When the Pursuit of Health Becomes Unhealthy
We can't 'optimize' our way our of being human, but there will always be someone selling us a way to do it. Plus, road trip snacks -- we're on a little vacation!
Jeb and I are taking a little trip this week, just to get away—from the screens, from our routines, from the constant background hum of endless things to get done. We actually decided last minute to cancel our flights and make a road trip of it (send us your thoughts and prayers, I’m sure we’ll find plenty of useless things to argue about on the drive). Actually, by the time this hits your inbox (I’m scheduling it before we leave), it will be too late for thoughts and prayers. The dogs aren’t coming, so it will just be us, maybe some audio books, and all the road trip snacks (an absolute MUST).
Some of my favorites:
Doritos (Cool Ranch flavor for me)
Sour candy (I am open to all kinds, as long as it’s very sour)
A really good bagel-egg-and-cheese sandwich (will stop somewhere for this)
Trail mix (with M&Ms, love the sweet and salty)
Apples (but must be cut up in slices like I am 5 years old)
Cookies (I packed us the maple leaf ones from Trader Joe’s)
Granola / granola bars
Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches
Ginger ale / other bubbly drinks
Gatorade
Coffee!!!
What are your favorites? I’d love to hear!
I guess this is relevant because it’s my gentle reminder that we don’t need to be mentally tallying protein ratios or researching the ‘anti-inflammatory’ properties of gas station coffee. We’re allowed to eat what sounds good, slow down, and let that be enough. Which feels like a fitting preface to today’s essay.
I’m sharing a reader favorite post from last February, where I talked about the many ways the pursuit of health can become unhealthy.
It’s a bonus essay, so the full piece is available to paid subscribers.
It feels especially important to share, given how inundated we’ve been with nutrition and wellness advice that feels more like fear-mongering than it does evidence-based, inclusive, and supportive information. Plus, the influencers would definitely give my road trip snacks a side eye, and I’m not here for that.
So, let’s get into it.
See you when I’m back from this getaway!
When the Pursuit of Health Becomes Unhealthy
We’re told that prioritizing health is always a good thing. That tracking, measuring, optimizing, and constantly striving to improve is the path to a longer, happier life. In a culture that glorifies wellness and praises “clean eating” and “biohacking,” it’s easy to assume that the more we focus on health, the healthier we’ll become.
What we often can’t see is how easily this pursuit crosses a line—how rigid food rules, excessive exercise, and constant self-monitoring can quietly erode our mental, emotional, and even physical well-being.