In this episode, Pivot dietitians Danielle and Sarah share what happened when they tracked their food for over a week for the first time since becoming moms. From random bites while cooking to finishing toddler leftovers, they quickly realized those little things add up, especially when your focus is elsewhere.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why awareness is the first step to change

• The difference between what people think they eat and what they actually eat

• How tracking improved Dani's relationship with food

• Why tracking doesn't have to lead to restriction or obsession

• Practical tips for tracking more accurately as a busy parent

If you've ever felt frustrated because you're putting in effort but not seeing results, this episode is for you. Our hope is that you'll walk away realizing that awareness isn't about judgment, it's about gathering information. When you understand your habits, you can stop guessing, stop starting over every Monday, and start making decisions based on facts instead of assumptions. Sometimes the most powerful changes come from simply paying attention.

Sarah is a mom of two boys and former physique competitor who spent years trapped in all-or-nothing dieting, restrictive meal plans, binge/restrict cycles, and believing she always needed to push harder to be successful.

After losing 33 pounds through sustainable nutrition coaching, improving her relationship with food, and building a workout routine she genuinely enjoys, Sarah was preparing for another fat loss phase… until she realized something surprising:

She didn’t actually WANT to be dieting anymore.

Together, Danielle and Sarah talk about:

• how bodybuilding impacted Sarah’s mindset around food and exercise
• the emotional toll of restrictive dieting
• binge eating, food obsession, and starting over every Monday
• why sustainable weight loss feels different
• learning to enjoy movement again
• tracking breaks, flexibility, and food freedom
• why maintenance is NOT failure
• and the powerful realization that health should make your life bigger, not smaller

If you’ve ever felt exhausted by constantly trying to shrink yourself, this episode is for you.

Mentioned in this episode:
E82 - How Jess lost over 50 lbs without feeling restricted: https://podcast.pivotnutritioncoaching.com/82

Host:
Danielle Rancourt, MS, RD, CSSD, LD
Founder, CEO & Lead Dietitian, Pivot Nutrition Coaching

Connect with Dani:
https://www.instagram.com/dani_the_rd/

https://pivotnutritioncoaching.com/

Brooklyn is a middle school athlete, and her story is one I know so many families are going to relate to.

One year ago, Kristen was working out listening to a podcast I was a guest on… and something just clicked. As she listened, she thought, “This is exactly what Brooklyn is going through… and maybe this is what she needs.”

At the time, Brooklyn was severely restricting. She was only eating “healthy” foods, counting calories, losing weight… and had lost her period.

As a mom, Kristen knew something was wrong, but didn’t know what to do.

In this episode, Kristen and Brooklyn share their full story — from how it started, to the early warning signs, to the turning points that changed everything.

We talk about:
• How “clean eating” can quietly turn into under-fueling
• The pressure from social media and body image
• What it actually feels like to have constant food noise
• The fear of eating more and gaining weight
• The moment Brooklyn got her period back (we all cried)
• And what life looks like now — eating pizza, going out with friends, and feeling free around food again

This episode is for moms, athletes, and anyone who feels stuck in food rules or chasing the “perfect” body.

Because what looks healthy on the outside… isn’t always what’s going on inside.

And the goal isn’t just to eat more — it’s to feel free around food again.

When she came to me, Jess was lifting 5–6 days a week, tracking her macros, and still couldn’t lose weight. She felt stuck in an all-or-nothing cycle...drop a few pounds, gain it right back, and repeat. She avoided photos, felt disconnected from her body, and was tired of starting over every Monday.

Together, we flipped the script. Instead of more restriction, we built a mindset-first, habit-based approach that worked with her real life (and yes, included her favorite foods). Within weeks, she felt more in control around food and free from guilt.

Fast forward 9 months—Jess has lost over 50 pounds, eats with her family without stress, and feels confident again. She’s taking photos she used to avoid and is proud of the example she’s setting for her daughter. Most importantly, she no longer wonders what to do. She knows how to fuel herself for life.

Tune in to hear how shifting her mindset transformed everything and how it can for you too.

Connect with us:
→ Learn more about our coaching programs at the website pivotnutritioncoaching.com
→ Leave a review and share this episode

Host: Danielle Rancourt, MS, RD, CSSD, LD
Owner & Lead Dietitian of Pivot Nutrition Coaching

Connect with Dani on Instagram or by visiting her website at pivotnutritioncoaching.com