You’re eating the salads. The smoothies. You ditched the junk years ago. And the scale is not moving. So you start thinking it’s you. Something is wrong with YOUR body. You must not be trying hard enough. You cut more. You skip meals. And when Friday hits you’re so deprived you inhale everything in sight and wake up Monday hating yourself. I lived this. In my twenties I was in the gym at 6am, eating clean five days a week, and Friday I needed an out. Candy store on the way home. Jube jubes, sour keys, Thai food, wine. Because I had been *perfect*. Then I’d spend the weekend punishing myself. That shame spiral kept me stuck for years and it had nothing to do with willpower. It had everything to do with a knowledge gap. After 20+ years as a nutritionist here is the pattern. Women over 40 eating quality food but not in a deficit. A smoothie with almond butter, banana, oats, and coconut milk can hit 600+ calories. A salad with olive oil, avocado, and nuts can pass 850. Quality alone d...