The mirror doesn’t lie, but you can choose what you see

Intermittent fasting is a powerful tool for our physical health, but it will take more than intermittent fasting to change how we see ourselves. Let’s face it, stepping on the scale and seeing a lower number is great, but true transformation goes beyond the numbers.

Do you look in the mirror and see a superhero? No? Okay, I don’t either. But I did spend years standing in front of the mirror, finding every perceived flaw. I’d fixate on the areas I wanted to change and how life would be different if they were different.

A few years ago I was having an intro call with my physical therapist, Kelly Dean of The Tummy Team. She was going to help me repair the diastasis recti I had from a large fibroid and the surgery to remove it. During the chat, she made a profound statement that resonated deep within my soul and had me immediately in tears. “We carry our trauma in our midsection and so we disassociate with our stomach.” 

My disassociation over the years had turned to hatred. I don’t know how many times I had wished for “fat scissors” to cut it off. Even when I got to my goal weight, my stomach was still there, protruding and not flat like I always wanted it to be. I realized, to truly heal, I had to see my stomach as one part of the whole of me. I had to learn to love it again.

The areas of ourselves we dislike often carry the echoes of past hurts. Maybe it was taunts from a bully, teasing nicknames that stuck, the airbrushed perfection staring back from magazine covers, or childhood trauma – all these can warp our self-image and become deeply ingrained. 

Holding onto that negativity from the past only hurts us in the present. You deserve grace and the chance to move forward. Imagine a world where you view your body with kindness, not criticism. Where you appreciate its strength, and all the amazing things it allows you to do. That world is within reach. The key is accepting yourself, exactly as you are.

You can start by forgiving yourself for all the negative self-talk, for the stories you’ve told yourself that fueled self-criticism. Lasting change requires self-compassion. You’ve been through a lot, and those experiences shaped your perspective. But now, it’s time to rewrite those stories for a new perspective.

Imagine yourself as a child again, facing that bully on the playground. Now, as an adult, consider the situation. Was the issue truly with you, or with the bully’s behavior? Can you reframe those overheard comments in a more positive light? And let’s face it, people staring could be for a million reasons – none of them reflecting your worth.

Each day, take time to really look at yourself in the mirror. Find things you appreciate about yourself and celebrate the strength and resilience that’s within you. Gratitude is a powerful tool for shifting your self-perception. 

Next, focus on the areas you’ve had problems with in the past. Touch them, accept them, see them as one part of the whole of you. What’s something positive you can say about [insert body part]? Could you love it? How would that feel? Work your way around, or focus on one area each day. Do what feels achievable to you and keep working at it until you feel it shift.

Embracing your whole self starts with making peace with those once-hated parts. There’s no room for negativity in the future you’re building. True beauty lies in embracing your unique qualities, the things that make you, you.

So, the next time you look in the mirror, smile at the strong, capable woman staring back. She’s worthy of love and respect, every single inch.