For Rhea Dune, maintaining a healthy weight was never about dieting—it was about rewriting habits, starting with the most obvious one: grocery shopping. “I used to shop hungry, without a list, and ended up with a cart full of things I didn’t need,” she recalls. “Once I realized the power of my own pantry, everything changed.”
Instead of overhauling her diet overnight, Rhea focused on making smarter swaps every time she went to the store. White rice was slowly replaced with quinoa and brown rice. Creamy dressings made way for vinaigrettes or Greek yogurt-based sauces. Chips were traded for air-popped popcorn or roasted chickpeas.
But it wasn’t just about ingredients. Rhea also changed how she approached food visually. She filled her fridge with fresh produce placed at eye level, while sweets and snacks went to the back. “Out of sight, out of snack,” she jokes.
Another key to her success? Being honest about triggers. “If I know I’ll eat the entire box of cookies, I don’t buy them. That doesn’t mean I never enjoy treats, but I set myself up to make better choices.”
Over time, these small shifts built up. She lost weight gradually and sustainably—but more importantly, she didn’t feel deprived.
“I didn’t need a new diet,” Rhea reflects. “I just needed a new default.”
