💫Strong Body, Strong Soul💫

I’ve always struggled with body image. I vividly remember being around four years old, standing next to a friend in bikinis, and noticing my little belly was rounder than hers. That moment marked the beginning of my love-hate relationship with my body.

I’ve heard that people often choose work that helps heal them. That’s true for me. My strengths and weaknesses make me well-suited to be a personal trainer and health coach. When I started my business, sending out my first public post was terrifying. Since then, I’ve written about health and well-being, sometimes getting more personal, like now.

Two years ago, if you'd asked how I felt about my body, I’d have said, "pretty darn good." Over 12 years with SoulShine—thinking, writing, listening, and leading—I learned to feel good in my skin. I liked my strong body, even the parts that jiggled, because I accepted who I was. My work healed me. But then my marriage ended. In December 2022, I lost 15 pounds in 15 days, dropping to the lowest weight I’d been since middle school. I was thin, but I was sick—adrenaline does wild things to the body.

In the months that followed, my body image got mixed up. My weight loss wasn’t from not eating; it was adrenaline. My body was sick, plain and simple. Now, two years later, I’m back to my original weight. I feel strong, capable, secure, and loved. But my body image isn’t great again. When I was thin and sick, I liked seeing loose jeans and no fat, but I know now I was unhealthy. Still, I’m trying to come to terms with it.

I process things by first recognizing the issue, talking it through with close friends or my mom, and eventually my therapist. Last week, it was hard to admit my body image was messed up, but my therapist reminded me how far I’ve come. I’ve fixed it before, and I can fix it again.

I am strong. I just rocked the Spartan in my own way. A friend recently said, “You’re stronger than you even know,” and that hit me hard. I’m not meant to be super skinny—I’m meant to stack wood, help move heavy things, power up a mountain, and do it all again the next day.

So here I am, baring my soul. If this helps even one person feel less alone in their body image struggles, then I’ve done my job. Our brains can play tricks on us depending on our attitude, confidence, hormones, and everything else life throws at us. Let’s focus on moving, staying hydrated, loving each other, following our moral compass, finding our awe-inspiring moments, and letting our souls SHINE!

Jode xo

SoulShine Schedule - please sign up for your classes.

Monday: HIIT @ the Little Theater and on Zoom - 8:15-9:15 am

Tuesday: Power Pilates @ the Little Theater and on Zoom - 8:15-9:15 am

Wednesday: Cardio Dance @ the Little Theater - 5:15-6 pm

Thursday: PiYo @ Woodstock Athletic Club - 12-1 pm

Friday: HIIT @ the Little Theater and on Zoom - 8:15-9:15 am