Stronger than you think: A Real Talk On Body Image

If you have ever looked in the mirror and picked yourself apart- honestly? Same.

As a coach, I see it constantly. Strong, smart, incredible, women second guessing their bodies. Its not weakness, its conditioning. Its time we started unlearning it.

For so long I used exercise as a way to fix my body. I was obsessed with taking up as little space as possible. I'd train to "earn" food. To punish myself for eating something I labelled as "bad".

Movement wasn't empowering, it was exhausting. And it was never enough.

Your body hears everything your mind says.

And over time? It starts to believe it.

Everytime that you look in the mirror, and you say "not good enough" or pick apart aspects you dont like, your body doesn't just hear criticism, it feels stress. Your nervous system activates. Your breath shortens. Your digestion, energy and even hormone balance can be affected.

On the flip side, when you shift the internal dialogue, even just a little, from "I hate my stomach" to "My core is getting stronger" something changes. Your body starts to feel safer. Recovery improves. Energy lifts. Performance builds. Confidence follows.

This is not about pretending to love every inch of yourself.

It's about creating a body that feels supported, not scrutinised.

Your body image isnt just about what you see, its about the inner dialogue. Its about what you say to yourself on a daily basis. This is how you can shape your posture, your presence and your ability to show up for yourself fully.

When things started to shift:

Everything changed for me when I stopped chasing a smaller body and started chasing something more. When I began to train for how I wanted to feel- strong, capabale and energised- things started to shift. When I set goals that had nothing to do with weight, and instead on lifts, running a 10k or simply getting through a workout with just a sports bra confidently- I began to realise how much I had been missing.

I didn't start loving my body because it looked different.

I started loving it because I finally saw what it could do.

There is a kind of self respect that grows when you train for performance, not punishment.

With every rep, every run, every promise you keep to yourself.

And thats the kind of confidence that no mirror can give you, and no "bad photo" can take away.

I'm not going to pretend that I have cracked the code with body confidence- because I haven't. I have days where I try on five outfits before leaving the house. I still find my brain moving back to those old thought patterns at times. There are still moments where I catch myself comparing in the gym.

BUT

I also remember the first time that I wore a sports bra in the gym and didn't instantly go to cover up. I remember the first time I celebrated how strong my legs felt- instead of wishing they were smaller.

There wasn't one big turning point, but instead a thousand small ones.

Little acts of self respect, stacked on top of each other, became my foundation.

And maybe thats where we need to start. Instead of waiting to feel confident, acting like someone who is absolutely worthy of self confidence.

If you are struggling with positive body image, start here

• train for a goal, not just an image. Choose something that excites you, like a race, a lift or a feeling you want to chase.

• celebrate the wins that you can't see: feeling stronger, getting better sleep, having more energy. These are all HUGE wins. Progress is not just in the mirror.

• wear what makes you feel good- whether thats a baggy t shirt or a sports bra. Confidence isn't tied to an outfit, it is how you show up in it.

• speak to yourself how you would speak to your little sister. You deserve the same support and positive affirmations that you would give others. You wouldn't let your sister stand in front of the mirror and tear herself down, so why let yourself?

If these feel a little too far away for you right now, let's start somewhere smaller. Instead of positive body image, let's start with NEUTRAL body image. Let's start to change those thought patterns, from picking yourself apart to thoughts such as "This is my body, and I am going to take care of it".

So, if all this still feels a little messy, thas ok. Your not alone in this, but it also doesnt have to be this way forever. The relationship you have with your body is allowed to be a work in progress. There is no finish line, just a series of small moments where you choose to celebrate your body instead of criticise it, nourish and care for it instead of berate it.

Your body isnt the problem- the way we have been taught to think about it is. The good news? This can be unlearned. One thought, one choice, one breath at a time.

If this resonated, pass it on

Save it for the days that you need reminding

Natalie x