I thought I was doing everything right (but was missing this)

Today, (4/4) is the last day of my 30s. I feel both excited and contemplative in this moment, as I stand on the threshold of entering my Wild Woman era (more on this next week). So, as I've been reflecting on this past decade, one "health aha" stands out as the most significant—and humbling.

I would, without question, consider myself a healthy person.

And yet, three years ago, I learned something that completely shocked me—something so essential it reframed all I knew about cultivating health.

After 16 years of living/practicing and coaching in the world of movement, holistic health, nutrition, and hormones… I thought I had the basics covered; that I was doing everything “right.”

You see, I’ve been eating a clean, whole foods-based diet for well over a decade. I don’t eat processed foods anymore, rarely drink now, and I’ve worked tirelessly to optimize my family’s nutrition. I move my body in ways that feel good + align with my hormones, I sleep when my kids let me :), and sync a good chunk of my life with my menstrual cycle. None of this was overnight (like I said, I've been working on this for 16 years), but added one small piece at a time, as I learn more + my body's needs change.

So... like I said - I considered myself a healthy woman. 

Which is why I was pretty blindsided the first time (in 2022) when I put on a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)  to monitor my blood sugar throughout the day— not because I felt bad, but because I was curious. Yes, CGM's are not just for diabetics, like one might think!

Where I expected to see balanced blood sugar because I ate well, instead I saw spikes well beyond desired ranges and dips that went below my fasting level (your starting range), especially overnight — which often leads to middle-of-the-night wakeups. Turns out: I wasn’t as metabolically sound as I believed.

I wasn’t skipping meals. I wasn’t bingeing sugar. I wasn’t relying on caffeine to get through the day. And I was eating primarily whole foods, fueling my body "properly" — I mean, come on!

And yet — my blood sugar was pretty significantly dysregulated.

Note: Ideal fasting blood sugar is 75-85 mg/dL and we don't want any meal or drink consumed to spike your blood sugar more than 25 points beyond your fasting. When I wore my CGM, my fasting was 85 and my spikes went from 30 to even 60 points above fasting. Also, 9/10 Americans suffer from metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that are the foundation to all chronic diseases and includes high fasting blood sugar. So, perhaps like me, you're naive in thinking this issue isn't impacting you or your family!

The CGM showed me dysregulation I wasn't attuned to or aware of — in part, because I was so used to my personal baseline of "pretty good".

And I think we all get caught in this trap — where we accept how we feel as “normal” and settle for “good” +/or "fine," or resign the symptoms we’re experiencing as just part of life (like gut issues, energy crashes, cravings, mood swings).

When I started shifting how I ate — changing my goal from "eating healthy" to balancing my blood sugar with every meal, drink or snack — everything sharpened.

My energy became steady.

I started sleeping through the night (when my kids stayed put).

My mood no longer swung wildly, or felt out of my control, slave to my hormonal shifts.

The brain fog cleared.

My body felt lighter and had more power.

It's been the biggest gift:

To feel steady + alive in my body (consistently).

Present in my life.

Able to show up with energy and grace—for myself and the people I love.

That’s what blood sugar balance gave me.

The things I didn't know I was missing, and what I want every woman to have.

There was also a significant shift in my kids—they're focused at school (unless bored ha ha), have more steady energy with less emotional rollercoasters, and we rarely have snack battles or hangry attacks because they are actually satisfied at meals.

And to give the same opportunity to Will and Felix—removing barriers to their innate energy, and allowing them to feel more like themselves.

More grounded in their bodies. 

More in touch with their true emotions—not ones fueled by crashes, spikes, or false signals.

So their reactions reflect what they’re really feeling, not just what their blood sugar is doing.

Another gift, I will be forever grateful to have uncovered.

Because when you (and your family) are well-fed, well-resourced, and in rhythm with your/their body…everything changes. 

And you, my love, deserve that everything.

So, let's learn a little more about blood sugar together, shall we? 

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The patterns I see again and again:

Bae #1: The Overfunctioner - Energetic, driven, gets it done — but at a cost.

• Coffee or protein bar for breakfast (or skipping it altogether)

• Grazing and snacking all day

• Sugar and caffeine cravings

• Anxiety or irritability (esp when hungry)

• Mid-afternoon crashes

• Critical of her body, and consumed with "fixing her"

• Trouble falling or staying asleep

Bae #2: The Underpowered - Heavy, foggy, tired — craving clarity and traction.

• Fatigued after meals

• Weight gain that won’t budge

• Cravings that never feel satisfied

• Flat energy all day

• Foggy thinking or forgetfulness

• Feeling sluggish no matter how “healthy” she's being

Blood sugar dysregulation is behind the scenes for both — even in women doing all the things “right.” 

What dysregulated blood sugar looks like short-term:

• Unshakeable fatigue + energy crashes

• Erratic mood swings + anxiety

• PMS or peri/menopause symptoms

• Brain fog + poor sleep

• Cravings + inflammation

What it sets you up for long-term if not addressed:

• Development of chronic diseases such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, arthritis, cataracts, Alzheimer's disease, cancer + heart disease

• Depression

• Gut problems

• Insulin resistance --> Metabolic syndrome --> Type 2 diabetes

• Fatty liver disease

• Infertility, PCOS, fibroids, irregular cycles

• Accelerated aging (inside and out)

• Plays a role in neurodivergent conditions like ADHD

 Why does this matter beyond symptoms?

Because your energy is everything.It’s not just about whether you feel “okay” or even "good" (like I did). It’s about whether you have the capacity to really live and enjoy your life to the fullest. To create, to connect, to show up fully in the life you’re building.Blood sugar balance isn’t a diet trick. It’s a foundation for the way you feel — now, and for decades to come. And it also helps you actually throw all diets out the window, for good.  

Want to understand blood sugar for your female body — and how to optimize it?

Join me for:

Revitalize Your Energy: A Blood Sugar Workshop

🗓 Next Wednesday, April 9

🕖 12 - 1:30pm PST

📍Virtual workout + workshop (replay available)

We’ll cover:

• Why insulin is your Queen B, Tier 1 hormone — and how balancing blood sugar improves all other hormone function

• How blood sugar impacts your energy, mood, metabolism, cravings, weight, and long-term health

• The exact real-life shifts I made (and teach clients) that lead to sustainable energy and hormonal balance — without restriction or burnout

• Why blood sugar balance is the foundation for releasing weight, reducing symptoms, and feeling satisfied in your body again.

This workshop is for every woman who’s doing her best — and ready to feel better, sustainably + simply.

Let’s make vibrant energy your baseline — not your goal.

[Click here to save your spot.]

Xoxo. - W