Why does being healthy feel so hard, when we have more health information than ever?
On this episode of Seen, I sit down with nutritionist Sarah Ann Macklin, author of the bestselling book Healthy Shouldn't Be This Hard. I devoured her book, and I loved this conversation. Sarah has worked in wellbeing for over a decade. She says we don't have an information problem. We've lost ourselves in the middle of the health conversation. So we talk about the part most of us skip: the way we speak to ourselves.
We get into how constant self-criticism keeps your body in stress mode. We talk about why sleep tracking can turn into an obsession, and why self-compassion can boost your motivation instead of making you lazy. Sarah also opens up about her two burnouts, and why reaching a big goal can still leave you feeling empty.
We also talk about the new GLP-1 weight loss pill. Sarah shares why she's worried about people taking it when it isn't meant for them, including the effects on muscle and bone health. This topic is very close to my heart.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why being hard on yourself can make healthy habits harder to stick to
- What self-compassion really is, and why it isn't letting yourself off the hook
- How to be your own parent, from your morning routine to your phone
- How a one-day thought journal can show you what your inner critic is saying
I hope this one helps you be a little kinder to yourself.
Chapters:
Why Is Being Healthy So Hard? (00:00)
Why Drastic Health Changes Often Fail (05:17)
Orthosomnia: When Sleep Tracking Becomes an Obsession (06:35)
Are You Living in a Dysregulated Nervous System? (09:37)
What Is Self-Compassion? And Why It Makes Us Cringe (14:46)
How to Talk to Yourself Like a Good Friend (18:37)
Does Self-Compassion Make You Lazy? (24:12)
Be Your Own Parent: Simple Daily Habits (28:51)
The Arrival Fallacy: Why Success Can Feel Empty (31:49)
Burnout: What Happens When You Ignore Your Body (36:43)
How to Use a Thought Journal (38:36)
Loneliness, Relationships and Longevity (41:27)
GLP-1 Weight Loss Pills: Muscle and Bone Health Concerns (42:47)
Why Nobody Has It All Figured Out (52:24)
Dyslexia, Self-Belief and Feeling Truly Seen (56:35)
This episode is for education only and isn't medical advice. Please speak to your GP before starting any medication.
