Aja, this is a beautiful and vulnerable essay—thanks for opening up even though you don't consider yourself "recovered." Even though my story is different, I can relate to the essence of what you've shared here.
Until I began strength training last year (where I learned the benefits of building rather than shrinking, and ensuring I was eating and resting enough between sessions), I can't say that my relationship to movement was totally healthy. It's a journey! Thanks for making the space for these reflections and conversations.
Maddie! You always leave the kindest & most thoughtful comments.
SO many people say strength training has helped them shift their thinking around their body and food. I'm really happy to hear it's improved your relationship to movement.
Aja! Thank you for sharing this. My story mirrors yours in so many ways — break-up from an awful guy junior year, exercise used to cope, weight loss, then four awful years at college focused on working out and being lonely. So much of the eating + body image stuff has improved for me in recent years, but the exercise I'm still figuring out. Lovely piece!!!
I'm so glad to hear it resonated — although I wish you *couldn't* relate. All this stuff is so connected, so if you're making progress on the food/body front, I'm hopeful the exercise piece is coming? Best of luck from the bottom of my heart, and thank you for the note ♥️
What an incredibly brave, honest, and important piece! ❤️
Thank you, Lilly and Melinda!
Aja, this is a beautiful and vulnerable essay—thanks for opening up even though you don't consider yourself "recovered." Even though my story is different, I can relate to the essence of what you've shared here.
Until I began strength training last year (where I learned the benefits of building rather than shrinking, and ensuring I was eating and resting enough between sessions), I can't say that my relationship to movement was totally healthy. It's a journey! Thanks for making the space for these reflections and conversations.
Maddie! You always leave the kindest & most thoughtful comments.
SO many people say strength training has helped them shift their thinking around their body and food. I'm really happy to hear it's improved your relationship to movement.
Aja! Thank you for sharing this. My story mirrors yours in so many ways — break-up from an awful guy junior year, exercise used to cope, weight loss, then four awful years at college focused on working out and being lonely. So much of the eating + body image stuff has improved for me in recent years, but the exercise I'm still figuring out. Lovely piece!!!
I'm so glad to hear it resonated — although I wish you *couldn't* relate. All this stuff is so connected, so if you're making progress on the food/body front, I'm hopeful the exercise piece is coming? Best of luck from the bottom of my heart, and thank you for the note ♥️