LVL CLIENT STORIES: Your Worth Does NOT Come From How You Look
"I Know My Worth Doesn't Come From How I Look": Michelle's Transformation Beyond the Physical
Michelle’s journey with our GSD program illustrates something I believe with my whole heart: transformation isn't always about what you can see on the outside. Often, the most powerful changes happen inside.
Finding Freedom from the "All-or-Nothing" Trap
When Michelle first joined GSD, she was caught in a cycle that probably sounds familiar to many of us: pushing hard with "perfect" habits until life got in the way, then abandoning ship entirely when she couldn't maintain perfection.
"I've learned how to conquer all-or-nothing thinking," Michelle shared. "One of the biggest accomplishments I've learned is to live with resistance. I acknowledge it's there and even though it can be so frustrating, I know I have the tools to overcome it."
This is the game-changer most fitness programs never talk about.
Resistance will always show up.
That voice that says "skip today" or "start again Monday" or "what's the point?" never fully goes away. The difference is in how you respond to it.
"I used to give in and give up," Michelle continued, "but now I can handle it in more productive and healthier ways."
That's not just progress—that's freedom. Freedom from the exhausting cycle of starting over. Freedom from beating yourself up when things aren't perfect. Freedom to be consistent even when life gets messy (which, let's be honest, is most of the time).
Taking Her Habits on Vacation (Without Ruining Her Vacation)
One of my favorite parts of Michelle's story is how she maintained her movement practice even while traveling—something she specifically noted "has never happened before."
This might seem small, but anyone who's tried to maintain healthy habits while on vacation knows this is actually huge. It's one thing to stick to a routine when you're in your normal environment with all your usual cues and support systems. It's an entirely different challenge to maintain those habits when you're out of your element.
But Michelle didn't just maintain—she thrived. She found ways to move her body that felt good. She tried new recipes and even cooked for her parents, turning healthy eating into a way to connect rather than a chore to check off.
This is what sustainable health looks like: flexible enough to bend with life's changes without breaking completely.
A Mindfulness Practice That Actually Works
Perhaps what impressed me most about Michelle's transformation was the thoughtful reflection practice she developed:
"I've started a practice of reflecting on how I will feel based on the action I take. For example, I wanted to cut back on drinking. So if I want to drink I asked myself, what kind of sleep will I get? How will it affect my day? How will it affect my mood? Is there something else going on that I'm trying to avoid? This has helped me make more mindful choices."
This kind of intentional decision-making isn't about restriction or punishment. It's about understanding the true cost of your choices and deciding if that price is worth paying in this moment.
Sometimes the answer will be yes! And that's perfectly fine. But having this awareness means you're making choices that align with your values rather than defaulting to habits that might not serve you.
Beyond the Body: Finding Worth in Who You Are, Not How You Look
In a culture obsessed with before-and-after photos, Michelle's most significant transformation can't be captured in a side-by-side comparison:
"I have also accomplished loving and appreciating my body not only for how it looks but for all that it does. I know my worth and happiness do not come from how I look."
Just let that sink in for a moment.
In a world constantly telling women that our value is tied to our appearance, Michelle found freedom in appreciating her body for its function, not just its form. She recognized that her worth extends far beyond her physical shell.
This shift in perspective is revolutionary. It changes how you move, how you eat, how you rest, and how you care for yourself. When health behaviors come from a place of self-respect rather than self-criticism, they become sustainable in a way that punishment-based motivation never could be.
Making Health Fit Her Life (Not the Other Way Around)
When I asked Michelle what she loved most about her GSD experience, her answer was clear:
"I love that I can make GSD fit into my life, without judgment."
This, to me, is the ultimate goal of any health and wellness program. Because a perfect plan that you can't actually implement in your real life is useless. But an "imperfect" approach that you can sustain through life's ups and downs? That's where the magic happens.
Michelle continued: "I have much more compassion, inner focus and a desire to nurture myself."
That self-compassion is the secret ingredient to lasting change. It's what allows you to have an off day without it turning into an off week, month, or year. It's what helps you get back on track without the shame spiral that so often accompanies perceived "failure."
Is GSD Right for You?
If Michelle's story resonates with you—if you're tired of the all-or-nothing cycle, if you want to find freedom from the appearance-obsessed fitness culture, if you're ready to make health fit your life rather than the other way around—GSD might be exactly what you've been looking for.
As Michelle put it: "I remember when one of our sessions ended, I was sad to not have that GSD time with everyone. Thank you for all you do. I truly love these programs."
You deserve a health approach that honors who you are, meets you where you're at, and helps you build a relationship with your body based on respect, not criticism. And you don't have to figure it out alone.
Ready to experience this kind of transformation for yourself?
