Karen Michelle, founder of Stronger With KM, has built a coaching practice rooted in empowerment… helping women move away from restriction and toward a life where strength is measured not by numbers, but by self-trust. Her own story began with years of navigating identity, insecurity, and the pressure to look a certain way. Over time, she discovered that true transformation happens not through perfection, but through presence.
In this conversation, Karen shares her journey from struggling with food to building a holistic coaching business that centers nourishment, compassion, and consistency. Her reflections reveal a simple truth: when you learn to trust your body, everything changes.
Finding Identity Beyond the Body
Karen’s wellness journey began where many start, trying to fit into an image that wasn’t hers. “I felt like I had an identity crisis,” she said. “I was like, okay, I like fitness. And I thought if I looked the part, I would feel the part and that’s not how it works.”
As she pushed harder, the disconnect grew. “I didn’t feel like myself. I didn’t feel strong. I didn’t feel confident,” she recalled. “I thought if I looked a certain way, I’d finally feel confident, and that was not the case.”
What shifted everything was realizing she didn’t have to shrink to belong. “You can look great, but if you don’t feel great, then it doesn’t matter. I had to learn what confidence actually feels like.”
Rewriting the Story Around Food
Karen’s relationship with food transformed when she stopped chasing restriction and started learning how her body works. “I realized I never learned how to eat,” she said. “I didn’t know what portions should look like or how to fuel myself.”
That lack of education led to cycles of overeating and shame. “I was overeating, binge eating. I thought something was wrong with me. But it wasn’t emotional… I was just starving. My body wasn’t getting enough.”
Once she understood fueling, everything shifted. “When I started eating more, I actually had energy. I wasn’t thinking about food all day. I wasn’t feeling guilty. It was the first time I ever felt food freedom.”
She now teaches her clients the same foundation. “It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being aware. It’s about learning how to nourish yourself and still enjoy your life.”
Self-Trust as the Real Transformation
Early in her journey, Karen believed discipline meant doing everything alone. “My biggest problem was I didn’t trust myself,” she said. “I didn’t think I could stick to anything.”
But discipline, she learned, isn’t about rigidity, it’s a form of self-respect. “I had to prove to myself that I could keep my word. Small things like drinking water, eating three meals a day, going for a walk… that’s what builds trust.”
Her biggest shift came when she realized that consistency is created, not magically found. “I didn’t wake up motivated. I had to build habits. I had to parent myself in the best way… with structure, with compassion, with patience.”
That mindset is now the heart of Stronger With KM. “You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to show up. When you keep those little promises, that’s when you grow.”
Building a Coaching Business Rooted in Support
Karen created Stronger With KM to help women feel supported in the ways she once needed. “I didn’t want to struggle with this forever,” she said. “And I didn’t want other women to either.”
Her coaching style reflects her lived experience. “I’m not going to tell you to cut out everything you love. I’m not going to make you fear food. I want you to live your life. I want you to feel good.”
At the core of her work is sustainable change. “Most people think they have to overhaul their whole life. But it’s the small habits — that’s what actually sticks. I’ll never ask a client to do something I wouldn’t do myself.”
Her approach is compassionate but honest. “I’m going to hold you accountable. I’m going to support you. But I’m also going to be real with you. Because that’s what I needed — someone who cared enough to tell me the truth.”
Letting Go of Who You ‘Should’ Be
Much of Karen’s growth has come from unlearning expectations — the ones placed on her and the ones she placed on herself. “I kept trying to be who I thought I should be,” she admitted. “But that version wasn’t me.”
She learned to embrace ease instead of striving. “Once I stopped forcing everything, things started falling into place. I wasn’t chasing anymore. I was choosing.”
That surrender allowed her to step into the life she wanted. “You’re allowed to change. You’re allowed to grow. You’re allowed to become someone you’re proud of.”
Her message is rooted in both strength and softness. “You don’t have to hustle your way into worthiness. You’re allowed to take up space. You’re allowed to feel good.”
Coming Home to Yourself
Karen Michelle’s story is a reminder that wellness is less about what you look like and more about how you live. Her work teaches women to nourish their bodies, honor their needs, and trust themselves again.
“When you learn to fuel your body, when you learn to be consistent, when you learn to choose yourself — that’s when everything changes,” she said. “Feeling strong comes from the inside.”
Through Stronger With KM, she’s helping women rewrite their narratives — shifting from restriction to nourishment, from self-doubt to confidence, and from seeking approval to choosing alignment.
