Health Is More Than What’s on Your Plate

Hi, Hot flex collective

I have a question

Do you agree that people are taught that “healthy” means drinking green smoothies, doing workouts from an app, and hitting 10K steps?

But let me be honest with you…

That’s surface-level health
What you need is deep health

Deep health doesn’t just ask what you’re eating or how often you’re training

It asks:

→ How are you sleeping?
→ Are you constantly stressed?
→ Do you feel supported or are you doing life alone?
→ Can your body come down from “go-go-go” mode?

This week, we’re diving into one of the most overlooked keys to health: STRESS

Stress Is Silently Sabotaging Your Health

Let’s hit you with some real talk

• 77% of people say stress affects their physical health

• Chronic stress is tied to 6 of the leading causes of death, including heart disease, diabetes, and cancer

• And women? Are twice as likely to experience anxiety-related symptoms

The worst part?

We’re not just stressed; we’re stuck in it

That’s because we don’t know how to complete the stress cycle

What’s the Stress Cycle… and Why Should You Care?

Your body’s stress response is built for survival

When it perceives a threat (whether it's a real emergency or just your boss being passive-aggressive in a meeting), it releases a surge of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline

In nature, we’d run, escape, shake it off, and the cycle would complete

But in modern life?
We just sit with it
We never signal to the body that the danger is over

Result?
Your nervous system stays stuck in “fight-or-flight.”
You feel wired, tired, inflamed, bloated, anxious, and eventually burned out

So, here’s the million-dollar question:

 How do we actually complete the stress cycle?

5 Proven Ways to Close the Stress Loop

These are evidence-based strategies I teach in my workshops (and personally use every week):

1. Move Your Body
   Walking, dancing, lifting weights, 10–20 minutes is enough. Movement metabolizes stress and physically resets the nervous system

2. Deep Breathing
   Try the 4-7-8 breath or inhale for 5, exhale for 7. Deep belly breathing activates your parasympathetic system (aka rest + digest mode)

3. Laugh
   Yes, real laughter completes the stress cycle. Watch a stand-up clip. Call your funniest friend. Laugh until your shoulders drop

4. Cry
   Your body knows what it’s doing. Emotional tears release stress hormones. You’ll literally feel lighter afterward

5. Connect
   A 20-second hug. A moment of safe affection. Petting your dog. This helps signal to your brain that you’re safe and supported

Trying these tips but still feel like your brain’s stuck in survival mode?

You may need a more personal plan:

And here’s something special for you

The Ultimate Stress-Busting Bowl

Salmon Glow Bowl with Sweet Potato, Greens & Tahini Drizzle

This isn’t just food, it’s nervous system therapy on a plate

Here’s how you can prepare this:

Ingredients:

• 4–6 oz wild salmon (rich in calming omega-3s)

• ½ cup roasted sweet potatoes (complex carbs to boost serotonin)

• 1 cup steamed kale or spinach (magnesium magic)

• 2 tbsp sauerkraut (gut-brain axis support)

• 1 tbsp tahini

• Squeeze of lemon

• Sprinkle of hemp or pumpkin seeds

Tahini Drizzle:
Mix 1 tbsp tahini, 1 tsp lemon, ½ tsp maple syrup, and warm water until smooth.

This bowl feels like a weighted blanket for your brain

🎤 Want to Go Deeper? My Workshop Is Where the Magic Happens

If this spoke to you, I walk you through all of this, and more, in my Burnout Recovery Workshop.

You’ll learn:

• How to spot burnout before it crashes you

• The science behind stress + hormones

• Simple, effective ways to regulate your body and boost your energy

• And how to build a nervous system that thrives in high-pressure seasons

💬 My question for you is...
Do you know a company that would benefit from this workshop?
If yes, I would appreciate the referral

Quick LinkedIn Update

I’ve tried reaching out to them
Raised an appeal
Dropped a text on Instagram, as someone suggested, no response

Here’s to deep health,
The kind that doesn’t just look good, but actually feels good, too.
Let’s change the game.

xo,