Friday Flashbacks: Treat Your Body With Love

If you’re new to my blog, each and every Friday I post a Friday Flashback, taking you on a journey back into my past life. Why? Well, because I’ve been there and can totally relate to body image issues, dieting struggles and all the other things in between.

This week, I want to touch upon how we treat our bodies. During my prime time of diet-obsessed living and calorie counting, I completely disrespected my body.

I filled up on toxic, chemicalized “diet” foods that promised to make me skinny (at least, according to all the magazines and advertisements) and ate or drank my feelings away. I abused myself in the mirror (telling myself I am fat, I am not pretty enough, I am not good enough) and abused myself in the gym by overworking it and forcing myself to exercise (even when I didn’t want to or when my body was saying “No! Enough!”) I listened to what the number on the scale said, instead of what my body was telling me loud and clear.

I remember being so hungry: for real food, for love, for the answers. Unfortunately, I was starving myself by loading up on both toxic foods and toxic relationships alike. And if I ever decided to “treat” myself & go all out? (I put “treat” in quotes because my treats really weren’t treats at all) Forget it! I’d spend the rest of the weekend consumed with guilt and attacking myself for being “bad.”

It’s safe to say, I was not treating myself with love (far from it). In fact, I was treating my body with hatred, fear and guilt and quite frankly it didn’t feel good.

Flash forward to now, and I’ve learned that our bodies are one of the most powerful and beautiful tools we have. Now why would we treat something so miraculous so poorly at times? I want you to be honest with yourself and ask, “When was the last time I did something truly nice for myself?” Can you answer that question with 100% confidence?

I challenge you this weekend to throw all your self-sabotaging thoughts out the window and pay attention to what your body is trying to tell you. Put the scale, rules and guilt on the back burner and bring a lil love to the spotlight. Know that it’s OK to be “bad” once in a while, and break the rules. Trust that your body will give you the answers you need, leading you to the truth. And remember, no matter what, treat your body with pure love…always.

When was the last time you did something kind for yourself? How do you treat your body with love? Are you stuck on dieting and self-sabotaging thoughts? I’m here for you! Please feel free to email me or schedule a FREE 15-minute info session to learn more about my health coaching programs/ to see if we’d work well together. My programs are designed to help women like me live to their fullest potential, break free of diet-obsessed living, and learn to use REAL food & self-care as n.o.u.i.s.h.m.e.n.t.

17 Responses to “Friday Flashbacks: Treat Your Body With Love”

  1. Danielle Says:

    Love this girl! I can 100% relate to this post as I did the exact same things. I’m so happy we are both in such better places now 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!

  2. Rachel @Healthy Chicks Says:

    @Danielle SAME. Such a relief… and a journey at that. You have a wonderful weekend as well beautiful girl 🙂

  3. Katie @ KatieEnPursuit Says:

    Beautiful post & oh so true for many of us that we forget to love our own selves! Thanks for the reminder 🙂

  4. Rachel @Healthy Chicks Says:

    @Katie Thank you Katie; I’m glad it resonated with you- thanks for stopping by 🙂

  5. Healthy Chicks» Blog Archive » Coconut Curry Tempeh Tacos with Creamy Garlic & Ginger Tamari Sauce Says:

    […] make me feel not-so-good. It’s as simple as that. As you learn to listen to your body and treat it with lots of love, you’ll come to realize your own recipe for happiness and contentment in your […]

  6. jobo Says:

    I started to slip into some mind game crazies on Sunday and wish I had read this sooner…what a great reminder, Rachel! It is an ongoing process for me, where I tend to slip a titch here and there and want to go into ‘fat talk’ etc and I guess that makes me human, but there is a line between human and when it goes too far. I love that you are writing these posts and sharing your perspective from your own experience.

  7. Rachel @Healthy Chicks Says:

    @jobo Thanks for stopping by, Jo! Glad this post came at a good time for you and that you were able to talk yourself out of it. We all get down on ourselves and compare ourselves to other women from time to time, but it’s stopping, breathing and realizing what we DO have/what we do love that saves us. You are a beautiful person on the inside & out my dear 🙂

  8. Healthy Chicks» Blog Archive » Let’s Get Minty: A Refreshing Green Tropical Smoothie for Spring Says:

    […] Although to tell you the truth, I still enjoyed an egg sandwich on a gluten free english muffin about 2 hours later because that’s what I wanted…that’s what I needed. Dare to dig deep and listen to YOUR body. […]

  9. Healthy Chicks» Blog Archive » I’ve Got an Announcement: My Big Hairy Audacious One-Year Goal Says:

    […] I understand how sucky living your life dieting, counting calories, and hating your bod can feel. And that being skinny & exercising like a mad women means nothing if you […]

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  11. Healthy Chicks» Blog Archive » 5 Must-Have Affirmations for Falling Back in Love with Your Body Says:

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This entry was posted on Friday, March 22nd, 2013 at 9:41 pm and is filed under Health & Wellness, Lifestyle. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.