Do You Trust Your Body?

By Nikki Ternay

Most women who work with me say something along the lines of:

“My body hates me. It doesn’t do what I want it to do.”

“My body is fighting me. It wants to be overweight.”

But what if that isn’t true?

What if, instead of betraying you, your body is actually trying to protect you?

The Weight You Carry Isn’t Just Physical

In my years of coaching women over 40, I’ve discovered a powerful truth: extra weight is often emotional weight.

Think about it—when life gets stressful, when you argue with a partner, have a rough day at work, or receive bad news, what’s your default response? If you’ve spent years in a dieter’s mentality, odds are, you turn to food for comfort.

But emotional eating doesn’t always come from sadness or stress. It can also come from celebration—like indulging all month for your birthday or going all in on a girls’ weekend.

The point is, your body isn’t sabotaging you. It’s simply responding to deeply ingrained emotional patterns.

I’ve Been There Too

I’ve experienced major emotional trauma in my life, and yes, I gained emotional weight because of it. I can feel that I’m still holding onto some of it—but I don’t panic. I trust my body.

I know exactly how to lose weight, but I also know that weight loss isn’t just about action—it’s about mindset. My body and emotions need time to heal, and I allow them that space. That’s what true transformation looks like.

What Do You Think About Your Own Weight?

Do you look at those extra pounds with compassion, or are you thinking, “Hurry up and leave already”?

Maybe your thoughts sound more like this:

“I know what to do, but I’m just not doing it.”

“I’m following the plan, but I hate myself the entire time.”

If you believe your body hates you, you will never lose weight permanently.

Even if you do drop some pounds, they will come right back—because you haven’t addressed the emotional root of the problem.

Signs You Don’t Trust Your Body

You force yourself to follow a diet or workout plan that feels miserable before, during, and after.

You constantly judge yourself for eating “bad” or “unhealthy” foods.

You criticize your body and doubt your ability to lose weight.

You believe, deep down, that this weight loss journey will never work.

How Does That Feel?

When you don’t trust your body, it feels like betrayal.

That’s because you are betraying yourself.

You’re handing your power over to someone or something else—whether it’s a diet, a meal plan, or the expectations of others.

It looks like:

Skipping your workout to answer emails, even though you promised yourself you’d move your body today.

Overeating when you weren’t even that hungry.

Eating dessert just because your partner brought it home, even though you didn’t really want it.

These patterns show up everywhere in your life. And the tricky part? Just like you can’t smell your own scent after a while, you often can’t see the ways you’re not trusting yourself.

How to Break Free

This is exactly what I do with my clients every day. I help women see what’s really holding them back, and I guide them through the process of rebuilding trust with their bodies.

Unlike traditional diet programs, my work isn’t about calorie counting or rigid food rules. It’s about healing from the inside out—so you can stop fighting yourself and start living in alignment with your healthiest, most vibrant self.

Because once your mind is set up for success and your emotional wounds begin to heal, the weight naturally falls away.

Are you ready to trust your body again?