How I Fueled My Body for Breast Reduction Recovery

I didn’t try to eat perfectly — I just gave my body what it needed to heal. This was one of the ways I prepared for breast reduction with intention and care.

Why I Changed How I Ate Before Breast Reduction Surgery

There’s something sacred about feeding your body what it truly needs — especially in a season where you're preparing for a major change.

Before I ever scheduled my breast reduction, I had already started eating differently — not because of weight loss goals or pressure to look a certain way, but because I wanted to feel better.

What started with me trying to calm my rosacea slowly unfolded into something deeper. I began to realize just how inflamed my body had become.

Joint pain, plantar fasciitis, brain fog, hormone imbalance — all of it pointed back to something being off.

If you’d rather watch than read, I share the full story in this week’s video below — including how I changed the way I ate before and after surgery to support real healing.

What I Let Go of to Reduce Inflammation

I had always believed that if something seemed healthy — like fruit, whole grains, or olive oil chips — it was doing my body good.

But slowly, gently, I began removing foods that didn’t serve me:

→ Seed oils

→ Processed sugars and grains

→ High-starch carbs like potatoes and rice

→ Even the so-called healthy snacks and smoothies I thought were nourishing me

And the change was immediate.

I felt clearer, lighter, more steady.

The pain in my feet and joints eased.

My skin began to settle.

My hormones started shifting in a way I could feel.

This wasn’t punishment. It was permission — to stop inflaming my body and start healing it.

Why I Chose Carnivore Before Breast Reduction

As I moved more toward a carnivore-based diet, I felt a shift — not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.

Carnivore simply means eating only animal-based foods — things like beef, eggs, butter, chicken, and organ meats.

No plants. No grains. No sugar. No processed oils.

It sounds intense to some people, but for me, it created clarity.

It removed the noise.

Eating this way gave my body space to heal without constantly reacting to new ingredients or unknown triggers.

And most importantly — it prepared me for surgery in a powerful way.

When inflammation is high, your healing process is more challenging.

Your breasts can feel hard and uncomfortable.

The skin stretches and pulls.

Sutures can pop open.

Infection is more likely.

But when inflammation is low, healing becomes smoother.

You’re not fighting your body — you’re supporting it.

I leaned into carnivore because it gave me peace — and I wanted to give my body every chance to recover well.

Healing First. Then Everything Else.

My husband and I both experienced this.

We didn’t start eating this way to lose weight. We started because we needed to feel better.

But as our bodies healed — the weight came off.

The brain fog lifted.

Our energy returned.

And our bodies began working with us again.

I lost about thirty pounds before surgery. My husband lost over forty. But the weight wasn’t the goal. It was a byproduct of real healing.

And when I went into surgery, I was nourished. I was steady. I was ready.

Supporting Breast Reduction Recovery Through Nutrition

If you're preparing for surgery, I want you to know this:

You have more control over your healing than you think.

What you feed your body can either raise inflammation… or lower it.

And inflammation isn’t just a word — it’s the root of most complications: pain, pressure, wound tension, even infection.

But when you reduce inflammation, you soften the entire process.

You create space for calmness in your body — and that shows up in your recovery.

You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be honest.

Start small. Stay steady. And give your body what it really needs.

So if you're somewhere in the middle of your healing — or just beginning — I hope you’ll remember that small choices matter, and your care counts more than perfection.

Until next time...

Be gentle with your heart.

Be kind to your body.

And remember: healing doesn’t have to look perfect to be real.

Warmly,

Shelley💛

Need a little more support?

You don’t have to walk this healing path alone. These gentle, free resources are here to support you before and after surgery:

💌 Download the free guide: Fueling Your Body for Surgery

💬 Join the private Facebook group: Off the Rack: Breast Reduction Support for Women