The Body Image Podcast, From Not Liking to Appreciating Yourself

Did you start feeling worse about your body after beginning your fitness or weight loss journey?If so, you are not doing anything wrong.In this episode of the Body Image Shift Podcast, I break down a stage of the fitness journey that almost nobody talks about, the awareness phase.This is the point where you go from surface-level thoughts like “I should work out more” to actually becoming aware of how you feel about your body, your habits, and yourself.And that awareness can feel uncomfortable.But it is also where real change begins.I talk about why this happens, why the fitness industry often skips over this part, and how to reframe these feelings as a signal instead of a setback.This episode will help you:Understand why body image can feel worse before it improvesReframe discomfort as a sign of growthStop thinking you are doing something wrongBuild awareness without tearing yourself downStart appreciating your body at every stageThis is not a setback.This is the beginning of a deeper relationship with yourself.Your Level Fitness Links:New to YLF?Explore the framework and start building your own approach:https://www.yourlevelfitness.comWeekday Journal Prompts:Go deeper with your body image and mindset:https://www.yourlevelfitness.com/email

What happens when your body changes, but your self-image stays stuck in the past?In this episode, I’m sharing a conversation originally recorded for the Life During and After GLP-1 Podcast because it perfectly captures the complicated emotional and mental side of body image after major weight loss.Brian and I talk about growing up with obesity, internalizing body image struggles for decades, navigating major physical transformation through GLP-1 medication, and the challenge of mentally catching up to what you see in the mirror.This conversation explores:• Body image after weight loss• The emotional side of obesity• Why self-image does not automatically change with the scale• Men’s body image struggles and self-esteem• The mental adjustment after rapid transformation• Toxic diet culture and unrealistic body expectations• Identity shifts after major weight loss• Confidence, self-worth, and self-perception• Moving from scale obsession into strength and longevityOne of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that body image healing is not just about changing your body. It is about learning to untangle years of conditioning, criticism, shame, and unrealistic expectations while building a healthier relationship with yourself from the inside/out.This is a thoughtful conversation about self-image, identity, confidence, and learning to see yourself differently after years of struggle.Connect with Brian:TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@brianrantsaboutstuffLinktree:https://linktr.ee/brianrantsaboutstuffNew to Your Level Fitness?https://yourlevelfitness.com

There’s a habit you might not even realize you’re doing that’s quietly holding you back from improving your body image.Avoiding your reflection.In this episode, I break down why avoiding mirrors feels like protection, but actually reinforces negative self-perception over time. I share my personal experience living with cerebral palsy and how I’ve learned to appreciate my body for what it does, not just how it looks.We talk about how body standards constantly change, why outside opinions should never define how you see yourself, and how to start building a more supportive relationship with yourself from the inside out.This isn’t about forcing confidence overnight. It’s about practicing appreciation, even in small moments, and shifting the way you respond when you see yourself.YLF Links:New To Your Level FitnessStart here: https://yourlevelfitness.comBuild A Better Relationship With YourselfJournal prompts to improve body image: https://yourlevelfitness.com/emailWear The Identity You’re BuildingExplore the shop: https://yourlevelfitness.shop

If you don’t change how you see yourself, progress will never feel like progress.In this episode, we break down why you still pick yourself apart even after making real, noticeable progress on your weight loss journey.You can see the change.You’ve felt the change.But there are still moments where the old thoughts come rushing back.That’s not because your progress isn’t real.It’s because the pattern hasn’t changed.We talk about:The habit loop behind self-criticismWhy this is emotional, not logicalHow years of conditioning shape how you see yourselfAnd how to start interrupting that patternThe goal is not perfection.The goal is creating a new way of seeing yourself from the inside out.Your Level Fitness Links:New to YLF? Start here:https://yourlevelfitness.comWork on how you see yourself from the inside out:https://yourlevelfitness.com/emailRepresent your inside out life:https://yourlevelfitness.shop/collections/inside-out-life

Why are you really afraid of gaining the weight back?In this episode, I break down the deeper fear behind weight regain and why it’s not just about the number on the scale. For many people, the fear is tied to identity. It’s the fear of going back to a version of yourself that you’ve spent years trying to move away from.But here’s the truth…You’re not becoming someone new. You’re evolving.I talk about how your identity doesn’t disappear when you lose weight, why your past thoughts can still show up, and how to build trust with yourself instead of trying to outrun who you used to be.This episode is about shifting your focus from appearance to identity, from fear to self-trust, and from external validation to an inside/out approach to confidence.Your Level Fitness Links:New to YLF? Start here:https://www.yourlevelfitness.comDaily Journal Prompt Emails (Monday through Friday):https://www.yourlevelfitness.com/emailRepresent your inside/out lifestyle:https://yourlevelfitness.shop

You lost the weight. You made the changes.So why don’t you feel better about yourself?This is one of the most frustrating and confusing parts of a fitness or weight loss journey, especially when the external results are there, but internally, nothing feels different.In this episode, we break down why body image is not something that automatically improves with weight loss, and why the way you see yourself is deeply rooted in years of experiences, beliefs, and reinforcement.We also talk about how to rebuild your body image from the inside out, instead of trying to “fix” it from the outside.What You’ll Learn:Why body image is more emotional than logicalHow negative self-perception is built over timeWhy weight loss doesn’t automatically improve confidenceHow to start rebuilding how you see yourselfA simple daily exercise to begin shifting your mindsetYour Level Fitness Links:If you’re new to Your Level Fitness:https://yourlevelfitness.comGet the Almost Daily Journal Prompts:https://yourlevelfitness.com/emailBuild your identity and represent your inside/out life:https://yourlevelfitness.shop/collections/inside-out-life

You’ve lost the weight. You’ve made the changes. But when you look in the mirror, nothing feels different.Why?In this episode, I break down why changing your body doesn’t automatically change how you see yourself, and what actually needs to shift if you want to feel better about who and what you see in the mirror.We talk about:Why body image doesn’t improve just because your appearance changesHow habits of self-criticism are built over timeThe role of patience, compassion, and daily reinforcementWhy appreciation has to be chosen, not earnedHow to start building a more supportive relationship with yourselfThis is about learning to appreciate yourself at every stage, not waiting until you “arrive.”Your Level Fitness Links:Brand new to Your Level Fitness? Start here:https://yourlevelfitness.comBuild your forever active lifestyle:https://yourlevelfitness.com/lifestyleWant to represent your inside/out lifestyle?https://yourlevelfitness.shop

Welcome to The Body Image Podcast, From Not Liking to Appreciating Yourself, hosted by Daryl Perry of Your Level Fitness.This podcast is for anyone who has spent time on a weight loss journey and still struggles with what they see in the mirror. If you’ve ever found yourself picking apart your appearance, feeling like it’s never enough, or tying your self-worth to your body, you’re not alone, and you’re not stuck.In this show, we’re going to break down the patterns that keep you stuck in that cycle and introduce a different way of approaching body image. One that allows you to appreciate yourself from the inside out while still working toward your goals.We’ll talk about how the fitness industry shapes the way you see yourself, how to build a better relationship with food and movement, and how to shift from constant self-criticism to something more supportive and sustainable.New episodes drop every Tuesday morning.If this resonates with you, subscribe and share this podcast with someone who needs to hear it.Your Level Fitness Links:New to YLF?https://yourlevelfitness.comWant to represent your inside/out forever active lifestyle?https://yourlevelfitness.shop