About Me

My first memory of feeling uncomfortable in my body was when I was 10 years old and in fourth grade. IN FOURTH GRADE, I began to realize that I was a person in a bigger body and I was ALREADY ashamed of it in elementary school. I am sure others can relate; so many of us have been made to feel ashamed of our bodies or appearances. I shared my insecurity with my mom, and at the age of 10, she wanted to support me in the best way she knew how; she made an appointment for me with my aunt who was a nutritionist so I could learn about food journaling. This was my first “diet.” From then on, weight loss became an “important” (aka obsessive) part of my life for the next 30 YEARS! I tried several other diets throughout my teens, twenties, thirties, never being told that it was OK to be OK with what I looked like.

I always loved sports and being athletic. When I was younger this was easy; I played on teams – basketball, softball, soccer, volleyball, swimming; or I played outside with the neighborhood kids. As I got older, I had less of an interest in joining a team and more of an interest in socializing with friends or working after school so physical fitness kind of fell off the priority list.

For years, I had so much anxiety and hardly any self respect. I never realized this back then, but knowing what I know now, it was 1000% anxiety – the circling thoughts, the worry about being out with social circles, the never ending nervous physical sensations running through my body.

Once I began to reincorporate regular movement into my life, I realized what an amazing coping skill it was for me for anxiety and stress management. During senior year of college, I started using the gym on a regular basis and from then on, fitness rejoined my daily life (hallelujah!). Whether it was working out at a gym, going to classes, or eventually at-home workouts once I had my two boys, time set aside for movement became a non-negotiable. Despite that, I still couldn’t shake the obsession with diet culture. It wasn’t until five years ago that I thought to myself, “Is this it? Am I always going to be obsessed about how my body looks, about food, about dieting? I can’t imagine being 80 and still caring about this.” At that time, I was considering getting a divorce, and doing a lot of internal work. I realized ENOUGH was ENOUGH. Life is more than these thoughts.

I worked with an amazing guide who helps women learn about intuitive eating and body acceptance, and what a difference it made! Do I still have days that I don’t like what I look like in the mirror or a photo? Sure. Do I have days when my thoughts are negative about my body? YES! I’d be lying if I said no; BUT the obsession has changed.

I want to be able to spread the message of body inclusivity and body acceptance to others who are struggling with it. I truly know the depths of the darkness that comes with getting lost in your thoughts, feeling like you just aren’t good enough.

Here, you’ll find at-home workout ideas, tips for finding healthier alternatives, and honest conversations about mental health, setbacks, and body image. EveryBody Moves with Erica is a place to lift each other up, celebrate our progress, and embrace the joy in every step of our fitness journeys. So glad you’re here! Reach out to me with any questions!