On paper, I nutrition consultant. But what you don’t know is that health was controlling my life. It determined what I ate, how I moved, and even how I measured my worth. Ten years later, we’ve realized that the very routines that keep us grounded can quietly become problematic. For years I told myself I was disciplined. In fact, I micromanaged my health to the point of exhaustion. My “discipline” was really just control in a mask. And slowly, it took away the joy from me. Part personal story, part cautionary tale, this work is about how I finally found a version of health rooted in flexibility and ease.
where did it all start
My health journey started innocently enough. In my early 20s, I discovered Yoga Sculpt (heated yoga using weights) and went every day. At the same time, I was juggling a heartbreak, college classes, a part-time job, and everything else that comes with being a sorority. Adding fuel to the fire, I stumbled “Healthy Living” Blog. Immersed in food culture, they taught me it was all about gluten, dairy, and sugar. inflammatory to toxic. So, naturally, I cut it out. Overnight, I started following narrow versions of wellness that I saw online. From the outside it looked dedicated. Deep down, it was an obsession.
the label trap
I’ve come a long way since then, but what still bothers me is how often I’m told (aside from allergies and medical conditions) that I need a label to feel validated. Vegan. Paleo. Gluten free. Dairy free. Keto. etc., but health is not a label. it’s a relationship You build it yourself. It is ideally rooted in flexibility and biological individuality.
After all, mastering your health is not the goal. it’s about feeling at home in your body. Because when you finally stop chasing trends and start choosing what actually feels good for you, that’s when real health begins.
Health is not a label. it’s a relationship You build it yourself.
When wellness starts to feel like work
how pursuit of health It was quietly draining me. You feel guilty if you skip a workout, you feel anxious if you eat dessert, and you get frustrated if you miss a step. I thought structure meant success, but what I really wanted was ease. Discipline is valuable (it creates consistency and confidence!), but when discipline becomes rigid, it no longer serves us. True happiness does not come from control. It comes from listening more and forcing less.
comparison trap
Unfortunately, social media doesn’t make this easy. The internet is full of perfect morning routines, spotless refrigerators, and carefully curated “what I eat in a day” videos. It’s easy to think that health should be orderly, predictable, and perfect. But unless you recognize your unique needs and rhythms, those routines can be more burden than benefit. In other words, health is not one-size-fits-all. It’s a practice and it needs to evolve with you.
Learn how to loosen your grip
So how did you let go? I started asking myself questions like: Does this feel supportive or restrictive? Am I making this choice out of trust or out of fear? Am I respecting my body or am I resisting it? Little by little, I started to let go. I started approaching the movement from a place of empowerment. Food became the fuel for building muscle. Most importantly, we replaced “must” with “must”. And suddenly health started to feel fun again. Now I approach my habits as a rhythm. It’s not a checklist. Remember, flexibility is healthy. structure and spontaneity can coexist.
reflection prompt
If you feel like your current health routine is too strict, ask yourself:
- Do I choose my routine out of confidence or out of fear of not being good enough?
- What would health look like if it came from curiosity rather than control?
- Are my habits honoring my needs today or someone else’s expectations?
Don’t underestimate how much clarity a few honest questions can bring.
Taking the time to ask yourself these questions is the first step to getting back on track. When you slow down and listen, you begin to notice what your body is trying to tell you (beyond rules, routines, and “shoulds”).
Our bodies are constantly talking to us, but we need space to hear them. They tell us when we’re tired, hungry, overstimulated, or craving connection. But our attachment to external plans drowns out that wisdom. Instead of trusting your intuition to influencers or “health experts,” remember that you are the best expert on your body. you.
What does wellness mean to me now?
These days, I still love my rituals, but I keep them light. I plan my meals for convenience, not control. You don’t move for food or approval, you move because it feels good. I take bespoke supplements that truly support my deficiencies, not because they’re trending. Most importantly, give yourself some rest. To enjoy pizza. To skip the HIIT class. Living your life without constantly evaluating your choices. And ironically, I feel healthier now Even more than when I was chasing perfection.
gentle memories
If your health routine starts to feel heavy, it’s not a failure. Most of us have to let go of the idea that health comes from hardness. You don’t need to earn your worth through discipline, and you don’t need a label to belong to. Wellness should expand your life, not shrink it. So please relax the rules. Add more joy. Trust your body. Let your routine evolve with you. Because the healthiest thing you can do may just be to let go.
Source: Camille Styles – camillestyles.com
