I used to believe that doing more was the only way to get results, and I built a career telling women the same thing. Almost 20 years later, I'm owning it: I was wrong about a lot, and I'm not afraid to say it out loud.
In this episode of the Unfiltered Fit Life Podcast, I walk you through the things I have completely changed my mind about, why I changed it, and what I believe now. My brand has never been tied to a single concept, because science keeps evolving and real people don't live in test tubes. What you get from me is the unfiltered version, and that includes admitting when I missed the mark.
From my days as a competitor to coaching thousands of women, I share the honest nuance behind each shift, plus a bonus one I added after I had already named the episode.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Why "more is better" leads to burnout and the all-or-nothing cycle
- Why I went from "calories don't matter" to "only calories matter" and where I landed in the middle
- Why simplifying complicated information is the real mark of an expert
- Why I apologize to anyone who attended my events 15 years ago
- What I got wrong about looking healthy versus being healthy
- Why binging on dates and almonds was my "healthiest" season on paper
- Why saying "I don't know, but let's find out" is a strength
- Why exercise snacking is a band-aid and what the real problem is
If you want a plan that fits your real life, including the holiday parties, dinners out and wine, join me for my free training on October 27th and 28th at 7:30 PM ET. I'll show you how to lose up to 18lbs of fat by Christmas without skipping the fun.
Ever wish you had a fit and straightforward BFF with over 15 years of experience to help you filter through all the information regarding fitness, nutrition, and life? That's exactly what you'll get when you listen to the Unfiltered Fit Life Podcast.
Join Former Bikini Olympia Champion, mom of 2, and fitness coach Nathalia Melo each week as she shares fitness, nutrition, and life tips to help busy working moms simplify their fitness journey so they can learn easy and simple strategies on how to lose weight and feel sexy AF.
After helping over 5000 busy working moms, Nathalia has found the blueprint to fitness, nutrition, and life success, which she will be sharing in this podcast: actionable tips that will help busy working moms be more present at work and at home.
This show is for you if you realize that nothing good comes from your comfort zone and are ready to challenge yourself to achieve great things. Follow Unfiltered Fit Life wherever you are listening to join us each week for a splash of sass, humor, and a whole lotta truth.
Podcast Transcript
I Was Wrong: 5 Things I Changed My Mind About After 20 Years of Coaching
WHY I'M SAYING "I WAS WRONG"
I open by owning that I changed my mind on several things after almost 20 years of coaching. I explain why I refuse to marry my brand to a single concept, because science keeps evolving and the fitness industry rewards certainty over nuance. I also thank you for leaving reviews, which is how the podcast reaches more people.
1. MORE IS NOT BETTER, BETTER IS BETTER
As a competitor, my motto was that I would never be outworked, and my coaches always answered with more cardio and fewer calories. I was training six hours a day while working two jobs, and I now see why that physique was impossible to sustain. These days I ask what the minimum effective amount is for the season of life I'm in, because always doing more ends in burnout and an all-or-nothing mindset.
2. CALORIES: FROM "THEY DON'T MATTER" TO "ONLY CALORIES MATTER"
Early in my career I taught that calories didn't matter and food quality was everything, then the pendulum swung to eating Oreos and McDonald's as long as the numbers worked. I apologize to anyone who attended my events 15 years ago and offer a discount or free ticket to my future events. Where I've landed is that calories matter for fat loss, and food quality matters for hunger, muscle, gut health, mood, energy and long-term health.
3. COMPLICATED IS NOT MORE VALUABLE
I used to leave events confused by jargon and assume the presenters were smarter than me. I realized true expertise is simplifying complex systems so people can stay consistent. I want my members to open their plan and say, "That's it?", because the 97% that moves the needle matters more than the fancy 3%.
4. BEING HEALTHY IS MORE THAN A LOOK
When I was featured as the healthiest person on the planet, I was binging, punishing my body with extra cardio and living between a skinny closet and a fat closet. Today I can enjoy wine with my husband or ice cream on a cruise and still feel at peace in a swimsuit. Real health means a healthy mind and a healthy body together.
5. IT'S OKAY TO SAY "I DON'T KNOW"
I used to be terrified of admitting I didn't have an answer. Now I refer members to our registered dietitian, Kara, or to Coach Jen, our licensed counselor, when a question falls outside my scope. There is no trophy for being a martyr, and I'm looking for a new coach myself because asking for help is part of being an expert.
BONUS: WHY I STOPPED RECOMMENDING EXERCISE SNACKING
I used to encourage exercise snacking in presentations to attorneys and executives, and I now believe it is a band-aid. Research suggests just 13 minutes, three times a week, can improve strength and endurance, and that's well under one percent of your week. If you can't protect that time, the real work is boundaries, priorities and time management, which is why our members get support from Coach Jen and Sonia.
WRAP-UP
I thank you for listening to a longer, straight-from-the-heart episode and tease next week's conversation with Coach Jen on contentment versus complacency.
How to Lose Up To 18lbs of Fat By Christmas
Without Skipping the Holiday Parties, Dinners Out & Wine. Happening October 27th–28th @ 7:30PM ET
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