why that "healthy" influencer stresses you out

Let’s talk about her.

You know who I mean—the glowing skin, the perfect morning routine, the plate of rainbow-colored produce, and a caption about "honoring her hunger" (right after a 2-hour bootcamp and a breakfast of a green smoothie). She's got the aesthetic down: bright kitchen, gentle music, soft lighting, and not a single speck of chocolate, sugar, or carbs in sight.

And even though you know better… you still catch yourself thinking:

“Should I be eating like that too?”

First: You don’t want her life. You want what you think she feels.

It’s not about the chia pudding or the fact that her lunch looks like it belongs in a lifestyle magazine. It’s about what you imagine her food represents:

✨ Control
✨ Peace
✨ Confidence
✨ Ease around food

But here's the twist—what if that "ease" is just another version of control?

Because when you’re eating nothing but kale, egg whites, and cauliflower rice in perfect portions every day and pretending it's joyful... that’s not peace. That’s performance.

Comparison thrives when you're disconnected from yourself.

You’re an active, ambitious woman who genuinely cares about wellness. You move your body. You eat foods that nourish you. You’re doing your best.

But social media makes it feel like your best isn’t good enough unless it fits into someone else’s curated highlight reel. One where carbs are suspicious, dessert is non-existent, and every bite is calculated to maintain a very specific aesthetic.

That’s not health. That’s a silent competition with no winners.

So what’s actually going on when you compare?

It’s not about willpower.
It’s not about discipline.
It’s definitely not about needing more green smoothies.

It’s about this inner tug-of-war between wanting freedom with food and being afraid of what happens if you stop controlling everything.

You see her plate of sautéed greens and flaxseed, and think: “Maybe I should cut back too.”
You eat a piece of chocolate after dinner and immediately hear: “I bet she wouldn’t do that.”
You plan a rest day and start wondering: “Would she skip a workout?”

That’s not you being dramatic. That’s decades of food rules and body pressure whispering lies in the voice of someone else’s Instagram.

Here's what to do instead of going down that rabbit hole:

1. Audit your feed like it’s your fridge.
If it doesn’t nourish you, it’s time to toss it. Unfollow (or mute) any account that makes you question your worth or second-guess your body.

2. Eat the meal YOU want, not the one that photographs well.
Overnight oats in a mason jar? Love it. Toast with peanut butter and chocolate chips? Delicious. Your food doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone.

3. Ask what’s actually missing.
That influencer’s salad might look perfect—but is it missing joy? Satisfaction? A warm brownie on the side? Don’t just eat for fuel. Eat for fullness—physical, emotional, and mental.

4. Practice self-trust.
You don’t need a perfect plate to validate your choices. You need connection to your body. Start by asking: What feels good right now? And then listen without judgment.

5. Zoom out.
In ten years, the most meaningful part of your health journey won’t be whether you skipped dessert or drank a green smoothie every morning. It’ll be whether you felt free. Whether you were present for the moments that matter. Whether you trusted yourself to eat, move, rest, and live in a way that actually supports you.

You’re not falling behind. You’re waking up.

The more you notice where comparison shows up, the more power you have to step out of it. Not by forcing yourself to be more disciplined—but by choosing to be more connected.

Your worth is not measured by your meals.

☀️ You're allowed to eat vibrant salads and cozy bowls of pasta.
☀️ You're allowed to rest.
☀️ You're allowed to take up space.

And most of all—you’re allowed to do this your way.

No filters required.

💙 cindy