Maybe It Is Simpler Than You Think

I’ve been in the health world long enough to hear it all:

“I’ve tried everything and nothing works.”

“I must have a slow metabolism.”

“Maybe it’s my hormones.”

And sometimes those things are true. But other times? The answer is... simpler than you think.

Not long ago, I was at a casual get-together — one of those fun nights with a few friends, great conversation, and plenty of food. After dinner, someone brought out a giant tray of brownies. We all grabbed a piece. Mine was big enough to feed a small family, so I took a few bites and set the rest aside. Across the table, I noticed another friend — someone I adore — finish her entire brownie, reach for a second, and then quietly say, “I really need to get serious about my health.”

She meant it. And I felt that.

But that moment stuck with me — not as a judgment, but as a reflection.

How many times have I said the same thing, while ignoring the obvious?

A few days later, I was at a party where I watched a woman graze the snack table for hours — a little here, a little there. Chips, cookies, more chips, a few cubes of cheese. She never sat down. At one point, she passed by and sighed, “I just don’t get why I can’t lose weight.”

And again, it hit me.

What if the answer isn’t a mystery?

What if it’s not about a complicated plan or a special shake or the latest superfood?

What if it’s just… portion size?

Let me say this clearly: I am not here to shame anyone. Our relationship with food is deep and emotional. It’s layered with comfort, tradition, reward, distraction, and survival. I get it.

But I also know this: if you’re feeling stuck — if your jeans are tight and your energy is low and nothing seems to be working — it might be worth asking:

“Am I actually hungry… or just used to eating this much?”

“Is this portion serving me — or is it just what I’ve always done?”

“Am I full, or just finishing it because it’s there?”

Those questions can be life-changing.

Because food isn’t the enemy.

Unawareness is.

You don’t need to give up brownies.

You might just need to eat a little less of them.

Or slow down. Or share. Or simply check in with your body and ask, “Am I still hungry?”

It doesn’t have to be complicated.

It doesn’t have to be dramatic.

And it doesn’t have to wait until Monday.

Sometimes, the answer really is simpler than you think.