When we think about health, learning to love our bodies may not seem like the primary goal. Many of us have been conditioned to see our bodies as something to fight, fix, shrink, or control.

Weight changes, hormonal shifts, illness, aging… these are not failures. They are experiences a body may move through in life.

What if, instead of fearing our bodies, we learned to understand them?

Before working with Tieva, I held many of the beliefs that so many women share. I believed my body needed to be smaller before I could feel more confident. I believed wellness was tied to discipline, perfection, or finally reaching a certain number.

As a mAs I celebrate the one-year mark of my wellness journey with the Sanara Wellness team, I keep thinking about what this experience has given me beyond the physical changes.

Like many women, I started because I wanted to feel better. I wanted more energy, less inflammation, and a better understanding of how my body was responding to the choices I made each day. And yes, I wanted to wear the pretty clothes that had been sitting untouched in my closet.

What I didn’t know at the time was how much I would need the foundation Tieva and Malory were helping me build.

Over the past year, my family has navigated illness, treatment, caregiving, travel, major career transitions, and more difficult decisions than I can count. There were many moments when it would have been easy to put myself last and reach for whatever was quickest, easiest, or most familiar.

Instead, the habits I had built kept calling me back, often enough to remind me that wellness is not something we save for calmer seasons. It is part of how we move through the difficult ones.

In my career coaching and life design work, I often talk about the oxygen mask principle and the need to care for ourselves in order to care well for others. Most of us understand that idea, but living it is harder.

When life becomes demanding, our own needs are often the first things we set aside. We promise ourselves we’ll focus on our health later, once things settle down.

But life doesn’t always cooperate with that plan.

Last fall, my father passed away and my college-aged daughter was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Both happened on the same day.

And as I write this, I am preparing for a biopsy of my own.

Am I worried? Of course.

But I am also grounded in the knowledge that I can meet uncertainty with a steadier mind and a healthier body than I could have a year ago.

One of the biggest shifts for me has been how I think about food. I used to view it primarily through the lens of weight, calories, and willpower. Today, I see it differently.

Food is not just something to manage. It is one of the ways we care for ourselves.

The choices we make each day affect our energy, mood, focus, resilience, and ability to recover from stress.

During difficult seasons, I have become especially grateful for the habits that help me nourish my body rather than simply comfort my emotions.

This program is not about eating less.

It is about living more fully.

It is about understanding what helps your body thrive so that you have the energy, clarity, and resilience to show up for the life you are already living.

As you move through your own journey, I encourage you to pay attention to how you feel, not just how you look. Notice your energy. Notice your sleep. Notice your ability to recover from stress. Notice how you show up for yourself and the people you love.

Your reason for starting this program may be clear today.

But don’t be surprised if your “why” grows bigger along the way.

Mine certainly did.     

Learn more about Michele’s services here.