There was a December a few years ago when everything felt hard. Not the dramatic, completely fall-apart hard, but the “when it rains, it pours” hard.
The kind that sneaks into your routines, settles into your mood, and slowly stifles your confidence.
It was the hard that made me put myself last without even realizing I was doing it.
I was standing in my kitchen after a long day, staring at a sink full of dishes, feeling this heaviness I couldn’t put into words.
I wasn’t angry or sad (maybe a little exhausted), but it felt more like a disconnection from myself and from the woman I thought I would be by then.
And in that quiet, tired moment, the familiar thought crept back in:
“I’ll start next year.”
It was the same line I had fed myself for years. 
January felt like a reset button, like a fresh version of me would magically appear once the calendar changed. The “disciplined” me. The “motivated” me. The “I-can-do-this” me.
But truly, I was waiting for a version of myself that only existed in my imagination.
I was waiting for the woman who had more time in the day, more sleep, more willpower, more… everything.
And waiting for her became my comfort zone and a safe place to stay.
Because as long as I believed she was coming in January, I didn’t have to face the disappointment of trying and feeling like I was falling short. I didn’t have to deal with starting, stopping, and starting again.
I didn’t have to sit with the fear that maybe I wouldn’t follow through.
So I kept postponing the life I wanted for “future me.”
But eventually I had to face the truth:
January would never actually save me.
I’d get there, feel a burst of motivation, do “everything right” for a week or two… and then life would get loud again.
Something would throw off the immaculate routine I had created, and suddenly I was right back where I started.
Feeling frustrated, discouraged, and telling myself it just wasn’t my time.
But the problem wasn’t my life or timing, the holidays or the chaos.
The problem was the story I kept telling myself — that taking care of me only counted when everything else was calm and quiet (and more convenient).
But that’s not real life.
We’re messy, and we’re always busy. Real life rarely gives you time to settle down before the next hurdle of commitments and obligations are thrown your way.
The women who see results in their wellness and mindset goals aren’t working with perfect circumstances. They’re being honest with what they have and making space for something better.
They’re steadily choosing themselves in the midst of a cluttered calendar and an endless schedule.
Choosing that mindset shift changed my perception of my life and the goals I set for myself.
I took ownership of the things I wanted and accepted that reality would never hand them over to me on a silver platter.
The moment I stopped waiting for the “right time” and started choosing this time — this imperfect and unglamorous moment — I finally became the woman I was meant to be.
I showed up even when it wasn’t easy.
I chose not to abandon myself when life got full.
I accepted that consistency won’t be built in January…
…it will be built in the middle of the most chaotic months, like December, through trial and error.
And if you’re reading this thinking, “Dang Jess, this is me right now.”
Just know, it means you’re human.
You have not failed.
It means you’re standing in the exact moment where everything can shift.
Just like it did for me all of those years ago in front of my kitchen counter.
If You’re Ready to Take One Gentle Step Forward
If you’re reading this and feeling that same tug I once felt — that quiet “I want to do this differently” — just know you don’t need a perfect plan or a new year to begin.
Only one small step with a new start — The Freedom Formula
It’s a simple, no-diet framework that teaches you how to eat in a way that fits your real life — the busy days, the loud days, and the “nothing is going according to plan” days.
Inside the five short modules, I walk you through how to create your plan, how much to eat, how to include treats without guilt, and how to stay consistent without relying on motivation (because we know how much that can fluctuate).
We’re focusing on a clear, doable path forward — even in the messy middle.
If you’re craving that kind of support, you can learn more here:








Let’s be honest: losing weight isn’t just about eating less and moving more.
3. You don’t have a plan you trust.
On your own, you’re likely only tracking the scale. And when it doesn’t move fast enough, you quit.
Let’s be real—fall is COMING.
1️⃣ Make walking your baseline.

If you’re looking for:

1️⃣ Create a simple morning rhythm.
6️⃣ Set movement goals for the whole fam.


If you’re a busy mom trying to lose weight, keep your family fed, and not lose your mind by 5:00 PM… let me introduce you to your new favorite dinner hack:
1. Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps
9. Chicken and Veggie Stir Fry

2. Prioritize Protein
Here are a few of my go-to orders:
1. Food: Fuel Yourself On Purpose
3. Rest: Protect Your Peace