Case Study: 6 Weeks of Body Love
I had a client this week- that is simply one example of every one of my clients- that had been previously so focused on her weight, disgusted with the way her body looked and how she felt in it…
She used to be doing “all the right things”- eating salad for every meal, working out every day, pushing, pushing, pushing.
If there was a way to “will” herself back to all those habits, she thought, things would be perfect… she would have the body she was craving.
But here’s the thing, that is a very masculine approach to doing things.
And, in my experience, it usually results in over eating, feeling out of control around food, and unexplainable weight gain.
Which is where people find themselves when we start working together.
They’ve tried it all, they’re worn out, and are looking for another option… a way to feel more like a woman and be healthy.
The challenge lies in the fact that there’s a whole diet industry set up assuming women operate just like men in the “do more, have more” paradigm.
Seems logical, right?
But if I can be perfectly honest with you, the more I learn about a woman’s body- through my own embodiment practices, reading books, hearing women’s stories, and having supported thousands of women in the weight loss process- I can say that it seems like there’s more to the story than an equation for your caloric burn.
This is why I do things differently.
Because women are complex creatures- in the best way- capable of changing the world.
Could I give you a number, a calculation to manipulate your form into shape?
Sure, I’m qualified to do that.
But if I can help you inhabit the form you have- and better yet, love being in it, I can guarantee your results will last longer.
There is nothing more feminine than being.
That is the essence of feminine energy.
Not doing.
‘She’ moves because she’s inspired, not because she’s forced.
‘She’ rests because she desires it, not because she’s burned out.
‘She’ speaks when there is more to be expressed.
‘She’ is powerful.
When there’s a disruption in the natural flow- as is the case with many of my clients- this shows up as general fatigue, thyroid issues, adrenal fatigue, stubborn weight, self-loathing, compulsive eating with unknown etiology, etc, etc, etc.
It’s as though ‘she’ and her body are not on the same page and so the client will exercise more, be more rigid in their calorie deficit, exert more discipline when what she needs is usually rest.
We can miss the mark of wellness in the effort of health.
The turning point I see people make right before they’re successful isn’t pushing more, but surrendering.
This usually results in a significant release of emotions.
I get it, it can be a little scary to go there alone.
To witness the feelings she’s been hustling to avoid.
The grief she’s been feeding with cookies or chips.
The creative project she’s been ‘too busy’ to give birth to.
It’s as if these things build up inside the woman’s body until she is allowed to stop running, get the support she’s craved, create the rituals that allow for more feelings of safety… and then the tears come.
She comes home… to herself… to her own amazingness.
Sometimes I’m there with her, and sometimes I hear about them later, but this is when I know she’s ready to move forward and see some really great results on the outside.
This is what I mean when I tell people it’s rarely “about the food”.
I’ve noticed at the root of most compulsive eating is grief…and then rage.
This makes sense.
When needs go unmet, it’s almost easier to stop asking… the same goes with your body… and some people do this for decades.
It’s like all of their masculine energy is facing outward- doing, serving, taking care of, etc- and it’s creating a significant imbalance within her.
But this is where I’m so passionate to serve.
Because when these high-achieving women integrate their masculine force with their feminine intuition to support their own wellbeing- look out!
This client finally had the break through when we turned her own masculine energy inward (in service of her highest expression) instead of outward (taking care of everyone else) and the result moved me to tears.
She finally heard people- seemingly randomly- tell her how beautiful she is (even in this body she had previously been disgusted by), and she let it in(!) (and she’s objectively beautiful so I can’t imagine how many times she hasn’t heard it).
She gave herself permission to rest
It felt good to pick up an old hobby that lit her up.
She started recognizing her own intuition and situations that had previously created a sense of overwhelm transformed into to “oh, I just need a solution for this” and asked for the right person to assist.
She said, “no” to things that didn’t need to be on her metaphoric plate.
She finally noticed that her clothes were fitting looser…
She organized her day to feel her best and she was glowing by our next conversation.
And we hadn’t put her on a “diet”.
This is the magic of working from the inside out.
When your life sets you up to more fully be yourself, your body follows suit.
It’s not actual magic, it just seems that way.
You actually will create the time to do activity that feels good to you, you will eat in a way that nourishes you and you will fill your time with tasks and people that support your authentic self.
The weight has simply been a diversion, keeping your focus in the wrong direction.
If you’re hiding in a body that doesn’t reflect your best self, I’d love to help you make these shifts too.
Love to you,
Courtney
