How I Ditched the Scale, and Healed My Body Image,
About This Episode
Content note: This episode contains honest discussion of body image, bullying, drug use, birth control, and disordered relationships with food and exercise. Please listen with care.
This is the episode where we stop talking about what the scale says and start talking about what your body actually needs.
Camisha shares her full physical health journey — from childhood food habits and body image trauma to dangerous weight loss during drug use, going off birth control cold turkey, discovering cycle syncing, and finally finding a sustainable, intuitive approach to movement and nourishment that actually feels good.
This is not a weight loss episode. This is a coming-home episode.
In this episode, I share:
Being called Obisha in middle school by the football players and how that name planted the first seed of body shame
Growing up in a lower-income household where affordable food meant junk food, and how that shaped early eating habits
Losing dangerous amounts of weight during drug use from stimulants, and what it felt like to look in the mirror and see myself withering away
The promise I made to myself that if I was ever that small again, it would be because of health, not because of drugs
Going off birth control cold turkey at the end of 2021 and what happened to my hormones, my sleep, my skin, and my emotions
Why you should never stop birth control cold turkey and what to do instead
An introduction to cycle syncing and the four phases of the menstrual cycle, including menstrual, follicular, ovulation, and luteal
Why certain foods, seeds, activities, and workouts are better suited to certain phases of your cycle
Jumping into Pilates and yoga, and why learning mat Pilates foundations before reformer classes made all the difference
How I stopped chasing a number on the scale and started asking what makes my body feel good instead
Reading ingredients instead of relying on organic or all-natural labels and why that distinction matters
The importance of balance, still enjoying pizza, red wine, and Skittles, while being mindful of the majority of choices
Why European wine may be a better choice than California wine, and what that says about our FDA standards
How intuitive movement and cycle-aligned eating finally gave my body the peace it had been waiting for
Learning to love my body even in the luteal phase when bloating and PMS arrive
Key Takeaway
Stop asking yourself how can I lose weight. Start asking how can I make my body feel safe, strong, and nourished today. When you stop punishing your body and start nurturing it, it responds. Every single time.
Cycle Syncing 101
Women move through four distinct phases in a 28 to 35-day cycle. Each phase calls for different foods, movement, and rest.
Menstrual Phase — Days 1 to 7. Your bleed. Rest, gentle movement, and nourishing warmth.
Follicular Phase — After your bleed ends. Energy begins to rise. Great time for trying new workouts and foods.
Ovulation Phase — Mid-cycle. Your highest energy phase. Perfect for dance, strength training, and social connection.
Luteal Phase — The two weeks before your bleed. Energy drops. Prioritize low-impact movement, seed cycling, and extra rest.
Resources Mentioned
Mat Pilates on YouTube — free foundational Pilates practice you can do at home before moving to reformer classes
The Activations App: visualization meditations mentioned in Episode 03
IIN, Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Use code CAMISHABLACKBURNXIIN for 25% off all classes
Connect with Camisha
If this episode resonated with you and you are ready to start healing your relationship with your body from the inside out, I would love to connect. Book your free health history session at Blackburn Wellness and let us talk about where you are and where you want to be.
You can also screenshot this episode and tag Camisha on Instagram to share one thing you are doing this week to nurture your body. Because sharing helps us all heal and ditch that toxic scale mentality.