The core tenets of HAES include:

Adopting this mindset leads to measurable improvements in both psychological and physical health: Body Positivity and Mental Wellness: Embracing Self-Love

Her mornings began with a ritual of disappointment. She would stand before her full-length mirror, pinching the flesh above her hips, cataloging failures. She tried every cleanse, every punishing workout that promised to “sculpt” and “transform.” But the body she wanted never arrived. Instead, exhaustion did. She’d collapse after spin classes, dizzy and hungry, only to binge on cold pasta at midnight, then weep with shame.

For years, Maya’s relationship with her body was a negotiation. She treated her health like a debt she was constantly trying to pay off through HIIT workouts she hated and salads that left her hungry. Wellness was a destination she never quite reached, always five pounds or one "clean" week away.