At 49, with 20 years of clinical practice, I see this pattern constantly: Life gets chaotic, stress hits, and the first thing women drop is self-care. “I’ll get back on track when things calm down.” Here’s the truth that’s keeping you stuck: THAT is exactly when your body needs support the most. When you’re stressed, your body produces excess cortisol, which: • Disrupts your HPA axis (your stress response system) • Slows your thyroid function and metabolism • Spikes blood sugar and increases belly fat storage • Destroys sleep quality and increases next-day cravings • Depletes the very nutrients needed to handle stress The cruel irony? Abandoning nutrition when stressed creates MORE stress on your already overwhelmed body. This isn’t about “losing weight” or “being perfect.” This is about giving your body the raw materials it needs to literally SURVIVE the crisis you’re dealing with. The women who thrive through life’s hardest moments? They don’t wait for calm to prioritize the...