In this body recomposition diary, I’m getting really honest about calorie counting—especially if you think it’s extreme or unnecessary. I walk you through how I’m using it as a data tool, not a morality play, so I can actually learn what a calorie deficit looks like in my real life. I’m five years and about 40 pounds into my weight loss journey, and it’s kind of wild that I’m only now fully using my graduate training to inform my wellness choices. The big takeaway: the numbers aren’t the point—the feedback loop is. This vlog is also a “new beginnings” reset because I’m one week into a new apartment and rebuilding my routines. I talk about habit tracking (including my daily health tracker in Notion), keeping small promises to myself, and why I’m treating confidence like a skill I can practice—not a personality trait I either have or don’t. I also weave in reflections like “the personal is political,” because the way we talk about bodies, discipline, and control doesn’t happen in a vacuum. If you’re a high-achieving woman who wants sustainable, intentional wellness, this is me showing you what it looks like in the messy middle.