Recently, I wrote an article about how what you eat has everything to do with how well you perform at work.

Many loved the article and appreciated the tips, while others thought I was the anti-christ for recommending animal products for brain health.

I remember when I first began my own healing journey. I was not yet a practitioner, and had no idea what I was doing, but forged ahead anyway. Unfortunately, this made things worse to the point where I didn’t want to live anymore.

Not exactly a great place to be.

So, today I want to share three big mistakes I made that I help my clients avoid, that will prevent you from having the body and life you desire. If you really want to shine this year, read on.

• You self-diagnose. I get it. You either a) don’t want to spend the money, b) have seen a plethora of practitioners, or c) get wrapped up in the advice of every health blog out there so you take matters into your own hands. The problem with this is that you usually end up with even more nutrient overloads and deficiencies. Please don’t repeat my mistakes that led to serious malnutrition in the form of brain fog, chronic fatigue, lack of menstruation, insomnia, depression, and anxiety. In other words, do your research to find a qualified practitioner.

•  You don’t feed your brain first. I made this mistake for years because I thought I had to be a size 2 to be worthy of love, and that if I wasn’t perfect, I would never have the life I truly wanted. What happens with this approach is that you actually bring in the opposite of what you want because you end up hiding from the world. If you think about it, without a healthy brain you can’t do the things your body needs to be healthy like go to the gym and prepare nourishing food. It wasn’t until I finally started eating for my biochemistry that my depression lifted and my body began to be healthy and strong.

•  You think because it worked when you were younger, it should work for you now. I think we’ve all fallen into this trap. Keep in mind that as you mature so too does your body, which makes your nutrient requirements change as well. Perhaps you require more fat and less protein, or maybe a simple tweak such as the addition of vegetable carbohydrates vs. grain-based options will do the trick. As always, keep an open mind and listen to your body.

What’s your health journey been like? I’d love to know about your experience in the comments below. It is through sharing your story that we create community, eliminate guilt and shame, and bring about healing. If you feel like you may be suffering from undermethylation, overmethylation, pyrrole disorder or even OCD, then let’s chat.