Why You’re Not Ready for Food Freedom (And Why That’s Exactly Why It's Time to Get Started)

Have you ever noticed how the “perfect time” to start something… never actually shows up?

You wait for the house to calm down, for the kids to be in the next season of life, for your work schedule to lighten, or for that magical burst of motivation to finally kick in. And yet—poof!—that moment seems to vanish like the last cookie in the pantry.

Friend, I get it. The thought of tackling your relationship with food when you already feel stretched thin? Overwhelming. But here’s the secret most women don’t realize:

👉 The best time to begin your journey toward food freedom is exactly when you feel least ready.

Sounds backwards, right? But stick with me. Let’s unpack why waiting for “ready” is keeping you stuck—and why stepping in right now might be the most life-giving decision you make.

The Garden Analogy: What We Can Learn About Growth

Imagine for a minute that your food freedom journey is like planting a garden. 🌱

No gardener waits for the “perfect” conditions before planting. If they did, no seeds would ever make it into the ground. They don’t sit around waiting for the soil to be flawless, the rain to come at just the right time, or the weeds to politely stay away. They start planting anyway.

And here’s the thing—those seeds don’t look like much at first. They’re messy. They require tending. Growth feels slow. But eventually? With some light, water, and care, new life sprouts up.

Your relationship with food works the same way. If you keep waiting until you “feel ready,” you’ll never get the chance to see growth. You’ve got to plant the seeds now—even if conditions feel far from perfect.

Why You’ll Never Feel Ready

Here’s some tough love (served with a big side of grace ❤️):

You’re not going to magically wake up one day and feel 100% ready to let go of dieting, food rules, or the scale.

Why? Because:

• Fear lies to you. It whispers that you’ll be out of control without rules or rigid food tracking.
  
  
• Perfectionism keeps you stuck. It tells you, “Once I finally get it together, then I’ll work on this.”
  
  
• Diet culture piles on the pressure. It convinces you that your worth is tied to your jean size or your “willpower.”
  
  

But here’s the truth that sets you free: readiness isn’t a feeling. It’s a decision.

Just like faith isn’t about waiting until you feel like trusting God—it’s about choosing to surrender even when it feels scary—your food freedom journey starts with a step of courage, not a surge of confidence.

The Lie of “I’ll Start When Life Slows Down”

I hear this one from women all the time:

“Once the kids are back in school…”
“Once this busy season at work ends…”
“Once I finally lose some weight first…”

But here’s the deal: life doesn’t slow down. New seasons, new challenges, new to-do lists keep popping up. And if you’re always waiting for the “right time,” you’ll stay trapped in the same cycle year after year.

What if, instead of waiting for life to get easier, you allowed your food freedom journey to make life easier?

Imagine how much brain space would free up if you weren’t obsessing over calories or body checking every time you walked past a mirror. Imagine how much more present you could be at family dinners or girls’ nights without that constant mental tug-of-war about what you “should” or “shouldn’t” eat.

That’s the gift of starting now.

Faith Over Feelings: Why Obedience Matters More Than Readiness

Scripture reminds us in Ecclesiastes 11:4:

“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”

In other words, if you wait until conditions feel just right, you’ll miss your harvest.

Food freedom is an act of obedience. It’s choosing to trust that God’s design for your body is good, that His grace is enough, and that He doesn’t need you to shrink yourself in order to love you.

Friend, your body is already fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). You don’t need to wait until you feel “ready” to live like you believe that.

What Starting Now Could Look Like (Practical Steps)

Okay, so you’re convinced you don’t need to wait until you feel ready… but what does starting now actually look like?

Here are a few simple steps you can take today:

1. Get honest with yourself. Write down the food rules or body-checking habits you feel most stuck in. Naming them is the first step to breaking free.
   
   
2. Shift your self-talk. When you hear yourself say, “I can’t trust myself around ___,” replace it with, “I’m learning to trust the way God designed my body.”
   
   
3. Bring it to God. Pray about your fears. Ask Him to meet you in your discomfort and to guide your next step.
   
   
4. Take imperfect action. Pick one small rule to release this week. Maybe it’s letting yourself add cream to your coffee without guilt, or skipping a weigh-in.
   
   

Remember, you don’t need to overhaul everything overnight. Seeds grow slowly, but they do grow.

Why Coaching Matters in Seasons of “Not Ready”

Here’s where I get real with you: trying to do this work alone can feel like wandering through a garden without a map.

When you feel unready, uncertain, or unsteady, having a guide can make all the difference. That’s where coaching comes in.

In 1:1 coaching, I help Christian women like you…

• Untangle years of diet culture lies.
  
  
• Rebuild trust in their body through gentle, Christ-centered nutrition.
  
  
• Replace fear with faith so they can finally experience joy-filled eating again.
  
  

And the best part? You don’t have to have it all figured out to start. Coaching meets you right where you are—mess, weeds, and all—and helps you cultivate lasting food freedom with Jesus at the center.

Final Encouragement: Don’t Wait for Ready

Let me leave you with this: if you’ve been waiting for the “perfect time” to pursue food freedom, this is your sign. There’s no better day than today.

Don’t wait until you feel ready—because ready is a mirage. Start now, in the middle of the mess, and watch how God shows up.

Ready to Take the First Step?

If this message is tugging at your heart, I’d love to walk alongside you in your journey.

✨ Click here to learn more about my 1:1 coaching program where we’ll work together to break free from food rules, heal your body image, and root your identity in Christ—not in a number on the scale.

Friend, you don’t have to wait for “ready.” Let’s start planting seeds of freedom together today.

With joy & freedom,

Brittany Braswell, MS, RDN, LD
Registered Dietitian & Food Freedom Coach 
Helping Christian women break free from food rules & body shame so they can walk in confidence with Christ