Why I No Longer Chase Low Body Fat: A Holistic Shift in Women’s Wellness
Let’s be real—if you have known me for a while… you know I love to be lean af. Fitness has always meant aesthetic goals, pushing harder, eating perfect, moving more, achieving more. I equated peak performance with being lean, toned, and exhausted (if I’m being honest). And while I definitely had abs that could catch a shadow and I could hula hoop through a cheerio… I also had no boobs, no hips, irregular periods, and always downing that midday caffeine boost to survive the day. Clearly, I was missing the bigger picture: true wellness is a whole body experience—especially for women.
Over the years, my goals have shifted from simply looking healthy to being healthy—from the inside out. For me, being my peak self means optimal female everything. Hormone function. Body composition. Sleep. Recovery. Cycle syncing. Gut health. Nervous system regulation. Deep self-reflection. Learning to trust myself. And most importantly, learning to trust my body.
And here’s the thing: I’m just a regular person just like you baddie. I don’t have access to a $10,000 monthly wellness routine or a team of experts tracking every biomarker or colonics every week after I see my shaman to cleanse my aura… But I do have the power to get back to the basics—to take care of my body in ways that are simple, sustainable, and transformative. No shade to the baddies who’ve got it like that, bless ‘em… but it just isn’t me (yet!).
Let's Talk About Body Fat and Hormones
One of the biggest shifts for me was learning that there’s a very real relationship between body fat and hormone health. Our bodies are brilliant, and for women, a minimum of 22% body fat is generally required to support optimal ovulatory function. Why? Because estrogen, leptin, and other reproductive hormones are influenced by fat stores. Too little body fat, and our hormones begin to shut down the processes that make us cyclical, energized, and fertile (whether or not you’re trying to have kids).
I used to think my leanest self was my healthiest self. And sure, I looked strong—but I wasn’t sleeping well, my cycle was inconsistent, and I constantly felt “off.” Years of underreating and overtraining left me with low leptin levels, and I’m on my journey to restore that balance.
What’s wild is how little we’re taught about any this and if you talk about it your “woo woo” or “anti feminist”. Literally what??? I’ve only really started to understand my body in the past five years—and I’m 31 now. Why did it take this long to have this info? I know women much older than me who literally are unaware there is a small window you can get pregnant each month… we need to wake up ladies! How are we supposed to care for ourselves if we were never handed the manual?
Empower Yourself (and the Women You Love)
If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this post, it’s this: knowing your body is the ultimate power move.
We are cyclical beings. We have seasons within us—phases of creativity, rest, strength, and softness. Learning to sync with those rhythms instead of pushing against them? That’s real empowerment. And it’s something I deeply hope we begin to teach our daughters, sisters, and friends.
Society’s ideal female body is often insanely lean, filtered, filled, lipoed, and praise-worthy for all the wrong reasons. And yes—I won’t lie—it is sexy to see a fully developed six-pack on my body. But I’ve also learned to appreciate the sexiness of a body that is functioning beautifully. A body that ovulates. That rests deeply. That recovers. That feels safe. That holds power in its subtle softness and strength.
If You Think This Doesn’t Apply to You...
Maybe you’re not thinking about kids. Maybe you’ve been on birth control for years. Maybe you’ve never had a reason to track your cycle. I get it. I have quite literally been there. Women either pray they aren’t pregnant right now or wish that they were pregnant yesterday… I am encouraging you to get curious about that space in between. Fertility is a marker of true health as a female- trying to conceive or not we are always a woman. I urge you to get curious. Your reproductive hormones affect everything from your mood to your metabolism, bone health, immune function, and brain clarity—not just your fertility. So if your body has felt a little “off,” this could be a place to start.
Get lab work done. Talk to someone who understands female physiology. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, dig deeper, and explore what’s really going on inside. Wellness doesn’t have to be obsessive, restrictive, or complicated. It just has to be intentional and informed.
You're Not Alone
I’m here to support you. Whether you’re ready to dive deep or just start with the basics, I’ll walk alongside you. And if I’m not your person? I’ll gladly point you to someone who is. Because the truth is, this work is too important to ignore.
You deserve to feel good. Not just look good—but feel whole, powerful, intuitive, and vibrantly well in every stage of your life.
Let’s start there.