I'm not a "mini" Ben Greenfield
When I first got into the ancestral and alternative health space, I went after it hard. I figured if former bodybuilder Ben Greenfield and biohacker Dave Asprey could do it, I could too. I was lifting heavier than ever, adding cold plunges to my mornings, and mastering intermittent fasting. I wasn’t trying to fix any major health issue—I simply wanted to live better, longer, stronger. I became a superfan of living differently—more ancestrally, less dependent on conventional remedies or quick fixes.
The motivation was good but over time, it began to dawn on me: I was not a “mini Ben Greenfield”. In other words, women are not “little men”. We are completely different–physically, hormonally, psychologically, and more. Maybe imitating men wasn’t the best bet for better health.
I know this might sound super obvious, right? But some ten years ago, I didn’t see many examples of strong, healthy, older women to look up to. So I mirrored what the guys were doing and hoped for the same results. But it wasn’t meant to be.
What Happened When I Forgot to Pace Myself
Back in the day, I pushed through no matter where I was in my cycle or how I felt. I didn’t make space to be—to rest, to receive. I forgot to embrace my femininity.
While I didn’t hurt myself by going too extreme, it also wasn’t much fun. I lived in constant motion, rushing to exercise classes, tossing just about anything on the dinner table and crawling into bed exhausted only to do it again the next day. I was powering through without the balance that true wellness requires.
This is why I offer a word of caution to you today, so you don’t fall into the same trap: Don’t copy the men. Learn from them, sure. But apply their “hacks” through the lens of your own female design.
Take men’s hormones, for example. Their bodies run on a 24-hour hormonal clock. We, women, run on a 28-day cycle. One way to look at the difference is to think of it in terms of running: women are marathon runners, men are sprinters. We weren’t built for the grind-all-day lifestyle. We were meant to pace ourselves. When we push full on, non-stop, we disrupt our hormonal balance, burn out faster, and lose touch with the rhythms that make us whole.
This is one reason we need to tune into our bodies to understand what phase we’re in. Our hormone health thrives with the right balance of rest, nourishment, and community.
If you’ve got littles constantly seeking attention (and snacks), I get it. You might think “How can I pace myself when they need me all the time?” It might look something like:
- Feeding them without worrying about dishes in the sink.
- Playing instead of folding laundry (or turning the folding into a game)
- Reading to them instead of scrolling
- Dropping a workout in favor of an early bedtime (for everybody)
You can still be productive and present without forcing yourself into constant “go” mode.
I Started Listening to My Body
As women, our cycles and seasons aren’t inconveniences—they’re invitations to live in alignment. You don’t need to perform at 100% every day to live ancestrally well. You need to stay connected—to nature, to your people, to your inner cues.
If you love your to-do list as much as I do, you might struggle to slow down. I get it. I’ve been there. But here’s the truth: A perfectly clean house means nothing if you’re running on empty.
Think of it like this — what good is a car with a spotless exterior and perfect tire pressure… but an empty gas tank? You can’t go anywhere. Pacing yourself means honoring what matters most—your health and your family—and knowing when to refuel before you run dry.
So, give yourself permission to take your foot off the gas now and then. And let go of the guilt. Keep in mind that strength isn’t only about endurance—it’s also about softness, intuition, and rhythm.
Customized Nourishment
As women, we can’t pour from an empty place. Our bodies are designed with rhythms and needs that deserve intentional care, and true nourishment starts with understanding what actually supports us. For many of us, that means bringing back the basics our physiology thrives on. Things like quality animal fats, steady protein and nutrient dense foods that keep our hormones stable and our energy grounded.
When life speeds up or our routines get messy, this kind of nourishment becomes even more essential. It reminds us that caring for ourselves isn’t indulgent. It’s wise. It’s supportive. It’s aligned with how we were made.
Custom nourishment simply means tuning in, choosing what strengthens you and giving your body what helps it function well through every cycle and season.
Support From Birthright
Learning to pace myself has been a journey, and I’m grateful for support that aligns with how women are built. Birthright’s supplements were created with women’s physiology in mind, using nutrient rich, animal based ingredients that help me stay grounded through every cycle and season.
At the end of the day, our wellness isn’t a luxury. It’s our birthright.
I’d love to know how you support your own rhythms. Share your experience in the comments!
- Holistic Hilda