Ep 155: “Breaking Free from Postpartum Body Pressure” with Marlene Andersson
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Release Date: 02/13/2025
Ep 159: "How to Eat More Veggies and Make Them Delicious" with Jess Smith
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Let’s be honest: most of us have tried to eat more —only to watch them slowly wilt in the back of the fridge. Or we associate veggies with bland, boring “diet food” and force ourselves to eat them when we’re feeling guilty, not because we actually enjoy them. In this episode, Alison chats with cookbook author , whose brilliant approach to vegetables reclaims them from diet culture and places them at the center of meals that are actually satisfying, flexible, and delicious. Jess’s cookbook flips the script on meal planning. Instead of figuring out how to “squeeze in”...
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Ep 158: "Rest is Fuel" with Erin Taylor
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Are you constantly pushing through fatigue, thinking you’ll rest later—only to find that “later” never comes? In a culture that glorifies busyness, rest often feels like a luxury we can’t afford. But what if we told you that rest isn’t just a break—it’s a performance-enhancing strategy? In this episode, joins us to unpack the truth about rest as fuel—why we struggle with it, how our mindset around rest is all wrong, and the small but powerful ways we can integrate it into our daily lives. We dive deep into the idea that rest is not something that just happens—it’s a...
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Ep 157: Help Your Daughter Build a Positive Body Image with Drs. Janet Boseovski and Ashleigh Gallagher
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
We often associate poor body image and body dissatisfaction with teens and adult women. But the reality that the roots of negative body image take hold much earlier than that. In this week's episode, we dive deep into the science behind body image with Drs. Janet Boseovski and Ashleigh Gallagher, co-authors of Beyond Body Positive: A Mother’s Science-Based Guide for Helping Girls Build a Healthy Body Image. This conversation is a must-listen for moms, caregivers, and anyone looking to foster a healthier relationship with their body and break the cycle of toxic diet culture. From early...
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Ep 156: “The Science Behind Successful Habit Change” with Dr. Kyra Bobinet
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Why is it so hard to change our habits—even when we know what to do? If you’ve ever struggled with sticking to your health goals, finding motivation, or breaking free from self-sabotage, you’re not alone. The real reason change feels impossible isn’t about willpower or discipline—it’s about your brain. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the neuroscience of behavior change with , a leading expert on habit formation. She breaks down how a tiny but powerful part of your brain—the habenula—can either fuel your motivation or shut it down completely. And, most importantly, she...
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Ep 155: “Breaking Free from Postpartum Body Pressure” with Marlene Andersson
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
What if the key to thriving in motherhood isn’t "bouncing back" to some old version of you—but moving forward into new postpartum potential and opportunities? In this empowering episode, I sat down with coach and former elite CrossFit athlete Marlene Andersson to dive into the pressures women face around "snapping back" after pregnancy. Together, we unpack the cultural myths that keep high-achieving women stuck in unrealistic expectations and explore a mindset shift that prioritizes self-compassion, growth, and sustainable health over outdated body ideals. Marlene shares her deeply...
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Ep 154: "Non-Financial Investments for Your Dream Retirement" with Suzanne Campi
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
Retirement planning isn’t just about financial planning—it’s about creating a life you love in your later years. In this episode, we sit down with , a coach specializing in life transitions, to talk about all the non-financial investments you can make now to ensure a fulfilling retirement. From relationships and adventure to purpose and health, Suzanne shares powerful insights on how to cultivate a meaningful, vibrant future beyond just saving money. Here’s Why We’re Obsessed with This Episode 🔥 Retirement is more than a 401k – Most of us have been told our whole lives to save...
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Ep 153: “Longevity = Training to Lift Weight, Not to Lose Weight” with Niki Sims
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
For many Gen X and Millennial women, fitness was introduced through the lens of —workouts were about burning calories and getting smaller. But as we've grown older, we’re realizing that those outdated messages aren’t serving us anymore. In this episode of the podcast, we explore a powerful shift: moving away from exercise as a means to shrink ourselves and instead embracing fitness as a way to enhance our quality of life and longevity. This week, I sat down with strength coach of to dive into the world of training and why women should be lifting weights for strength, not just for...
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Ep 152: "Understanding Diet Culture & Its Impact on Body Image"
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
is making a resurgence and we couldn't be more pissed off about it. The signs are everywhere. New weight loss drugs that are making people think our bodes are more changeable than they actually are and promise in their advertising the same shit diets have promised for generations and failed to deliver on -- the myth of transformation. Former champions of have gone to the dark side. Vogue Business is reporting a "worrying return to using extremely thin models" and a drop-off in size inclusivity in the fashion industry. There are whole industries out there that make billions of dollars each...
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Ep 151: "Cortisol: The Misunderstood Stress Hormone" with Dr. Carla DiGirolamo
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
We hear so much about cortisol, the " hormone," on social media these days. has become a buzz word in the health and fitness industry—part of a cautionary tale used to warn women away from intense bouts of exercise they age. From fear-mongering posts about how it’s ruining your health to questionable advice from "hormone coaches" selling pricey supplements and restrictive diets—it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. That’s why we brought in the expert, —a Board Certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Reproductive Endocrinologist, Certified Practitioner, and fitness enthusiast...
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Ep 150: 5 Beliefs to Leave Behind for an Epic New Year
The Fit Bottomed Girls Podcast
With a new year, comes new goals and new . The end of one year and the beginning of another provide the perfect opportunity to pause, take stock, and reflect on the goals we want to achieve and the habits we hope to form. But what if the biggest obstacle standing in the way of your success wasn’t external? What if it was rooted in our own beliefs and thought patterns? That’s exactly what we explore in this week’s episode of , where I sat down with FBG Alex - a mindset coach passionate about helping individuals break free from limiting beliefs and step into their full potential - to break...
info_outlineWhat if the key to thriving in motherhood isn’t "bouncing back" to some old version of you—but moving forward into new postpartum potential and opportunities?
In this empowering episode, I sat down with coach and former elite CrossFit athlete Marlene Andersson to dive into the pressures women face around "snapping back" after pregnancy.
Together, we unpack the cultural myths that keep high-achieving women stuck in unrealistic expectations and explore a mindset shift that prioritizes self-compassion, growth, and sustainable health over outdated body ideals.
Marlene shares her deeply personal journey—from being an elite competitor at the top of her game to navigating the identity shift that comes with motherhood. With refreshing honesty, she describes the struggle of balancing a driven, perfectionist mindset with the unpredictable nature of raising a child.
She also walks us through her Mighty Mom Blueprint, a four-step strategy designed to help mothers build strength—mentally and physically—without burning out or sacrificing precious time with their families.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the pressure to “get your body back” or struggled to balance your ambitions with the realities of motherhood, this episode will shift your perspective in powerful ways. Get ready to rethink what it means to be strong, healthy, and successful as a mother—and as a woman.
🔥 Marlene’s raw and honest take on why bouncing back is a myth that sets women up for failure.
💪 A relatable, no-nonsense discussion about why women are expected to evolve in every area—except when it comes to their bodies.
🧠 The deep dive into how high-achievers struggle with perfectionism and adjusting expectations in the postpartum period.
Don’t Miss This Episode If…
✅ You’ve ever felt pressure to “get your pre-baby body back” (and maybe even guilt that you haven’t).
✅ You’re a high-achieving woman struggling to adjust to the unpredictability of motherhood.
✅ You find yourself overwhelmed by the expectations of doing it all—parenting, fitness, work, and more.
✅ You want practical, sustainable strategies for staying healthy and strong without punishing yourself.
✅ You’ve ever battled perfectionism and the fear of “not doing enough.”
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- Why the concept of “bouncing back” is a damaging illusion—and what to focus on instead.
- How to shift your mindset from self-criticism to self-compassion while pursuing your goals.
- The Mighty Mom Blueprint—Marlene’s four-step strategy for building a strong, healthy body and mind in motherhood.
- How to set goals that actually stick (hint: it’s not just about SMART goals).
- Why sustainable habits—no matter how small—lead to long-term success.
- The key to trusting your body, listening to its needs, and ditching diet culture for good.
- The biggest mistakes women make when trying to “fix” their bodies after pregnancy—and what to do instead.
About Marlene Andersson
As a former CrossFit Games athlete and busy toddler mom, Marlene brings the lessons from her athletic career into her postpartum coaching. Inspired by her own challenges balancing self-care, family, and career, she developed the Mighty Mom Blueprint—a 4-step strategy that blends the athlete's mindset with the realities of motherhood, helping moms move beyond the pressure to 'bounce back' and embrace their strongest, healthiest selves.
Connect with Marlene & The Mighty Moms Community
Sponsor Shoutout
This episode was brought to you by Miles to Go Athletics. Take our app-based training community for a two-week no obligation test drive here.
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