This week’s topic might ruffle some feathers.
But it’s one I think we have to talk about — with honesty, compassion, and curiosity.
Let’s start here:
What if mental health wasn’t just about brain chemistry — but also about brain energy?
What if the way we fuel and care for our body directly impacts our mood, motivation, and mind?
I’m currently reading Brain Energy by Dr. Christopher Palmer, a Harvard psychiatrist who’s spent decades studying the connection between mitochondria (your cells’ energy engines) and mental health.
And friends, it’s blowing my mind — and making so many things click.
❗️ Medication Can Help — But Is It the Whole Story?
To be clear: I’m not anti-medication.
Many people find relief and stability with traditional treatments.
But what I’ve seen — and what I’ve experienced personally — is that sometimes medication is just the beginning, not the full picture.
Many people find relief and stability with traditional treatments.
But what I’ve seen — and what I’ve experienced personally — is that sometimes medication is just the beginning, not the full picture.
When we only treat the symptoms (anxiety, depression, fatigue, brain fog), we may miss the root cause — what’s actually going on at a cellular level.
Dr. Palmer’s work is showing us something powerful:
Mental health challenges often reflect a deeper issue — how our cells are producing and using energy.
And guess what affects that?
Blood sugar, sleep, stress, movement, inflammation, food quality, circadian rhythms — the daily things we overlook or dismiss as “lifestyle.”
🧬 Mitochondria & Mental Health: The Connection
When your mitochondria aren’t functioning well, your brain cells don’t have the energy they need.
That can lead to:
That can lead to:
- Mood instability
- Low motivation
- Trouble focusing
- Burnout
- Anxiety or depressive episodes
- Fatigue that sleep doesn’t fix
And here’s the kicker:
These aren’t just “in your head.”
They’re happening in your cells.
It’s not about willpower. It’s about biology.
These aren’t just “in your head.”
They’re happening in your cells.
It’s not about willpower. It’s about biology.
❤️ So What Can We Do?
Here’s the hope-filled part.
There are small, daily changes that can help support your mental health from the inside out.
There are small, daily changes that can help support your mental health from the inside out.
Things like:
- Prioritizing quality sleep
- Reducing ultra-processed foods
- Eating protein and fiber first, carbs last
- Walking after meals
- Managing stress and nervous system load
- Checking your blood sugar or fasting insulin
- Aligning your habits with your natural circadian rhythm
- Staying hydrated and moving your body gently
- Bringing compassion into your healing — not just “motivation”
These aren’t meant to replace medical care.
They’re meant to complement it — and sometimes unlock new progress when things have plateaued.
🌱 Final Thought: It’s Not Your Fault — But You Can Choose to Heal
If you’ve struggled with your mental health, please hear me:
You are not broken.
You are not lazy.
You are not a failure.
You are not broken.
You are not lazy.
You are not a failure.
You may simply be underpowered — running on a (cellular) empty tank for far too long.
And that’s not your fault. But it is something you can support.
And that’s not your fault. But it is something you can support.
You don’t have to do it perfectly.
You just have to begin paying attention to your body with love.
Because that’s where the real healing starts.
You just have to begin paying attention to your body with love.
Because that’s where the real healing starts.
With you in this,
Rachel xo
Rachel xo
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Protecting Your Peace Isn’t Selfish — It’s Self-Care
Let me guess…
You’re tired. But you keep going.
You feel it in your bones that you need a break. But the list is long. The people are counting on you. The guilt creeps in.
You feel it in your bones that you need a break. But the list is long. The people are counting on you. The guilt creeps in.
So instead of slowing down, you keep pushing.
Because somewhere along the way, we were taught:
- Rest means we’re falling behind
- Saying “no” means we’re letting people down
- Pausing means we’re giving up
But what if the truth is the exact opposite?
🧠 Your Nervous System Needs You to Slow Down
Our bodies are incredible — they’re built to help us adapt, push through, and care for others.
But they’re also designed to rest, regulate, and recover.
But they’re also designed to rest, regulate, and recover.
When we’re stuck in stress — even low-level, background stress — our nervous system stays on high alert. And over time, this affects everything:
- Cortisol stays elevated
- Blood sugar becomes harder to manage
- Sleep gets disrupted
- Hormones shift and symptoms worsen
- Cravings, inflammation, and mood swings creep in
It’s not “just stress.”
It’s the foundation of your health.
It’s the foundation of your health.
🪞We Don’t Have to Earn Rest
I’ve had to learn this lesson many times:
You don’t have to reach your breaking point before you give yourself permission to stop.
You don’t have to reach your breaking point before you give yourself permission to stop.
And I see it in so many of the women I talk to.
They’re not “failing.”
They’re exhausted.
From the pressure.
The invisible expectations.
The caregiving.
The push to always keep going, even when their body whispers, “please… not today.”
They’re not “failing.”
They’re exhausted.
From the pressure.
The invisible expectations.
The caregiving.
The push to always keep going, even when their body whispers, “please… not today.”
If that’s you, you’re not alone.
💡 This Week’s Rooted Reset
Here’s your gentle invitation:
Take 5 minutes and ask yourself:
- Where am I feeling stretched too thin right now?
- What’s one thing I can release, postpone, or soften this week — without guilt?
- What does protecting my peace look like today?
It doesn’t have to be a big change.
It just has to be honest.
It just has to be honest.
Maybe it’s going to bed earlier.
Maybe it’s letting yourself say “not today” to something you usually say yes to.
Maybe it’s giving yourself permission to feel tired without needing to fix it.
Maybe it’s letting yourself say “not today” to something you usually say yes to.
Maybe it’s giving yourself permission to feel tired without needing to fix it.
The pause is part of the progress.
Rest is healing.
And your peace matters.
Rest is healing.
And your peace matters.
📥 Want more tools to support your hormones, stress, and energy — naturally?
I’d love to share what helped me feel better than I have in years — especially in the most overwhelming season of my life.
No pressure. No programs. Just real support.
No pressure. No programs. Just real support.
Hit reply — and I’ll share exactly what worked for me.
Rooting for you,
Rachel xo
Rachel xo
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Let’s be honest:
For a lot of people, weight loss is the thing that finally gets their attention.
The number on the scale changes.
Clothes don’t fit like they used to.
A photo feels uncomfortable.
And suddenly, there’s this deep desire to do something.
Clothes don’t fit like they used to.
A photo feels uncomfortable.
And suddenly, there’s this deep desire to do something.
And while there’s nothing wrong with wanting to lose weight — I’ve been there, too — it’s only part of the story.
Because the real question is this:
👉 What are you hoping to gain by losing weight?
👉 What are you hoping to gain by losing weight?
🧠 The “Elephant in the Room” That No One Talks About
The truth is, weight is often just the symptom.
The real issue?
Your health. Your energy. Your freedom. Your quality of life.
I learned this firsthand while working in hospice.
So many of the people I cared for had once believed they were fine. They didn’t realize how long their bodies had been trying to get their attention.
So many of the people I cared for had once believed they were fine. They didn’t realize how long their bodies had been trying to get their attention.
And I heard the same thing over and over again:
“How did I end up here?”
Not because they didn’t care — but because they didn’t realize how much their everyday habits and stress and inflammation and blood sugar were affecting the body they’d be living in for the rest of their life.
🌱 What You Actually Gain When You Take Care of Your Health
Weight loss might get you started — but it’s not the finish line.
Because when you nourish your body and support your health, you gain:
- 💪 Energy to do what you love
- 🧠 Mental clarity and fewer mood swings
- 😴 Better sleep
- 💃 Confidence in your own skin
- 🩺 Stronger immunity and hormone balance
- 💛 A sense of peace in your body instead of constant frustration
This isn’t about chasing “thin.”
It’s about reclaiming your life.
It’s about reclaiming your life.
💡 This Week’s Rooted Reset
Take 5 minutes today and ask yourself:
- Beyond the number on the scale… what do I want more of in my life?
- How would better health change the way I live, move, feel, and connect with others?
- What’s one small choice I can make today to support my whole life — not just my weight?
📩 If you're ready to feel better in your body — not just lighter, but stronger, clearer, calmer — I’d love to show you what helped me.
No pressure. No diets. Just real support that helps you gain energy, confidence, and the health to live the life you actually want.
Just reply or reach out. I'm here when you're ready.
Rachel xo
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How often have you said or thought…
“Something’s wrong with me.”
“Why am I so tired all the time?”
“I just don’t feel like myself lately.”
We’re taught to see symptoms as something to suppress or fix.
But what if — instead — they’re your body trying to speak?
But what if — instead — they’re your body trying to speak?
Your fatigue, cravings, mood swings, inflammation, weight changes, and restless sleep aren’t signs that you’re broken.
They’re signals. They’re communication.
They’re signals. They’re communication.
And once I started listening, everything changed.
📉 The Trap of “Pushing Through”
For years, I pushed through my symptoms.
Tired? Drink more coffee.
Bloated? Try a new supplement.
Low energy? Blame it on aging.
Tired? Drink more coffee.
Bloated? Try a new supplement.
Low energy? Blame it on aging.
I thought being “strong” meant ignoring my body.
But eventually, my body got louder — until I had no choice but to listen.
But eventually, my body got louder — until I had no choice but to listen.
And when I finally did, I realized:
My body wasn’t failing me. It was fighting for me.
My body wasn’t failing me. It was fighting for me.
🩸 What Your Body Might Be Telling You
Here are just a few ways your body tries to communicate:
- Fatigue: Maybe your blood sugar is swinging too much — or your cortisol is stuck on high
- Cravings: You might be undernourished, overstressed, or inflamed
- Bloating or discomfort: Your gut might be asking for rest, hydration, or fewer stress triggers
- Mood swings: Could be hormone shifts, poor sleep, or nutrient gaps
- Weight gain in midlife: Often tied to insulin resistance, not willpower
These aren’t moral failings.
They’re invitations.
To pause. To ask. To listen.
They’re invitations.
To pause. To ask. To listen.
🪞 From Judgment to Curiosity
What changed everything for me wasn’t a magic protocol (though yes, I use one that works).
It was shifting from self-judgment to self-curiosity.
It was shifting from self-judgment to self-curiosity.
Instead of:
“Why can’t I get it together?”
Try:
“What is my body asking for right now?”
That’s where healing begins.
💡 This Week’s Rooted Reset
Take 5 minutes and ask:
- What’s one symptom I’ve been ignoring or pushing through?
- What might it be trying to tell me?
- What would support look like today — not punishment, but partnership?
You are not broken.
You are responsive.
And your body wants to work with you — not against you.
You are responsive.
And your body wants to work with you — not against you.
📩 Want to learn the exact approach that helped me reduce inflammation, balance blood sugar, have more energy, and feel like myself again?
Just hit reply or message me — I’d love to share what helped me gently reset.
Rachel xo
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Let’s talk about stress — the kind that slowly builds until it’s running the show.
You feel it in your body, in your energy, in your relationships.
You snap more easily. You lose your patience. You feel disconnected — not just from others, but from yourself.
You snap more easily. You lose your patience. You feel disconnected — not just from others, but from yourself.
And yet, most of us just keep going.
Giving. Serving. Pushing through.
Convincing ourselves it’s “just a busy season” or that we’ll rest later.
Giving. Serving. Pushing through.
Convincing ourselves it’s “just a busy season” or that we’ll rest later.
But here’s the truth:
Stress isn’t just emotional — it’s biological.
Stress isn’t just emotional — it’s biological.
💥 What Stress Is Doing to Your Body
When you’re under stress, your body releases cortisol, your main stress hormone.
And when cortisol stays high for too long, it disrupts everything:
- Raises your blood sugar
- Increases insulin resistance
- Messes with your sleep and energy
- Triggers cravings (hello, comfort food)
- Causes mood swings and anxiety
- Makes it nearly impossible to lose weight — especially belly fat
- Weakens your immune system
But the effects go deeper than physical.
Chronic stress impacts how we show up in the world — how we parent, how we partner, how we treat ourselves.
Chronic stress impacts how we show up in the world — how we parent, how we partner, how we treat ourselves.
It makes our world feel heavier.
It dims our light.
It dims our light.
🧘🏼♀️ Why Self-Care Isn’t Optional
We say things like, “I don’t have time for myself.”
But what we really mean is: “I’ve gotten used to ignoring my own needs.”
But what we really mean is: “I’ve gotten used to ignoring my own needs.”
That’s not selfish — it’s survival mode.
And here’s what I want to lovingly remind you:
✨ You can’t pour from an empty cup.
✨ If you don’t take care of you, no one else can do it for you.
✨ If you don’t take care of you, no one else can do it for you.
Self-care isn’t bubble baths or spa days (though those are great too).
It’s nervous system regulation. It’s insulin support. It’s coming back home to yourself.
It’s nervous system regulation. It’s insulin support. It’s coming back home to yourself.
💡 What Helps Me Reset Stress (Simple, Not Overwhelming)
Here are a few gentle tools that help bring me back when stress takes the wheel:
✅ 5-minute walk outside (no phone, just breath)
✅ Grounding meals — protein + fiber + fat, nothing fancy
✅ Magnesium before bed — especially for sleep + muscle tension
✅ Journaling for 5 minutes: “What do I need right now?” or even a simple "brain dump."
✅ Saying no — without overexplaining
✅ Fasting windows — to give my body a break from the sugar rollercoaster, this helps stabilize my mood.
✅ A moment of stillness — eyes closed, hand on heart, deep breath in and out
✅ Grounding meals — protein + fiber + fat, nothing fancy
✅ Magnesium before bed — especially for sleep + muscle tension
✅ Journaling for 5 minutes: “What do I need right now?” or even a simple "brain dump."
✅ Saying no — without overexplaining
✅ Fasting windows — to give my body a break from the sugar rollercoaster, this helps stabilize my mood.
✅ A moment of stillness — eyes closed, hand on heart, deep breath in and out
You don’t have to fix everything in one day.
Just start by checking in with yourself.
Just start by checking in with yourself.
Stress will always exist — but it doesn’t have to own you.
You are allowed to slow down.
You are allowed to rest.
And you are worthy of care — not just after you’ve earned it, but because you exist.
You are allowed to slow down.
You are allowed to rest.
And you are worthy of care — not just after you’ve earned it, but because you exist.
📩 Want to learn how I used these simple practices (along with fasting + natural support) to balance blood sugar, lose 30 lbs, and feel better than I have in years?
Just message me — I’m happy to share.
You’re not alone in this.
Rachel xoxo
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