Do not confuse self love with complacency. In the world of body positivity it can seem that to be body positive you have to want to stay just as you are.  Some people fear that if they accept and love themselves now, they’ll lose the motivation to improve. But self-love and growth are not opposites—they work together.
 
My best self improvements have come from a place of love: because when you love yourself you are clear in your allegiance to yourself, your desires, and goals and you are prepared to do the work. 
 
You are in a mode of grooming, taking care of, and stewardship.  The best place from which to get stronger, leaner, and healthier - is from love.
When you change in a place of love you aren’t waiting until you reach a number on the scale to be happy, you are happily moving there.
 
You are not punishing yourself, you are providing for yourself.  You are choosing what you want for yourself.  You have agency.
 
A Self-Love Practice
Before every decision, ask:
Does this honor my body?
Will my future self thank me for this choice?
How can I care for myself at this moment?
Then choose what feels best—not just in the moment, but for your highest self.
 
Improving your body isn’t about fixing yourself—you are not broken. It’s about stepping into the most version of yourself you are most happy to embody.

​Weight loss often starts from a place of frustration—looking in the mirror and feeling unhappy, pinching parts of the body you wish would disappear, or punishing yourself for choices you regret.
 
You may start there, but in reality, when done right, it can move you to deep depths of self love.
Restriction, punishment, and shame are familiar to anyone who has struggled with weight loss.  A huge intention of jolie Optimized is to frame weight loss in the context of nourishment, empowerment, and transformation because I want you to fall in love with yourself.
 
Although food is key - your mind needs a shift.  Start stating your self talk starting now.
We are releasing statements like these:

• "I hate how I look."
• "I need to punish myself in the gym for what I ate."
• "I’m not allowed to have that because I don’t deserve it."
• "Once I lose weight, then I’ll feel good about myself."

New language is:

• "I want to take care of my body, so I choose to have nourishing foods."
• "I move because it will make me feel strong and alive."
• "I deserve to feel amazing, so I fuel my body to feel amazing with."
• "I love myself now, and because of that, I choose what supports my health and happiness."

Actions Speak.
 
You are loving yourself through your food and words, and reinforce and deepen this with actions. Sometimes the easiest way to change our thoughts is through action. 
 
So as you do weight loss, feel the care you are directing toward yourself.  You are loving yourself by sitting and eating well. You love yourself by moving.  You love yourself with boundaries that allow you to rest.  Taking a deep breath is loving yourself. 
 
Everyday add an action of love or reframe an action you take for granted as love. This underscores your inherent spectacular value right now where you are at this moment.  Valuing yourself before you hit goal makes getting and staying there so much easier.
 
Self-love is also celebrating progress—not just an "end goal." Every time you choose foods that nourish you, move your body, or rest when needed - you are already winning!!

​Right now, in this very moment, you are creating your future self. Every choice you make—what you eat, how you move, the way you speak to yourself—determines the person you will be in three months, six months, a year from now.
 
Imagine her.
Stronger—because she didn’t quit when it got hard.
Leaner—because she nourished her body instead of numbing her emotions.
Radiating confidence—because she kept the promises she made to herself.
 
Now ask yourself:
Will she wish you had eaten more sugar, more processed food, more late-night snacks? Or will she be grateful that you honored your body, fueled your goals, and broke free from old patterns?
 
Every single day and meal, you are casting your future self. You are either forming the version of you that feels powerful, energized, and in control—or the version of you that remains stuck in old habits.
 
The good news? You have the power to decide with each meal.
 
In three months, summer will be here.  Will you be standing in front of the mirror, proud of the work you’ve done?  Will you feel lighter, stronger, and at peace with your choices? 
Will you be stepping into the next season with confidence, ease, and joy?
Or will you be in the same place, looking back and wishing you had started? I hope not.  So let’s get started now.
 
I remember when I started, it was in the middle of the day.  No last meal, no tomorrow.  I was now.  The sooner I start, the sooner I get to enjoy my goal. And the sooner, I leave all this feeling awful behind me.
 
So take a moment today to journal or dream about your future self, and get her started today.

​Emotions can quickly derail your eating and weight loss if not worked on. When I have had a day with “a lot” the first thing I want is chocolate or wine.  But, I have gone through a process that I am sharing with you to help me feel through the emotion.
 
Realize that food is there to numb, distract, or shut you down. But it does nothing for releasing or overcoming the emotions.  We are going to  learn how to begin to move through your emotions in a way that nourishes, strengthens, and frees you?
This honors your emotions, supports you, and gives you mastery over food freeing you from the cycle of numbing and self-sabotage.
 
Here’s how to shift your mindset and learn to nourish instead of numb.
 
Numbing vs. Nourishing
When faced with difficult emotions—stress, sadness, loneliness, or even boredom—we all seek relief.  But the difference is to go past the quick fix. \
Numbing:

• "I feel stressed. I need something sweet."
• "I feel lonely. Let me pour a glass of wine."
• "I feel anxious. I need to scroll my phone to check out."

But numbing never actually removes the emotion—it just buries it deeper. The stress, loneliness, or anxiety remains, resurfacing again and again. To get true relief, new tools are needed.
Nourishing Yourself Through the Emotions

• "I feel stressed. My body needs movement and deep breathing."
• "I feel lonely. I need real connection or self-care, not sugar."
• "I feel anxious. I can shift this through grounding and intention."

The key to lasting emotional well-being—and sustainable weight loss—is to stop suppressing emotions and start moving them through the body.
 
Ending Emotional Eating Practice
 
Step 1: Identify the Emotion Before Reacting
Before reaching for food, ask yourself:
What am I truly feeling? (Name the emotion: stress, sadness, frustration, exhaustion)
What do I truly need? (Movement, fresh air, deep breaths, connection, support)
Instead of reacting, pause and choose to respond with awareness.
Jolie Practice: Before eating emotionally, place your hand on your heart, take a deep breath, and ask:
"What is it that I really need right now?"
 
Step 2: Move the Emotion Through Your Body
Emotions are energy—they are meant to move. When we suppress them with food, alcohol, or distractions, they become stagnant in the body, leading to stress, weight gain, and dis-ease.
To fully process emotions, you must move them through the body.
 
How to Release Emotions Instead of Numbing:

• Stress → Shake It Off: When tension builds, release it with movement—go for a walk, dance, jump, stretch. Let the energy flow.
• Sadness → Hydrate & Breathe: Tears are a natural detox. If you feel sadness, allow yourself to cry, drink warm herbal tea, and take slow, intentional breaths.
• Anxiety → Ground & Reset: Anxiety is often unprocessed energy. Try barefoot grounding outside, deep belly breathing, or stretching to bring the nervous system back to balance.
• Anger → Strength & Power Moves: Instead of stuffing anger down, channel it up and out—a strong workout, a fast-paced walk, or breathwork. Feel it move through you instead of staying in you.

Next time you feel an emotion rising, move. Walk, stretch, dance, breathe. Allow it to flow through, instead of weighing you down.
 
Step 3: Nourish with the Right Foods, Not Emotional Cravings
When we process emotions through movement, the urge to numb naturally decreases. When it is time to eat Instead of reaching for empty comfort foods, choose your jolie foods or nourishing, supportive foods.
🔹 Feeling stressed? Reach for healthy fats + protein (avocado, nuts, seeds) to support adrenal balance.
🔹 Feeling sad? Choose gut-healing foods (fermented veggies, broths, greens) to boost serotonin naturally.
🔹 Feeling anxious? Sip on herbal teas, magnesium-rich foods (dark leafy greens, pumpkin seeds) to calm the nervous system.
🔹 Feeling low-energy? Hydrate with lemon water, electrolytes, or a Jolie green juice instead of caffeine or sugar.
 
Jolie Practice: ✨ Instead of depriving yourself, ask: "How can I nourish myself deeply right now?"
 
Step 4: Create Emotional Rituals That Support You
We all need small, daily rituals that honor your emotions and your body’s needs to release stress and process emotions without numbing ourselves. These are practices that can form the foundation of your emotional care.
 
Morning Ritual: Hydrate, journal, and breathe deeply before starting your day.
Evening Ritual: Light a candle, sip tea, stretch, or meditate instead of snacking mindlessly.
Nature Practice: Walk outside daily to clear your mind and reduce stress.
Love Practice: Speak kindly to yourself. Remind yourself that you are worthy of nourishment, not punishment.
 
When you move emotions instead of numb or stuff, they leave you and give you space within yourself for clarity and listening. At Jolie, we believe in healing, thriving, and elevating your life—one mindful choice at a time.