In this inspiring episode of The You World Order Showcase Podcast, host Jill Hart speaks with Alisha Carlson, brain-based fitness and lifestyle coach and host of the Strong Her Way podcast. Alisha’s approach to health and fitness combines mindset and tangible actions, helping women heal their relationships with food, body image, and themselves. Her mission is to guide women in creating a healthy lifestyle that fits seamlessly into their busy lives without restrictive diets or obsessive calorie counting.

Shifting the Paradigm: From Body Fixing to Self-Love

Alisha’s journey in the world of fitness and health began with her own struggles with body image. Growing up in the 90s, she internalized society’s ideals about the “perfect” body. She shared that she constantly compared herself to her peers, feeling that her body didn’t fit the mold. This quest to “fix” her body eventually led her to dieting, running, and even participating in bodybuilding competitions.

However, even at her “best” weight, Alisha still felt that something was missing. This experience, along with her observations of how diet culture affects women, ultimately inspired her to take a different path. Now, Alisha’s coaching focuses on the belief that true health and happiness start from within, and that embracing one's body as it is leads to a more fulfilling, balanced life.

The Power of Mindset in Health and Wellness

Jill and Alisha delve into the power of mindset in achieving sustainable health. Alisha highlights that many people think health starts with what they eat or how much they exercise, but in reality, it starts in the mind. For years, Alisha herself believed that changing her body would change her happiness, but even at her leanest, she still felt dissatisfied. This realization led her to explore the root of these feelings and adopt a holistic approach.

Alisha emphasizes the importance of questioning societal norms around beauty and health. “Who says what’s beautiful or acceptable?” she asks. By teaching her clients to question these beliefs and uncover their origins, Alisha helps them redefine what health and happiness mean for them personally. This shift in mindset empowers her clients to embrace their bodies, which is a crucial first step in their journeys toward self-acceptance and true well-being.

Breaking Free from Diet Culture

Both Jill and Alisha discuss the pressures and misconceptions surrounding weight loss and dieting. Alisha points out that for many women, there’s a deep-seated fear of food due to diet culture. They are often conditioned to believe that the only way to be healthy or “good enough” is through strict calorie restrictions and rigorous exercise routines. This diet mentality, however, can lead to burnout, stress, and a toxic relationship with food and body image.

Instead of counting calories and restricting food intake, Alisha encourages her clients to focus on eating intuitively, nourishing their bodies with the right nutrients, and enjoying food without guilt. She notes that counting calories is rarely sustainable, and it often leads to an unhealthy cycle of deprivation and overindulgence. Instead, her coaching centers on mindful eating and self-compassion, helping women feel at ease with their bodies and food choices.

Building Strength and Health for Longevity

One of the major themes in this episode is the importance of building strength and focusing on long-term health, especially for women as they age. Alisha explains that many of her clients, particularly those who are postmenopausal, are at risk of osteoporosis and other health issues. She emphasizes that strength training is essential, not just for aesthetics, but for maintaining muscle mass, balance, and bone health as we age.

Alisha and Jill discuss how women’s bodies change over time and how important it is to adapt our health and fitness goals accordingly. Rather than striving to look the way they did in their twenties, Alisha encourages her clients to embrace their current bodies and prioritize functional health and strength. “It’s about building a life that you enjoy and feel proud of, without focusing on arbitrary beauty standards,” she explains.

Redefining Success and Embracing Self-Acceptance

A significant part of Alisha’s work involves helping women redefine what success looks like in their health journeys. For many, success has been narrowly defined by the number on the scale or fitting into a particular clothing size. Alisha helps her clients shift away from these limiting beliefs and instead focus on how they feel, their energy levels, and their overall well-being.

Alisha shares that when she herself moved away from the diet mentality, her mind became “a much quieter place.” Without the constant chatter of calorie counting and body dissatisfaction, she was able to enjoy life more fully and develop a healthier, more balanced relationship with food and fitness. This mental shift allows her clients to detach from societal pressures and embrace their unique journeys.

Health as a Journey, Not a Destination

Throughout the episode, Alisha and Jill stress the importance of seeing health as a continuous journey rather than a fixed destination. For Alisha, the ultimate goal is to help women feel at peace in their bodies and to create healthy lifestyles that are sustainable, enjoyable, and free from the constraints of diet culture. Her brain-based coaching approach combines tangible actions with a mindset shift, allowing her clients to make lasting changes in their lives.

Alisha’s philosophy is simple but powerful: when women are able to heal their relationships with food and body image, they unlock a new level of freedom. They no longer feel the need to control every aspect of their health obsessively. Instead, they learn to enjoy the process, celebrate their progress, and live in alignment with their values and desires.

Join Alisha on a Journey to Self-Acceptance and Health

Alisha Carlson’s work is about more than just physical health—it’s about empowering women to embrace who they are and redefine health on their terms. Her coaching and podcast provide inspiration, practical strategies, and a compassionate space for women to heal, grow, and thrive. By shifting the focus from weight loss to well-being, Alisha is helping women live fuller, more meaningful lives.

To learn more about Alisha’s approach to health and fitness, tune into her podcast, Strong Her Way, where she shares weekly insights, tips, and real-life strategies for achieving sustainable health. You can also connect with her on social media for daily inspiration and motivation.

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Contact Alisha - http://alishacarlson.com

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