Do you feel like you used to have a better body?

Maybe it used to be thinner, you wore a smaller size, and you felt like you were at your ideal weight, and right now, you just feel stuck and frustrated.

Well, you might be in need of a serious pep talk, and maybe even a gentle reality check. Today I want to set specific habits aside for a minute, and have a heart to heart with you about how you’re mentally feeling about your body, and give you the encouragement you probably really need.

Listener Question

• This question came from Cara:

“I’ve really been struggling lately with my body, mostly mentally. Back in the day, I used to be so much skinnier than I am now. I weighed a certain amount and so that number is just stuck in my mind as what my ideal weight should be. But no matter what I do, I just can’t seem to get there again. I’m 52 years old now, and I want to be healthy and feel good, but I’m just hung up on how my body used to be. I think I need a pep talk or something.”

This struggle is so common—many midlife women feel trapped in comparison to their younger selves. We wrestle with a nostalgia for our past bodies.

• The issue: We remember being “skinnier” but often forget the full picture.
• Our bodies change so much as we go through life, and midlife is another really big transition. (Think back to the amount of change we went through during puberty!) We might recognize ourselves right now, and that can be really confusing and frustrating.
• It’s okay to feel this way, but let’s shift the focus to what really matters. I want to really help you embrace where you are now, and also have the confidence that you’re as healthy as you can be right now.

The Nostalgia Trap: Looking Back with Rose-Colored Glasses

• We tend to remember the past as “better” than it actually was.
• Ask yourself: Were you truly healthy then, or just thin?
• The reality for many women: Skinnier phases often came with:
  • Low muscle mass and weakness
  • Chronic dieting or poor nutrition habits
  • A restrictive mindset that felt like food “slavery”
  • Exhaustion or hormonal imbalances
• Research-backed insight: Studies show that maintaining weight at the expense of muscle mass can lead to metabolic slowdowns and decreased overall health as we age ([NIH, 2021]).

The Reality of the Present: What Fitness Truly Looks Like

• The scale might be higher now, but that doesn’t mean you’re unhealthy.
• Health isn’t just about weight—it’s about stamina, strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and power. These are the elements that make up a “fit” person.
• Ask yourself: Do you want to be fit, or just skinny?
• Research-backed insight: Strength training and muscle preservation are crucial for longevity, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and metabolic diseases ([Harvard Health, 2023]).

Moving Forward with Confidence

• Mindset shift: You might have no idea what your healthiest weight actually is.
• Focus on habits, not numbers—weight will naturally settle where it should.
• What to prioritize:
  • Move daily, strength train 2-3x a week.
  • Eat your PRO’s (protein & produce) at every meal.
  • Prioritize stress management and great sleep.

So while you do weigh more now, you could be in significantly better health, which means that your longevity and quality of life have gone up.

Let me put it this way: When you're 62, would you rather be skinny, but riddled with osteoporosis, terribly out of shape and unable to be there for your family... and your kids are having to be in a position to care for YOU, because you're unwell?

Or would you rather be 20 pounds heavier than that, yet energetic, youthful, with strong bones, heart and muscles, and your adult children and grandchildren are having to keep up with YOU?!

Call to Action: Let Your Body Find Its Healthiest Place

• Stop chasing an old number—start embracing what strong and healthy looks like for you now.
• Small steps: Pick one healthy habit to focus on this week.

FREE Weekly Jumpstart Newsletter! Master your midlife health in just 3 minutes a week with this easy-to-read newsletter

FREE 5-Day Core Tune Up - A free mini-course to dramatically improve your functional core strength, create better alignment, and relieve back and hip pain for good!

Need help getting started! Get Megan’s FREE 5-Day Jumpstart Tips guide!

The Jumpstart 30 Program for Beginners - Jumpstart your health & fitness journey with Megan’s signature 30-day program for true beginners!

The Back & Hip Fix 30-day program - Reduce your chronic back & hip pain in less than 10 minutes a day!

Follow Megan on Instagram

Follow Megan on YouTube