We all have that always-nasty, never-nice voice in our heads. You know, the one…

🗣️ Who critiques your stomach rolls and folds when you sit down?
🗣️ Who whispers that you should’ve worn something more flattering?
🗣️ Who reminds you that you “really need to get your shit together?”

Ever have one of those days where your jeans still fit, your mirror looks the same, and nothing actually changed…

But you suddenly feel like a garbage gremlin in human form?

Welcome to the world of affective body image—AKA, how you feel about your body.

Mirror, mirror, on the wall… Let’s understand body image once and for all.

The evil queen may have thought herself to be the “fairest of them all” every time she ogled herself in the mirror, but let’s be honest…

That’s not the reality for millions of women when they look in the mirror.

Let’s get something straight:

There’s a big difference between seeking attention and wanting to be seen.

One says, “Look at me!”
The other says, “Please see me...”

If it feels like you're constantly being told to change your body—you're not imagining it.

From the size of our waists to the fullness of our lips, women’s bodies have been treated like a fashion trend: always in, out, or needing an update.

One year it’s curves. The next it’s collarbones.
One year it’s building a booty. The next it’s trying to hide it…

When I was a sophomore in high school, I was part of the student council, and we'd spent weeks planning a big Halloween dance.

We worked hard to pull the whole thing together, and I had visions of exactly how fun it would be—music, laughter, costumes, friends.

But when the night came, something stopped me dead in my tracks…

Let’s kick things off with a spicy one, friends. 🔥

Shame? It’s not something other people do to you.

It’s something you do to yourself.

I know, I know.

That can be a lot to swallow, especially when we live in a culture built on shaming women into submission…

You know that fantasy version of yourself?

The one who’s five pounds lighter. Or two dress sizes smaller. Or just “more toned.”

The one you picture walking into a room with confidence.

Finally buying the dress.
Finally posting the bikini pic.
Finally feeling good in her body.

❌ You ditched the diets and restriction.
❌ You deleted the calorie-tracking apps.
❌ You declared you were DONE with food rules.

But somehow... The pressure still lingers.

You still feel guilty after certain meals.

You still feel like your body needs to look a certain way to be "good."

That’s because diet culture isn’t just about diets.

It’s a mindset—and it’s sneaky as hell.

Here are 5 signs it might still be lurking in your life (no judgment — just awareness!):

You know what’s super relaxing?

A tiny computer strapped to my wrist, buzzing all day and reminding me how ‘productive’ I’ve been. 🙄

JUST KIDDING. 😜

That thing is annoying AF, and honestly, probs (definitely?) unhealthy.

Yep, I said it: eating emotionally isn't a bad thing.

In fact, it's a very human thing, and you don't need to feel an ounce of guilt over it.

(Diet culture would have you think otherwise. 🙄)

Even babies emotionally eat, and none of us are going to shame a babe for that. 🍼

It's my birthday, bitch! 🎂💥

As an act of love for myself and a gift for you 🎁, I'm keeping today's email straight to the point with 36 lessons I've learned over the years.

This year has felt like both a blink and a decade–and there are still more than three months left. 🤯

I mean, it's not just me, right?

Though we're not at the end of the year quite yet, I've been feeling a bit reflective lately.

One of the major things coming through for me?