Self-Love Day!

Valentine's Day = Self-Love Day

I loooove Valentine’s Day! Not because I’m a hopeless romantic (I’m not!), but because I adore the idea of celebrating love—especially the kind we show ourselves.

My health journey is a firsthand reflection of the power of self-love. Let’s get into it.

In the highly competitive, comparison-driven world we live in, it’s easy to find things to pick ourselves apart about—to wish for more, different, better, happier, better dressed, thinner, prettier, etc.

I did it for years. It started with a complex relationship with myself as a collegiate athlete and followed me post-graduation. I chased an unrealistic body image. I chased a life of high stress because I thought that would bring me success and, in turn, happiness. With that came habits that negatively affected me.

How not fully loving myself had negative health effects.

The more I tried, the more I wished, and the more I pushed, the more my health suffered. I turned low-level thyroid, gut, and hormone imbalances into severe bloating, acne, brain fog, an inability to relax, missing periods, and anxiety—all because I lived and my habits were in a constant state of stress. I drove my nervous system, my hormones, and my mental health out of whack.

After a few years, I realized I was still trapped in the wishing and comparison game. But instead, I started wishing to care less, to relax, to stop stressing. And of course, I didn’t see any real improvements in my health—because I was still operating from the same place of stress. I wasn’t changing the way I talked to myself or what my habits were.

During this time, I poured hours into learning about each one of my symptoms, trying to fix one by one. But that only led to frustration—and a lot of time, money, and energy spent without substantial change.

I finally realized something had to change.

My body was sending every signal that I was burning myself out—six months post-birth control, my skin was breaking out. Two months post-Ironman, I was gaining weight and struggling with my relationship with food and exercise. And then, I lost a best friend.

P had an energy and spunk for life that was rare. She radiated love—for life, for others, and for herself. She was unapologetically herself and embraced life fully—fearlessly, joyfully, and with so much love and passion.

When we celebrated her life, I made a promise: to honor her by learning to love myself the way she did.

Self-love is healing.

With a new perspective on change, I slowly started changing the way I talked to myself. I shifted my habits and embraced a gentler, more compassionate approach. And honestly? It wasn’t easy. At first, it sucked!

My first habit shift was the hardest: No more excessive exercise. I hated that. I love the feeling of crushing a killer workout. But after two years of shifting my mindset, I now genuinely prefer shorter, lower-intensity movement (yes, I still run, just a few times a month😜). Who would’ve thought?

I also changed how I viewed nutrition—from the bare minimum to maximizing nutrient density to support my hormones. I forced myself to eat breakfast, to prioritize protein, and to embrace quality carbs.

It took a lot of journaling, pushing through discomfort, and, above all else, prioritizing self-love. Through every adjustment—exercise, nutrition, and so many other habits—the one constant was putting love for myself at the forefront. I wrote affirmations in my journal. I reminded myself that my choices were because I valued my health, well-being, and honor to live like P.

I started looking at everything through a new lens: Does this actually make me feel good? Am I doing this because I want to—or because I feel like I have to?

Self-love is the first step to creating lasting habits for our health.

Before, I was exhausted, bloated, anxious—constantly chasing an unattainable version of myself. Now? My body feels supported, my mind is clearer, and I trust myself to know what I need. Not because I followed some perfect routine, but because I finally learned to listen to myself.

I wish I could say there was a magic supplement routine or a perfect plan to clear my acne, reduce bloating, regulate my cycle, balance my nervous system, lower my A1C, build sustained energy, find food freedom, and embrace “less” movement. But in reality, I just slowed down and focused on my habits. I made self-love my foundation and adjusted my habits to be acts of self-care—working with my body, not against it.

And don’t get me wrong, supplements helped. Following advice and plans for changing habits, nutrition, and exercise inspired me and guided me in the right direction. But when it comes to deeper issues—like hormone imbalances and nervous system dysregulation—shifting from stress to habits rooted in self-love is key. And that’s where health coaching plays a transformative role: helping you make those shifts, guiding you through the journey, and giving you the tools to truly care for yourself in a way that sticks!

My hope for all:

To all my Valentines reading this, I wish you a day of self-love. And I hope you carry that self-love with you every day. Slowing down and making intentional choices to support your well-being doesn’t just feel good—it helps you show up as the happiest, healthiest version of yourself.

At the end of the day, the healthiest version of you is the one who feels safe, supported, and truly loved—by you.