Do you feel like you can't relate to Instagram fitness gurus because your only memory of fitness as a child was dreading P.E. or watching your mom bounce from one fad diet to the next? Maybe you fantasize about having a fitness routine and lifestyle that isn’t confusing or feels like a full-time job trying to achieve.
In this episode, I am going back to the beginning of my fitness journey and sharing more than just the tidbits of my backstory you see on Instagram. This episode is for you if you need someone you can relate to and be inspired to simplify your fitness journey so you can lose weight, regain your confidence and feel sexy AF!
Highlights from this episode include:
- Introduction to the Unfiltered Fit Life podcast
- The story that paved the way in my fitness journey
- Being influenced in health and wellness as a kid
- Pursuing my passion for fitness in school
- Pivoting in my career goals
- Competing for a bigger purpose
What is your fitness backstory? What was your aha moment while listening to this episode? I would love to know! Leave me a comment or voice message by clicking the link in the show description and follow me on Instagram to let me know what topics you want to hear more about or who I should have on the show.
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Thanks for joining us on the Unfiltered Fit Life podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple (hyperlink show) and Spotify (hyperlink show) to help us reach even more women ready to simplify their fitness journey so they can lose weight, regain their confidence, and feel sexy AF!
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
Hello, hello there! I’m Nathalia Melo, your host for The Unfiltered Fit Life Podcast, and I am super excited to be here with you.
This is my very first episode, so bear with me—it might not be the smoothest start, but hey, we all have to begin somewhere, right? I’ve wanted to create a podcast for a long time because, as I’ve spent more time on social media—especially Instagram—I’ve realized I have so much more I want to say than those little snippets allow.
Let’s be real: I have ADHD, so “concise” isn’t exactly my thing! This podcast is my space to dive deep into my thoughts, share my story, and invite you to come along for the ride.
Why This Podcast Exists
I’ve always wanted a platform where I could have real, unfiltered conversations—whether it’s sharing my experiences, breaking down fitness myths, or bringing on some of my amazing friends to chat about life, fitness, and everything in between. This podcast will be all of that and more.
So, for my very first episode, I thought it would be fitting to start at the beginning of my fitness journey. I’ve shared bits and pieces of my story over the years, but I’ve never laid it all out in one place. Today, we’re going back—way back—to where it all began.
My Early Fitness Journey: The Role of My Mom
Before we jump in, I want to say something important: my mom and I have a great relationship now. She’s one of my best friends. But growing up, there were challenges in how she viewed fitness and sports, and that had a huge influence on my journey.
My mom didn’t see the value in sports or working out. In fact, she saw the gym as something frivolous. Sports were never a priority for her, and she often used my love of fitness as a bargaining tool to get me to behave or do what she wanted.
For example, if I misbehaved, she’d say, “Well, I’m not paying for your tennis lessons anymore.” Sports weren’t seen as something to support—they were used as leverage.
Swimming: My First Step Into Fitness
My journey into fitness started when I was around 5 or 6 years old. I had scoliosis, and my doctor recommended swimming. The club we belonged to offered swimming lessons, and—most importantly—they didn’t cost extra.
So, swimming it was. But let me tell you: I didn’t love it. In fact, it felt like something I had to do rather than something I chose to do. Fast forward years later—my own kids didn’t even know I could swim until recently when they saw me jump in a pool! That’s how much I avoided it.
Discovering the Gym: A Teenage Dream
By the time I was 13 or 14, I started noticing women on TV with strong, muscular legs, and I thought, “I want to look like that!” But here’s the problem: I didn’t have money to pay for a gym membership.
When I started getting an allowance, I saw my chance. I saved up two months’ worth of allowance to pay for one month at the gym. Back then, there was no automatic billing or apps. You’d pay at the front desk, get a stamp on a little paper card, and show that card every time you came in.
The gym was my escape. I’d walk five or six blocks to get there because my mom wouldn’t drive me. And since I’d saved for months to afford it, I made sure to spend hours there to get my money’s worth.
Fitness as Freedom and Control
Looking back, I think part of my love for fitness came from the sense of control it gave me. Growing up, so much of my life felt dictated by my mom—sports, food, everything. The gym was one place where I felt free to make my own decisions about my body.
The Influence of My Mom’s Dieting Habits
My mom was always dieting. I remember watching her do the cabbage soup diet or eating nothing but lettuce, grilled chicken, and tomatoes for months. She’d lose weight, then binge on bread rolls and ice cream and gain it all back.
Seeing that cycle made me curious. I thought, “This can’t be the right way.” But I didn’t know what the “right way” was yet. I just knew I wanted something better for myself.
Coming to the U.S. and Finding My Way
At 16, I became an exchange student in Leesville, Louisiana—a tiny town near the Texas border. There weren’t many gyms nearby, but I discovered something amazing: school sports.
I signed up for track, weightlifting, and even soccer (despite being terrible at it). I loved the freedom to try new things and the sense of community that came with it.
From Law School to a New Dream
After returning to Brazil, I got into law school, which is a bachelor’s degree there. I liked the idea of justice and fairness, but when I started interning at a courthouse, I saw how corrupt the system was. It wasn’t about what you knew; it was about who you knew.
I realized that law wasn’t my future. I needed a Plan B, and fitness kept calling my name.
Coming to the U.S. with $350
At 20, I sold my car, bought a plane ticket, and moved to the U.S. with about $350 in my pocket. I cleaned restaurants, worked in an Italian restaurant, and hustled to make ends meet.
Life wasn’t glamorous—my apartment had cockroaches, and my meals often came from the dollar menu. But I was determined to make it work.
Finding Purpose in Competing
During this time, I was still going to the gym, but I felt like I was drifting. Then, a receptionist at my gym suggested I try competing in bikini competitions.
At first, I wasn’t sold—I didn’t even love the look of bikini competitors. But I needed a goal, something to work toward, and competing gave me that sense of purpose I’d been craving.
What’s Next? Episode 2: My Competitive Career
That’s where today’s story ends, but I’m just getting started.
In Episode 2, I’ll share everything about my competitive career—the good, the bad, and the ugly. I’ll talk about what it took to get on stage, the challenges I faced, and how it shaped who I am today.
Grab some tea, share this episode with a friend, and make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it!
Thank you so much for tuning in to the very first episode of The Unfiltered Fit Life Podcast!
I’d love to hear your thoughts—what part of my story resonated with you? Send me a message on Instagram, and don’t forget to leave a review. Your support means the world to me!
Until next time—thank you for listening, and I’ll see you in Episode 2. Bye!
