Alix Barth Nutrition

I’ve wanted to share this for a while, but life seemed to change rapidly at the end of 2024 and it’s taken me a bit to catch my breath…

Over the past couple of years, my work, and my life, have been evolving significantly. While I continue to hold a small number of nutrition clients by referral, my primary focus is now graduate training in counseling at Southern Methodist University. I could not be more proud of or grounded in this decision to “go back to school at 40”. It has been challenging and already incredibly rewarding. I highly recommend it 💯

This shift feels like a natural extension of the work I’ve always cared about: healing, relationships, and the ways we make meaning of our experiences - especially in our bodies and in connection with others. I will walk away from graduate school with the ability to help people on a deeper level 💗

Thank you to those who have trusted me over the years (and continue to do so) and for your support in this next chapter. I’m so grateful, and excited for what’s unfolding 💕

Today is one year without you… I wish there were a way to honor you that could match the impact you’ve had (and continue to have) on my life 🫶🏼

It still baffles me that such a tee-tiny, feisty little thing could be the best example of how to love so big and so unconditionally 💗

This man 🫶🏼

We did a thing last Saturday… meet Bruce ❤️

You’ll feel like a new human by the end of the day! 💪🏼

Been there. Done it. And missed out on SO. MANY. THINGS.

Here’s how it went:

I’d have fun plans - dinner out, vacation, a date - etc.

I’d get on the scale before and without fail - if it was the same (aka I hadn’t lost anything, bc EVERYTHING back then was about losing weight - whether I needed to or not) or if it was up (no matter by how much) - my mood immediately went down the toilet and everyone around me ended up dealing with it. Plans ruined. Literally.

I’ve had to apologize to dates, friends, family - for how I showed up and acted bc the scale didn’t “give me permission” to feel happy and show up my authentic self.

I gave the scale ALL of my power. Every ounce of it.

I know so many of you can relate.

I’ve yet to meet someone (and I’ve talked to A LOT of people about this) who has given the scale this much power AND been able to keep it in their life in order to heal.

Treating the scale like a drug and avoiding it at all costs has created mood stability, healthier relationships and a lot of freedom.

Have I gained weight? (I know this is the fear in not weighing.) No clue.
Do my clothes fit better than they did when I was weighing all the time? Yes. Absolutely. (Bc I listen to my body now vs trying to control it per what the scale tells me.)
Am I more fun to be around? I think so - I’m definitely less irritable and controlling.

I know so much is wrapped up in the scale - it’s more nuanced than just quitting.

But, I hope this encourages you to think differently about it. If it’s causing you to walk outside of your integrity and values - isn’t it worth re-thinking the place it has in your life?!

❤️

Do you dislike the person you become when you’re in the throes of a tough body image day?

I can’t tell you how many times I walked out of my own integrity just to make the eating disorder happy.

I said “no” to time with friends for fear that I would not be in control of the food present.

I would skip out on social events because I was too busy punishing myself and “working off” the calories I’d eaten.

Before dates, I would be sure I didn’t eat all day so that I could “feel small” and therefore confident.

I could go on and on with examples of choices I made that went directly against honoring my body, my worth and my values. Looking back, I didn’t like who I was.

Healing in this space most certainly involves food, but it STARTS by making the conscious choice to walk in your values, your worth and your integrity.

Integrity isn’t just how we treat others - it’s also (and starts with) how we treat ourselves.

What IS “diet culture”? …restriction to a point that you FEAR processed foods.

There is a difference between intentionally nourishing your body with nutrient dense foods so you feel your best, knowing that sometimes French fries or cake or *fill in the blank* make it to your plate and you enjoy the heck out of them, but they’re not your norm because you know that you don’t feel as good when they are…

Versus restricting French fries, etc because somewhere someone told you that if you eat French fries you won’t lose weight and if you don’t lose weight you fail or you’re unacceptable or you have no self control or *fill in the blank* with whatever false narrative you’ve been told that tells you food is all about weight loss. 🫠

Here’s why ⬇️⬇️⬇️

When oil gets too hot - it becomes toxic, aka inflammatory.

The smoke point for olive oil is approx. 200 F.

The typical heat produced when sautéing (medium to medium high heat) is around 320+ F. When baking, 350 F. When roasting, around 400+ F.

That is 120 - 200 degrees above the smoke point of olive oil. Which means every time you cook with it at these temps, you’re doing more harm than good for your body.

My go-to when sautéing or grilling is:
✅clarified butter (ghee) or
✅grass fed beef tallow - both have a smoke point of approx. 485 F

My go-to when roasting is:
✅avocado oil, with a smoke point of approx. 400 F.

This small change in your cooking habits can make a BIG difference in your body’s level of inflammation over time. The more you manage inflammation:

➡️you can maintain a healthier weight, sustainably
➡️hormones will be more balanced
➡️less brain fog (bc the brain can detox more efficiently)
➡️better recovery from workouts and/or long days on your feet
➡️sleep will improve (and you’ll wake up feeling more rested)

Make the shift.

These are all examples of things I used to say to myself.

Until I learned that criticism was never the motivator I thought it would be - I stayed stuck.

When I learned how to lean into myself - get CURIOUS about my actions and beliefs - THAT is when I actually started to get un-stuck and truly heal my relationship with food and my body.

HINT: It would work this way for you too 😘

We all do it. Here’s how to make your “should’s” work FOR you 👇🏼

It’s okay to wish you’d shown up different – reflecting on that is how we grow.

But when we live in the “should’s” –

➡️I shouldn’t have eaten that.
➡️I should workout more.
➡️I shouldn’t have skipped my workout.
➡️I should’ve had more self control at dinner last night.
➡️I should eat “cleaner”.
➡️I should’ve worked out harder.

Using these as one-time opportunities to reflect and decide how we want to show up differently can serve us in huge ways!

But most don’t “should” once, reflect on it and make sustainable change.

Rather, most just stay in the “should’s” - perpetuating the negative self talk loop.

⭐️INSTEAD turn the “should’s” into active narratives – ex:
✅“I should workout more…” ➡️➡️ “I will workout 3 days this week.” (and then schedule it in your calendar!)
✅“I shouldn’t have eaten that…” ➡️➡️ “I’m going to eat more mindfully.” (and then make sure you’re showing up to meals ABLE to do too - aka not starving)
✅”I should eat ‘cleaner’” ➡️➡️ “I’m going to eat foods that I know make me feel good.” (and then do this majority of the time, allowing yourself to occasionally have foods for the pure fact that they just sound good to you.)

Give it a shot! You’ll actually get what you want and create self trust vs staying in the self-loathing. 💙