Written by Danielle J. Mitchell

Before I became a parent, I was already deeply entrenched in the wellness world. As a personal trainer and sports nutritionist, my days revolved around helping others “look better” — even as my own health was quietly falling apart behind the scenes.

Six years ago, I made a terrifying but necessary decision: I walked away from that world. It wasn’t just burning me out — it was making me sick.

After years of battling bulimia and binge eating disorder (BED), I had no choice but to face a hard truth: the version of “wellness” I had been promoting was rooted in toxic diet culture, not actual health.

What followed was a long, unglamorous healing journey. With the support of psychologists and therapists, I began unpacking over 15 years of trauma, disordered eating, and relentless pressure. Along the way, I was also diagnosed with complex PTSD and ADHD — two pieces of the puzzle that suddenly made so much of my past make sense.

But the real turning point came when I became a mum.

When my daughter Bette was born, something inside me shifted. I didn’t want to be the mum sitting on the sidelines — I wanted to be down on the floor with her, playing, running, chasing her through parks, and keeping up with her wild, joyful energy. But at that time, I couldn’t even carry her through a shopping centre without losing my breath. I felt trapped in my own body.

I wasn’t chasing a number on the scales. I was chasing energy. Vitality. Strength. I wanted to feel better — not just for her, but for me.

And so began what I now call my Lifestyle Reset. Not a diet. Not an eight-week shred. This was a total rebuild — a new relationship with food and movement, grounded in respect, not restriction. I started choosing whole foods because I wanted to nourish my body, not punish it. I moved my body in ways that felt joyful, not obligatory.

And yes, as a byproduct of that, I lost weight — around 40 kilos. But that was never the goal.

I loved my body before. I love my body now. What changed is how I feel in it: strong, capable, energised. I can climb jungle gyms, dance around the living room, and chase my daughter without collapsing into a heap. That, to me, is the real transformation.

As I began sharing more of this journey, I realised just how many women — especially mums — were struggling with the same quiet exhaustion. Tired of dieting. Tired of starting over every Monday. Tired of being told their worth was tied to their size.

So I created The Lifestyle Reset Project, a program designed for real women with real lives. It lives inside an app — because let’s be honest, most of us are squeezing in self-care between work calls, school pick-ups, and the 47 snacks our toddlers demand daily.

Inside the app are flexible workouts (from 10 minutes to a full gym session), whole-food recipes, body-positive journaling prompts, and, most importantly, community.

No weigh-ins. No macro counting. No “before and after” shaming. Just sustainable, nourishing habits that fit your life — not disrupt it.

Each week, we check in, set intentions, and focus on how we feel, not how we look. Women can message me directly through the app for support, guidance, or just a little encouragement. We also run workshops on everything from ditching diet culture to postpartum movement and navigating wellness in a bigger body.

Because I know what it feels like to live in a bigger body. I’ve been 130 kilos, pregnant, exhausted, and unsure where to start. I know how it feels to walk into a gym and feel invisible — or worse, judged. That perspective matters.

The Lifestyle Reset Project is for the woman who wants to feel good again. For the mum who wants to play, not just watch. For the woman who’s tired of starting over — and just wants a fresh, doable path forward.

I’m still on this journey myself. But I’m no longer doing it alone. And neither do you have to.

To learn more or join the Lifestyle Reset Project, visit www.daniellejmitchell.com or follow me on Instagram @daniellejmitchell.