Episode 64: Orthorexia, Food Obsession & the 10 Lifestyle Principles That Create Real Health with Laura Heflin

Many women have already figured out that dieting doesn't work.

Yet even after leaving diets behind, many of us still carry the mindset of diet culture: obsessing over food choices, labeling foods as "good" or "bad," constantly second-guessing our bodies, and chasing the next wellness trend in hopes that it will finally be the answer.

In this week's episode, Michelle sits down with nutritionist, author, and podcast host Laura Heflin to discuss a topic that doesn't get talked about nearly enough: orthorexia—the unhealthy obsession with eating "perfectly" healthy.

Laura shares her deeply personal story of falling into a cycle of over-exercising, under-eating, losing her menstrual cycle, and becoming consumed by the pursuit of health. What began as a desire to feel better slowly turned into a toxic relationship with food, exercise, and body image.

Together, Michelle and Laura explore why so many women remain trapped in diet culture thinking even when they no longer follow formal diets, how social media fuels food confusion, and why learning to trust your body may be one of the most important wellness skills of all.

Laura also shares the 10 Lifestyle Principles that helped her heal her relationship with food and now serve as the foundation of her work helping women create sustainable, realistic wellness habits.

In This Episode You'll Learn:

What orthorexia is and why it often goes unrecognized

The difference between pursuing health and becoming obsessed with health

Signs that healthy habits may be crossing into unhealthy territory

Why diet culture continues to influence women long after they stop dieting

How social media contributes to confusion around food and wellness