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In this episode I'm sitting down with Laura Lindahl—certified pre and postnatal coach, exercise physiologist, and Christian body image coach—to talk about something so many moms wrestle with: the pressure to "bounce back" after baby and how to approach postpartum health from a place of grace, not guilt.

Laura's story will resonate with so many of us. She went from being trapped in superficial fitness obsessed with how she looked and what others thought, to experiencing a complete transformation when God called her back to her first love. Now she helps moms rebuild strength physically, emotionally, and spiritually after birth through her ministry True Strength Collective and the Strong After Birth Podcast.

This conversation challenges the harmful "bounce back" culture that puts unrealistic timelines and expectations on postpartum moms. Instead, Laura shares how we can build strength from a place of acceptance rather than striving for acceptance—honoring our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit while giving ourselves the grace and time our bodies actually need to heal.

Whether you're currently pregnant, in your postpartum season, or just tired of feeling like your worth is tied to how quickly you "bounce back"—this episode offers biblical truth and practical wisdom for approaching health as an act of worship, not performance.

In this episode, we discuss:

🌸 How Laura's fitness obsession led to burnout and distance from God—and the moment everything changed

⚖️ Why "bounce back" culture is hormonally harmful and biblically unsound for postpartum moms

💪 The difference between building strength from acceptance vs. for acceptance

🎯 Practical first steps for moms who feel stuck or disconnected from their bodies

✝️ How our identity in Christ frees us from the comparison trap and cultural pressure

🏃‍♀️ Why focusing on building muscle (not losing weight) transforms how we feel as moms

Scripture Shared:

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." – Romans 8:1 (ESV)

"Do not despise small beginnings." – Zechariah 4:10

Mentioned in this episode:

💪 Laura's 3-Day Core Restore Plan: Free postpartum recovery guide with exercise demos and diastasis recti assessment

🩷 True Strength Collective: Laura's online coaching for moms

🎧 Strong After Birth Podcast: Postpartum strength training and body image encouragement

✨ Christian Mama Birth Prep Library: Free birth prep tools, worship playlists & more

💛 Work with Me 1:1 - Personalized pregnancy and birth support that integrates faith and evidence-based care, including virtual coaching, doula support, and comprehensive childbirth education

If this episode encouraged you to see your body and health through God's eyes, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a friend who needs this message.

Let's reject the lies of bounce back culture and embrace the freedom found in Christ—one faithful step at a time. Go here for the full blog post, show notes, and all resources mentioned!

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