Body Image ~ A Personal Story~

I used to think that having a strong & THIN body would make me happy. I believed it defined me.

Growing up, I was very athletic. Often called the “tiny” one. The “strong” one. The “fit” one. As if these were compliments of my character & the kind of person I was. 

As I entered my early 20s, those adjectives shifted from positive thoughts to negative ones. As I entered college I naturally adopted the famous freshman 15. I even ripped my first pair of jeans & oh boy did I cry! 🤦🏼‍♀️😂 

Those extra 15 pounds didn’t fit the narrative of who I always had been & “should be.” So I became obsessed with exercising my way back into my “fit” body. I ate less, slept less and exercised more. Caffeine, cortisol & endurance endorphins fueled me. 🏃‍♀️ I had to get that big workout in every day OR ELSE! 😵

At that time I really didn’t love my body. No matter how much I calorie burned & muscle toned, I could always find something that needed improving.

I spent my 20s beating myself up physically and mentally. Despite eating a healthy diet, I demanded my body to work at max capacity without proper fueling & rest in return. As a result, my adrenals, gut, hormones, thyroid & liver have taken a beating. And now I am paying for it through autoimmune disease, infertility & high risk of cancer.

I turned 30 this year and it has been the hardest year of health of my life. I’ve been faced with symptoms & illnesses I never imagined I would experience. I thought I was healthy because I exercised & ate well. But I was missing the point. And now I know better! 

My passion is to help our society redefine the meaning of FIT 💪🏼 

I choose to share my story because everyday I work with women who share similar stories. Who are struggling with body love & acceptance. Who are experiencing disease & dysfunction. Who are spending their days “over doing it” by asking their bodies to work on overdrive 24-7. 

Today I encourage you to stop & take a rest. Take a moment to be present with yourself. Look in the mirror & give yourself a compliment (or 2!) Be kind to yourself. Your body & it’s health deserve it 💗

~Dr. Kaitlin