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When I was younger, I always put on weight more easily than others. I’d flip through the pages of Seventeen magazine and watch music videos, wondering, Why can’t I look like that? The pressure to be thin felt overwhelming, and like many young girls, I equated being skinny with being beautiful and worthy.
I started dieting, and the only time I saw results was when I resorted to starvation. Thank God my mom was so in tune with me that she did what any Millennial mom would do—she made me watch a Lifetime movie about anorexia. Therapy wasn’t as accessible back then, but that moment was a wake-up call.
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If you haven't read my blog post to my daughter Savannah about this topic, make sure to check it our here.
As an athlete, I assumed my weight struggles were behind me. I was constantly active, and I didn’t have to think too much about what I ate. But after high school, when my activity levels dropped, the same old battles with my body returned. I had grown up hearing friends and family talk about being skinny as if it were a moral achievement, as if thinness equaled holiness. And while I wholeheartedly support healthy eating and believe in taking care of our bodies, my journey with food and body image became an unhealthy obsession.
After years of frustration, I was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune condition that can cause weight gain, fatigue, and other health issues. Getting a diagnosis was only half the battle—I struggled for years to find the right treatment. It wasn’t until I connected with an incredible functional medicine doctor (Holistic Health Code in Farmington—check them out!) that I started to see real improvements.
Even though I now have my Hashimoto’s under control, I still struggle with my relationship with food and body image. There is so much shame attached to eating—society conditions us to believe that every bite is either good or bad, and that our worth is tied to our size. It’s a mindset that’s hard to shake.
If you’re struggling with food, body image, or an autoimmune disease that affects your body, please know that you are not alone. There is help, and there is hope. Here are some steps that helped me and may help you too:
Seek Functional Medicine: If you suspect underlying health issues, find a practitioner who looks at the root cause rather than just treating symptoms. Holistic and functional medicine doctors can provide insights that traditional medicine might overlook.
Educate Yourself About Food & Labels: Sadly, the SAD (Standard American Diet) offers very little nurtrition and can actually FEED autoimmine diseases or even cause them. Empowering myself with knowing more about what's in my food and what ingedients are in the foods I purchase, helps me choose the right foods for my health.
Prioritize Therapy: While it wasn’t easily accessible when I was younger, therapy is now more available than ever. Whether it’s traditional talk therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or Christian therapy, there are so many options.
Practice Self-Compassion: Healing your relationship with food and your body is a journey, not a destination. Be kind to yourself. Celebrate progress, not perfection.
Build a Support System: Surround yourself with people who uplift you and encourage a healthy mindset around food and body image.
Your body is not the enemy. Healing takes time, but you are worth every step of the journey.
If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear your story. Let’s keep this conversation going—because none of us should have to go through this alone. ❤️
Ever After,
Jamie
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