You Look Great! What Did You Do?
You know that moment someone says, "Wow, you look great! What did you do?" and you smile politely but inside you're thinking:
Thank you… wait, what did I do? Did I look terrible before?
We’ve all been there. Compliments are meant to feel good, but sometimes they come wrapped in a little psychological gift bag of confusion. Like when someone says, “Your hair looks amazing! Did you just get it cut?” And you’re like, “Cool cool cool… so before this, I looked like a feral raccoon?”
But I get it. We mean well. And yes, I do love when someone says I look good—especially now, because I’m actually working on feeling good too. Not just in my body, but in my whole dang life.
So what have I done?
Every day, I start my morning by stepping on the scale. Now, weighing yourself daily may not work for everyone, but it works for me. It motivates me—on the days the number goes down, I feel proud and energized. On the days it doesn't, I feel challenged to try a little harder. Either way, it's not about the number itself. It's about staying aware, staying accountable, and reminding myself that I’m still in it.
But the short version? I stopped trying to be someone else’s version of healthy and started getting real about what works for me.
These days, I don’t rely on just an app or a gadget (though don’t get me wrong—I love a good visual tracker). I rely on what feels sustainable, flexible, and most of all, human.
I walk. Sometimes on my walking pad. Sometimes outside. Sometimes it’s dancing in the kitchen with Sloan.
I plan my meals on Wednesdays, do Food-Shop-Fridays, and Meal-Prep-Mondays.
I track what I eat—not to obsess over every calorie but to stay intentional. (Most days.)
I still celebrate progress with a little visual system. I have a paper weight tracker hanging in my bathroom that I write on every day.
I let myself live. I eat dessert. I order fries. I move on.
Because this journey is no longer about punishing my past self. It’s about supporting my future one.
Here’s the real shift:
I stopped calling it a diet. I stopped labeling things as "bad" or "cheats." I stopped thinking I had to be perfect to be proud.
Now? I make choices. I own them. I adjust when I need to.
Some weeks I lose 2 pounds. Some weeks I gain 1. Some weeks, I maintain and celebrate the fact that I made it through without giving up.
My system? It’s not about apps or gadgets.
It’s about:
Planning ahead so I don’t spiral into a pizza delivery panic.
Making choices I can feel good about (and forgiving the ones I don’t).
Tracking when I can, without shame when I can’t.
Living my real life—the messy, delicious, imperfect one.
So if you see me out and want to say, "Wow, you look great! What did you do?" just know the answer might be:
I danced in the kitchen. I ate the cookie. I tracked the cookie. I loved the cookie.
And I got up the next day and did it all again—because I deserve to feel good. And so do you.
xo,
Kerri
P.S. Want a little extra accountability and a whole lot of fun?
Join me for my Spring Into Action Bingo challenge! It’s a playful, goal-setting game built around the 12 primary foods from IIN—things like joy, creativity, relationships, and yes, actual food too.
We set goals, we check in weekly, we cheer each other on—and when you complete your board, you get a ta-da moment and a cozy reward.
No pressure. Just progress. Come play with us!
