The body we chose to love — what self-advocacy looks like.

I would love to hear from you! Send me a text.

If you've been listening since the beginning, you know this one has been coming. I teased it in Episode 2. I mentioned it again in Episode 6. And today we finally go there — the whole story, nothing left out.

Last episode I told you things I had never said out loud before — about cheerleading weigh-ins, about Ipecac, about a lifelong complicated relationship with my body. And you showed up. The DMs, the voice memos, the texts from people I hadn't heard from in years saying me too, Stephanie. Me too. So today we go back in. Because I left something out. Something big.

In this episode I'm sharing my full GLP-1 journey — what 18 months on it actually taught me, what it did and didn't fix, and why the tool is never the whole answer. I'm also finally telling my surgery story. All of it. The first doctor who made a game day decision on my body. The bad marriage I was surviving at the same time. The revision surgery I negotiated on a budget because I needed it and I was worth it. The surprise pregnancy at 41 that gave me Maddie Jo. And the mommy makeover I do not regret for a single second — the one where I finally walked in from a place of love instead of survival and walked out feeling like myself for the first time in years.

I'm also sharing why being able to just run — without holding myself together with my own hands — meant more to me than any number on a scale ever could.

This episode is for anyone who has ever made a choice for their body and felt like they had to hide it. Anyone who has wondered whether using every tool available to you means you haven't done the real work. Anyone who has been waiting for permission to advocate for themselves.

You have the permission. You always did.

This week we're also covering:

The two supplements that have become non-negotiables for me — creatine and magnesium — and exactly why every woman over 35 needs to know about both. Our word this week is CHOICE. Confidence Corner is about doing hard things without apologizing for them. And Maddie Jo closes us out with the quiet confidence of a kid who spent her entire spring break on a science project without complaining once — and reminded me that you don't need courage before you do the hard thing. You find it after.

Plus a quick word about my new partnership with a female-owned GLP-1 company I genuinely believe in — link in the show notes, $100 off your first month.

And stay tuned — next week we are talking perimenopause. The thing nobody warned me was coming. Don't miss it.

Find me on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook at @StephanieintheParks. Shop my favorites on my Amazon Storefront, LTK, and ShopMy. And as always — book the trip, read the book, sign up for the race, pop the c

Champagne Smiles & Magical Miles is a podcast about living with grace, choosing joy, and celebrating the moments — big and small — that make life meaningful.

Hosted by Stephanie Parks, each episode blends mindset, self-care, family traditions, and everyday intention with a touch of Disney magic and real-life reflection. From the words we use and the habits we build to the kindness we extend to ourselves and others, this podcast is an invitation to slow down, show up, and live on purpose.

You’ll hear favorite segments like Words Matter, Magical Miles, Sparkle & Glow Up, and Sip of the Week — each designed to inspire, encourage, and help you leave every episode with simple, practical takeaways you can easily implement in daily life.

Whether you’re in a season of growth, rest, or celebration, this space is for you.

Because every mile matters, every word counts, and life is meant to be lived with grace, joy, and a whole lot of celebrating. ✨🥂

🎙️ New episodes weekly. Follow along and join the celebration.