Is your “wellness” routine just another diet in disguise?

You skipped the bread, not because you don’t like it, but because you saw a TikTok linking it to bloating.

You declined the dinner invite — again — because the restaurant doesn’t have anything ‘clean’ on the menu.

You called it a ‘reset,’ but your body knows it as restriction.

These aren’t big dramatic breakdowns. They’re quiet, daily micro-moments.

Small choices and rituals that pile up into something heavy; a lifestyle that doesn’t feel like your own anymore. Your wellness routine might look calm on the outside, but if it’s draining you, shaming you, or constantly requiring self-correction, I'm sorry babe, but it’s not wellness.

It’s just control wearing a more socially acceptable outfit.

Red Flags: Is It Really Wellness?

Does any of this feel familiar? 

- You feel guilty or “off track” after eating something unplanned

- You cut out entire food groups without a medical reason

- You only feel proud of yourself when your body looks smaller

- You start the plan for “health” but keep checking for body changes

- You feel like you’ve failed if your clothes fit tighter

- There’s a ‘before and after’ vibe, even if it’s not about weight

- You cancel social plans because the food won’t be 'clean'

- You follow wellness influencers who make you feel behind or less than

- You still feel like your worth depends on how well you ‘stick to it’

If any of that hit a nerve, you’re not alone.

You’re not “bad” at being healthy. You’re just tired of being manipulated by an industry that sells shame disguised as glow-ups.

Reframe this: 

You’re not confused. You’re waking up.

Health doesn’t have to mean control. And freedom doesn’t have to mean giving up on yourself.

You get to redefine what wellness feels like, and you get to choose habits that nourish your life, not shrink it.

Try this: What Is Your ‘Wellness’ Really Costing You?

Spend some time this week exploring how your ‘wellness’ choices are actually making you feel.
No judgment, just curiosity. Use these ECHO-style prompts to help you:

HABITS

What wellness routines do I repeat without questioning them?

Do they energise me or leave me anxious or depleted?

OBSERVATIONS

What thoughts run through my mind before, during, or after I follow a wellness ritual?

Do I feel calmer or more critical?

CHOICES

What have I said no to this week in the name of ‘being good’?

Are these choices rooted in care or fear of ‘undoing progress’?

MICRO-MOMENTS

Where did I perform wellness to feel worthy or in control?

If no one saw me today, would I still do this?

This isn’t about shaming your routines. It’s about getting radically honest about whether they’re truly yours or just inherited rules on autopilot, and maybe a little too much social media. 

Want a better way to do this?

Inside the Enough, Already: The Body Image Starter Kit, I'll help you reclaim your energy, your innate trust with your body, and health without the shame.

You’ll learn to reconnect with your body, regulate your nervous system, and make space for habits that feel nourishing to you.

Here’s what that can look like in everyday life:

You stand in front of the mirror and soften, instead of spiralling.

You say yes to the beach trip and actually go swimming.

You skip the food guilt and enjoy pasta on a Tuesday without needing to “undo” it.

You recognise when your nervous system is dysregulated and use a tool to support yourself back into calm.

It’s not about abandoning health.
It’s about redefining it on your terms.

P.S.

You don’t need to fix your body to feel peace, confidence, or clarity.

And you don’t have to earn your joy through discipline.

If wellness is costing you presence, connection, or self-trust, that’s not health.

That’s a signal it’s time to come home to yourself.