Embracing Body Positivity Through Intentional Movement
Hi friends 🤍
If you read my last post, Into 2026: A Season of Grief and Goals, you know I’m trying to be more intentional with how I move my body.
I’ll get a little personal here.
I’ve struggled with body image for most of my life. I can pinpoint specific moments where I became hyper-aware of my body…and almost all of them started with comments.
One was something my mom said in passing about another woman’s cellulite, in terms of herself. I didn’t even know what cellulite was at the time. But after that? I became obsessed with it.
Another was during a high school swim meet. A friend once said to me, “I don’t know how you’re so thin and still have cellulite.”
If you knew me in high school, you know I was tall and very thin. I was under 120 pounds until I was about 19. And yet, I still walked around feeling like something was wrong with my body.
There were also comments from ex-boyfriends…stomach too soft, not flat enough, body part too small… too this, not enough that.
For most of my life, I felt like I needed to lose weight. Even at 130 pounds, I thought I was “too big.”
Looking back, I can see that I struggled with body dysmorphia. And I wish I could go back and hug that younger version of me and say:
Your body is not your worth.
It wasn’t until this fertility journey that I truly started appreciating my body.
In the last 18 months, my body has been through more than I ever imagined…and I am so grateful for her.
Before fertility treatments, I had only been sedated three times in my entire life: tubes as a toddler, wisdom teeth at 16, and labrum surgery at 28.
In the past 18 months alone? Five sedation’s, with another one coming up.
- A hysteroscopy
- Two egg retrievals
- Emergency surgery to repair my ovary
- A D&C
- And another hysteroscopy soon
My body has been through it. Period.
And yet… she keeps showing up for me.
She has healed. She has endured. She has carried me through grief, recovery, and rebuilding. She may not be as tight or unmarked as she once was…but that’s okay.
What I’ve gone through in the last 18 months has changed me. Emotionally. Mentally. Physically. Spiritually. And through all of that change, I have learned to love and appreciate my body for all that it does.
I won’t lie and say the scale doesn’t still get in my head sometimes. Since meeting Ian in 2020, I’ve gained about 40 pounds…20 before fertility treatment and 20 during treatments.
But for the first time in my life, my focus isn’t shrinking my body.
It’s supporting it.
As we prepare my body for another pregnancy, I’m approaching this season as if I already am pregnant. I’m asking myself:
What would nourish her?
What would strengthen her?
What would calm her?
That’s what I’m choosing.
What I’m Focusing On
Fuel
I’m prioritizing whole foods and reducing processed ones. Not in an extreme way…just in a mindful way.
Less junk.
Less alcohol (which impacts my anxiety more than I like to admit).
More real food.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about alignment.
Our bodies are temples…and I haven’t always treated mine like one. I’m focusing on that now.
Movement
Movement has become one of the most grounding parts of my routine.
Not to punish myself.
Not to “earn” food.
Not to chase a smaller size.
But to feel strong.
Here’s what that looks like for me right now:
Lifting – 4x per week
Two upper body days. Two lower body days.
Three sets of each exercise, 12–15 reps.
Simple. Consistent. Progressive.
Watching myself get stronger has been incredibly empowering. When I pick up a heavier set of weights, I literally give myself a high five.
Walking – daily
Two miles with Champ. Sunlight, fresh air, and a nervous system reset. I can always tell when I haven’t had my daily walk… and unfortunately, so can the people around me.
15 Minutes of Higher Intensity Cardio
Short treadmill intervals before lifting.
Just enough to elevate my heart rate without burning myself out.
It’s sustainable…and I actually enjoy it.
I used to be a HIIT queen. I’m talking 5–6 days a week of OrangeTheory Fitness. When I stopped, I wanted nothing to do with high intensity workouts. So it’s been nice to find enjoyment in it again, but in a way that feels balanced.
Pilates – 2x per week
Modern Pilates that challenges me while strengthening my core. After my ovary repair surgery, my core needed love…and this has been so helpful. It works muscles I didn’t know I had and stretches everything else out.
It’s been a beautiful way to reconnect to my body in a slower, intentional way.
I used to think more intensity meant more results. Now I believe consistency wins. Here’s what I’ve realized:
When I care for my body, I feel better about my body.
When I move it with intention, I trust it more.
When I fuel it well, my anxiety lowers.
This season isn’t about becoming smaller.
It’s about becoming stronger…physically and mentally.
And maybe that’s what healing body image really looks like.
If you have wellness goals this year, I’d love to cheer you on. Accountability is powerful…but it starts with being honest with yourself. And I needed to be.
For the first time in a long time, I’m not moving from insecurity. I’m moving from respect. And that feels different.
As always, thank you for allowing me to go deeper and share a bit of myself. I’m so glad you’re here.
I’d love to hear about your health and wellness goals this year. If you’re willing to share, drop them in the comments below 🤍
And if you’re local to Utah (Davis County area) and want to try Pilates with me, let me know. I’d be more than happy to go to a class with you.
With love,
Britt