You’re trying to do all the right things. You’re exercising, watching what you eat, using the sauna…and sometimes a cold plunge. You may have even tried fasting because you heard it helped your friend shed a few pounds and feel great.

But you still feel “off,” tired, and sometimes bloated. What gives?!

Stress Isn’t Just Mental

Most people think of stress as mental or emotional—work pressure, hard life events, or the stress of parenting. But the body experiences stress from many different inputs in a similar way.

For example, the following can also act as stressors on the body:

• Lack of sleep
• Blood sugar swings
• Overtraining
• Under-eating
• Coffee on an empty stomach
• Constant stimulation (from screens or busy schedules)

The body doesn’t separate these into neat categories—it simply adds them to the total load, or what I like to call your “stress bucket.”

The Stress Bucket

Think of your body as having a bucket that holds stress, and each stressor as a glass of water filling it. When that bucket gets too full, it overflows.

That overflow is when symptoms start to show up.

Some common “overflow signals” might look like:

• Fatigue
• Cravings
• Bloating
• Disrupted sleep
• Feeling wired but tired
• Hormone imbalances

It’s rarely just one thing that pushes us into symptoms—it’s the accumulation of stress over time.

But Its Healthy…

Believe it or not, even healthy habits can add to your stress bucket.

If you’re already pushing hard at work, caring for others, or not getting enough quality sleep, it may not be the best time to go all-in at the gym, try fasting, or add in cold plunging.

Even these “healthy” habits—when layered on top of an already full bucket—can contribute to overload.

So What Can I Do?

Keep it simple. Start with the foundations, and then look for ways to gently “drain” your bucket (aka release stress).

• Eat whole foods with adequate protein
• Prioritize sleep and recovery
• Support digestion—slow down, chew thoroughly, sit while eating
• Bring in a mindfulness practice (meditation, yoga, breathwork)
• Look for ways to reduce your overall load
  • Maybe a gentler workout
  • A short sauna session or hot bath

It’s not about doing more—it’s about doing the right things consistently.

Notice what’s filling your bucket and see if you can find ways to keep it from overflowing.

What’s one simple thing in your daily routine that might be adding more stress right now? And how could you shift that through support, habit changes, or mindset?

---

P.S. If you’re feeling unsure where to start, I offer free discovery calls. It’s simply a conversation to help you decide what support might make sense for you.

---

This is not medical advice and not intended to treat or cure any disease or affliction. Please consult your medical professional before utilizing the techniques and tools listed above.

---