The Hidden Cost of Chasing Health: How “Wellness Culture” Became the New Diet Culture
Why "Hot Girl Wellness" Isn’t Always Healthy
There’s a fine line between wanting to feel vibrant in your body and unconsciously chasing an ideal that was never yours to begin with. In today’s digital age, we’re constantly bombarded with images of tan glowing skin, flat stomachs, and curated morning routines — often under the guise of “wellness.”
But here’s the truth: many of these messages are just diet culture in disguise.
The rise of “Hot Girl” aesthetics, “That Girl” morning rituals, and the clean, minimal vibes of wellness influencers can create pressure to conform — not to heal or feel better, but to perform a certain version of health.
One that’s typically thin, productive, and effortlessly beautiful.
You can listen to all my thoughts about this on the podcast.
Social Media, Subconscious Mirroring, and the Pressure to Fit In
Humans are wired for mirroring and co-regulation. We naturally reflect the behaviors, emotions, and standards of those around us — especially when we’re online, scrolling, comparing, and absorbing content without realizing how much it's shaping us.
What begins as “inspiration” quickly becomes internalized as expectation.
This is why so many women start wellness journeys with good intentions, but end up overwhelmed, restricted, or burned out. The approach becomes rigid, not regenerative. Because what we often seek through food, fitness, or aesthetics is actually safety, belonging, and worth.
The Archetypes of Beauty: Who Are You Performing For?
There are cultural archetypes of beauty that we’ve all inherited: the “It Girl,” the “Natural Beauty,” the “Fit Girl,” the “Spiritual Goddess.” These characters aren’t inherently wrong, but problems arise when we contort ourselves to match their energy — instead of asking, What feels true to me?
As we realize what archetypes we are reaching for, we can start dismantling what doesn’t work for us. An archetype is a character that represents a symbolic language, and you’re allowed to move and shift what types of symbols and ideas work for you.
Archetypes (mother, maiden, crone are most commonly known, but there are many taking form in the hive-mind based on aesthetics like the “it” girl, or “hot girl” or “wellness girlie,”) can be a great tool for self discovery, but they aren’t meant to replace our own individuality or individuation - the process of becoming a unique individual with a stable sense of personal identity, self-awareness, and a sense of purpose. It involves recognizing and integrating various aspects of oneself, including conscious and unconscious parts, to achieve a sense of wholeness.
We can play with archetypes to see what fits, but we’re meant to discard the rest as we go further along the path of individuation. If it doesn’t fit anymore, it doesn’t fit.
In terms of health and wellness?
You can desire to feel hot, confident, and strong without it becoming a performance.
You can want to change your body without abandoning it in the process.
And you can pursue wellness without falling into perfectionism, restriction, or comparison.
Real Wellness Is Rooted in Connection — Not Control
I teach women to return to their bodies not as projects, but as partners. This means learning how to regulate your nervous system, reconnect to hunger cues, nourish yourself seasonally, and choose movement that feels enlivening — not punishing.
Because the most vital version of you won’t emerge from chasing a look.
She arrives when you choose rhythm over rigidity, nourishment over noise, and embodiment over aesthetics.
It’s Time to Redefine What “Healthy” Looks and Feels Like
If you've ever thought:
“Why am I doing all the right things but still feel disconnected?”
“Is it wrong that I want to look good and be seen?”
“Why does my wellness journey feel more stressful than supportive?”
“Why do I still hate my body even after healing?”
“Why is intuitive eating making me gain weight?”
“Why doesn’t wellness feel good anymore”
“I’m healthy but still anxious about food”
“Why do I feel guilty if I’m not being perfect?”
You're not alone — and you’re not broken.
You’re likely responding to a system that’s been designed to keep women looping between performance and shame.
But there is another way. One rooted in body trust, metabolic flow, somatic safety, and seasonal nourishment.
💌 Ready to reconnect to the kind of health that feels good?
Explore the VYTA Method — a private community coaching container rooted in rhythm, rewilding, and reconnection.