In this week’s episode of Unfiltered Fit Life, I’m joined by coach and creator Beth Feracco, who rebuilt her life after addiction, became a coach, and now helps women stop overcomplicating fat loss.
Beth’s story is one of grit, honesty, and complete transformation. After hitting rock bottom in her 40s, she rebuilt her health, her mindset, and her career — using fitness as the anchor that kept her moving forward. Today, she’s helping women do the same by cutting through the noise, calling out the BS, and focusing on what actually works.
Inside this conversation, we talk about:
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Hitting rock bottom and getting sober
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Turning fitness into her anchor for recovery
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Why women avoid the boring basics that actually work
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Setting boundaries and ditching mom guilt
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Raising kids without passing on food guilt
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Navigating menopause (and calling out the “menobelly” BS)
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What she’s changed her mind on about nutrition
This episode is for the woman who’s doing everything for everyone, is drowning in school emails and sports, and keeps telling herself she’ll start “when things calm down.”
You’re not an anomaly. If you want to lose fat, you have to be in a calorie deficit. - Beth
Beth and I are telling you: things don’t calm down. You get stronger and more organized and you stop buying into fitness content that makes you the problem.
Learn HOW to stay consistent, sculpt lean muscle, and drop fat - without giving up your holiday fun.
WHEN: Nov 17th-23rd, 2025
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More about the Unfiltered Fit Life podcast
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.
The podcast transcript for this episode of the Unfiltered Fit Life podcast follows
From Rock Bottom to Rebuilding
Nathalia Melo [00:00:02]
Welcome back to Unfiltered Fit Life! Today I’m sitting down with coach, mom, and straight-shooter Beth Feracco — a woman who hit rock bottom, rebuilt her life through fitness, and now helps other women cut through the noise and focus on what actually works.
Beth Feracco [00:00:38]
In 2015 I hit my breaking point. I’d been drinking heavily for years, and one night I drove home drunk with my kids in the car. Everyone was safe, but that moment changed everything. I realized if I didn’t get my life together, I’d lose everything that mattered.
Nathalia Melo [00:01:24]
That’s such a powerful moment — and what I love is that you didn’t stay stuck in shame. You turned that into action.
Beth Feracco [00:01:35]
Yeah. Fitness became my structure. I started small — running, lifting, eating better — and it gave me direction. It was the first time I felt in control again.
The Boring Basics That Actually Work
Nathalia Melo [00:06:12]
You always say fat loss is boring — and I agree. Why do you think people fight the boring stuff so much?
Beth Feracco [00:06:24]
Because everyone wants a shortcut. They want the gut protocols, the cortisol hacks, the “anti-inflammatory” diets — anything that sounds fancy. But it’s the boring basics that work: eating in a deficit, moving more, getting enough sleep, staying consistent.
Nathalia Melo [00:07:11]
Yes — people stop right before the magic happens because they think it’s not working fast enough.
Beth Feracco [00:07:26]
Exactly. It’s boring, but that’s the point. Boring builds results.
Mom Guilt, Mental Load, and Boundaries
Nathalia Melo [00:10:43]
You juggle a lot — motherhood, business, a husband who’s a stroke survivor. How do you stay consistent?
Beth Feracco [00:11:03]
It’s my non-negotiable. Training keeps me sane. If I don’t take care of myself, everything else falls apart. I can’t pour from an empty cup — and that’s what I tell the women I coach.
Nathalia Melo [00:11:49]
I think women forget that self-care isn’t selfish — it’s maintenance.
Beth Feracco [00:12:02]
Exactly. I batch cook, plan my food, and let my family figure it out. My husband’s an adult — I’m not his mom. I make meals that support my goals, and everyone else can adjust. Boundaries make life easier, not harder.
Kids, Food, and the Cycle of Guilt
Nathalia Melo [00:16:15]
You mentioned earlier that your son strength trains and eats well because he’s watched you. How has your approach to food impacted your family?
Beth Feracco [00:16:31]
I stopped making food a big deal. My son eats a mix of healthy and fun foods. The goal is balance, not perfection. We model it instead of forcing it — that’s what changes things long-term.
Nathalia Melo [00:17:05]
That’s such an important point — kids mirror what they see, not what we say.
Calling Out Fitness Myths and “Cortisol Face”
Nathalia Melo [00:22:45]
You’ve become known for calling out the BS online. What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen recently?
Beth Feracco [00:23:03]
Oh my god — “cortisol face.” I literally puffed my cheeks in a before photo and then sucked them in for the after, captioned it “cortisol transformation,” and people believed it. My DMs blew up with women asking for my protocol. It shows how desperate people are for quick fixes.
Nathalia Melo [00:23:46]
That’s wild. And it’s the same with this obsession around “inflammation” — people are just renaming fat loss.
Beth Feracco [00:23:57]
Exactly. You didn’t lose inflammation — you lost fat and water. Stop overcomplicating it.
Menopause Without the Drama
Nathalia Melo [00:38:35]
You’re in your 50s now and really open about menopause. What’s that been like for you?
Beth Feracco [00:38:51]
The hot flashes hit overnight — literally the day after I turned 50. I started on birth control to balance hormones, and now I’m transitioning to estrogen and progesterone. But the biggest thing? Being proactive. You don’t have to suffer. Take care of your health before it’s chaos.
Nathalia Melo [00:39:34]
Yes — too many women wait until things fall apart before they act.
Beth Feracco [00:39:47]
Exactly. Most aren’t proactive, they’re reactive. Build healthy habits now — they’ll carry you through menopause so much better.
From Victimhood to Ownership
Nathalia Melo [00:44:09]
You’ve said before you were tired of your own excuses. What shifted that?
Beth Feracco [00:44:24]
I just got sick of myself. I played the victim for years — “why me,” “life’s unfair.” I realized that mindset was keeping me small. I don’t want to crumble when life gets hard anymore. I want to handle it.
Nathalia Melo [00:44:56]
That’s powerful — and it’s something so many women need to hear.
Redefining Fitness and Food
Nathalia Melo [00:46:17]
What’s something you’ve changed your mind about over the years?
Beth Feracco [00:46:27]
“If it fits your macros.” I used to think food quality didn’t matter as long as the numbers added up. But now I know how much better you feel when you focus on real, nutrient-dense food. It’s not just about macros — it’s about health.
Nathalia Melo [00:46:55]
Totally. That’s the evolution — from chasing numbers to chasing quality.
The “Menobelly” Myth and Fat Loss Reality
Nathalia Melo [00:48:30]
If you could ban one phrase from the fitness industry forever, what would it be?
Beth Feracco [00:48:38]
“Menobelly.” It’s not a thing. It’s just body fat and hormonal shifts. Stop labeling it like it’s a disease.
Nathalia Melo [00:48:55]
Preach.
Beth Feracco [00:49:02]
And stop saying calorie deficits don’t work. You’re not special — you just have to stay consistent.
Social Media, Authenticity, and Being Unfiltered
Nathalia Melo [00:50:10]
You’ve built a big following for being unapologetically you. Have you gotten pushback for that?
Beth Feracco [00:50:21]
All the time. People tell me to stop swearing or that I’d have more followers if I softened up. But I’m not here to please everyone. I’d rather be real than polished.
Nathalia Melo [00:50:44]
And that’s exactly why your message lands.
Wrap-Up
Nathalia Melo [01:01:10]
Beth, thank you for sharing your story — and for being so honest about what it really takes to change.
Beth Feracco [01:01:22]
Thank you for having me. This was amazing.
Nathalia Melo [01:01:30]
You can find Beth on Instagram and TikTok at @bethferaccofitness, or visit her website bethferaccofitness.com. And make sure to listen to her podcast Cut the Crap with Beth and Matt.
Thanks for tuning in to Unfiltered Fit Life — see you next week!
