Beyond the Scale: A Letter to Women Chasing External Validation

I used to stand in front of the gym mirror, going through the motions of another workout routine my personal trainer ex had written for me. The movements were perfect, but something was missing - my heart wasn't in it. Maybe you've been there too - doing all the right things for all the wrong reasons, showing up for someone else's dreams while yours sit quietly in the corner.

Then came that doctor's appointment. You know the ones - routine check-up, nothing special. Except this time, it was different. The words "diabetes" and "five years" hung in the air like heavy weights. Sometimes the universe has a way of shaking us awake, doesn't it? This wasn't about fitting into a smaller size anymore; this was about choosing my future.

I dove into research like my life depended on it - because it did. Keto cookbooks became my new bedtime reading, and low-carb recipes my new adventure. The funny thing about making changes for the right reasons? Results follow naturally. Ten pounds melted away in 90 days, but that wasn't even the victory I was celebrating. My blood sugar numbers told the real story of transformation.

The real challenge came in the maintenance phase - that's where most stories end, isn't it? But this was different. This wasn't about a summer body or a special event. This was about building a life I wanted to live in. Every 3 AM alarm for the gym became a love letter to myself. Every carefully planned meal became an act of self-respect.

That hourglass figure I once begged my ex to help me achieve? I built it myself, one early morning workout at a time. The energy I now feel walking into the gym, especially after weekends, isn't something anyone gave me - it's something I created.

But the most beautiful transformation wasn't the one in the mirror. It was the one in my heart. I fell so deeply in love with my journey that I became selective about sharing it. This body, this strength, this health - it became sacred to me because I built it from the ground up.

Here's what I know now: When you do something because your soul whispers "yes" instead of because society shouts "should," magic happens. It's not about the bikini photos or the compliments. It's about living longer, feeling stronger, and loving deeper - starting with yourself.

This journey? It's about choosing yourself every single day. It's about making that choice again and again until it becomes as natural as breathing. And that's where the real transformation begins - not in the gym, but in the heart.

What story are you ready to write for yourself?

I remember those early days of my journey—figuring everything out alone, searching through countless articles, and wondering if I was on the right track. Looking back, I wish I'd had someone to turn to, someone who understood.

If you're feeling that way too, know that you don't have to walk this path alone like I did.

You can join our ElevaShe community, where women just like you are supporting each other through every step of their wellness journeys. We've created the space I wish I'd had—where questions are welcomed, struggles are honored, and victories (big and small) are celebrated.

Or if you're more comfortable exploring at your own pace right now, my guide ""Beyond the Perfect Body Trap: How I Built My Own Definition of Strength" shares every step, stumble, and breakthrough from my journey—the exact roadmap I wish someone had handed me years ago.

Whichever feels right for you is perfect. The most important thing is that you've already taken the first step by choosing yourself—and that's something worth celebrating.