97% of Women Will Be Cruel to Their Bodies Today
That’s not a typo.
Glamour’s research shows women have an average of 13 negative body thoughts a day, nearly one for every waking hour. Many reported having 35, 50, even 100 hateful thoughts about their own bodies in a single day.
If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and immediately focused on what’s wrong instead of what’s working, I get it.
If loving your body feels hard, I get it.
Been there.
And still… our bodies deserve so much more than criticism. Negative self-talk actually stresses the body. It raises cortisol, and when that stress hormone stays high over time, it can lead to stubborn belly fat, higher blood pressure, foggy thinking, and burnout.
As I reintegrate back into the rhythms of home, life, and work after my recent Women’s Wellness Retreat, I’ve been reflecting a lot on love, especially the love we offer ourselves. Valentine’s Day can carry a lot of emotion and expectation, but I like to use it as a reminder to come home to the relationship we have with our own bodies first.
A lot of the work I do centers around connecting the inner and outer self, building love and connection within so that our external lifestyle choices support that love: nourishing food, movement that isn’t punishment, kind self-talk, rest, and boundaries.
When we don’t love ourselves, those commitments start to feel like chores instead of care.
During many conversations at the retreat, it was clear how many women still don’t truly like their bodies. My heart breaks witnessing so much body hatred. Many of you know my daughter has been in treatment for an eating disorder for the last few years, and I see this struggle everywhere, at retreats, with individual clients, in families, and in my own life. It reminds me there is still important work to do in this space.
Because the truth is… our bodies are freaking incredible.
In just 24 hours, your body:
Beats your heart about 100,000 times
Breathes roughly 20,000 times
Filters 180 liters of blood
Moves over 750 muscles
Produces tens of thousands of thoughts
Sends blood traveling nearly 168 million miles
Your body carries you through experience. It allows you to feel touch, receive hugs, walk in nature, enjoy good food, laugh, sweat, cry, and connect.
The shape of your body does not define your worth.
So this Valentine’s Day, I invite you to send love to yourself first. That internal love naturally shines outward, and becomes the greatest gift you can offer others.
Today, try this:
• Wake up and give yourself a hug and say, I love you.
• Look in the mirror and say, I love you.
• Thank your body for one thing it did for you today.
• Receive a compliment fully, without deflecting.
And if you’re ready to deepen your relationship with your body, your health, and your life, I’d love to support you.
Reply to this email with the word LOVE, or visit my site to explore coaching and upcoming offerings at https://www.emileewise.com/inquire.
Your body is not something to fix.
It’s something to honor.
Happy Valentine’s Day 💛
