How many opportunities have you let slip through your fingers? How many times have you allowed yourself to feel defeated before even trying? So often, we create problems and limitations in our minds, making shit way more difficult than it needs to be.
In this episode, I'm sharing what I've learned from my experience with these made-up limitations so you can ditch the self-sabotage BS and embrace your greatness. Let this be a kick in the ass to quit stressing and obsessing about all the things that can go wrong and start focusing on what can go right!
Topics Covered:
- How we often limit ourselves
- Why you're focusing on the wrong thing
- How our past experiences impact decision-making
- The truth behind why we self-sabotage
What have you been holding back from doing? What was your biggest takeaway from this episode? I would love to know! Message me on Instagram to let me know and tell me what topics you want to hear more about or who I should have on the show.
Links & Mentioned ResourcesListen to episode 4, Making Shit Happen: 6 Lessons from Our Move to the US
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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 & Spotify 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! Welcome to another episode of The Unfiltered Fit Life Podcast! I’m your host, Natalia Melo, and I’ve got two awesome announcements to kick things off today.
First, drumroll please: we’ve hit over 500 downloads! 🎉 I know, I know—it might not seem like a big deal to seasoned podcasters, but for me, it’s HUGE! We’re only a handful of episodes in, and this milestone makes me so excited. I’m going to celebrate these 500 downloads just as much as I will when we hit 500 million, because I know with your love, support, and feedback, we’ll get there!
Speaking of love and feedback, I want to give a shoutout to this incredible review left on Apple Podcasts by Jen Dells. Jen wrote:
“This podcast is amazing. I recently joined the Mellow Squad, holler, and soon after, the podcast came out—double win. The insights Natalia shares are truly life-changing.”
Thank you so much, Jen! And welcome to the Melo Squad! 💪
If you want to leave a review and have me shout you out on the podcast, head over to Apple Podcasts and drop one—five stars or not. I’m open to feedback and promise my feelings won’t get hurt.
The Gate That Was Never Locked
Now, let’s get into today’s episode, which starts with a little story from my recent trip to Florida.
If you follow me on Instagram (@NataliaMeloFit—shameless plug), you know we stayed in this gorgeous beach house. Every morning, my husband Roger and I would walk our dog, Rio, on the beach. But here’s the catch—where we stayed, you needed a special license to have your dog on the beach after 6:30 a.m. So, we made it a point to head out before then.
The house had this three-story layout, and usually, we’d go to the beach through our daughter Chloe’s bedroom on the ground floor. But one morning, Roger decided to use the side gate instead. I was running behind him because I had to grab my flip-flops, and when I got to the gate, I froze.
Why? Because the gate had a keypad, and I didn’t know the code. I started panicking:
- “I don’t have the code!”
- “What if I look like a fool trying to get through?”
- “I’ll have to go back through Chloe’s room and risk waking her up.”
I psyched myself out before even trying. So, I went the longer route through Chloe’s room, tiptoed around, and met Roger on the beach. When I saw him, I asked, “How did you get through the gate without the code?”
And he replied, “I just opened it.”
Cue my shock. “What do you mean you just opened it?”
“I mean,” he said, “I turned the knob, and it was unlocked.”
The Fitness Journey Parallel
That gate was a lightbulb moment for me. How often do we look at a “gate” in life—whether it’s fitness, relationships, or business—and assume it’s locked without even trying to open it?
We create these narratives:
- “I don’t have what it takes.”
- “This will never work.”
- “I’ve failed before, so why bother?”
All the while, the gate might be wide open, waiting for us to walk through.
Focus on the Opportunity, Not the Fear
This reminds me of a recent conversation with a new Mellow Squad member. Let’s call her Jane. Jane is a successful professional with a demanding travel schedule, but she’s been struggling with her weight for 25 years. It’s now affecting her career and confidence.
When I explained how our program works, she asked, “What’s the plan B—or even plan C—if this doesn’t work with my travel demands?”
I asked her, “Jane, how often does your travel schedule truly derail your plans—like, on a 30-day timeline?”
She thought about it and said, “Maybe once or twice.”
So, I replied, “You’re letting less than 5% of potential challenges dictate your success. Why are you so focused on the 5% that might go wrong instead of the 95% that can go right?”
Jane laughed and admitted she hadn’t thought about it that way. But this is something we all do. We focus on the obstacles, the risks, the “what-ifs,” and let them hold us back.
The Scarcity Mindset
I’ve been there, too. Years ago, I invested in a coach who turned out to be a disaster. I spent $7,500—money I didn’t have—on a program that gave me absolutely no return. It left me feeling burned and hesitant to trust anyone again.
But here’s the thing: I didn’t let that one bad experience stop me. A few months later, I invested in another coach. And guess what? Within two months, I’d doubled my investment. That wouldn’t have happened if I’d stayed stuck in my fear of failure.
Think about it: How many bad meals have you had at restaurants? Do you stop eating out entirely because of one bad meal? Of course not. You just don’t go back to that restaurant.
Stop Sabotaging Yourself
Here’s a tough love moment: A lot of self-sabotage comes from wanting to prove ourselves right—even if it means confirming our negative beliefs. We tell ourselves, “See, I knew this wouldn’t work,” and we act in ways that ensure failure.
But what if you flipped the script? What if you approached your goals with the belief that things could work out?
Take the Leap
The gate isn’t always locked. Sometimes, you just have to turn the knob. Whether it’s your fitness journey, career, or relationships, stop letting fear, past failures, and imagined obstacles hold you back.
All right, my friends, that’s it for today’s episode. I hope this story resonated with you and gave you a little push to stop overthinking and start trying.
If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend and tag me on social media. Let’s spread this message of empowerment and get more people unlocking those gates in their lives.
Thank you for being here, thank you for your support, and I’ll see you next time on The Unfiltered Fit Life Podcast! Bye!
Don’t forget to leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your feedback fuels this journey, and I love hearing from you. Until next time, keep being bold and brave. You’ve got this!
