Why Cold Showers, Fasting & HIIT Might Be Wrecking Your Health

(Especially if you’re burned out)

You wake up tired.
You can’t fall asleep.
Even small tasks feel overwhelming.

So naturally, you try to fix it:

→ Cold showers
→ Ruthless intermittent fasting schedule
→ Crushing a 45-minute HIIT class at 6am

But instead of feeling better … you feel worse.

More anxious.
More exhausted.
More out of sync with your body.

Here’s why:

All those tools?

✅ Yes, they’re powerful.
✅ Yes, they’re backed by science.
✅ Yes, they can be helpful.

But they’re also stressors.

Hormetic stressors, to be exact.

The kind that only work when your nervous system is already in a regulated, resilient, and resourced state.

When you're rested, safe, and grounded?

These can be great.

But when you're already burned out?

They push your system further into depletion.

→ Cortisol spikes
→ Hormones crash
→ Nervous system goes haywire

For women:

You’re not built for 24/7 hustle.

Your hormones shift week by week.

Push hard in your luteal or menstrual phase when your body needs rest?

You’re not building strength. You’re building resistance.

And your body will push back.

→ Worsened PMS
→ Sleep disruption
→ Anxiety, fat storage, and burnout disguised as “willpower failure”

For men:

You're not immune.

Performing through your stress doesn’t regulate it—it suppresses it.

→ Low testosterone
→ Brain fog
→ Emotional disconnection
→ That creeping sense of "nothing I do is enough"

This isn’t weakness.

It’s wisdom.

Your body is trying to get your attention.

And if you’ve been taught that pushing through is what makes you strong, this might be the most rebellious (and liberating) shift you’ll ever make.

So what do you do instead?

Instead of trying to "optimize" your way out of burnout...

Try this when you're stressed:

→ Eat grounding meals: Double-down on your protein and healthy fats. Skip the fasting window and stabilize your blood sugar.
→ Take warm baths with magnesium: Especially if your anxiety feels buzzy and unshakable.
→ Move gently: Think breathwork, walking, qi gong, dancing, yoga—anything that reconnects you to your body without forcing it.

This is what regulation looks like.

This is the foundation for healing.

And here’s the thing:

Nervous system regulation isn’t the boring part of healing.

It’s the entry point to everything else.

More clarity.

More vitality.

More capacity to lead, love, and live on your terms.

Because real power isn’t found in the ice bath.

It’s found in stillness.

👇 Want to experience what real regulation feels like?

I'm hosting a workshop soon on nervous system healing, emotional release, and how to actually feel safe and grounded in your body again.

No biohacks. No pushing. No performative wellness.

If you’re not already on the email list, subscribe. Then hit reply with the word “Workshop” and I’ll send you the invite when doors open.

This isn’t about doing less.

It’s about doing it differently—with your body finally on board.