My Journey: A Path to a Healthier Relationship with Food and Body
Trigger Warning: Eating Disorders / Disordered Eating
As a teenager, I was deeply involved in running and briefly explored modeling, yet I constantly felt dissatisfied with my body. Looking back now, I realize how distorted my perspective was—my first real lesson in body image.
Running became an obsession, driven by fear of weight gain rather than passion. Despite being under-fueled, I excelled, but at the cost of my well-being. In my pursuit to "fix" my body, I chased every diet trend—keto, paleo, "clean" eating—believing they held the answers.
Eventually, this mindset led me to study nutrition and dietetics. What began as an attempt to refine my approach to food became a complete transformation. I learned what a truly balanced, healthy, and positive relationship with food—and my body—actually looks like.
Embracing Balance: My Journey to Food Freedom
I no longer carry the guilt of eating so-called "naughty" foods or feel the relentless pressure to change my body. Gone are the days of yo-yo dieting, telling myself, “I’ll just start again on Monday—this time, I’ll be extra strict.”
Instead, I’ve learned that nutrition exists on a spectrum. It’s okay to enjoy your favorite foods without shame. Yes, food is fuel, but it’s also joy, social connection, culture, and so much more. I’ve also come to accept that our bodies naturally fluctuate throughout life. Your weight does not define your worth, and you are not meant to look like your teenage self forever.
That’s not to say I don’t have tough body image days—but now, I have the tools and experience to navigate those moments with self-compassion rather than self-criticism.
This is exactly why I’m so passionate about what I do. With my personal journey and lived experience, if I can help even one person take their first step toward a healthier, more balanced relationship with food and their body—while avoiding the harm of under-fueling—then I’ll consider my work as a dietitian truly meaningful.