November 27, 2024 • 37 mins
Evelyn's journey from trauma to empowerment through health and wellness is nothing short of inspiring. Growing up in a large household in North Jersey, she faced the absence of her busy parents and the trauma of sexual abuse, leading to struggles with anxiety and dissociation. In this episode, Evelyn shares how she emerged stronger by finding solace in therapy, studies, and dancing. Her mother's health transformation post-divorce became a turning point, motivating Evelyn to pursue a career in health and wellness, paving the way for her role as a personal trainer and nutrition coach.
Becoming a fitness professional, she not only aids others in achieving their goals but also finds her own sense of purpose and strength. We discuss the crucial role of creating a supportive environment for clients, where vulnerability is welcomed, and emotions are understood as energy in motion. The growth mindset that fitness fosters is a beacon of hope in overcoming life's hurdles, emphasizing that challenges are opportunities to learn and grow stronger. Through Evelyn's experiences, we are reminded of the power of resilience and the endless potential for personal growth.
Takeaways
- Trauma can have lasting effects, but seeking help is crucial.
- Fitness played a significant role in Evelyn's mental health recovery.
- Evelyn's coaching philosophy emphasizes gradual progress and small wins.
- Evelyn's approach to fitness is holistic, addressing mind, body, and spirit.
- Creating a supportive environment is key to client success.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Welcome to Ella Go.
My name is Lisa.
Join me on the journey inhaving real raw and
uncomfortable discussions aboutfitness, health and everything
in between, because, let's behonest, this journey would suck
if we don't get our shittogether.
Welcome back to the Elegoopodcast.
(00:38):
My name is Lisa, I am your hostand today's guest is Evelyn.
Evelyn is a personal trainerand a nutrition coach.
Evelyn, welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Thank you for having me.
I'm super excited to be ontoday.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
I'm happy to have you here because you know,
obviously we, that you can dowhat you're doing right now.
So, if you don't mind tellingus a little bit about your
background, grew up, um, northjersey area, in a really big,
(01:27):
beautiful blended family.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
We're a blended family of six, um, so you know
my mom had a previous marriage,my father did as well.
Then they came together withbig brady bunch.
I'm the one in the middle, um,so there was a lot of us in the
house, oh, you know, normallywith six kids and parents and
whatnot.
So it it was a very, it was fun, it was very, it was a lot of
fun and we had a lot of memories.
But it was also a lot of chaosto to take in for a young little
(01:52):
girl.
I was the youngest, so I had todeal with older siblings, you
know, trying to bother me,trying to take my stuff, all
that stuff teasing and whatnot.
So I always had to really standup for myself and speak up for
myself because my parents myfather's an immigrant father, so
he worked long, long, longhours of the day.
(02:13):
My mom was a hustler.
She was gone, you know, workingovertime to support the family.
So both my parents, like,hustled as hard as they could,
and that's all I saw growing up,but it took them away from
being at home with us, andthat's all I saw growing up, but
it took them away from being athome with us and so the kids
were pretty much running thehouse for the most part, which
was pretty chaotic, and I grewup with a lot of anxiety.
(02:37):
Just being around too manypeople would get me all worked
up.
I would have many panic attacksevery now and then, and then I
also suffered from sexual abusein my younger years, so that
didn't start to affect me untilI got into my teenage years.
I feel like a lot of otherpeople who have been in this
(02:59):
situation they could relate, inthe sense that you kind of
disassociate from your body forsome time to kind of just get by
and survive what's happening.
And I took that into my teenageyears, I took that into my
adulthood and I was just like Inever cried, you know, like I
didn't feel a lot of emotions.
It was very, I was very numb,and it wasn't until like late
(03:23):
high school that all thememories started flooding back
in and I was like holy shit,like I was sexually abused.
This is not okay, like this iswrong.
This should not have happenedto me.
I was taken advantage of todeal with, like you're already
(03:45):
hormonal as a teenager, and thenyou get all these memories
flooding back in that you kindof force yourself to forget.
And so it was just a lot for meto handle, a lot for me to
navigate and to deal with.
And I remember my onegirlfriend she's my best friend
and she was just like she waslike you need to talk to someone
and I was like okay, like Ididn't know what she was
(04:06):
referring to exactly, but shewas like you're not speaking to
me and I'm like the closestperson to you.
I'm worried, I'm concerned,like you need to speak to a
professional.
So then that's when I startedmy therapy journey.
So I tried out therapy.
I was like 19, 18, 19, verystubborn, like young girl who
(04:29):
just was like oh, I don't havetime for this, like I've I've
learned to disassociate, likethat's how I learned to function
in the world and like you know,quote unquote, be okay.
But I really wasn't okay.
So I also was alone in thatprocess, like I't ask for help,
like I didn't go to my mom andsay, hey, can you find me a
therapist?
Like I just went on google,checked what was under my
(04:51):
insurance, what was available.
So I was very amateur with thewhole experience and I really
wasn't ready to open up yet.
So could it have been moreeffective, probably?
I would say I had like maybeone or two like really, really
effective sessions, but most ofthe time I was pretty much just
shut down and I don't know if itwas just the connection between
me and the therapist.
(05:11):
She couldn't break me down Likeshe just could not get through
to me.
I didn't make too much progressand I knew that.
I felt it.
I knew, you know, I knew thatthere wasn't a connection
between me and that therapistthe way I wanted it or hoped for
it to be.
So it kind of shot me downagain like all right, that's a
(05:32):
waste of time, right.
So then I I was always likeworked really hard, I was a full
time dancer and I worked reallyhard in school, like I was an
overachiever and I really dovedeep into my studies.
I think looking back now, itwas part of my escapism a little
bit.
It gave me something else tothink about and to focus on and
(05:56):
it worked in that situationright.
But I realized through mystudies and through
relationships that I was stillstruggling deep down inside A
big part of what inspired me totake this route into the health
and wellness field was also mymom.
(06:16):
So she went through her own.
She got divorced and she wentthrough her own sort of health
transformation and I was likethis is really cool, like she
started working out, she had apersonal trainer, she started
just trying all these newhealthy recipes and she would
show me and she would share thewhole experience with me.
I think being able to watch mymother go through that was super
(06:40):
inspiring to me, to someone whowas also struggling Like wow,
change is possible, you can grow, you can outgrow old things,
you can create new habits, youcan create a new life for
yourself.
And I think that was like thepinpoint in my life where I was
like I don't have to settle forthis life, like I don't have to
(07:01):
settle for what I've experienced, I can achieve more.
And that changed the game forme in the health and wellness
field.
So I was like, wow, this is socool, like the, the level.
And it wasn't just like my momlost weight and it wasn't her
energy change.
She was lighter, she wasbrighter, she was just happier
overall.
Because these things affecteverything.
(07:22):
It's like a compounding effect,right.
So that was really, really cooland she's the one that inspired
me to study nutrition and foodscience in college.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
That's a lot.
You just told us a lot just now.
But let me ask you this, sojust kind of stepping back a
little bit when you had thisexperience, did you feel like,
wow, this is my life, this ishow it's going to be, and you
know you were.
Were you hopeful, like what didthat look like?
Speaker 2 (07:52):
In the beginning I was very jaded, you know.
Once all the memories kind ofcame flooding back in, I was
just jaded like kind ofpessimistic.
You know.
I was traumatized and I waslike all right, well, I guess
this is life, like, I guess thisis just part of life, you know,
and I didn't really see a lotof hope.
(08:14):
I didn't really see a lot ofopportunity.
I didn't really see like kindof me being able to move on from
this thing and being able tobecome better, be better, even
though I was, like academicallyand in my dance program and
whatnot, inside, like deep downinside I was suffering, I was
mentally having a hard time justwith inner happiness and my
(08:37):
inner peace.
A lot of that was disturbedbecause of the experience that I
went through and it caused meto just have certain
perspectives on the world andjust complicated relationships
with men.
I went through a lot because ofthat, because when you're so
young and this is happening toyou, it jades your perspective,
your mind is like a sponge,you're so fragile at that time
(09:00):
and so you don't know how toprocess it.
And then when it comes back,and now you're, you know, years
later and it's like what is mylife Like wow, I can't believe
this actually happened to me.
You know, to have that happenand then register it you know,
maybe 10 years later is insane.
There's a lot to unpack there.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah, and it's amazing when, um like people
think that they could just takethings that happened to them and
kind of put it underneath therug.
And I always say, in the moststrangest times you could be
having this high of someamazement and all of a sudden it
comes up and until you workthrough it, as painful as that
(09:44):
is, then you can kind of let gobecause it kind of like, holds
you, holds you captive it does.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
It's kind of suffocating when you, when it's
all sitting on top of you andfeel so heavy on your chest and
it's it consumes you.
And I was just like I got to apoint finally where I was like I
can't live like this anymore.
Like you know, my best friendhad that moment with me and she
was like you need to speak tosomeone.
Like that was a huge, like Ican't live like this anymore.
Like you know, my best friendhad that moment with me and she
was like you need to speak tosomeone.
Like that was a huge, like okay.
(10:11):
Now other people, like I'm nothiding this anymore.
Other people are realizing, youknow, it was affecting my
relationships.
It was affecting, yeah, I wasgetting good grades but I had to
work my ass off for that.
My brain fog was crazy, mystress levels were crazy, my
relationships were suffering.
You know, very distant, didn'twant to get hurt.
So I noticed that like itaffected every area of my life
(10:35):
and I didn't even realize howmuch it was affecting me until
years later when I was able toreflect like, oh, okay, that
makes sense, that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Yeah, yeah, and so your mom.
You know her journey impactedyou in a positive way because it
kind of it's kind of like, okay, if she can change and she's
older than you, right, If shecan change, why couldn't you
change?
So talk a little bit about thatjourney, going into what you do
(11:05):
now.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
So she, like I said, she was just, she was fully
invested.
And just to see my mom gothrough that and how she changed
mentally, physically,spiritually, emotionally I was
just like this is it, like thisis my way out and this is what I
want to share with other people, because I became so passionate
about it throughout the years.
I was like I want to give thisback to someone and allow them
(11:29):
to experience the empowermentthat I felt when I went through
this journey on my own and thefreedom that I felt and the
clarity and the inner peace thatI felt, like it all just kind
of came together and that's whatled me to start working at my
first gym me to start working atmy first gym.
(11:51):
So I I started becoming.
I was a group fitnessinstructor at my first gym maybe
2015, something like that andit's like a 10 week challenge
sort of thing.
At this gym you sign up for a10 week challenge and you
basically like guide thesepeople nutritionally, you know,
obviously in the gym and it waswelcome to all levels.
(12:12):
So it was a very like welcomingand safe space for people and I
didn't even realize how muchthis was going to give back to
me.
Obviously, I didn't go into it,thinking about it was going to
be for me, but seeing the impactthat this had on people's lives
was just.
I was inspired by each personthat was able to accomplish
their goal, whether it wasweight loss or just single mom
(12:35):
trying to just have somethingfor herself, or whatever the
case may be.
I was so inspired by that and Iknew from my first 10 challenge
.
I was like this is it, likethis is what I'm this?
I don't know if you experiencethis as a coach, but when you
help others, it pours back intoyour own cup, you know.
(12:56):
So.
It's like there's like a littleselfish aspect that I've had to
admit over the years that, likethis is a win-win career for me
.
You know where.
It's like you're pouring out toothers but it comes back to you
, like you might be having aconversation with someone who's
struggling with something andthen to sit there and be
vulnerable with them and givethem the safe space to speak on
(13:16):
these things that they'restruggling with or their
barriers.
In order to create that space,you have to present yourself
that way as well.
Right, and so just being ableto help people along their
journey helped me so much overthe years and I just continued
falling in love with health andwellness and the power that it
has.
I think I don't think peopletruly see how impactful it is.
(13:37):
Like it's not just, you know,getting your weight down on the
scale and it's not just buildingmuscle, like this is a
lifestyle and it's somethingthat can save someone's life.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
You know, yeah Well, I'm going to say it's impactful
because it's coming from you,because not every coach is
created equally.
I mean seriously.
So if you are creating thatspace for people and you are
being vulnerable yourself, Imean, that puts it on another
level instead of saying, here Iam, I'm perfect, I have a, you
(14:10):
know, whatever, and then that'skind of intimidating somebody
and, although they might losethe weight, but it's from
intimidation, fear and trying toplease the coach, you know
where you're creating that safespace, where they're like wow,
she's a human being and she'slistening to me and that's what
(14:32):
is, that's what makes yousuccessful.
Um, so, as you're going throughthis journey, let me ask you
this Um, how did that help youwith releasing the things that
you were holding on to?
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Yeah, well, I really feel like emotions are energy in
motion, Right.
So once I like like, forexample, if I do like a super
intense, like hit workout, likeI literally feel like a release
in my body and that to me, withevery workout, with every
completed workout, I felt like Iwalked out stronger, and not
(15:09):
just physically but mentally,like when you can see, you know,
the great thing about fitnessis that you can actually see
results, right, if you'reconsistent with it and you're
guided correctly, and that isproof that you can grow.
It's proof that you're capable.
It's proof that you're capable.
It's proof that you're strong,right, like it just proves so
(15:37):
much to you mentally, and Ithink what I went through had me
feel defeated for so long, hadme feel small for so long, and
working out just helped me gainmy confidence back.
It helped me create that growthmindset that I'm capable.
No matter what what I'm goingthrough, I can still learn, I
can still grow, I can stillbecome stronger.
And I think I've had, you know,really great mentors along the
(15:59):
way to show me that it takesvulnerability as well and how to
give that back to others andhow much more impactful it is
when you show up that way as acoach, because then you're
really able to peel the layersright and like just you know,
sort of see the person for whothey are.
(16:20):
Um, and so it's just been.
It's been a whole journey ofthat just unpeeling the layers
like through through physicalmovement.
And then the food as well.
It just for me, cooking builtmy confidence as well, like it.
Just I feel so healed with goodfood, I feel so like just
nourished with good food fromthe.
(16:41):
You know, when you're healedfrom the inside, it starts to
work its way on the outside.
So that went a long way as well.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
My language girl.
So let me, let me ask you thisso where are you now with you
know, you're building thisbusiness, and where are you now
with your past?
Like, where are you at thismoment with that?
Speaker 2 (17:07):
You know I are you at this moment with that.
You know I don't think it'ssomething that ever truly goes
away.
I don't think we ever come tothis finish line in life.
I think people have this falseconception of like, you know,
we're all.
We have to get to the finishline on, like, our healing, or
with you know, our training, orwith the weight loss, like
whatever it is, and I feel likewhen you go through something
(17:29):
traumatic like that, it's justsomething you're always going to
have to be aware of and mindfulof.
So, as I got it more and moreinto the health and wellness
space like I'm a big meditatornow I'm a big like journal, like
a journal almost every day, andif I'm having a bad day, like I
just lean into those things,I'll go for a walk, I'll take
(17:51):
out my journal and just spit itall out, because if I keep it in
here, it'll just I'll startspiraling, like I'm that
susceptible to being able to godown that rabbit hole.
I've built strength andresilience along the way, but
it's something that'll alwayscreep up, it'll be something
that reminds you of it.
The person you know, this personwas very close to me, very
(18:11):
close, and it's like whensomething like that happens,
it's just like, and you have tosee them again and again.
And you know, thankfullythere's distance between us and
I don't have to like put myselfin an environment where I feel
uncomfortable.
But that was tough.
It's like a re-trigger, and soI had to learn how to like
(18:32):
figure out, okay, being aroundthis individual, which,
rightfully so, triggers me, so Ikeep my distance.
I've just learned how to.
I've learned how to sort ofprotect my peace.
If it means distance, that'swhat it is.
If it means, you know, doing alittle extra self-care on
(18:52):
certain days that I need to,that's what I'll do.
Sometimes I have to tell myfiance I need a moment, I need
some time Like I'm okay, Ipromise.
I just need a moment to justfeel my feelings.
It's not you, it's me.
I'm working through it, becausethese things show up in
relationships and at a certainpoint I have to take
(19:15):
responsibility for how this hasaffected me and how I show up.
Now I can't just stonewall myfiance anymore.
I can't just shut down and belike I don't want to talk to you
, bye.
That's that's what worked inthe past.
You know I just bye.
I didn't have time for it?
I really didn't.
(19:35):
So it's like the communication,the opening up it's, it's
constant.
I constantly have to challengemyself, to put myself in
uncomfortable situations,especially in relationships, to
show up and be honest andtransparent.
Um, so it's taken a lot of work.
I've gone back to therapy aswell over the years.
(19:56):
I found a therapist finallythat like fit me, like I was,
like she gets me and this isgoing to work.
Um, and I wish I knew that backthen.
Like not every the firsttherapist it might going to work
, and I wish I knew that backthen.
Like not every the firsttherapist it might not work out.
Therapy isn't bad.
It just you need to find yourmatch.
I didn't understand that when Iwas a teenager and so now I'm
like okay, this, actually, thisworks.
(20:18):
You just have to put a littlemore effort into it and the
process.
So I would say a combination ofall those things I've kind of
taken and just embodied whathealth and wellness is mind,
body, spirit and it's reallyhelped me heal, it's helped me
show up better for my loved onesand it's helped me be the best
(20:38):
coach I could possibly be tohelp others as well.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
I love that and I'm going to say this.
So you said that you know, asyou're doing your own work, you
are going into the uncomfortable, you're leaning into the
uncomfortable, you'rechallenging yourself and as you
were talking, I was thinkingabout isn't that what we even do
physically?
You know, when we're looking tolose weight and we're looking
(21:02):
to move, we have to go into theuncomfortable, because that is
how change happens.
So I'm going to say this youdon't, you're not just a coach,
you walk the walk, you talk thetalk, and not every coach does
that.
So when you are talking to allthese people and telling them,
(21:24):
you know these are the thingsthat they need to do to eat
healthy, to lose, you know, loseweight or even work on their
mind and you know their soul.
You're doing the work as welland I'm sure they see that and
that is extremely impactful.
And you know you talking abouthow it never.
(21:45):
You know there is never an endgoal.
You know life is ebbs and flowsand but that's so much like
even fitness.
You know it's not like I lostweight, boom done.
No, we got to keep on goinghere it doesn't matter 100%.
So, you know, obviously I'm notknowing like how to work with
(22:09):
you.
I'm not, you know, not yourclient, but I can only imagine
how amazing it is to work.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Oh, thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
So let's talk about more on the business.
So what does it look like towork with you?
Speaker 2 (22:26):
So if you are interested, if somebody shows
interest in the personaltraining, what I do is basically
sit down and talk.
That's the first thing we'regoing to do is just, I want to
know you as a person.
I want to know why you're heretoday.
I want to know what's worked inthe past for you, what hasn't
worked.
I want to know what your goalis and why is that goal
(22:50):
important to you?
So I'm really trying to get toknow the person on a deeper
level.
A lot of the times people cryduring these conversations
because when somebody reachesout for help, it takes a lot and
that's the first step of themstepping out of their comfort
zone.
And usually there's a lot toface there because for so long
they weren't ready to go there.
(23:10):
And so, like I said, I alwaysprovide that space because I
feel like that emotion is likethe thing that triggers change
for people.
And if it means like you got tolet it out during that first
session, then like let let's letit out now so that we can work
to better together in the future, because these things are going
to come up.
(23:30):
If you're not honest with mefrom the beginning, you know,
and then you're cancelingsessions.
You feel you know you can'tconnect with your coach and it's
like, well, we have tounderstand each other first to
start.
So I do that, and then we do afull body assessment our next
session together.
So that's where I kind of startto understand this person's
(23:53):
physical abilities, where theirlimitations are.
I work a lot on mobility aswell, so I'm a firm believer in
safety first right and nothaving to take steps back later
on because we didn't do thegroundwork and the foundational
work that it takes to trulyunderstand this person's body,
where their strengths are, wheretheir weaknesses are, where
(24:14):
they could use some improvement,while also understanding what
their goals are and creating aplan for them after that.
So we talk about goals andbasically what I'll do is give
them a breakdown of like okay,this is how we're going to reach
this goal, we're going to do x,y and z and this is how we're
going to reach this goal.
I think your shoulder needs alittle more mobility before we
can start lifting weights, solet's work on that.
(24:38):
You know, sometimes it's hardfor people because they're ready
to go, like let's go.
And like you know gun ho, andyou know you can see in some
people sometimes that they're alittle kind of maybe discouraged
or disappointed, maybe becauseI'm not the one to throw you in
like that.
I work very slowly because Ithink that's where the impact
(25:01):
and that's where the changehappens.
And then once they hit, youknow three to six months and
their form is looking phenomenaland they're, you know all the
foundational groundwork is putinto place.
We see results and we seechange happening and it's so
much better that way than havingto like reverse, you know so
much.
Or you know injury, possibleinjuries.
You know there's so much betterthat way than having to like
reverse, you know so much.
Or you know injury, possibleinjuries.
You know there's so much toconsider and so I really take my
(25:23):
time with the client and theylearn to appreciate that along
the way.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
I love that, I love that.
So I share a lot what you'resaying, with the starting slow,
because that's how they enjoy itright, because they're enjoying
the process.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
The process.
You need to see the small winsalong the way as well, because
people set this super, superunrealistic goal in the
beginning and if they don'treach it right away, there's
that discouragement and theyfeel like a failure and whatnot.
And so what I like to do islike, okay, this goal is great,
but now let's break it down intosmall goals so that you can see
(26:02):
the progress.
You're getting motivated andinspired by yourself along the
way, because setting thestandard super high in the
beginning, it's a setup fordisaster, I feel.
So I'm always like, yes, that'sawesome, that's great.
Now let's break it down, let'sbe a little more realistic about
this and where we're at,because I feel like a lot of and
(26:26):
that's a big part of it too Alot of people aren't giving
themselves enough grace torealize, like, where they're
truly at in their journey and behonest with themselves.
Like, girl, you just had a baby, or you haven't worked out in
five years, you work from home.
Now Things are different, andso sometimes that first
(26:47):
assessment is a reality check,but I always try to leave them
feeling motivated, like no.
This is why we have to do itthat way, and I think the more
thorough and clear you can bewith people, the more they
understand the process and startto appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Yeah, absolutely so.
Let's talk about the nutritioncoach, like how, what does that
look like?
I mean, are you making mealsfor people?
Are you giving them meal plans?
What does that look like?
So?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
I used to do.
I used to have a meal prepcompany, yes, and that was
really fun for the time being.
It was for three great, awesomeyears and I learned a lot.
I had a nutrition program thatI had.
It was like an online coursethat I created at the last gym
that I was working at and one ofmy clients had lupus and he
couldn't cook for himself.
(27:37):
So and he was like I think I'mgoing to have to quit the
program, like I don't, I don'tknow what to do.
And I was like, no, let's notquit, I'll cook for you.
You know, there's only threeweeks left of the program.
I'll cook for you.
Let's just finish the program.
If you want to continue, we can.
We can talk about thatafterwards, cause this is a
lifelong disease.
You know, this is somethinghe's always going to live with
(27:58):
type of thing.
And he finished the program, hedid an incredible job.
And afterwards he was like um,so you're going to continue
cooking for me, right?
And I was like, oh, okay, yeah,sure, here's the pricing.
And and you know, just kind ofcreated this business without
(28:19):
any plan, like I just it kind offell right into my lap, because
then all of my clients were,like, sign me up, like hello,
you've been.
I cooked throughout all theyears that I worked as a trainer
, like I would host potlucks, Iwould host nutrition seminars,
like I was always cooking.
The light bulb just kind ofnever went off, like, oh, I
could monetize this and makethis a business.
And so I did, and that's how mybusiness launched in 2020.
(28:43):
And I loved it.
I loved the experience.
I loved again, the best part isthe results that clients get to
experience, and my goal withhealthy eating is to make it
taste good, because I feel likepeople just automatically assume
, oh, my life is over, I have toeat healthy.
Now, that's it.
I'm doomed, I'm never going tobe able to enjoy food again, and
(29:05):
it's like that's absolutely notthe case.
To learn and to get creative andto try new things, and you know
so meal prep was the easy sortof fix for a lot of people who
didn't want to do that.
That work Right, and so I lovedit.
(29:25):
I enjoyed the experience, but Irealized over the years I love
training people.
That is my pride and joy rightthere.
Like I love being face-to-facewith clients, I love being a
part of the process.
It's just it's been like myfirst love.
So it's like I realized, youknow, after a few years in the
(29:46):
meal prep business, that Iwanted to shift gears and go
full time personal training andnutrition coaching.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
Oh, that's awesome.
Okay, yeah you know, you feltlike that this is where you need
to be.
I mean, although it sounds likeyou were great at the nutrition
stuff, but this is your callingand this is what you enjoy
doing, right, yeah?
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Yeah, exactly, I enjoy cooking people for small
groups of people.
When it became like, it grewpretty fast and I was like oh
whoa, this is crazy.
So I had to learn a lot in areally small amount of time and
the food business is just toughit's a tough.
You know industry to be in andit's a lot of not that I'm
(30:30):
afraid of hard work.
There's just a certain type ofhard work I'm willing to do and
that's training clients.
So yeah, I but I love cooking.
I love cooking at home, I lovetrying new recipes, I love
making new meals, Like Ithoroughly enjoy doing that.
It's kind of like my piece, Um,but when you turn it into a
business it's not the same.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
No, absolutely, yeah, Um, okay, so tell us what is
new, what's upcoming for you.
Okay, so tell us what is new,what's upcoming for you.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Yes, so I'm actually launching nutritional coaching
services, which I'm really,really, really excited about.
So, because I'm shifting gearsfrom meal prep, you know, going
full time into personal training, I'm going to be relaunching
nutritional coaching services.
So I did this in the past, butit was I was still associated
(31:20):
with other companies, but I'mbringing back my own nutritional
coaching services and these are.
These services are going to beteaching the people the tools on
how to succeed with eating andwith nutrition and even with
meal prep.
So, for example, you can signup for a meal prepping session
with me and we'll basically I'llshow you how to prep your your
(31:42):
you know your meat, your veggies, and how to portion size and
how to easily make thesedelicious meals for yourself, so
that you're not stressed andworried about what you know
you're going to eat over, likeduring the week.
Once the week hits, like it'sover if you don't have a game
plan, you're done.
You're done.
So it's like, how can youprepare yourself as much as
(32:03):
possible with with meal prepping?
So there's that.
I'm also going to be doing foodshopping with clients, so
teaching people how to food shop, yes, how to prepare, yet also
have to prepare for foodshopping.
So how to create a list, how toknow how much to get.
You know how to shop.
When you get into thesupermarket, people go straight
to the aisles.
No, you want to go to theoutskirts, find all the fresh
(32:24):
stuff first, then work your wayinto the aisles.
So stuff like that that, I feel, could sort of ease the stress
and anxiety that people facewhen they're trying to change
their lifestyle around, and thenthey get discouraged very
quickly.
So I want to teach people whatI've learned over the years and
what's you know.
Even as a small business owner,I have to meal prep for myself
(32:44):
too.
I do not have time during theweek, there's just no way.
So it's like this is how you doit.
This is how you go foodshopping for you know.
This is how you prep for thefood shopping.
Here's your list.
This is how you food shop.
And then even you know all theway to the cooking, all the way
(33:05):
to pantry clean out.
So going through clientscabinets, reading labels with
them.
No, this is like the real stuff.
This is.
This is the real deal in terms.
I've done it before and itcreates such a huge impact when
people learn how to like, read alabel.
People don't know how to readlabels.
You know people don't know howto read labels and it's like
that's such a like once you'reable to read a label and see,
okay, there's this much proteinin this or there's this much
added sugar.
You know I give people stapleswith numbers and whatnot is you
(33:27):
know, according to their goals.
So you know that saying youfeed a man a fish for you.
Feed a man a fish, you feed himfor a fish.
You feed them for a day.
Teach a man how to fish, youfeed them for a lifetime.
And that's my approach with thenutrition coaching.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
End of it yeah, oh, that's awesome, evelyn, that's
amazing.
Okay, so is this mostlyface-to-face?
Is it virtual?
Speaker 2 (33:49):
it could be both.
I mean the cooking, I wouldobviously majority of it.
I, you know, would preferface-to-face.
That's what I'm offering.
But I do also offer virtualservices, also for the personal
training I.
I train a couple of people inNew York virtually, um, so
that's always an option as well,especially if distance is
involved.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
Yeah, okay.
Well, evelyn, I I love that youtalked about this journey, of
where you are right now and itsounds amazing.
It sounds like you really did alot of thought-provoking work.
And when you asked me aboutwhen you're working with other
(34:30):
people, you're not just givingto them, they're giving to you,
they're feeding you as well yourenergy and your soul.
So with that, where can peoplefind you?
Speaker 2 (34:42):
So people can find me on Instagram at fitfuelflow.
It'll be underscore fitfuelflowand on that page I post all of
my personal training contentalso just workouts, free
workouts, at-home workouts,quick 30-minute workouts, quick
15, 30-minute recipes that youcan do and that'll be on my
(35:05):
Instagram.
I'm working on relaunching mywebsite, but it'll most likely
be wwwfitfuelflowcom.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
Okay, great, everyone .
So, if, and this is are you inJersey?
Yeah, yeah, okay.
So, if you're listening fromNew Jersey, Evelyn's the woman
you want to, you know, reach outto with personal training, and
she's doing the nutritioncoaching which I think is
phenomenal.
So you know how to reach her.
We'll put all of this in theshow notes and, evelyn, thank
(35:37):
you so much for coming on to theshow.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
I'm so glad that Leanne connected us.
I love the work that you do.
I'm a runner as well.
Um, only in the summer, though,cause I cannot survive in the
cold.
My ears get so cold and then Iget like headaches.
So, um, I really love, like,what you're doing with the
runners group, uh, and you know,just motivating people to move
(36:02):
their body, even if it's walking.
I feel like peopleunderestimate the power of
walking, and it's like it's thebest way to just get started and
then work your way from there.
So, um, I think that's reallyawesome, and we got to run
together one day.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
Oh, I know.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
Right.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
And you know, thank you for bringing up.
Awesome, and we got to runtogether one day.
Oh, I know right.
And you know, thank you forbringing up.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
Leanne.
We got to give her a big up toLeanne.
Shout out to you, leanne, she'sawesome she is.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
So everyone, like I said, you can reach Evelyn all
the information's on the shownotes and we will let you know
when the podcast episode drops.
All right, thanks everyone.
Thank you.
Welcome to Ella Go.
My name is Lisa.
Join me on the journey inhaving real raw and
uncomfortable discussions aboutfitness, health and everything
in between, because, let's behonest, this journey would suck
if we don't get our shittogether.
Welcome back to the Elegoopodcast.
(00:38):
My name is Lisa, I am your hostand today's guest is Evelyn.
Evelyn is a personal trainerand a nutrition coach.
Evelyn, welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Thank you for having me.
I'm super excited to be ontoday.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
I'm happy to have you here because you know,
obviously we, that you can dowhat you're doing right now.
So, if you don't mind tellingus a little bit about your
background, grew up, um, northjersey area, in a really big,
(01:27):
beautiful blended family.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
We're a blended family of six, um, so you know
my mom had a previous marriage,my father did as well.
Then they came together withbig brady bunch.
I'm the one in the middle, um,so there was a lot of us in the
house, oh, you know, normallywith six kids and parents and
whatnot.
So it it was a very, it was fun, it was very, it was a lot of
fun and we had a lot of memories.
But it was also a lot of chaosto to take in for a young little
(01:52):
girl.
I was the youngest, so I had todeal with older siblings, you
know, trying to bother me,trying to take my stuff, all
that stuff teasing and whatnot.
So I always had to really standup for myself and speak up for
myself because my parents myfather's an immigrant father, so
he worked long, long, longhours of the day.
(02:13):
My mom was a hustler.
She was gone, you know, workingovertime to support the family.
So both my parents, like,hustled as hard as they could,
and that's all I saw growing up,but it took them away from
being at home with us, andthat's all I saw growing up, but
it took them away from being athome with us and so the kids
were pretty much running thehouse for the most part, which
was pretty chaotic, and I grewup with a lot of anxiety.
(02:37):
Just being around too manypeople would get me all worked
up.
I would have many panic attacksevery now and then, and then I
also suffered from sexual abusein my younger years, so that
didn't start to affect me untilI got into my teenage years.
I feel like a lot of otherpeople who have been in this
(02:59):
situation they could relate, inthe sense that you kind of
disassociate from your body forsome time to kind of just get by
and survive what's happening.
And I took that into my teenageyears, I took that into my
adulthood and I was just like Inever cried, you know, like I
didn't feel a lot of emotions.
It was very, I was very numb,and it wasn't until like late
(03:23):
high school that all thememories started flooding back
in and I was like holy shit,like I was sexually abused.
This is not okay, like this iswrong.
This should not have happenedto me.
I was taken advantage of todeal with, like you're already
(03:45):
hormonal as a teenager, and thenyou get all these memories
flooding back in that you kindof force yourself to forget.
And so it was just a lot for meto handle, a lot for me to
navigate and to deal with.
And I remember my onegirlfriend she's my best friend
and she was just like she waslike you need to talk to someone
and I was like okay, like Ididn't know what she was
(04:06):
referring to exactly, but shewas like you're not speaking to
me and I'm like the closestperson to you.
I'm worried, I'm concerned,like you need to speak to a
professional.
So then that's when I startedmy therapy journey.
So I tried out therapy.
I was like 19, 18, 19, verystubborn, like young girl who
(04:29):
just was like oh, I don't havetime for this, like I've I've
learned to disassociate, likethat's how I learned to function
in the world and like you know,quote unquote, be okay.
But I really wasn't okay.
So I also was alone in thatprocess, like I't ask for help,
like I didn't go to my mom andsay, hey, can you find me a
therapist?
Like I just went on google,checked what was under my
(04:51):
insurance, what was available.
So I was very amateur with thewhole experience and I really
wasn't ready to open up yet.
So could it have been moreeffective, probably?
I would say I had like maybeone or two like really, really
effective sessions, but most ofthe time I was pretty much just
shut down and I don't know if itwas just the connection between
me and the therapist.
(05:11):
She couldn't break me down Likeshe just could not get through
to me.
I didn't make too much progressand I knew that.
I felt it.
I knew, you know, I knew thatthere wasn't a connection
between me and that therapistthe way I wanted it or hoped for
it to be.
So it kind of shot me downagain like all right, that's a
(05:32):
waste of time, right.
So then I I was always likeworked really hard, I was a full
time dancer and I worked reallyhard in school, like I was an
overachiever and I really dovedeep into my studies.
I think looking back now, itwas part of my escapism a little
bit.
It gave me something else tothink about and to focus on and
(05:56):
it worked in that situationright.
But I realized through mystudies and through
relationships that I was stillstruggling deep down inside A
big part of what inspired me totake this route into the health
and wellness field was also mymom.
(06:16):
So she went through her own.
She got divorced and she wentthrough her own sort of health
transformation and I was likethis is really cool, like she
started working out, she had apersonal trainer, she started
just trying all these newhealthy recipes and she would
show me and she would share thewhole experience with me.
I think being able to watch mymother go through that was super
(06:40):
inspiring to me, to someone whowas also struggling Like wow,
change is possible, you can grow, you can outgrow old things,
you can create new habits, youcan create a new life for
yourself.
And I think that was like thepinpoint in my life where I was
like I don't have to settle forthis life, like I don't have to
(07:01):
settle for what I've experienced, I can achieve more.
And that changed the game forme in the health and wellness
field.
So I was like, wow, this is socool, like the, the level.
And it wasn't just like my momlost weight and it wasn't her
energy change.
She was lighter, she wasbrighter, she was just happier
overall.
Because these things affecteverything.
(07:22):
It's like a compounding effect,right.
So that was really, really cooland she's the one that inspired
me to study nutrition and foodscience in college.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
That's a lot.
You just told us a lot just now.
But let me ask you this, sojust kind of stepping back a
little bit when you had thisexperience, did you feel like,
wow, this is my life, this ishow it's going to be, and you
know you were.
Were you hopeful, like what didthat look like?
Speaker 2 (07:52):
In the beginning I was very jaded, you know.
Once all the memories kind ofcame flooding back in, I was
just jaded like kind ofpessimistic.
You know.
I was traumatized and I waslike all right, well, I guess
this is life, like, I guess thisis just part of life, you know,
and I didn't really see a lotof hope.
(08:14):
I didn't really see a lot ofopportunity.
I didn't really see like kindof me being able to move on from
this thing and being able tobecome better, be better, even
though I was, like academicallyand in my dance program and
whatnot, inside, like deep downinside I was suffering, I was
mentally having a hard time justwith inner happiness and my
(08:37):
inner peace.
A lot of that was disturbedbecause of the experience that I
went through and it caused meto just have certain
perspectives on the world andjust complicated relationships
with men.
I went through a lot because ofthat, because when you're so
young and this is happening toyou, it jades your perspective,
your mind is like a sponge,you're so fragile at that time
(09:00):
and so you don't know how toprocess it.
And then when it comes back,and now you're, you know, years
later and it's like what is mylife Like wow, I can't believe
this actually happened to me.
You know, to have that happenand then register it you know,
maybe 10 years later is insane.
There's a lot to unpack there.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah, and it's amazing when, um like people
think that they could just takethings that happened to them and
kind of put it underneath therug.
And I always say, in the moststrangest times you could be
having this high of someamazement and all of a sudden it
comes up and until you workthrough it, as painful as that
(09:44):
is, then you can kind of let gobecause it kind of like, holds
you, holds you captive it does.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
It's kind of suffocating when you, when it's
all sitting on top of you andfeel so heavy on your chest and
it's it consumes you.
And I was just like I got to apoint finally where I was like I
can't live like this anymore.
Like you know, my best friendhad that moment with me and she
was like you need to speak tosomeone.
Like that was a huge, like Ican't live like this anymore.
Like you know, my best friendhad that moment with me and she
was like you need to speak tosomeone.
Like that was a huge, like okay.
(10:11):
Now other people, like I'm nothiding this anymore.
Other people are realizing, youknow, it was affecting my
relationships.
It was affecting, yeah, I wasgetting good grades but I had to
work my ass off for that.
My brain fog was crazy, mystress levels were crazy, my
relationships were suffering.
You know, very distant, didn'twant to get hurt.
So I noticed that like itaffected every area of my life
(10:35):
and I didn't even realize howmuch it was affecting me until
years later when I was able toreflect like, oh, okay, that
makes sense, that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Yeah, yeah, and so your mom.
You know her journey impactedyou in a positive way because it
kind of it's kind of like, okay, if she can change and she's
older than you, right, If shecan change, why couldn't you
change?
So talk a little bit about thatjourney, going into what you do
(11:05):
now.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
So she, like I said, she was just, she was fully
invested.
And just to see my mom gothrough that and how she changed
mentally, physically,spiritually, emotionally I was
just like this is it, like thisis my way out and this is what I
want to share with other people, because I became so passionate
about it throughout the years.
I was like I want to give thisback to someone and allow them
(11:29):
to experience the empowermentthat I felt when I went through
this journey on my own and thefreedom that I felt and the
clarity and the inner peace thatI felt, like it all just kind
of came together and that's whatled me to start working at my
first gym me to start working atmy first gym.
(11:51):
So I I started becoming.
I was a group fitnessinstructor at my first gym maybe
2015, something like that andit's like a 10 week challenge
sort of thing.
At this gym you sign up for a10 week challenge and you
basically like guide thesepeople nutritionally, you know,
obviously in the gym and it waswelcome to all levels.
(12:12):
So it was a very like welcomingand safe space for people and I
didn't even realize how muchthis was going to give back to
me.
Obviously, I didn't go into it,thinking about it was going to
be for me, but seeing the impactthat this had on people's lives
was just.
I was inspired by each personthat was able to accomplish
their goal, whether it wasweight loss or just single mom
(12:35):
trying to just have somethingfor herself, or whatever the
case may be.
I was so inspired by that and Iknew from my first 10 challenge
.
I was like this is it, likethis is what I'm this?
I don't know if you experiencethis as a coach, but when you
help others, it pours back intoyour own cup, you know.
(12:56):
So.
It's like there's like a littleselfish aspect that I've had to
admit over the years that, likethis is a win-win career for me
.
You know where.
It's like you're pouring out toothers but it comes back to you
, like you might be having aconversation with someone who's
struggling with something andthen to sit there and be
vulnerable with them and givethem the safe space to speak on
(13:16):
these things that they'restruggling with or their
barriers.
In order to create that space,you have to present yourself
that way as well.
Right, and so just being ableto help people along their
journey helped me so much overthe years and I just continued
falling in love with health andwellness and the power that it
has.
I think I don't think peopletruly see how impactful it is.
(13:37):
Like it's not just, you know,getting your weight down on the
scale and it's not just buildingmuscle, like this is a
lifestyle and it's somethingthat can save someone's life.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
You know, yeah Well, I'm going to say it's impactful
because it's coming from you,because not every coach is
created equally.
I mean seriously.
So if you are creating thatspace for people and you are
being vulnerable yourself, Imean, that puts it on another
level instead of saying, here Iam, I'm perfect, I have a, you
(14:10):
know, whatever, and then that'skind of intimidating somebody
and, although they might losethe weight, but it's from
intimidation, fear and trying toplease the coach, you know
where you're creating that safespace, where they're like wow,
she's a human being and she'slistening to me and that's what
(14:32):
is, that's what makes yousuccessful.
Um, so, as you're going throughthis journey, let me ask you
this Um, how did that help youwith releasing the things that
you were holding on to?
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Yeah, well, I really feel like emotions are energy in
motion, Right.
So once I like like, forexample, if I do like a super
intense, like hit workout, likeI literally feel like a release
in my body and that to me, withevery workout, with every
completed workout, I felt like Iwalked out stronger, and not
(15:09):
just physically but mentally,like when you can see, you know,
the great thing about fitnessis that you can actually see
results, right, if you'reconsistent with it and you're
guided correctly, and that isproof that you can grow.
It's proof that you're capable.
It's proof that you're capable.
It's proof that you're strong,right, like it just proves so
(15:37):
much to you mentally, and Ithink what I went through had me
feel defeated for so long, hadme feel small for so long, and
working out just helped me gainmy confidence back.
It helped me create that growthmindset that I'm capable.
No matter what what I'm goingthrough, I can still learn, I
can still grow, I can stillbecome stronger.
And I think I've had, you know,really great mentors along the
(15:59):
way to show me that it takesvulnerability as well and how to
give that back to others andhow much more impactful it is
when you show up that way as acoach, because then you're
really able to peel the layersright and like just you know,
sort of see the person for whothey are.
(16:20):
Um, and so it's just been.
It's been a whole journey ofthat just unpeeling the layers
like through through physicalmovement.
And then the food as well.
It just for me, cooking builtmy confidence as well, like it.
Just I feel so healed with goodfood, I feel so like just
nourished with good food fromthe.
(16:41):
You know, when you're healedfrom the inside, it starts to
work its way on the outside.
So that went a long way as well.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
My language girl.
So let me, let me ask you thisso where are you now with you
know, you're building thisbusiness, and where are you now
with your past?
Like, where are you at thismoment with that?
Speaker 2 (17:07):
You know I are you at this moment with that.
You know I don't think it'ssomething that ever truly goes
away.
I don't think we ever come tothis finish line in life.
I think people have this falseconception of like, you know,
we're all.
We have to get to the finishline on, like, our healing, or
with you know, our training, orwith the weight loss, like
whatever it is, and I feel likewhen you go through something
(17:29):
traumatic like that, it's justsomething you're always going to
have to be aware of and mindfulof.
So, as I got it more and moreinto the health and wellness
space like I'm a big meditatornow I'm a big like journal, like
a journal almost every day, andif I'm having a bad day, like I
just lean into those things,I'll go for a walk, I'll take
(17:51):
out my journal and just spit itall out, because if I keep it in
here, it'll just I'll startspiraling, like I'm that
susceptible to being able to godown that rabbit hole.
I've built strength andresilience along the way, but
it's something that'll alwayscreep up, it'll be something
that reminds you of it.
The person you know, this personwas very close to me, very
(18:11):
close, and it's like whensomething like that happens,
it's just like, and you have tosee them again and again.
And you know, thankfullythere's distance between us and
I don't have to like put myselfin an environment where I feel
uncomfortable.
But that was tough.
It's like a re-trigger, and soI had to learn how to like
(18:32):
figure out, okay, being aroundthis individual, which,
rightfully so, triggers me, so Ikeep my distance.
I've just learned how to.
I've learned how to sort ofprotect my peace.
If it means distance, that'swhat it is.
If it means, you know, doing alittle extra self-care on
(18:52):
certain days that I need to,that's what I'll do.
Sometimes I have to tell myfiance I need a moment, I need
some time Like I'm okay, Ipromise.
I just need a moment to justfeel my feelings.
It's not you, it's me.
I'm working through it, becausethese things show up in
relationships and at a certainpoint I have to take
(19:15):
responsibility for how this hasaffected me and how I show up.
Now I can't just stonewall myfiance anymore.
I can't just shut down and belike I don't want to talk to you
, bye.
That's that's what worked inthe past.
You know I just bye.
I didn't have time for it?
I really didn't.
(19:35):
So it's like the communication,the opening up it's, it's
constant.
I constantly have to challengemyself, to put myself in
uncomfortable situations,especially in relationships, to
show up and be honest andtransparent.
Um, so it's taken a lot of work.
I've gone back to therapy aswell over the years.
(19:56):
I found a therapist finallythat like fit me, like I was,
like she gets me and this isgoing to work.
Um, and I wish I knew that backthen.
Like not every the firsttherapist it might going to work
, and I wish I knew that backthen.
Like not every the firsttherapist it might not work out.
Therapy isn't bad.
It just you need to find yourmatch.
I didn't understand that when Iwas a teenager and so now I'm
like okay, this, actually, thisworks.
(20:18):
You just have to put a littlemore effort into it and the
process.
So I would say a combination ofall those things I've kind of
taken and just embodied whathealth and wellness is mind,
body, spirit and it's reallyhelped me heal, it's helped me
show up better for my loved onesand it's helped me be the best
(20:38):
coach I could possibly be tohelp others as well.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
I love that and I'm going to say this.
So you said that you know, asyou're doing your own work, you
are going into the uncomfortable, you're leaning into the
uncomfortable, you'rechallenging yourself and as you
were talking, I was thinkingabout isn't that what we even do
physically?
You know, when we're looking tolose weight and we're looking
(21:02):
to move, we have to go into theuncomfortable, because that is
how change happens.
So I'm going to say this youdon't, you're not just a coach,
you walk the walk, you talk thetalk, and not every coach does
that.
So when you are talking to allthese people and telling them,
(21:24):
you know these are the thingsthat they need to do to eat
healthy, to lose, you know, loseweight or even work on their
mind and you know their soul.
You're doing the work as welland I'm sure they see that and
that is extremely impactful.
And you know you talking abouthow it never.
(21:45):
You know there is never an endgoal.
You know life is ebbs and flowsand but that's so much like
even fitness.
You know it's not like I lostweight, boom done.
No, we got to keep on goinghere it doesn't matter 100%.
So, you know, obviously I'm notknowing like how to work with
(22:09):
you.
I'm not, you know, not yourclient, but I can only imagine
how amazing it is to work.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Oh, thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
So let's talk about more on the business.
So what does it look like towork with you?
Speaker 2 (22:26):
So if you are interested, if somebody shows
interest in the personaltraining, what I do is basically
sit down and talk.
That's the first thing we'regoing to do is just, I want to
know you as a person.
I want to know why you're heretoday.
I want to know what's worked inthe past for you, what hasn't
worked.
I want to know what your goalis and why is that goal
(22:50):
important to you?
So I'm really trying to get toknow the person on a deeper
level.
A lot of the times people cryduring these conversations
because when somebody reachesout for help, it takes a lot and
that's the first step of themstepping out of their comfort
zone.
And usually there's a lot toface there because for so long
they weren't ready to go there.
(23:10):
And so, like I said, I alwaysprovide that space because I
feel like that emotion is likethe thing that triggers change
for people.
And if it means like you got tolet it out during that first
session, then like let let's letit out now so that we can work
to better together in the future, because these things are going
to come up.
(23:30):
If you're not honest with mefrom the beginning, you know,
and then you're cancelingsessions.
You feel you know you can'tconnect with your coach and it's
like, well, we have tounderstand each other first to
start.
So I do that, and then we do afull body assessment our next
session together.
So that's where I kind of startto understand this person's
(23:53):
physical abilities, where theirlimitations are.
I work a lot on mobility aswell, so I'm a firm believer in
safety first right and nothaving to take steps back later
on because we didn't do thegroundwork and the foundational
work that it takes to trulyunderstand this person's body,
where their strengths are, wheretheir weaknesses are, where
(24:14):
they could use some improvement,while also understanding what
their goals are and creating aplan for them after that.
So we talk about goals andbasically what I'll do is give
them a breakdown of like okay,this is how we're going to reach
this goal, we're going to do x,y and z and this is how we're
going to reach this goal.
I think your shoulder needs alittle more mobility before we
can start lifting weights, solet's work on that.
(24:38):
You know, sometimes it's hardfor people because they're ready
to go, like let's go.
And like you know gun ho, andyou know you can see in some
people sometimes that they're alittle kind of maybe discouraged
or disappointed, maybe becauseI'm not the one to throw you in
like that.
I work very slowly because Ithink that's where the impact
(25:01):
and that's where the changehappens.
And then once they hit, youknow three to six months and
their form is looking phenomenaland they're, you know all the
foundational groundwork is putinto place.
We see results and we seechange happening and it's so
much better that way than havingto like reverse, you know so
much.
Or you know injury, possibleinjuries.
You know there's so much betterthat way than having to like
reverse, you know so much.
Or you know injury, possibleinjuries.
You know there's so much toconsider and so I really take my
(25:23):
time with the client and theylearn to appreciate that along
the way.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
I love that, I love that.
So I share a lot what you'resaying, with the starting slow,
because that's how they enjoy itright, because they're enjoying
the process.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
The process.
You need to see the small winsalong the way as well, because
people set this super, superunrealistic goal in the
beginning and if they don'treach it right away, there's
that discouragement and theyfeel like a failure and whatnot.
And so what I like to do islike, okay, this goal is great,
but now let's break it down intosmall goals so that you can see
(26:02):
the progress.
You're getting motivated andinspired by yourself along the
way, because setting thestandard super high in the
beginning, it's a setup fordisaster, I feel.
So I'm always like, yes, that'sawesome, that's great.
Now let's break it down, let'sbe a little more realistic about
this and where we're at,because I feel like a lot of and
(26:26):
that's a big part of it too Alot of people aren't giving
themselves enough grace torealize, like, where they're
truly at in their journey and behonest with themselves.
Like, girl, you just had a baby, or you haven't worked out in
five years, you work from home.
Now Things are different, andso sometimes that first
(26:47):
assessment is a reality check,but I always try to leave them
feeling motivated, like no.
This is why we have to do itthat way, and I think the more
thorough and clear you can bewith people, the more they
understand the process and startto appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Yeah, absolutely so.
Let's talk about the nutritioncoach, like how, what does that
look like?
I mean, are you making mealsfor people?
Are you giving them meal plans?
What does that look like?
So?
Speaker 2 (27:16):
I used to do.
I used to have a meal prepcompany, yes, and that was
really fun for the time being.
It was for three great, awesomeyears and I learned a lot.
I had a nutrition program thatI had.
It was like an online coursethat I created at the last gym
that I was working at and one ofmy clients had lupus and he
couldn't cook for himself.
(27:37):
So and he was like I think I'mgoing to have to quit the
program, like I don't, I don'tknow what to do.
And I was like, no, let's notquit, I'll cook for you.
You know, there's only threeweeks left of the program.
I'll cook for you.
Let's just finish the program.
If you want to continue, we can.
We can talk about thatafterwards, cause this is a
lifelong disease.
You know, this is somethinghe's always going to live with
(27:58):
type of thing.
And he finished the program, hedid an incredible job.
And afterwards he was like um,so you're going to continue
cooking for me, right?
And I was like, oh, okay, yeah,sure, here's the pricing.
And and you know, just kind ofcreated this business without
(28:19):
any plan, like I just it kind offell right into my lap, because
then all of my clients were,like, sign me up, like hello,
you've been.
I cooked throughout all theyears that I worked as a trainer
, like I would host potlucks, Iwould host nutrition seminars,
like I was always cooking.
The light bulb just kind ofnever went off, like, oh, I
could monetize this and makethis a business.
And so I did, and that's how mybusiness launched in 2020.
(28:43):
And I loved it.
I loved the experience.
I loved again, the best part isthe results that clients get to
experience, and my goal withhealthy eating is to make it
taste good, because I feel likepeople just automatically assume
, oh, my life is over, I have toeat healthy.
Now, that's it.
I'm doomed, I'm never going tobe able to enjoy food again, and
(29:05):
it's like that's absolutely notthe case.
To learn and to get creative andto try new things, and you know
so meal prep was the easy sortof fix for a lot of people who
didn't want to do that.
That work Right, and so I lovedit.
(29:25):
I enjoyed the experience, but Irealized over the years I love
training people.
That is my pride and joy rightthere.
Like I love being face-to-facewith clients, I love being a
part of the process.
It's just it's been like myfirst love.
So it's like I realized, youknow, after a few years in the
(29:46):
meal prep business, that Iwanted to shift gears and go
full time personal training andnutrition coaching.
Speaker 1 (29:52):
Oh, that's awesome.
Okay, yeah you know, you feltlike that this is where you need
to be.
I mean, although it sounds likeyou were great at the nutrition
stuff, but this is your callingand this is what you enjoy
doing, right, yeah?
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Yeah, exactly, I enjoy cooking people for small
groups of people.
When it became like, it grewpretty fast and I was like oh
whoa, this is crazy.
So I had to learn a lot in areally small amount of time and
the food business is just toughit's a tough.
You know industry to be in andit's a lot of not that I'm
(30:30):
afraid of hard work.
There's just a certain type ofhard work I'm willing to do and
that's training clients.
So yeah, I but I love cooking.
I love cooking at home, I lovetrying new recipes, I love
making new meals, Like Ithoroughly enjoy doing that.
It's kind of like my piece, Um,but when you turn it into a
business it's not the same.
Speaker 1 (30:51):
No, absolutely, yeah, Um, okay, so tell us what is
new, what's upcoming for you.
Okay, so tell us what is new,what's upcoming for you.
Speaker 2 (30:59):
Yes, so I'm actually launching nutritional coaching
services, which I'm really,really, really excited about.
So, because I'm shifting gearsfrom meal prep, you know, going
full time into personal training, I'm going to be relaunching
nutritional coaching services.
So I did this in the past, butit was I was still associated
(31:20):
with other companies, but I'mbringing back my own nutritional
coaching services and these are.
These services are going to beteaching the people the tools on
how to succeed with eating andwith nutrition and even with
meal prep.
So, for example, you can signup for a meal prepping session
with me and we'll basically I'llshow you how to prep your your
(31:42):
you know your meat, your veggies, and how to portion size and
how to easily make thesedelicious meals for yourself, so
that you're not stressed andworried about what you know
you're going to eat over, likeduring the week.
Once the week hits, like it'sover if you don't have a game
plan, you're done.
You're done.
So it's like, how can youprepare yourself as much as
(32:03):
possible with with meal prepping?
So there's that.
I'm also going to be doing foodshopping with clients, so
teaching people how to food shop, yes, how to prepare, yet also
have to prepare for foodshopping.
So how to create a list, how toknow how much to get.
You know how to shop.
When you get into thesupermarket, people go straight
to the aisles.
No, you want to go to theoutskirts, find all the fresh
(32:24):
stuff first, then work your wayinto the aisles.
So stuff like that that, I feel, could sort of ease the stress
and anxiety that people facewhen they're trying to change
their lifestyle around, and thenthey get discouraged very
quickly.
So I want to teach people whatI've learned over the years and
what's you know.
Even as a small business owner,I have to meal prep for myself
(32:44):
too.
I do not have time during theweek, there's just no way.
So it's like this is how you doit.
This is how you go foodshopping for you know.
This is how you prep for thefood shopping.
Here's your list.
This is how you food shop.
And then even you know all theway to the cooking, all the way
(33:05):
to pantry clean out.
So going through clientscabinets, reading labels with
them.
No, this is like the real stuff.
This is.
This is the real deal in terms.
I've done it before and itcreates such a huge impact when
people learn how to like, read alabel.
People don't know how to readlabels.
You know people don't know howto read labels and it's like
that's such a like once you'reable to read a label and see,
okay, there's this much proteinin this or there's this much
added sugar.
You know I give people stapleswith numbers and whatnot is you
(33:27):
know, according to their goals.
So you know that saying youfeed a man a fish for you.
Feed a man a fish, you feed himfor a fish.
You feed them for a day.
Teach a man how to fish, youfeed them for a lifetime.
And that's my approach with thenutrition coaching.
Speaker 1 (33:41):
End of it yeah, oh, that's awesome, evelyn, that's
amazing.
Okay, so is this mostlyface-to-face?
Is it virtual?
Speaker 2 (33:49):
it could be both.
I mean the cooking, I wouldobviously majority of it.
I, you know, would preferface-to-face.
That's what I'm offering.
But I do also offer virtualservices, also for the personal
training I.
I train a couple of people inNew York virtually, um, so
that's always an option as well,especially if distance is
involved.
Speaker 1 (34:10):
Yeah, okay.
Well, evelyn, I I love that youtalked about this journey, of
where you are right now and itsounds amazing.
It sounds like you really did alot of thought-provoking work.
And when you asked me aboutwhen you're working with other
(34:30):
people, you're not just givingto them, they're giving to you,
they're feeding you as well yourenergy and your soul.
So with that, where can peoplefind you?
Speaker 2 (34:42):
So people can find me on Instagram at fitfuelflow.
It'll be underscore fitfuelflowand on that page I post all of
my personal training contentalso just workouts, free
workouts, at-home workouts,quick 30-minute workouts, quick
15, 30-minute recipes that youcan do and that'll be on my
(35:05):
Instagram.
I'm working on relaunching mywebsite, but it'll most likely
be wwwfitfuelflowcom.
Speaker 1 (35:12):
Okay, great, everyone .
So, if, and this is are you inJersey?
Yeah, yeah, okay.
So, if you're listening fromNew Jersey, Evelyn's the woman
you want to, you know, reach outto with personal training, and
she's doing the nutritioncoaching which I think is
phenomenal.
So you know how to reach her.
We'll put all of this in theshow notes and, evelyn, thank
(35:37):
you so much for coming on to theshow.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
I'm so glad that Leanne connected us.
I love the work that you do.
I'm a runner as well.
Um, only in the summer, though,cause I cannot survive in the
cold.
My ears get so cold and then Iget like headaches.
So, um, I really love, like,what you're doing with the
runners group, uh, and you know,just motivating people to move
(36:02):
their body, even if it's walking.
I feel like peopleunderestimate the power of
walking, and it's like it's thebest way to just get started and
then work your way from there.
So, um, I think that's reallyawesome, and we got to run
together one day.
Speaker 1 (36:17):
Oh, I know.
Speaker 2 (36:18):
Right.
Speaker 1 (36:19):
And you know, thank you for bringing up.
Awesome, and we got to runtogether one day.
Oh, I know right.
And you know, thank you forbringing up.
Speaker 2 (36:24):
Leanne.
We got to give her a big up toLeanne.
Shout out to you, leanne, she'sawesome she is.
Speaker 1 (36:28):
So everyone, like I said, you can reach Evelyn all
the information's on the shownotes and we will let you know
when the podcast episode drops.
All right, thanks everyone.
Thank you.
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