When weight gain feels constant and nothing seems to work, most women assume the problem is them.
In this episode of Unfiltered Fit Life, I sit down with Shayda, a physiotherapist, mom of two, and full-time healthcare professional, who spent over two years stuck in a cycle of self-blame, trial-and-error plans, and constant mental exhaustion.
Despite her medical background and deep understanding of the human body, Shayda found herself overwhelmed, unhappy in her clothes, mentally drained at work, and less present with her kids. The harder she tried to “figure it out,” the worse things felt.
We talk openly about:
• why knowledge does not equal clarity
• how mental load steals focus, joy, and energy
• why weight struggles impact far more than your body
• what changed when she stopped doing it alone
• how mindfulness, structure, and simplicity created real momentum
This episode is not about quick fixes or extreme plans. It is about understanding why burnout happens and what actually creates sustainable change when life is already full.
If you’ve been stuck telling yourself “I should know better” or “I just need more discipline,” this conversation will challenge that belief.
Because the issue isn’t that you aren’t trying hard enough. It’s that you’ve been carrying too much without the right support.
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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
When Nothing Works: A Real Conversation About Weight, Burnout, and Finally Breaking the Cycle
Introduction
Nathalia Melo: I open this episode by introducing Shayda, a newer member of the Powerhouse Academy, and explain why I made an exception to bring someone on so early in their journey. I share why her perspective is powerful because of where she started, how long she was stuck, and what has already shifted in a short period of time. I set the stage for a conversation about burnout, frustration, and what happens when trying harder stops working.
Meet Shayda: Life, Work, and Mental Load
Shayda: Shayda shares her background as a physiotherapist, a mom of two young kids, working full time in healthcare. She explains how her demanding schedule, responsibilities at home, and constant mental load created the perfect storm for burnout, leaving very little capacity to focus on herself.
Two Years of Trying to Figure It Out Alone
Shayda: Shayda explains how she spent over two years jumping from plan to plan, trying workouts, nutrition advice, books, podcasts, and research articles. She talks about the pressure she put on herself to know better because of her healthcare background and how constantly chasing new solutions only made her feel more out of control.
When Weight Gain Becomes a Slow, Silent Spiral
Shayda: Shayda describes how the weight gain was not dramatic or sudden, but a steady upward trend that slowly eroded her confidence. She talks about clothes getting tighter, replacing wardrobes, and the frustration of hearing that this might just be her new set point, a reality she was unwilling to accept.
Why Knowledge Did Not Save Her
Nathalia Melo & Shayda: We talk about how deeply frustrating it was for Shayda to understand the human body professionally yet feel completely stuck personally. She reflects on how believing she should be able to fix herself kept her stuck longer than necessary.
The Cost of Trying to Do Everything Yourself
Shayda: Shayda shares how the constant mental chatter around what to eat, how to work out, and what to wear consumed her focus and energy. She explains how this mental load affected her presence at work, her patience at home, and her ability to enjoy time with her kids.
The Breaking Point Was Not One Big Moment
Shayda: Shayda explains that there was not a single dramatic event that pushed her to change. Instead, it was the accumulation of repeated disappointment, failure, and exhaustion. She describes it as a bucket that finally overflowed.
Why Past Coaching and Programs Did Not Work
Shayda: Shayda explains how working with a triathlon coach and following generalized fitness advice did not address her real needs. She talks about how generic recommendations failed to consider her lifestyle, stress levels, and season of life.
What Made This Approach Different
Shayda: Shayda explains why simplicity was the game changer. Structured meal plans, straightforward workouts, and a routine that fit her life removed unnecessary decision making. She talks about how not needing to overthink food, workouts, or daily choices freed up mental space she did not realize she had lost.
The Power of Real Support and Fast Feedback
Shayda: Shayda shares how ongoing access to support from coaches, office hours, and the community made a massive difference. She talks about getting timely responses when she was sick, overwhelmed, or unsure, and how that prevented her from falling off completely.
How Mindfulness Changed More Than Weight
Shayda: Shayda explains how mindfulness practices like gratitude journaling impacted her work, relationships, and emotional resilience. She shares how situations that once consumed her emotionally no longer do and how she learned to separate external stress from her self worth.
The Ripple Effect on Work, Family, and Patience
Nathalia Melo & Shayda: We discuss how feeling better in her body changed how Shayda shows up everywhere, including work, parenting, and difficult family relationships. She explains how having structure made her more resilient when life inevitably became messy.
Fear, Skepticism, and the Cost Objection
Shayda: Shayda openly shares her hesitation around the financial investment and fear of wasting money on something that might not work. She reflects on how long she hovered, clicking the link, not booking the call, and trying to fix things alone before finally committing.
What Finally Made Her Commit
Shayda: Shayda explains how direct and honest conversations during her intake helped her see what she truly needed. She talks about how being called out in a supportive way helped her stop delaying and finally choose herself.
Five Weeks In: Physical and Mental Progress
Shayda: Shayda shares the tangible results she experienced in just five weeks, including weight loss, improved energy, better fitting clothes, and feeling mentally lighter. She talks about releasing anger, stress, and emotional weight she did not realize she was carrying.
Why the Results Did Not Come From Restriction
Shayda: Shayda explains that at no point did she feel deprived or restricted. She talks about enjoying foods she loves and discovering new meals she would not have chosen before, without feeling like she was on a diet.
How Others Started to Notice
Shayda: Shayda shares how her husband noticed she was happier, more present, and more playful with the kids. She explains how her mindset shift showed up in everyday conversations and how saying she was living the dream became genuine instead of sarcastic.
Expectations vs Reality
Nathalia Melo & Shayda: We discuss transparency and how what was promised matched exactly what was delivered. Shayda emphasizes that success came from following the process, asking for help, and doing the work, not shortcuts or magic fixes.
Why Change Is Still Work But Worth It
Nathalia Melo: I explain that while the program is simple, change still requires effort. I challenge the idea that staying stuck is easier and talk about choosing the kind of work that actually improves your life instead of draining it.
Advice for Women Sitting on the Fence
Shayda: Shayda speaks directly to women who are still hesitating, doubting, or trying to figure it out alone. She shares what she would tell her past self and why waiting longer only delayed feeling better.
Final Thoughts
Nathalia Melo: I close the episode by thanking Shayda for her honesty and coachability. I reinforce the message that burnout, frustration, and weight struggles are rarely about willpower. They are about support, structure, and addressing the full picture, not just food or workouts.
