🧪 Trade Your Judge’s Robe for a Lab Coat

Tracy Astle
Jul 29
2 min read

Why curiosity is a better companion than criticism on your health journey

There’s a subtle but powerful shift that can change the way we relate to our bodies: replacing judgment with experimentation.

I was reminded of this truth recently when I tried something new—I wore a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) for a month. (If you're not familiar, a CGM is a small device that attaches to your arm or abdomen and tracks your blood sugar levels in real time.) I worked with a health coach to gather data, not to find fault.

Some of the results?

✅ Expected: White rice and regular pasta spiked my blood sugar. Certain fruits caused a bump too, but my body regulated itself quickly.

😮 Surprising: Stress and how fast I ate had a much more significant impact than I realized. In fact, eating quickly when stressed could cause more prolonged spikes than the food itself!

The experience was deeply educational. Not in a “look at all the things I’ve done wrong” kind of way—but in a “look what I can learn about how my body works” kind of way.

From Self-Criticism to Self-Discovery

It made me think about how many of us respond when we notice something we’d like to change about our bodies—our weight, our energy, our habits. Our first instinct is often to critique.

To shame.

To judge.

But what if, instead, we approached our bodies and behaviors like a scientist?

Noticing patterns.
Asking questions.
Testing small adjustments.
Gathering data with compassion, not condemnation.

This kind of gentle curiosity echoes the wisdom in Isaiah 28:10:"...line upon line, precept upon precept... here a little, there a little.”

Progress in life, especially in our health and mindset, often comes just like that—bit by bit, gently, patiently.

Wear Your Lab Coat with Confidence

If your body isn’t behaving the way you want it to—or your habits or choices feel frustrating—what if you didn’t make it personal?

What if you didn’t jump to self-judgment?

What if you put on your lab coat instead?

👩‍🔬 Let yourself explore with curiosity.

🧠 Ask why without shame.

📈 Gather data without making it mean something about your worth.

Because your body isn’t a moral issue. It’s a marvelous, complex system you’re learning to care for.

🧠 Your Turn

Have you ever caught yourself being more of a judge than a scientist in your own health journey?

This week, trade your judge’s robe for a lab coat.

Try one small experiment—with food, movement, sleep, or stress—and just notice what happens. No verdicts. Just data.

💬 I'd love to hear your insights:

What’s one surprising thing you’ve discovered about your body?

Email me or share in the comments below.

If this post resonated with you, please consider sharing it to spread the word. It might be of use to someone you know.

If you’d like to learn more about this topic, click HERE to book a chat with me, or follow me on Facebook @Nourishing Body & Soul or on Instagram @tlastle.nourishingbodyandsoul