleep

✅ Talk about it out loud

Shame grows in silence.Support grows in community.

If You Ever Want to Talk About It… because lordy knows I need support:

If you’re one of my guests and you’re on a health journey—or you want to start one—please know you’re not alone.

You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. And you don’t have to “earn” rest, fun, or community.

Also, I’m always down for a Sunday summer walk. ☀️💛