Why “summer body” advice fails

Let’s be honest: most “summer body” advice is just diet culture in a bikini. Eat less. Push harder. Punish yourself until June. And then you wonder why you are exhausted, craving sugar at 16:00, and waking up at 03:00 with a racing mind.

Here’s the truth most doctors skip: your body does not run on motivation. It runs on blood sugar, stress hormones, and safety. If your blood sugar swings up and down all day, your body will compensate with cortisol and adrenaline to keep you functioning. That is not a character flaw. That is physiology.

Here’s the insight most people miss: cravings are often a glucose crash, not a lack of willpower. When your blood sugar drops, your brain pushes you toward fast fuel. You feel “snacky”, irritable, anxious, and suddenly you cannot focus. And if this happens in the evening, it can mess with sleep too. Your body is trying to stabilise you, but it uses stress chemistry to do it.

This is why extreme dieting backfires. It makes blood sugar less stable, increases stress hormones, and can slow your metabolism over time. The result is the opposite of what you want: more cravings, less energy, and a body that feels harder to work with

So at actually works? Start with stability. Protein at breakfast. A real lunch, not coffee. Fibre and healthy fats that keep you full. A short walk after meals. And if you are training, stop training like you hate yourself. Your nervous system and your hormones are watching.

If you want a structured reset that supports energy, cravings, and metabolism in a sane way, join my Summer detox.

Dr. Naomi Dongelmans
Integrative medical doctor
naomidongelmans.com
[email protected]
+31613845760