Why One-Size-Fits-All Diets Don’t Work and How to Find Your Own Path

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Do you feel confused by all the diet advice out there? Without question, the nutrition and wellness world is full of conflicting messages. Go vegan. Try keto. Avoid carbs, no wait — embrace carbs.

It’s a lot to take in, right?

As a holistic health coach, I touch on this subject a lot. The problem with most diet advice (even when well-intended) is the one-size-fits-all approach. We have general guidelines from science, but our optimal diet is more individual and personal.

We’re told to follow rules that work great for some, but not all. And it doesn’t take into consideration our beliefs or cultural backgrounds either.

We all have different optimal diets and approaches. Some of us thrive on a completely plant-based diet while others feel better with a bit of meat. It goes beyond food though. Our perception, heritage, and how we live our lives play a role too.

It’s all connected.

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to follow a certain diet, workout, or practice that doesn’t even resonate with you, I have an alternate suggestion. What if, instead, we listened to our bodies and honored what feels right?

Your Wellness Signature

Our handwritten signature is just as unique as our wellness signature. It’s a personalized approach to our health and well-being. It’s an individualized blueprint — not a trend or how so-and-so is doing it.

It’s your blueprint for what makes you balanced, healthy, and happy.

A wellness signature means letting go of what isn’t working for us, and holding on tightly to what does. When we listen to our bodies, we understand what they need. When we know what they need, we can make choices that align with what’s best for us — not what we feel we should be doing.

Think of your wellness signature as your favorite playlist of habits, nutrition, movement, and mindset.

Why it Matters

We could eat a diet packed with green smoothies, kale, chia seeds, and all the latest superfoods. Yet, if we’re constantly stressed or feeling like we’re not doing good enough, that’s hardly thriving, is it? Our wellness signature is more than our food choices. How we feel mentally, emotionally, and spiritually matters too.

Our choices are personal, and our signature should be too.

Creating Your Wellness Signature

• Step 1: Listen to Your Body

Start tracking how you feel after eating certain foods or when doing different activities (I suggest a food journal for 30 days). Write down foods, activities, or routines that consistently make you feel your best — energized, calm, and satisfied. Track what makes you feel drained, tired, or uncomfortable. Our bodies let us know what works best for us, we just need to listen.

• Step 2: Plan Your Ideal Day

Sketch out your perfect day. What does it look like? When do you feel most focused, relaxed, and happy? Which schedule or routine brings you peace and which ones cause you stress? Find out what makes your day feel aligned with who you are.

• Step 3: Your Non-Negotiables

List three practices you can’t live without. Maybe it’s a morning walk, time for a creative hobby, or your favorite meal (that makes you feel good). Only you know what brings you calm, energy, and joy. These are the anchors of your wellness signature, the practices that ground you.

Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

It’s incredibly easy to fall into the comparison trap when we see someone else’s diet, fitness, or wellness routine online. But it’s not a one-size-fits-all. Your wellness signature will look different from mine, and that’s perfectly okay.

We should never feel pressured to ignore our bodies' signals or dismiss what feels right to us, just because it doesn’t fit into the latest trends. Our wellness is about feeling good — not just looking good.

Finding What Works for You

For years, I went back and forth between diets I thought were a quick fix. But they only left me feeling like I lacked any willpower whatsoever.

I finally found a sustainable rhythm once I started listening to my body and tracking what did and didn’t work with my food journal.

Today, my wellness signature includes mostly plant-based foods (though it’s not perfect). Daily walks to clear my mind and moments of stillness that keep me grounded. I balance this with more intense movements like swimming and interval running. It’s a balance that makes me feel good physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

The great thing about our wellness signature is it’s not static. Depending on what we have going, we may need or want to change it. We can always switch things up to work for us rather than against us.

What do you think your wellness signature looks like? It’s not about strict rules or restrictions — it’s about finding what feels like home to you.

Your Wellness, Your Way

How do you create your unique wellness signature? Start by trusting yourself. Permit yourself to explore, try new things, and simply let go of what’s not working.

Ask yourself: What does my version of an ideal day look like? What makes me feel alive? Start there, and let your wellness signature unfold.

These steps are a great starting point for creating your personalized blueprint. You can always go deeper to build new habits and a routine that aligns with what makes you feel your best.

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

I’d love to hear from you — what does your wellness signature look like? Share in the comments!