At the heart of true health and well-being is the practice of self-love and embracing a positive body image. The foundation of this begins very early on, and the messaging received about your body is often tied to your worth. It’s also messaging that sticks with you for the long haul! If the early messages were negative, demeaning, or critical, it’s likely those feelings were translated to how you feel about yourself today, both consciously and subconsciously.

On top of that, society's unrealistic standards of beauty can create a disconnect between how you see yourself and how you feel you "should" look. I believe that health is not about striving for a perfect appearance, but about feeling strong, confident, and comfortable in your own skin. Cultivating self-love starts with acceptance—appreciating your body for what it does for you every day and honoring it with nourishing foods, movement, and rest. When the focus is shifted from appearance to appreciation, we build a foundation of health that’s rooted in kindness, respect, and genuine self-care.

You’re going to live in this body forever, may as well learn to love it!