My Health Journey
My body
Slim. Skinny. Thin. Petite. Stick. Bony. Lean.
When it comes to describing my body, I’ve been called a variety of names. As a little girl, both kids and adults would say things to me like “you should put some meat on your bones”, “you’re so lucky you can eat whatever you want and not gain weight,” or “are you sure you’re not anorexic?” This left me with conflicting feelings about my body because on one end, I was receiving praise and envy (mostly from other girls and women), while on the other hand I was made fun of and singled out (mostly by boys and men). As much as I thought I was healthy, I would often force myself to eat even when I was full, avoid exercise out of the fear of losing weight, and felt self-conscious about my body.
When I was 16, I begged my parents to let me take the birth control pill because I heard that it could cause gain weight and reduce acne (which I’ll get into in a later post). After increasing the dose of hormones several times, I began to gain weight and saw improvements in my skin when taking the pill, but I also started experiencing severe mood swings. Two years later, I stopped taking hormonal birth control when the stresses of my first year in college caused me to gain even more weight and lead to mental health suffering. My weight quickly began to stabilize and I felt my emotions regulate again, but this time I had a new perspective on my body. I learned that attempting to change it to fit someone else’s idea of what it should look like using hormones was not worth it! I still deal with people pointing out my body today but recognize that this obsession with weight is an issue that is so deeply rooted in our culture that affects all people of different shapes, sizes, backgrounds, and ages, that makes this conversation even more important.
Body Standards
I’ve witnessed body standards change drastically even in my 28 years as a female. As a 90s baby, ‘heroin chic’ was prominent with models like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. In the 2000s, body shaming was rampant in pop culture with dating shows and reality tv, and no one was hiding it. The 2010s brought the resurgence of hourglass bodies with figures like the Kardashians. Now in the mid-2020s, we see “natural” beauty and anti-aging treatments like botox and fillers becoming popular amongst young women. This constant need for comparison seemed to play a large role in the power of these trends.
Not only body standards, but health fads seem to change even faster. First I remember low-fat or fat free was popular, then it was artificial sweeteners instead of sugar, then gluten free or low carb was good, then its calorie deficits, then the keto-diet, then 75-hard, then 12-3-30, then pilates princesses, then its juice cleanses, then its protein shakes, then its ozempic, and the list goes on and on. Even writing these makes me feel overwhelmed! The common thread amongst these fads is that they are confusing, focused on physical aesthetics, and usually make you feel like sh*t. Listen, I’m no saint when it comes to being curious about new health trends, but my main priority now is approaching health with the goal in finding what makes me feel good. Not just short term satisfaction, but feeling good long term about my choices, being in touch with my needs, and being in tune with what makes my body feel the best is what matters to me most.
Body Health
After being vegetarian for 5 years, I started eating fish because I was feeling low energy. After trying running and high-intensity-interval-training, I switched to yoga because I liked how de-stressed and strong I felt during and afterwards. When I started to crave red meat about a year ago around my period, I re-introduced steak back into my diet. When my skin was constantly breaking out, I switched to nontoxic skin and hair products. The thing is, that our bodies (and hormones) are constantly changing throughout of lives and it usually gives us warning signs when it needs something. These warning signs can be low energy, stress, mood changes, acne, bloating, inflammation, gut issues, cravings, and more, that if left unnoticed, can manifest to a variety of health conditions.
I find that a lot of us still are trying to figure out what makes us feel good; and while I recognize that doing so in of itself can be a privilege, as many are living day-to-day and overwhelmed by competing priorities, I think that everyone deserves to feel connected to their bodies in a way that is empowering and supportive. This is why I started THE Wellness Consulting, because I want to help others discover what makes them feel good, in a way that supports their bodies and minds. A question I usually begin with is, “what activities did you enjoy to do as a kid?” If its dancing, maybe try taking dancing classes or spend a few times a week putting on your favorite playlist and dancing in your living room or in the shower. If its being creative or using your imagination, perhaps try taking a walk in a new scenery every week to stimulate your mind in a new way. If its playing a sport, try getting some friends together to meet up and play or joining a small league. Although most of us think we need to participate in these grand, time consuming, and exhaustive activities in order to feel good, the truth is that is just not the case for everyone. Sometimes starting small can be a door opener into discovering what truly makes us feel best and can have huge cascading affects for our bodies, minds, and overall experience!
In the end, our bodies are not built to meet ever changing body standards. They are uniquely beautiful and perfectly imperfect. Learning to listen, respond, and honor our needs is a necessary act of self-love and bravery in a world that often tries to dictate otherwise. Whether through reconnecting with childhood joys or taking a moment to turn inwards, the journey toward experiencing goodness in our bodies is deeply personal and ever-evolving. My hope is to inspire others to start their own paths and recognize that wellness is not about aesthetics, but about creating an experience that feels right for you.
