We used to believe that “healthy” meant skinny. Smaller was better. Less was more. Thin was the goal. If the number on the scale dropped, that meant we were winning. And for years, that belief ruled our lives, and it’s a big part of why we stopped dieting!
We micromanaged every bite of food. We declined dinner invites, studied restaurant menus and rarely ate dessert. Exercise was not for joy, it felt like a chore to either pre-burn calories or post-burn after a binge.
Looking back, the wildest part is that we truly believed this was just what you had to do to be healthy.
Now? Things couldn’t be more different.
These days, we move our bodies out of care, not punishment. We enjoy the pizza without guilt. We actually enjoy exercise (hello joy-fuelled Yoga + Pilates). We eat food that makes us feel good, in mind, body and soul.
But let’s be clear. This didn’t happen overnight.
The truth is, it took years of unpacking toxic beliefs handed to us by Diet Culture. It took naming the obsession for what it was… disordered eating, and then healing the deeply emotional relationship we had with food, weight and our bodies.
For me, Emma, this meant recovering from bulimia.
For Carla, it was breaking a cycle of dieting that started at age 11.
And while we’ve left dieting behind, we haven’t stopped caring about our health.
In fact, we care more than ever.
We’ve come to understand that yes, our weight can affect our health. And yes, our health influences our energy, our longevity, and our risk of illness. But now we can talk about this without the emotional spiral.
We don’t measure our self-worth by the number on the scale anymore. But we also don’t ignore the role that weight and lifestyle can play in overall wellbeing.
The difference now? We’ve removed the guilt. We’ve dropped the shame.
We’ve created space for a calm, clear, compassionate conversation about health… without punishing ourselves to get there.
And it feels so much better.
Just the other day, I was at the doctor’s and they used a body fat scanner machine. In the past, I would’ve felt frustrated, ready to spiral into thoughts like “these numbers don’t define me!” And while it’s true that our worth has nothing to do with these numbers, I’ve come to realise they can still hold valuable information.
Sometimes, those numbers can be indicators of important health factors… like your risk for type 2 diabetes, bone density or how well your organs are functioning.
I’m not saying you need to weigh yourself or scan your body fat. But personally, I’ve found it empowering to be in a space where those numbers no longer trigger shame, instead, they simply offer insight. It’s less about emotion and more about health.
So what do we do instead?
We focus on how we feel.
We tune in… are we eating enough vegetables? Are we moving our bodies in a way that feels energising or draining? Are we sleeping? Hydrated? Connected? Calm?
We still eat whole foods most of the time, because we love how they make us feel. But we also eat the cake, drink the wine, and say yes to spontaneous gelato stops.
We don’t follow food rules. We follow our intuition.
We’re no longer scared of carbs, oils or flour.
We don’t count calories, macros or workouts.
We say yes to living fully, freely and joyfully in the body we have.
And sure, we have days where old thoughts creep in, but we come back to the tools that ground us: breathwork, movement, meditation and connection.
If you’re reading this and nodding your head…
If you’ve spent years trying to be “good” with food…
If you’ve felt trapped by body shame or stuck in a toxic cycle…
We want you to know there’s another way.
And it starts by realising you’re already enough. Right now. No changes required.
Self-Acceptance isn’t a fluffy idea… it’s the very foundation of real, sustainable wellbeing. It’s helped us go on this journey where our weight is not emotionally triggering, where food and exercise feel less obsessive. It’s what powers everything we teach inside MerryBody. It’s why we created this movement.
Because you deserve to move your body in a way that makes you feel amazing. You deserve to enjoy food without overthinking it. You deserve a life that isn’t dictated by numbers, diet plans or body trends.
We’re not perfect. But we are healthy and feel vibrant. We stopped dieting and we’re free of diet culture. And if that sounds like something you’re craving… MerryBody might just be for you!
Always merrymaking,
Emma + Carla
P.S. Come try MerryBody for 7 days free. Create healthy habits for your mind and body! Access 100s of classes, a weekly workout plan, all our recipes and podcast episodes in one handy spot! Start your trial here!