Love is not just a feeling, it’s an action. It’s not something we passively experience, but something we actively choose, over and over again. Just like in any relationship, love is shown through commitment, effort and showing up, even when it’s hard. This applies not only to the love we give to others but also to the love we give ourselves.
Too often, we treat self-love as something abstract, as if it’s just about feeling good or speaking kindly to ourselves. But true self-love is deeper than affirmations or fleeting moments of self-care. It’s a commitment, just like a relationship with a friend, a partner, or a family member. Loving yourself means choosing to show up for yourself, even when you don’t feel like it, even when it feels easier to ignore your own needs. It’s about prioritizing yourself when everything else might be pulling you in different directions, about treating yourself with the care you deserve. And when it comes to healing your relationship with food and movement, showing up for yourself means making choices that support both your physical and emotional well-being, even when you’re still working through difficult, old patterns.
For many of us, the journey of healing our relationship with food and movement isn’t just about changing habits or setting goals, it’s about learning to love ourselves again, in a way that feels nurturing, not punishing. It’s about redefining what it means to care for our bodies, and shifting away from the external pressures of diet culture. This means unlearning the old narratives that told us our worth was tied to our weight, our appearance, or the way we moved our bodies. Healing requires showing up with compassion, acknowledging where we’ve been, but choosing to act differently now, for the sake of our well-being. Love, in the context of food and movement, is a verb that goes beyond what anxiety tells us to do. It’s about listening to our bodies and trusting ourselves enough to make choices that serve our long-term health, not just our temporary desires. It’s learning how to nourish ourselves with the same love and care we’d offer to someone we truly cherish.
When we think of love, we often picture grand gestures or profound moments of connection. But in reality, love is the small, consistent actions that add up over time. It’s in the everyday choices that shape how we view and treat ourselves. Love as a verb means more than just feeling love for yourself when everything is going well. It’s about showing up for yourself, especially on the tough days when your inner critic is loud, when you’re fatigued, or when the world feels overwhelming. It’s about making decisions that nurture your well-being, even when it feels hard or uncomfortable. It’s about choosing to stay true to yourself, even in moments of doubt or weakness, knowing that self-love isn’t conditional, it’s there, even when you’re not feeling your best. In terms of food and movement, showing up for yourself means feeding your body with intention and moving in ways that feel nourishing and empowering, not as punishment but as a form of self-respect.
This consistent showing up can be more challenging than we expect. It requires patience and understanding with ourselves. We can’t always be at our best, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t worthy of love and care. The effort to show up for ourselves, day after day, even when we don’t feel like it, is what strengthens our relationship with ourselves. It's a process that builds resilience and self-respect over time. And while it may not always be easy, it is always worth it. Healing your relationship with food and movement requires redefining what it means to nourish and care for your body, so you can break free from the habits and beliefs that have held you back.
Commitment Over Convenience
Think about the strongest relationships in your life, the ones built on trust, respect and consistency. These relationships aren’t just about saying, “I love you.” They’re about showing up when it matters, through good times and bad, even when it’s inconvenient. A relationship doesn’t thrive on a few words or acts of kindness here and there; it thrives on steady, intentional actions over time. The true test of a relationship lies not in the easy moments but in the challenging ones, where effort is required and commitment is tested.
Self-love is the same. It’s easy to practice when things are going well, when you’re feeling energized and confident. But what about the days when you feel exhausted, discouraged, or stuck in self-doubt? Loving yourself means making choices that serve you, even when it’s hard. It’s about setting boundaries, prioritizing rest, moving your body in ways that feel good, fueling yourself with nourishment and choosing self-respect over self-sabotage. Healing your relationship with food and movement can feel especially hard on those days when your old patterns are pulling you in different directions. When the temptation to restrict, overeat, or push yourself past your limits is strong, loving yourself means choosing a path that honors your needs, rather than giving in to old habits. It might mean saying no to extreme workout routines that leave you drained, and yes to gentler forms of movement that empower you. It could mean choosing meals that nurture you, rather than falling into the trap of calorie-counting or deprivation. Loving yourself, especially in these moments, is about choosing long-term healing over short-term comfort.
The consistency with which we practice self-love, especially when it's inconvenient, reinforces our sense of worth. We show ourselves that we are worthy of our own care even when it feels hard to give. These small, seemingly simple actions are what make the difference. They are the foundation of self-love, a consistent practice that builds trust and confidence over time. When it comes to healing from diet culture or overcoming past struggles with food and movement, it’s the commitment to self-love in the everyday moments that makes all the difference.
Love in Action
Love is getting up and doing the workout you promised yourself, not because you have to, but because you deserve to feel strong and capable in your own body. It’s about moving in ways that honor what your body needs, rather than adhering to a workout routine because it’s expected or because you think you need to earn your worth. It’s a way of honoring your body and your health, even on days when the motivation is lacking. It’s about pushing through the resistance, even if it’s just to show up for yourself in that moment.
Love is preparing nourishing meals, not because of diet rules or external pressures, but because your body deserves to be cared for with wholesome food that supports your well-being. It’s about fueling yourself, not punishing yourself. We often think of food as a source of comfort or a tool for control but self-love shifts that perspective. It’s about nourishing yourself from a place of compassion, understanding that what you put into your body is a form of self-respect. Healing your relationship with food means choosing to see it as a way to nurture yourself, not as something to fear or control.
Love is saying no to things that drain you and yes to things that light you up. It’s about making space for joy and passion, instead of filling your life with obligations that feel soul-crushing. It’s about creating balance and honoring your emotional needs. Loving yourself means prioritizing your happiness and peace over the noise and demands of others. It’s not always easy but it’s necessary to preserve your sense of self.
Love is sitting with your emotions instead of numbing them. It’s acknowledging your feelings, whether they’re messy, uncomfortable, or even painful and giving yourself permission to feel. It’s recognizing that emotions are part of the human experience and that they don’t have to dictate your worth. Being able to feel your emotions deeply, without judgment, is a vital part of self-love. It allows you to process and heal, rather than suppressing your feelings and carrying them as unresolved burdens.
Love is forgiving yourself and giving yourself the same grace you’d give a close friend. We often treat others with more kindness than we treat ourselves, but love is learning to extend that same compassion inward. You are worthy of your own care, patience, and understanding. When we hold ourselves to impossible standards, we only create more internal conflict. Learning to forgive ourselves, to let go of guilt and shame, is an act of love that allows us to move forward with a lighter heart. When it comes to food and movement, self-forgiveness is especially important. It means letting go of the shame around past habits, knowing that healing is a journey, not a destination.
Love is showing up consistently, intentionally and with compassion. It’s not about doing everything perfectly. It’s about being there for yourself, even in your imperfections. It’s about the commitment to keep showing up, no matter what. The more you show up for yourself the more you build a positive relationship with your body, mind and spirit. You begin to trust yourself more deeply, to believe that you are worthy of the love and care you give to others.
Rewriting the Narrative
Diet culture has sold us the idea that love is something we have to earn, that we’ll be worthy once we reach a certain weight, look a certain way or hit a certain goal. But real love isn’t conditional. You don’t love a friend only when they’re at their best. You don’t stop showing up for a partner because they’re struggling. You support them, stand by them and remind them of their worth even during difficult times. That’s what you deserve from yourself, too.
Loving yourself is not a reward, it’s a practice. It’s not about perfection, it’s about persistence. You don’t have to feel self-love every moment of every day, but you can choose to act in ways that build it. You can commit to showing up for yourself, just as you would for someone you care about. When you treat yourself with love through your actions, you cultivate a deeper connection with yourself, one that isn’t based on fleeting emotions but on a solid foundation of self-respect and compassion. Healing from past struggles with food and movement requires rethinking how you care for your body. It’s about making small, consistent choices that create a healthier, more loving relationship with yourself. These small acts of self-love build trust, allowing you to rewrite your narrative and truly heal.
So ask yourself: What does love in action look like for me today? And then, show up.
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