A Journey Back to Health and Confidence

This isn’t a “before and after” story. It’s a story about coming home to yourself. Over the past 6 months to a year, I’ve been quietly making intentional changes to my daily habits. Focusing on what fuels my body, energizes my spirit, and show up fully in life. What started as small shifts – more movement, better sleep, nourishing meals – has led to a powerful transformation, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. This is a bit about my journey toward strength, confidence, and sustainable wellness. I’m not sharing this as the perfect roadmap for everyone, but as an invitation for anyone who is ready to feel better from the inside out!

About a year ago I really felt a nudge (that quiet inner voice saying, it’s time). Time to stop putting myself last. Time to prioritize energy over exhaustion, strength over stress. But it wasn’t until the end of 2024 that something truly clicked. Instead of dabbling in quick fixes or unsustainable routines, I committed to real, lasting change. With the support of a few trusted tools and a complete mindset shift that focused on progress, not perfection, I began rebuilding my habits! What followed was a transformation rooted in consistency, not intensity! So, what changed?

One of the first and most impactful changes? Introducing high-quality supplements into my daily routine. While no magic weight-loss pill exists, I realized my body had been running on E for far too long (not to mention balancing everything and everyone else). Incorporating Beautiful Yū into my life helped fill nutritional gaps, boost my energy, and support my metabolism! When I started Yū it wasn’t about restriction, it was about replenishment! This small daily commitment became a foundational piece of my routine and one of the first steps I took that really made me feel better, not just look different.

In My Daily Lineup:

Earth + Ocean Greens includes leafy greens, healthy seaweed, natural grasses, high-antioxidant fruits, nutritious vegetables, deep ocean minerals, and plant-based digestive enzymes. It sounds like it tastes like grass, but I promise I’ve tried so many greens and these taste so good!

Trimfit is the little energizer bunny! It’s a natural energy giver, fat burner, excess calorie avoider, and mood enhancer that you need in your life right now.

If you’re not taking collagen, let this be your sign! Yū’s Optimized Collagen Peptides contains a unique blend of optimized collagen peptides! Type I and Type III (bovine source) are specifically used to promote hair, skin, and bone health. This will boost the elasticity of your skin, help erase wrinkles and restore your youthful glow.

I mix together the 3 above in one glass (sometimes 12 ounces of water, sometimes 40, adjust to what you prefer)!

I finish off my supplements with the Protect Probiotic. Gut health is everything. This packet keeps things balanced, bloat free, and feeling good!

When I’m really struggling with periods or perimenopause raises it’s ugly claws, I also take the Total Hormone Balance to help balance the fluctuation of estrogen levels in my bodies, making periods and my emotional rollercoaster a bit more manageable!

Beautiful Yū has even more great options depending on your needs! You can read more about everything Yū offers right here (and if it’s not automatically applied, use code cortneyspencer to save)! Need help deciding the best combo for you? Shoot me an email at beautywithcortney@gmail.com and together we can decide the best course for YOU!

Getting Serious

Once I got more energy and started feeling better I realized how bad I really felt. I knew it was time to dig a little deeper. That’s when I decided to meet with a nutritionist and figure out the best course of actions for me and my specific needs. Not to follow a strict meal plan, but to understand my body better! Together, we looked at what was working, what wasn’t, and how to fuel my body in a way that felt doable and nourishing! This guidance cause my the confidence to take the next step and gave me direction to support my goals long-term!

Together we mapped out a plan focused on fueling my body! My daily goals became simple but powerful: around 100g of protein, under 35g of sugar, 188g of total carbs, and a balanced 1,800 calories a day. Prioritizing whole foods, limiting processed sugars, and cutting out pop and alcohol! I started eating with intention – protein first, veggies second, and everything else after. That one change made it easier to my protein goals and help me feel fuller longer. Daily protein shakes became a daily staple, and limiting coffee to just one cup a day gave me more consistent energy. I even added a vibration machine into my daily routine to help support lymphatic drainage and overall circulation. If you need help tracking your food intake I highly recommend MyFitnessPal in the app store!

Above all, this wasn’t just about losing weight. It was about strengthening my heart, my mindset, and my body. With a family history of heart issues and my own experience managing cholesterol, blood pressure, and anxiety, I knew it was time to take control of my health. I want to be strong, I really do, and that’s part of my heart behind all of this.

Chickpeas / Chomps / Cottage Cheese / Premier Protein / Breakfast Bars

Let’s Get STRONG

Fitness became a non-negotiable. I forgot how much working out helped clear my head and lower my anxiety (after kids I was running marathons). I decided that I needed to bring movement back into my life, and not just when it was convenient. I’ve been consistently doing Peloton workouts (I seriously love them), mixing in strength training, stretching, and walks, and recently added a Peloton bike to my home setup to switch it up and continue strengthening my body. On days the weather cooperates, I try to make it outside for a walk (wearing my weighted vest), soaking up the fresh air and getting my steps in! I don’t try to hit a certain step goal daily, just that I move my body. I’ve started showing up for myself daily and I’m feeling more like me again – balanced, capable, and confident.

Peloton Tread / Weighted Vest / Workout Bench / Weights / Peloton Bike

You don’t have to wait for the New Year, for next Monday, a new month, or a rock-bottom moment to start showing up for yourself. Start with one small choice- drink the water, grab some supplements, take the walk, add the protein, ask the questions! It’s not about chasing a number on the scale; it’s about creating a life that feels energized, strong and sustainable. You deserve to feel good in your body. You deserve to feel proud of how you take care for yourself. And the best part? You don’t have to do it all at once – you just have to start!

If this inspired you to move, add in protein, or make a healthy choice today, tag me in your stories or posts – I’d love to cheer you on! Let’s do this together!

Want to shop more of my favorite things? Check them out here!

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  1. lindsay chittock says:

    Love love love your content! It’s part of my morning routine! Thank you for all you put out there ! Here for it!

  2. Lori DuPriest says:

    Cortney, love how you share “real life” victories and struggles. Thank you for your inspiration🩷

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