Strong After Birth | Postpartum Fitness & Body Image Support for Christian Moms

Leave a review! Does this sound familiar? You find yourself starting a new diet yet again, swearing to ban all of the “bad foods” and only eat the “good ones”. You’ve tried Keto, Whole30, Paleo, Carnivore, Mediterranean... But then what happens? You find yourself indulging in the entire package of Oreos, only to start the cycle all over again . But did you know that there’s a way to eat mindfully...

Leave a review! Has that pesky bathroom scale ever ruined your day? Weight fluctuations can play games with your mind, whether you’ve been working out for years or just began. What if the answer has less to do with the number we see on the scale and more to do with HOW we see that number? Which is why in today’s episode, you’re getting simple daily strategies to help you focus less on the scale, s...

Leave a review! Imagine this with me. You’re sitting on the couch in your stretchy pants and oversized t-shirt, feeling exhausted from the midnight ( and 1am, and 3am… ) feedings, wondering if you’re going to feel like this forever. The last thing you want to think about is mustering up the energy to workout, or even think about working out for that matter. But you know you want to build your stre...

Leave a review! Try this fun experiment with me! Hop on Pinterest, type in “ postpartum core workout ”, and notice what comes up. Whether you call it the “tummy pooch”,  “pregnancy belly”, the “mom belly” or by its name Diastasis Recti (DR), there’s one thing in common: it’s completely normal . It’s time to break down some barriers and myths and discuss what diastasis recti is, why it occurs, and...

Leave a review! Does this sound like you? You find yourself feeling drained even at the thought of working out. Especially when you’re already trying to be the present mom, friend, coworker, and church volunteer you want to be. And no matter how many times you shuffle your daily schedule to fit in a workout, you still find yourself too exhausted from meeting everyone else’s needs that you decide t...

Leave a review! Do you ever find yourself starting a new diet or workout routine, only to fall back into your old habits a week later? You see other women crushing their workout and diet goals, while you might be struggling to stick with it after a few days. Maybe you thought “this time will be different” , but before you know it, you’re back into the same old routine and the dysfunctional cycle c...

Leave a review! Did you know that over 80% of women have some type of social media account? Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, or if it’s for personal use, business reasons (maybe both), social media can be an incredible asset but also one of our biggest distractions. And no matter how many times you filter your feed, hide irrelevant posts, or even set social media time limits on...

Leave a review! Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you work, it will never be enough to please everyone? Or maybe that if you could just achieve more or be more, you would finally be worthy of approval? So many active Christian women struggle and strain in vain to please everyone else, that they miss out on the peace and freedom that comes from an identity rooted in Christ! Which is why I’...

Leave a review! Have you ever been at your wits ends when nothing in your closet seems to fit? Maybe it’s having a mountain of clothes, holding on to ones that don’t fit anymore, not feeling “fashionable” enough, or you can’t seem to find what you’re looking for. And, let’s be honest, trying to clear out an overstuffed closet can feel daunting, creating more stress and overwhelm when you try to fi...

Leave a review! If you're an active Christian woman who grew up in the church, chances are you've had "the talk" on modesty. And, perhaps if you're like me it left you with a lot of rules and maybe a few misconceptions about your body. What does it look like to wear active clothes and be modest? How can we practice modesty from a place of compassion, rather than compulsion...

Leave a review! Did you know that over 50% of active women would say that they are their own worst critic and that if they’re being honest they most often critique their body?  Over HALF of women are not satisfied with their bodies and live in a body that they don’t love.  Shocking, I know …  But, maybe knowing this gives you some relief to know that you’re NOT ALONE.  But, why is this number so a...

Leave a review! Have you ever wondered why you feel exhausted at the end of the day with no energy to drag yourself to finish a workout? If so, then have you considered that your gut health might be at the root of the issue? So many active mamas hustle to make sure their families are fed 3 balanced meals a day, but make the mistake of leaving their own health in the dust!  Instead of experiencing...

Leave a review! Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’ll get my fitness back on track in January...” If so, then you are likely a hardworking, active Christian woman who wants to say “yes” to alll the holiday fun, yet finds herself putting her own needs on the back burner.  The truth is, sacrificing your fitness for the sake of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is actually contribut...

Leave a review! No gym membership, no kettlebell, certainly no barbell whatsoever …  Just a few random dusty dumbbells sitting in the corner, deep desire to not have stick arms or exhaustion at the end of the day, and a tug to get stronger Can you really build muscle and become stronger with just that?  Turns out, you CAN! And I know because Ariel Laviolette (my middle sister) did it!  She listene...

Leave a review! Have you ever felt confused by the sometimes conflicting messages from the church about body image? Women are simultaneously told that our bodies are a beautiful temple for the Holy Spirit, while also that we should be modest and almost hide ourselves.  The fact is, so many hard-working, Christian women miss out on the freedom and confidence that comes from a body image rooted in C...

Leave a review! Have you ever felt stuck in the messy middle of loving your body but still wanting to change it? So many active, Christian women ping-pong back and forth from body positivity to body shame, unsure which is best for their bodies or most honoring to the Lord. Instead of experiencing the freedom and confidence from being fully accepted in Christ, we wrestle with guilt, self-doubt, and...

Leave a review! Have you ever felt pressured to join in on a restrictive diet trend or fitness fad, but don’t know whether it would do more harm than good for your body? So many hardworking, Christian women desire to fully believe and accept that they are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” but struggle to make the connection from their head to their heart.  Instead of feeling the freedom and confid...

Leave a review! Have you ever missed one or two gym sessions, only for it to turn into weeks upon weeks of missed workouts, and now you feel stuck in a rut?  If so, then you’re likely also familiar with the feelings of shame and guilt that occur when you lose sight of your long haul health journey. Instead of feeling empowered and joyful when the time to workout arrives, this lack of direction lea...

Leave a review! Have you ever googled “best stretch for *insert your nagging pain here*”? If so, then you’re likely also familiar with the feelings of disappointment and frustration when the promised quick fix did not work for your body, and wasted your time! Instead of being able to lift heavier, run longer distances, or pick up your kids without pain, you are left feeling defeated, confused and...

Leave a review! Did you know that the average American woman is exposed to up to 10,000 ads in a day? With so many photoshopped fitness models bombarding us, it’s no surprise that women would start to think of their bodies as less than perfect. Instead of going about our fitness journey from a place of confidence in our body and joy in our heart, we are left feeling insufficient, insignificant, an...

Leave a review! As you may have heard earlier this week on Instagram, Boaz Lindahl made his grand debut to the world (and we’re SO happy he’s here!) On May 30th, my life was forever changed as I began the transition from maiden to motherhood. But, this podcast isn’t about that. It’s about you. The nosy Nelly, curious Kelly, and investigative Ilene. (yes, you- you’re all welcome here!) The woman wh...

Leave a review! Have you ever found yourself walking away from the mirror feeling unworthy, unacceptable or unlovable? So many strong Christian women are bombarded by thoughts of shame, guilt, and embarrassment from the enemy as they tear apart their flaws in the mirror.  But I want you to know that this is NOT your only option. Unshakable body confidence and joy in Christ IS possible! However, in...

Leave a review! Did you know that, according to a Gallup poll, women in America are more likely to experience burnout in their lifetime than men?  So many hardworking women push their bodies and minds to the limit trying to do everything for everyone, that they end up sabotaging themselves in the process.  Even the side-effects of burnout have been normalized in our hustle culture, as brain fog, e...

Leave a review! Have you ever spent the night tossing and turning, your mind racing with unfinished to-do lists or replaying that one awkward conversation you had? So many hard-working, active women struggle to fall asleep and stay asleep, because they bring their doubts, worries and insecurities from the day to bed with them. Without letting go of your daily troubles, these nagging thoughts will...

Leave a review! Have you ever experienced that discouraging feeling of “gymtimidation” as you walk by the free weights section towards your trusty treadmill? So many hardworking and active women allow their fears of the free weight section to rob them of building lasting strength and confidence through resistance training.  Because when you let your fears make decisions for you, you will perpetual...