140 - Courtney Paige - Overcoming Fear, Hate, and Self-Doubt

I had the chance to sit down with Courtney—the voice behind the phrase “I’m fat and I’m working on it”—and what followed was one of the most real, raw, and human conversations I’ve ever had on this podcast.

She didn’t set out to go viral. She set out to change her life.

In this episode, Courtney shares how one painful moment at the gym sparked a global response—and what it taught her about shame, resilience, and the power of vulnerability. We talk about the anxiety of being a beginner, the toxic side of fitness culture, and how she learned to show up for herself even on the days she wanted to disappear.

We also cover the mental game behind discipline, how social media helped (and hurt) her progress, and why she refuses to let the word “fat” be used as an insult anymore.

This conversation isn’t about a six-pack. It’s about the courage it takes to keep going when no one’s cheering, and the surprising beauty in showing up—imperfect, unsure, and absolutely committed to getting better.

Key Takeaways:

• Baby steps still count. Progress isn’t about perfection—it’s about continuing, even when it’s uncomfortable.
• Words lose their power when you take ownership. Calling herself “fat” became a way for Courtney to reclaim her story and disarm shame.
• No one is watching as closely as you think. Most people in the gym are too busy working on themselves to judge anyone else.

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I hope today’s episode sparked something within you to pursue your dreams and unlock your true potential. If you found value in it, consider sharing it with someone who might need that same push.

Getting After It is for those who. want to silence their self-doubt. Refuse to be owned by comfort. Understand their limits are man-made and breakable. We live in a time of constant comparison. Social media drowns us in highlight reels and overnight success stories. But what most people don’t see is the grit behind it all. The reps. The quiet mornings. The sacrifices. The failures.

You are just getting started. 

Keep Getting After It. 

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Episode Transcript

Brett (00:00):
I'm excited to chat with you today, just because I saw
your post and, honestly, itcaught me off guard, because I
think your first, like the firstone of the first thing you said
was like I can't believe thatthis happens and I was like I
thought you know, that's like an80s high school bully kind of

(00:22):
thing and I was like that is sosad, um no yeah.
It made me sad because, likeyou're, you're talking about all
the things that I love, whichis about progression and that
kind of thing, and um, gettingbetter, like the 1%, better
every day.
As as cliche as that is, it's areally important principle, um,

(00:44):
but yeah, I mean, I think it'sreally inspiring what you're
doing with, with courts cornerand you showing your journey, um
, because it's it's vulnerable,it's it's a hard thing to do.

Courtney (00:56):
A hundred percent.

Brett (00:58):
So I guess it might make sense to just kick it off with
asking you how you got startedwith, with one, your fitness
journey and deciding to make achange and that kind of thing,
and what led to that.

Courtney (01:11):
Yeah for sure.
So I feel like my whole entireadult life I've just kind of
been on and off with my fitnessjourney.
I feel like I would alwaysstart off super strong and
consistent in dieting and itwould go super great.
And then life would happen andI would fall off and I feel like
I was in this mindset where itwas all or nothing.
So for me it was, you know, Iwould fall off and then I

(01:32):
wouldn't go back for a couple ofweeks because you know, I'm
like, oh, I'm going to startnext week or I'm going to start
the week after.
You know, whatever that wouldlook like.
And honestly, I feel like I wastired of giving the excuses for
myself and I was just tired of,you know, not being able to lose
weight that I've gained overthe years.
And so this last time I toldmyself it was gonna be the last
time, I was gonna start.

(01:53):
And so far we've beenprogressing and doing, you know
well, and at the end of the day,like I want to live a healthy
lifestyle and not try to live bythat like all or nothing
mindset, you know so yeah,lifestyle and not trying to live
by that like all or nothingmindset, you know.

Brett (02:08):
So, yeah, which I think is huge, like the the balance
piece.
Um, I think balance and fitnessis kind of an interesting one,
because there are people wholiterally don't have it, and
like David Goggins I talk abouthim all the time Um, he
literally says, you know, he'snot a balanced person and he
won't consider himself balanced,but, um, but his goals are very
different than most people's.
I think just what you saidtrying to live a healthy

(02:31):
lifestyle and all that kind ofthing, because I've been in the
same boat before.
I've talked about it before onthis podcast, but I used to be
sick myself.
I was around 135 pounds and I'm6'3", so it's not really great.
Oh, myself I was like around135 pounds, um, and I'm six
three, so it's not really greatyeah.
And I um had some hormone issues.

(02:52):
Like I have a tumor in mypituitary gland, um, which is
benign, so no cancer, yeah, verygood.
Um.
But, like I, I definitely havestruggled with with eating
myself, um, all throughout mylife.
You know, it was kind of likewhat you said, like all in, or
you know what, I'm just going tolet life happen and do whatever

(03:12):
.
And, um, I recognize in myself Iwas like fluctuating all the
time, like I would be reallygood, I'd be disciplined, and
then the next couple of days Iwould be like, oh, you know what
I've earned this, and thenthrow it all away in a sense.
And so I'm working on thatmyself too, right, and it's so
important.
But, yeah, I kind of want toexplore, like the self-talk that

(03:35):
you had at the beginning of thejourney, because that's
something I feel like manypeople struggle with, at least
because it's not going to happenovernight, it's, it's
definitely a, it is a journey,like it's called a journey for a
reason.
So what were some of the things?

(03:55):
Like you would, you would tellyourself to either stay
motivated to keep the goal insight, or, when things got tough
, like what would you tellyourself?

Courtney (04:00):
Yeah, I think in the beginning, I think before I
started this last journey, Iwould say, is, you know, I
always push myself too far,right, I made goals that were
really unattainable for myself.
So this time around I've beensaying this nonstop to my
husband and anyone who willlisten.
But you know, baby steps arestill steps.
So just creating like small,attainable goals for myself, and

(04:21):
then, you know, when I do that,I can build on those habits and
then continue building them.
So for me it's just really likefocusing on the small things
and then, once I feelcomfortable with that, it's like
, oh, hey, I can do more thanthat, and then continuing to
grow from there.
And for me it's like, okay, I'mobviously like like doing well
with my fitness, my diet, thingslike that, and then continuing

(04:43):
to grow in that aspect and thenbuilding, like I said, on those
habits.
And for me I think it'sremaining disciplined but also
listening to my body and justreally giving myself that grace.
So last week I was super sick.
I was like quite literally dyingand I was getting so hard on

(05:04):
myself because I was like I haveto go to the gym, I have to get
my steps in, and I was like,okay, like I went home early
from work because my boss waslike you need to go home, like
you're not well.
And that day I was like, okay,clearly I'm not okay, like I
just need to sleep, and I sleptall day and I had like the
immediate mindset of being likeokay, like now you have to do

(05:26):
work extra hard the next day, orsomething like that.
And I was like, no, like that'snot the mindset we're going to
have this time.
We're going to really focus on,you know, giving ourselves
grace and then, when we'refeeling better, we can get those
extra steps in or we can justcontinue to hit our goals the
way we're supposed to, withoutfeeling like we have to make up
for something or, you know,punish ourselves because we

(05:48):
missed a couple of days orwhatever it is.
So I'm really glad that I'mmoving out of that mindset and
into a mindset where, you know,I'm allowed to be disciplined
and push myself, especially onthe days where I don't want to
do something just because Idon't want to do them, but, you
know, giving myself that graceand rest when I truly do need it
.
So I think that big mindsetchange has been what's pushed me

(06:11):
and motivated me more this timethan any time before.

Brett (06:16):
I love that and you're speaking my language, like
that's something I actually I'vestruggled with up until the
past like couple years.
Actually I've struggled with upuntil the past like couple
years I married my wife and likesomehow we got talking about
our own internal voices, likeeither at the gym or just like

(06:37):
the way that we talk toourselves.
And I was in the same boat,like, and there would be days
when I was sick and I would justbeat myself up Like I'd be,
like you're such a loser, likeman, like you're going to have
to still do something, like getin the gym, it doesn't matter.
And it was just an unhealthyrelationship with.
I needed to find some way tofeel proud of the work that I
did, even when I was likedeathly ill and, um, maybe not

(07:00):
deathly ill, maybe that's astretch, but like when I was
sick and like in bed, like, likeyou've said, um, like the most
recent story, like last year Iwas, I was training for an ultra
marathon I was going to run inin, uh, monticello, utah, and
three, three days before I gotlike the flu or something like
that and I couldn't keep anyfood down Um, I was in bed for

(07:25):
two days and the day before therace I was like I'm still going
to do it, like I told myself Iwas going to sign up for this
thing.
And my parents flew up fromArizona and I was like I got to
do this thing and my wife's likeyou're dumb, like that's the
dumbest thing I've ever heard,like you just spent two days in
bed.
You haven't had any food.
You're going to run 31 miles inthe mountains Not a good idea
idea.
And it's just like you have tobe kind of realistic with

(07:46):
yourself at some point and belike you know what that's right.
Um, and it goes back to thatword journey like this is
something that's it's not gonnalike change overnight if I just
give up and I wouldn't evenconsider giving up because it's
um, you know, life happens likeyou said at the beginning and
it's just it's so important tohave that self-talk that's.

(08:07):
That's motivating, but not like, uh, what's the word?
Discouraging, I guess.

Courtney (08:13):
Right yeah so you can't be mean to yourself.
It's you know we're.
We're past that right, likewe're not going to be our own
bully at the end of the day andlike we can't do that.

Brett (08:23):
Yeah, no way, it doesn't work.
Like, um, the thing that mywife told me during that time
was like, hey, you have to beyour own biggest cheerleader.
And I'm like you know whatthat's.
That's great advice, Um,because there's going to be
times when you know you don'thave motivation, when you have
to coach yourself, when you'relike, hey, this is this is going
to be good for you, or you knowwhat this isn't going to be

(08:45):
good for you.
Let's take a step back, Um, andjust being realistic with it.
Um, so I love that, but so what?
What did, um your beginninglook like, Like, did you go find
resources?
Did you look up like a coach?
Or just like, sign up for thegym?
You're like okay, this is it.
Um, kind of walk me throughthat a little bit.

Courtney (09:03):
Yeah, so I have been.
I don't know if you know her,but Whitney Simmons has been.
She's a fitness influencer, Iwould say, but I've been like
obsessed with her since like2017.
So I feel like that has beenlike my consistent, like go-to
person when like I need like anew workout routine, or like I
just look up her Instagram, herYouTube, whatever.

(09:23):
Recently, she came out withlike a fitness app that you that
has different programs on itand it'll send you notifications
to like help motivate you,things like that.
So that's what I've been usingthis time around to really help
like push me and keep me ontrack.
It's super customizable things.
I'm not even trying to sellthis app right now, but anyways
you can sell it all you want.

(09:49):
I mean, yeah, but I absolutelylove it.
But I feel like that is greatbecause it also shows like how
to do the exercises Right.
So if it has you doing dumbbellchest presses, it's going to
show you like the exact form youshould be using and where your
elbow should be, and itliterally has a video playing so
you can watch it and like focuson it.
So I feel like that has helpedwith my gym anxiety too,
especially like in the beginningwhen I was first going to the

(10:10):
gym.
I feel like it's anxiety riddingright, like if you don't know
how to use the machines or youdon't want to look silly and
like mess up on an exercisebecause you're just afraid
people are watching you, whichhalf the time they're not afraid
people are watching you, whichhalf the time they're not.
But I just feel like it helps.
You know you feel moreconfident in your journey and
like your fitness to have thatas a background.

(10:33):
But I feel like that was just abig motivator for me and just
having a plan every week andjust knowing what I'm going to
the gym, knowing what I'm goingto do, and just having a set
plan going to the gym, knowingwhat I'm going to do and just
having a set plan I feel likewas really helpful.

Brett (10:47):
Um but yeah, no, that's awesome and like I, uh, I
actually love the fact thatthere are influencers out there.
Like there's some really goodones.
There's also some ones that arekind of just goofy, but you
know, that's.
That's the state of the umindustry, I guess.
But but there's always going tobe those guys.
But like there are some onesthat like motivate me, keep me

(11:09):
going, and like I don't know ifyou've heard of Nick Bear or any
of those guys.
I don't think so, but they own acompany called Bear Performance
Nutrition and they're all aboutlike the hybrid athlete is what
they call, so it's like halfendurance, half bodybuilder,
weightlifting kind of thing.
Um, and I found that and I waslike I'm just going to follow,

(11:32):
like what they're doing, and sothat helped me a lot during my
um journey, from like justtrying to get better myself.
But, um, instead of comparingyourself to them, it's more like
you use them as inspiration,because I'm sure you've heard
the term comparison is the thiefof joy.

Courtney (11:48):
Yeah, I tell that to my husband all the time.

Brett (11:58):
Yeah, it really is like it's a cliche again, but it is
true, it's not fair to yourselfto compare yourself to someone
else who's been doing it foryears and you're just starting
out, who's been doing it foryears and you know, you're just
starting out.
Um, there's this amazing runnerthat I I just I follow and the
things that he does is insane.
His name's Truett Haynes, um,but he did like 10,000 pull-ups.
He broke the record this yearand he got like 10,001 pull-ups
in 24 hours.

(12:18):
Um, and then like he just doesrandom things.
Like he ran the Boston marathonin jeans and got a two hour and
36 marathon and like justrandom stuff.
And I was like how is this guydoing it?
Like that's insane.
And then he posted a video or apicture where he's like I've
been running half marathon sinceI was six years old and I'm
like, oh, that makes a lot ofsense.
Like I can't compare myself tothat.

(12:41):
So, yeah, yeah, uh.
So I mean, like that's onething that you do which I am
very impressed by is like youdocument your journey.
You talk about it openly onsocial media, which can be very
vulnerable, um, and social mediais a great place for comparison
.
So how do you deal with that?
Like recognizing you knowyou're inspiring other people,

(13:03):
but like you can't look atothers and be like dang it, like
I'm not there yet.

Courtney (13:07):
Yeah, so I think I didn't start on social media to
like necessarily inspire people.
It was just kind of to likeshare my journey and kind of
more, so hold myself accountable.
And then, you know, it's kindof grown into that inspiration
thing which is absolutely nutsto me.
I just still can't wrap my headaround it some days.
But yeah, it's just, it's hard,right, because you know, I

(13:32):
think it's all about like whoyou follow, though, too Right,
and the kind of mindset thatthey have.
Yeah, so I think I've reallyworked on one surrounding myself
personally with people that aregoing to motivate me and
support me and just push metowards all the right things.
But then, like the people that Ifollow on social media, like I

(13:52):
want to post the people that aretalking about wanting to get
fit, for all the right reasons,right, I don't want to follow
people that are like, oh, I'mgoing to get fit, to be hot and
like I mean like obviously weall want to be hot, but I mean
you know, it's just, I want tobe fit, to be healthy and I
think just that mindset, foronce, is just pushed me to not

(14:17):
compare myself to others,because my journey is my own and
we all have invisible thingsthat we can't all necessarily
see.
So you know that could behindering why we're not losing
weight.
Or you know, maybe someone'ssuper skinny because they can't
gain weight due to whatever itis.
You know, you never know what'sgoing on with other people and
I think I finally hit that pointwhere I can realize that and no

(14:40):
one's journey is going to lookthe same, and I love comparing
stories and having similarities,but I also want people to know
that their journey is their own.
So if they're not losing weightthe same as their best friend
who's doing the same exactworkout, eating the same exact
thing that's okay.
Like that is okay and that'sfine.
And I think just beingopen-minded about that stuff and

(15:03):
just owning the fact that it isyour journey and making it your
own thing is so important, andI think people lose sight in
that often.
So, absolutely yeah, theyreally do.
Like I've done it so many times.

Brett (15:12):
So I think people do sit in that often.
So, absolutely, yeah, theyreally do.
Like I've done it so many times.
So I'm I'm speaking from my ownexperience here but, um, I
remember when I was starting myown, like I wanted to kind of
like what you were saying, likeget hot, I wanted to get all the
muscles in the gym and like getthe biceps and look like Arnold
and all that kind of stuff.
And um, I remember I was, I waswatching this influencer and um

(15:35):
, he was like, yeah, you know,the way that I cut is I work out
in the gym, um, for like twohours a day and I'll eat about
1500 calories, and usuallythat's that puts me in like a
500 calorie deficit for the dayor whatever.
And then he doesn't add on theexercise, um, he doesn't
incorporate that into hisdeficit.
And um, I remember thinkingthat and I was like that's crazy

(15:58):
.
Um, and so I tried it once andI just I felt terrible because I
had no energy, um, and it wasall during COVID, so like I had
all the time to really work outand like do all that kind of
stuff.
Yeah, but I just felt so badand I was like man, what is
going on?
And then I got online and Ifound this website called total

(16:20):
daily and energy expenditurecalculator.
It's like the whole thing youknow helps you calculate your
killer intake and deficit thatyou need, and all that stuff.
So I type in all my stats andit's like, okay, well, if you
want a 500 calorie deficit, youhave, and all that stuff.
So I type in all my stats andit's like, okay, well, if you
want a 500 calorie deficit, youhave to eat like 2,100 calories

(16:40):
a day.
And I was like okay, so 600more than this guy Turns out,
the guy's five, five and, like Isaid, I'm six, three, and so
it's like every body isdifferent and you can't, like
you can listen to the advicethat they have, but you
shouldn't take it for face value, like you shouldn't be like
okay, well, this guy's doing it,this is going to work for me,
um, so I, I love that point.
Like everybody is different andyou should treat it as such.

Courtney (17:01):
Yeah, a hundred percent.

Brett (17:03):
Yeah, I mean, I kind of want to hear a little bit more
about, like the, the gym anxiety, if you don't mind, because
that's something I know manypeople face, um, most recently
me anxiety, if you don't mind,because that's something I know
many people face, most recentlyme, like I've been trying to do
more mobility work and I don'tknow if you've done mobility
stuff, but it's like it's likethe most baby exercises like,
and you feel like you're hard.
They're hard, yeah, and it'slike you can't really put weight

(17:25):
on it and it's just, it's tough, but like I kind of get nervous
, like I like, okay, well, I'vebeen in the gym for a long time,
like a few years, and now I'mdoing these little exercises and
I'm like man, I I look like agrandma, but, um, it's like
whatever, you know, it's uh, II'm trying to work on that
myself, but um, how'd youovercome that?
Like, what were some of thethings that you told yourself or

(17:47):
or experienced?

Courtney (17:49):
Yeah, so for me, I definitely am very big on like,
so I'm like a big watcher, solike, unfortunately, I am the
person that is watching you inthe gym, but not to judge you, I
promise.
It's literally to see, like howyou're using that machine, like
what your form looks like, likethat is like if I see someone
and I'm like they're ripped,they have a lot of muscles or

(18:10):
they're in like good shape, likeI'm going to typically look at
them and like compare them to,like what I've seen.
But then I'm also going homeand looking at YouTube and like
typing in this machine that Iwant to use and just looking
that up.
And I think my anxiety, justlike forced me to do all these
things.
So that one, I felt comfortableand confident when I went into
the gym and like I am like anintroverted, extroverted person,

(18:34):
like I'm both and I don't havea problem going up to somebody
and talking to them, but, likewhen it comes to something I'm
insecure about, absolutely not.
So you will not catch me deadgoing up to somebody at the gym
and being like hey, can you showme how to use this machine?
But I totally would do that nowin my journey, like I'm not
afraid to do that now, but Iwould say in the beginning that
was super hard for me butrealistically it was just, you

(18:58):
know, watching other people usemachines, looking it up online,
even like in the gym.
Sometimes I would look it up onYouTube or, like I said, the
app I use now is really greatwith how to use machines.
But I think, too, it's justagain like not comparing
yourself.
Like, at the end of the day,like most people are in the gym
to better themselves, they'reworrying about what they're

(19:19):
doing.
They're not worrying about whatyou're doing and you just have
to keep that mindset.
Like it's very rare that anyoneis going to be in there judging
you for not lifting 60 pounds,like if they're lifting 60 and
you're only lifting 10, likethey're not going to judge you
for that, like it's not whatit's about.
So I think just kind of likegetting out of your head and

(19:40):
just putting your head down andlike getting through your
workout is the most importantthing, especially if you are
feeling anxious about it.
It's just, you know, sometimeslike throwing a baseball cap on,
throwing a hood on top of thatand just kind of like having
your blinders on.
Basically, I think is superhelpful too, cause I've
definitely done that especiallythe days I don't want to be
there.
That's super helpful too.

Brett (20:02):
Yeah, no, I, I seriously love that, like education's huge
Um, like if, if you learn howto use some of those things, if
you learn how to do thetechniques, that's the first
step.
And, like you said, if there'ssomeone in there who's bench
pressing, we'll say like 345plates, because I see that all

(20:22):
the time and I'm like that'sinsane.
And I'm over there with justlike 145 plate and I'm like I'm
trying guys.
I'll get up there, hopefullysometime, but again it's like
they don't care and, um, I'veactually like talked to some of
those guys and they're like, hey, like nice work, like keep
going, and that's what I loveabout like most of the the, the

(20:43):
fitness community, andespecially like your local gyms,
like most people are very niceand they will help you with
things.
Um, they'll spot you, like thatwas always something I was
nervous about.
Asking is like hey, can youspot me on this thing?
But people are like, yeah, sure, why not?
Because they've been therebefore and they know how
difficult it is.

Courtney (21:00):
Yes, yeah.
I feel, like the gym bros that Ifeel like that are all like you
know they walk kind of like youknow they own the place, like
they are actually like greatpeople to go to because they've
been where you at.
Like everyone has to startsomewhere and I think that's
something to remember too islike everyone that is at the gym
has been where you're at.

(21:21):
They they walked into the gymfor the first time before Like
they've it's not like they justwere gym bros from day one, you
know.
So it's just remind, likereminding yourself that too,
from day one you know.
So it's just remind, likereminding yourself that too of
you know it's everyone startedsomewhere.

Brett (21:39):
So A hundred percent, it's okay.
This might be a rough analogy,but I'm going to go for it
anyway.
It's like, um, it's like a babylearning to walk, like, yeah,
there's, if there's a baby, youknow, at a family party or
something and they take theirfirst steps and fall down after
a couple, everyone's going to becheering for them.
First steps and fall down aftera couple, everyone's going to
be cheering for them.
They're not going to be likeyou suck at walking, Like come
on, um, and it's the same withlike anything.
Really, I think it shows thatyou want to make a change and

(22:01):
you want to, like you said, justhave a healthier relationship
with yourself and, um, just dosomething good for your body.
And um, yeah, most of the timeit's good.
But unfortunately you had avery different experience and
it's kind of the reason why Ireached out, because I was

(22:22):
baffled when I saw your videoand it made me pretty sad.
But if you don't mind, kind ofjust walking through what
happened for the listeners whojust don't know, and then we can
keep going from there, ifthat's okay.

Courtney (22:40):
Yeah for sure.
So of course I was going to thegym and of course it was on a
day that I did not want to bethere.
I had had literally the mostawful day at work.
All I wanted to do was go homeand rot on my couch and I
decided to force myself to go tothe gym because I knew I was
going to feel better afterwards.

(23:01):
You know, I'm starting thishealth journey again.
It was, you know, reallyholding myself accountable again
, like hey, do I not want to goto the gym because I don't feel
good, or is it because I'm beinglazy and I want to rot?
So it's just really pushingmyself.
So I decided to push through itand it was leg day and I'm on
the Smith machine and I'm doinghip thrusts and out of the
corner of my eye I see some kidslike snickering and I'm like

(23:23):
there's literally no way thatthey're not laughing at me.
They're probably just laughingat each other, it's fine.
So I continue doing my sets andI like resting between my sets
and out of the corner of my eyeagain, I see one of these
teenage boys and they kind ofpoint at me and I see them make
like hand gestures, making likea stomach on their stomach, and

(23:47):
I was like, okay, that's reallyweird, and I'm pretty sure
they're talking about me.
And so I am like looking atthem now and we made eye contact
and they start laughing evenmore and I'm at the point where
I'm like, okay, maybe if I justcall them out they'll stop,
it'll be fine.
So I pull my headphone out andI say like, hey, can I help you,
thinking you know they're goingto be embarrassed that they

(24:10):
like got caught.
You know, like that's what Iwould be, you know.
And one of them responds uh, no, we don't need anything from
you, fatty Jeez.
And I kind of like was so takenaback that that is actually
what came out of their mouth.

(24:30):
And I kind of looked around andthere was a girl in this
machine next to me and her and Imade eye contact and she just
looked away and I was like, ohmy god.
So she just heard that and likeno one said anything, that was
around and like I didn't sayanything because I I just
couldn't think of anything.
I was just so taken aback thatthat had actually happened,
because that's like from a movie.

(24:51):
You know what I mean and that'sI just I put my head down.
I literally finished that lastset and I just did my last
exercise in the gym.
I like went to the oppositeside of the gym, did that last
thing because, even though Icouldn't stand up for myself and
say something to them, I knewat least I deserved to finish my

(25:11):
workout, because I deserved tobe there.
But I think that's all I coulddo to keep myself from crying
too, is just continue my workout.
And I ran to my car and I criedand I made that video and I
came home and I told my husbandabout it and I was like I'm not
going to post it.
You know, that's soembarrassing, you know, whatever
.
And he's like no, you shouldpost that.

(25:31):
Like people, like people needto hear that, you know.
And so I posted it and I'm gladI did now, but I just, yeah, it
was like I said it was out of amovie.
I I had to do like a doubletake almost, because that's.

Brett (25:50):
That's horrible, right?
Um, man, I mean, it shows a lotof strength from your side,
though, because I think one likewhat you said you finished the
workout, but, um, I just, yeah,that is baffling.
Um, those kids are losers, likeI'll say it and I know so many
other people have have supportedyou and said the same thing but

(26:13):
like they're losers, like thefact that they're out there and
making fun of people who aretrying to improve themselves, um
just makes me sick.
Like, right, it's so sad.
Um, so yeah, and so you postedthe video, and then, um, what
happened from there?

Courtney (26:36):
posted the video and then, um, what happened from
there?
It blew up.
Um, I, you know, startedgetting a lot of comments on it
and just people sharing likesimilar experiences of what
happened to them, which likebreaks my heart.
But I'm just so glad that theyhave someone they can talk to,
at least now, about theirexperience.
Um, then a couple fitnessinfluencers reposted my video,
which made it blow up even more,and I gained a lot of followers

(26:59):
.
That video is sitting at 4million views right now.
I think it's a little bit morethan 4 million, but yeah, it's.
I just like my inbox wasflooded.
My people found my Instagram,so that started getting flooded
and it's just, it's been a verygreat experience.
I never thought being like mecrying on the internet was ever

(27:23):
going to blow up and like happenthe way that it did.
And I'm just I'm happy that meputting myself out there and
being vulnerable has helped somany people and also has helped
turn people's their perspectiveon right.
Like there's so many peoplethat are like I can't believe
this happens, you know, and Ithink a lot of people are like,

(27:45):
oh, you should have done thisand like I would have done this.
But in this situation.
I feel like it's so differentthis, but in the situation I
feel like it's so different.
But I think now, like lookingback on it, like I'm glad that
happened to me.
One, because if I ever see thatin the gym like now, I'm
prepared.
Now I know what to do and say,because I know it's not, this
doesn't happen in a movie, thishappens in real life.
So you know, I'm just happythat at the end of the day, I'm

(28:09):
happy that at the end of the day, I'm happy that it happened and
, um, I did end up talking tothe gym about it.
Um after multiple people told meI should, and those boys did
get kicked out.
They just had the free.
I go to a planet fitness, sothey just had the free
membership.
So they just got kicked out.
So that was kind of a nice perkof it too.

(28:31):
Um, just because, like at theend of the day, like I didn't
want to be a snitch at the endof the day, but I also didn't
want that happening to anybodyelse, because if that happened
to me, like there's a lot ofother people who are in bigger
bodies that go to my gym and Idon't want them to have the same
experience that I did.
So I was hoping that you know,talking to the gym about it

(28:54):
would at least get rid of thatproblem.

Brett (28:57):
So yeah, yeah, I mean I.
I'm also glad that you postedthat video, just because I think
it sheds light on, um,something that we don't talk
about a lot because, like whatwe were saying at the beginning,
like you always assume thatpeople are just there with their
heads down, just getting workin, and if you ask for someone
to help you, like typically theywill, um, but of course there's

(29:21):
going to be some terriblepeople out there and whoever
raised these kids, you knowthey're, they're probably I mean
, I don't want to say not great,but I don't want to put
assumptions out there but, like,obviously you didn't teach them
how to act and, um, how to justbe a kind person, and it's a
sad thing, and so I think it's.

(29:43):
It was a bold, not a bold thing, it was a brave thing for you
to do, for sure, but taking thatstep, at least you know, helped
.
I don't know you said 4.5million people see that.
Yeah, that there is like anissue out there and, um, like,
maybe, like what you said, um,it'll help people to be like, oh

(30:03):
well, if I do see somethinglike that, I'm going to say
something, because I don't wantsomeone to have to go into their
car and make a video saying Idon't know where else to go to
say this, because I feel justbroken inside, like I'm trying
to get better and I'm gettingdiscouraged the whole time.
I think it's reallyinspirational on your part.

(30:24):
But, yeah, the other thing Isaw.
So I saw that video and thenthe next day I jumped on TikTok
and there were some influencersthat I knew that talked.
And then the next day I jumpedon Tik TOK and there were some
influencers that I knew thatthat talked about your story.
Um, like, I think his name isScotty fitness or something.
He's the dude with a hugemustache.
He makes mine look like achild's mustache.
But, like some huge people werelike you know what?

(30:48):
Hey, like we got you on this.
Um, what was that like?

Courtney (30:56):
know what, hey, like we got you on this.
What was that like I sobackground story on that.
So Scotty is Scotty K fitness.
He ends up messaging me and Ididn't see it at first because
my notifications were blowing up, so he messaged my husband and
he emailed me, and he messagedme on Instagram and he is trying
to find out what gym I go to.
And so him and my husband weretalking and, long story short,
he ended up paying for my gymmembership for a year just to

(31:19):
kind of like push me, to likekeep hitting my goals and like.
That was like I could crythinking about it right now,
cause that was so nice.
Um, and then Dr Tommy oh, I'mgoing to butcher his name now,
but Dr Tommy Martin, I think, ishis name.
He also made a video with ScottyK Fitness and so did Liam, and

(31:39):
they were just super helpful andoffered to buy me things to
help me reach my fitness goalsand stuff.
So, funny enough, I got like ahip thrust barbell pad, just
kind of out of sight and becauseI feel like our gym never has
one.
And but yeah, it was just.
It was a crazy response andthey basically told people to

(31:59):
come flood my DMs and mycomments with just kind and so
such thoughtful things and itmade me realize that, like, what
happened to me was a very rarething and I want people to know
that, if they follow me, if theywatch my videos, if they listen
to this podcast, that, like,the gym really is full of great

(32:21):
people.
They're really people that aregoing to be there to like work
on themselves and you know workand you, it's just it's.
The fitness world is full ofgreat people.
At the end of the day, and.
I never thought I'd be part ofthe fitness world because of the
size that I am, but you know, Iam fat and I'm working on it

(32:46):
and it's just it's been a reallygreat experience so far and I
just am so thankful for thecommunity that those influencers
have brought and that just I've, you know, kind of created in a
way as well, and it's it'sunbelievable, like.
I just am like speechless aboutit, basically still so.

Brett (33:07):
I would be too Like.
It's like what we're talkingabout with the support system
People are there to get betterthemselves and usually that
means hey, I want other peopleto join and do the same for them
, because they know the benefitthat comes from it, the benefit
that comes from beingdisciplined and showing up when
you don't want to.
Even on that day when youwanted just to go home, you

(33:29):
still showed up, and that'spowerful.
Because most of the time likemyself, included multiple times
during my own journey I'm like,yeah, you know what, I'll just
ease off the gas a little bit,um, but then I always just I
don't feel as good.
Um, it's, it's hard to explain,but I, I love that tagline I'm
fat and I'm working on it.

(33:50):
Like that's, I think that'slike one, it's like, yeah, I
understand my situation.
Like I'm not where.
I want to be fitness wise.
Um, and two, it's like I'mgonna have a little bit of fun
with this.
Like, how'd you come up withthat tagline?

Courtney (34:05):
so originally I was just trying to find like a hook
that was going to get people tolisten to me, and you know so I
actually started that seriesbefore that viral video.
It was like I think that waslike my third video in my series
technically, and it wasn't evenintended to be a thing.
You know and I the intentionwas basically to take the word
fat and make it not have thisvicious meeting, because I feel

(34:29):
like for so long the word fathas just always been used to
make people feel like crap aboutthemselves.
The word fat has just alwaysbeen used to make people feel
like crap about themselves, nomatter what they look like,
because I feel like you can calla skinny person fat and they're
going to feel awful, like, so Ijust feel like it has such a
negative connotation to it.
So you know, obviously it wasused against me and I cried

(34:49):
about it, but I feel like, youknow, I want to use that word
and like use it to take back,like my own story and my journey
, um, so when I say I'm fat, Iuse it in the same way that I
would say like I'm tall or Ihave wavy hair.
You know, it's just anadjective, it's just a word,
then, and it has no poweragainst me.

(35:10):
And that's really the way Iwant to continue my journey in
this thing and my little taglineBecause I am fat and that's
okay, like genuinely it is fineand I'm working on it genuinely,
so instead of you know, likehiding it or hating myself for
being in a bigger body, like I'mgoing to continue working on

(35:31):
myself.
Um, and just because I say I'mfat doesn't mean I have like I'm
not pretty or, you know, I'mnot strong or any of those
things either.
So it definitely stirs the pota little bit and I kind of like
that, um, you know so, but yeah,it's just I, I just I, I don't

(35:52):
know, I just want it, yeah.

Brett (35:55):
Yeah, I think it's awesome, like it does get get
people's attention and, to yourpoint, it's like it's shocking
that like you say that aboutyourself, because because
everything that you just said,like it's always had a negative
connotation to it.
And now it's like I feel likeif someone's in a similar
situation, they're like maybe Ican work on it too and I feel

(36:16):
like it.
It just makes it more relatableand it's not like um, like
being fat is not the end of thelike, that's not the end of the
journey.
Like you can always change andit might be, it might be long,
it might, you know, not have thetimeline you expected it to,
but there's always ways that youcan get better and improve, and
it might take a year or acouple of years, but you won't

(36:39):
be the same person that you werewhen you started your journey,
and I think that's that's thewhole point.
Um, and so I I think it's great,like I know it's um, it is kind
of like you know, up in yourface, like I, hey, I'm fat and
I'm working on it, but I love itand that makes me think like,
so getting after it.

(37:00):
We're a community of peoplethat you know.
All we do is we try to getbetter ourselves and help others
do the same.
That's the whole mission ofgetting after it, and we're
launching shirts soon, so I'llhave to send you one, once, uh,
once we get them.
Um, I think it'd be cool to dolike a shirt that just says like
getting after it, and then onthe back it's like I'm fat and

(37:21):
I'm working on it, or somethinglike that.
But, um, maybe, yeah, I don'tknow if, if, um, I'd get your
approval on that, but like, Ijust think it's cool, like it's,
it's, it's reality, you know.

Courtney (37:33):
Well and funny enough people have like they're like
you should make shirts, like Iwould buy that and I'm like you
would buy.
Like my weird little sayinglike all right.
Like so no, like I would totallylove to throw that on a shirt,
but I mean like it's so true,though, and like, own it right.
Own the fact that you're in abigger body, and own the fact
that you're in a bigger body andown the fact that you're on a
journey and you're working on it.
Like you know, and I don't know, my husband and his friend are

(37:56):
like trying to create a wholemerch line for me, and I was
like you guys, that's a lot,that's a lot for me that's so
cool.

Brett (38:03):
You should do it Honestly , like um, there's some, there's
some cool apps out there.
I don't know if you've everheard of like Printify or
Printful.
It's like on-demand printing,so you don't need inventory or
anything like that.
Oh, nice so you could juststart a Shopify store and we can
talk more offline about that,because I love that kind of
stuff.
So I'd be happy to help out yourhusband with getting that

(38:23):
launch.
But I think it's awesome.
It is really cool and what yousaid kind of reminded me of a
principle I try and live my lifeby that I learned from someone
named Jocko Willink.
Do you know who he is?
So he's this ex-Navy SEALcommander.

(38:44):
I believe he was a commander,but he fought in like Armadi,
iraq and a lot of those thingsin like 2008.
And he's just this super toughdude and he has this entire
thing that he talks about calledextreme ownership and it's
basically like everything thathappens in your life is a you
problem, and that could be ifit's in your relationship, if

(39:05):
it's in like your habits, ifit's in your job, like take
ownership of it and find outwhat you can do to make your
situation better.
And I mean, I got to say you'refollowing Jocko Willink, who's
this Navy SEAL guy.
You're taking extreme ownershipand I love that and I just
think it's really powerful and Ithink it just gives someone who

(39:29):
might be starting their fitnessjourney a really relatable
person to look to and be likeokay, well, courtney started and
she's way further along than Iam right now, but what did she
do in the beginning?
And I've I gotta ask this doyou feel pressure in any way um
with with that kind of likeimpact that you have?

Courtney (39:50):
yes and no.
I think it's more of like anaccountability thing for me too
now, where it's like okay, likeI have these people who are
tuning into my journey and likeI want to be as open and honest
as possible and I think thathelps me kind of hold myself
accountable then in my fitnessjourney because, like Monday, I
was not feeling it, but I forcedmyself.

(40:12):
I was not feeling it, but Iforced myself.
I wanted to watch Love Islandon my couch and I instead got my
walking pad out and I walkedwhile I watched an episode of
Love Island and I got thoseextra steps in even though I
didn't want to, because I waslike, oh, like I have people who
are going to be like girl, youdidn't hit your steps again this
week, like what's going on, andI didn't have an excuse that I
was sick this time, you know.

(40:32):
So, um, you know it's.
I think it's more of anaccountability thing for me but,
realistically, like I want tohave an open and honest and raw
journey and just continue thatmindset for anyone who wants to
follow me.
And you know it's, it's ajourney for a reason, right,

(40:53):
it's it's progress overperfection, it's baby steps,
it's whatever you want it to beand I want people to know that
like their journey can look likemine, but it can also be so
different and I just want it tobe a safe space.
At the end of the day, that'sjust what I want my community to
be.

Brett (41:12):
So I think that's awesome .
Yeah that's so cool and itreally is like because you think
of influencers as people whoare unstoppable.
At least I do Like, I'm likeman, I don't know how they do it
every single day, but the thingis is you're not going to want
to feel like it every single dayand you won't feel like it
every single day Because youknow, I, I I think I mentioned

(41:38):
I've I've been working out for afew years now and kind of the
same thing.
Like Monday rolled around and Iwas just beat up and I was like
I still got to do it.
Like we have friends comingover tonight, so I got to wake
up and go, um, because like Ihave goals myself.
And then yesterday it was thesame thing.
Our friends were over untilaround 10.30 that night, which
is kind of late for me because Iwake up super late.

Courtney (41:55):
Yes, that's super late .

Brett (41:56):
I'm a grandma.
so I feel that yeah, my wife andI were in bed usually at 9
o'clock, so it's like whatever.
And the same thing happenedlast night because we had
friends over, because we wentout of town today, and then we
jumped on a plane this morningand right now I haven't worked
out today and I definitely don'twant to.

(42:17):
But once I'm done with thiscall like I'm going to go to the
gym because I made that promiseto myself and it's kind of like
what you said, like I don'thave that excuse if I'm sick and
I just, you know, I want tostay accountable to it.
So it really is that stayaccountable to it.
Um, so it really is.
That's a, that's a relatablething that everyone runs into.
Um, even that Navy SEAL guy,jocko he talks about it

(42:38):
sometimes.
He always says, if you don'twant to go to the gym, he's like
just show up and go through themotions, because at least
you're there.

Courtney (42:46):
Um, that workout is better than not working out.

Brett (42:50):
A hundred percent.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, and I lovethat there's um.
Actually, I had a guy come onthe podcast yesterday, um, who
went to nationals for javelinthrowing of all things, and um,
it was super interesting hearingcause he like had injury after
injury and his journey waspretty tough but he like still

(43:11):
stayed in the fight and ended upgoing to nationals.
But, um, he had this quote thathe said that his sports
psychologist told him, which wasyou can't lose if you don't
stop trying.
And, um, I think that there's alot of power in that too, like,
like you said, a bad workout isbetter than none.
Um, so I, I, I love thatmindset and it's it sounds like

(43:35):
that's exactly what you'rebuilding is a community of um,
where, like a place where peoplecan go, have a safe space where
they can ask questions or getadvice and and watch you on your
own journey.
Um, like that's needed, and soI I admire you for for doing
that.
Um.
But, yeah, I mean one big thingthat I think fitness teaches a

(43:59):
lot of people uh, myselfincluded is it teaches you about
yourself, and so I'm curiouswhat you've you've learned about
kind of yourself during yourown journey.

Courtney (44:11):
Yeah, I think for me.
I think I've built so many poorhabits that I feel like that's
why I've always struggled withit up until this point.
And now I'm realizing that likeI want to be better, I want to
be a happier person, whetherthat's mentally, physically,
emotionally, like all of theabove and, realistically

(44:34):
speaking, like I need to be morehonest with myself.
I think I'm really really goodat making up excuses and
convincing myself that like, ohyou know, I don't need to do
this because of a Y or you know,x, y, z things, and um, I think
I finally learned like I'm avery honest person to my friends
and my family and they don'talways love how brutally honest
I am, but like I'm a very honestperson to my friends and my

(44:55):
family and they don't alwayslove how brutally honest I am,
but like I won't be brutallyhonest with myself, like get it
together, girl.
So I think this journey hastaught me to be brutally honest
with myself and have thosereally hard conversations of,
you know, walking that line ofbeing disciplined and giving
myself grace and I don't want tobe 90 and not be able to walk
or something like that Like Iwant to be that 90 year old.

(45:18):
Who's breaking it down on thedance floor at my great
granddaughter's wedding?
Like you know, it's just pushingmyself now to have a better
future for myself.
So I think, you know, I've justlearned to just be brutally
honest with myself and tellmyself the things I know I don't
want to hear and really justfocusing on, you know, getting

(45:43):
over those poor habits andforcing myself to do things that
I don't necessarily want to do.
But I know I'm going to thankmyself for later.

Brett (45:50):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
I mean it's uncomfortable, itreally is.
It's, it's not a comfortablething to do, but discomfort
teaches you a lot and it teachesyou that you can do hard things
.
My wife going back to her for asecond, but she um, or every

(46:11):
year, her family runs a halfmarathon for her dad who passed
away from cancer.
Um, it's called team Tim, it's,it's pretty, it's, it's a
really cool experience.
But that was like one of thefirst times where, um, I saw the
fitness community in action,because this is a like a race
where people come from alldifferent places, like within

(46:35):
the US, I guess, but alsodifferent fitness levels.
Like there's some people Iremember my first year there was
a guy who ran like six, 49minute miles and then there was
like someone who pretty muchwalked the whole thing.
Um, but the whole concept oflike why we do it is one to like
show other people who areaffected by cancer or other um

(46:59):
difficult challenges that theymight have, that like, hey,
we're willing to suffer with you.
Um, and I know it's it's verydifferent, like it's a very
different type of suffering, butlike, we love you enough to go
and do something hard for youand his, um, his name is Tim.
Uh, obviously Tim's him, but um,Tim would always say, like
confidence comes from doing hardthings and you can do hard

(47:22):
things, and it really issomething that's like kind of
just it's been etched into myheart.
Like you can do hard things andhard is relative.
Like hard is going to lookdifferent for one person than it
will for you, and it might lookdifferent for you than it is to
like Scotty F fitness.
You know it's, it's, it'sdifferent.
Like hard is relative, but youcan do hard things and

(47:44):
confidence comes from puttingyourself in those uncomfortable
situations and learning to say,hey, this sucks, but I'm going
to keep going because I know theresult on the end is going to
be better.
So, yeah, I love that?

Courtney (47:59):
That's amazing yeah.

Brett (48:01):
It's um, yeah, I don't know.
Like my mom, she's a greatexample.
I, I love everything that she'sdone, but she's like oh man,
she's going to get mad at me forthis, but I think she's like 57
, 58.
But, um, I'll let you know if Iget in trouble after this call.

Courtney (48:17):
I say she's young and hip.
What are you talking about?

Brett (48:19):
Yeah, she's young and hip , but like um, speaking of hips,
like she had a bad hip.
She ran the Chicago Marathonand stuff and I always looked at
her as a hero growing upbecause I was like man, that's
crazy.
And now she's kind of gotten alittle bit older and she told me
she'd never run because her hipwas so bad.
And she just decided this yearwe ran the Rock and Roll Half

(48:42):
Marathon in Las Vegas and therewas a 10 K that there was an
option for and she's like youknow what, I'm going to try this
, like I think I can do hardthings and I was like mom,
that's awesome, like yeah.
And so we were just like soproud of her and it's like, why
would you not want to see peopledo something where they can be
proud of the effort that thatthey saw in themselves?

(49:04):
Um, and so I it's just I lovebeing a part of that, and it
sounds like you're you'reforming that own community where
people are going to start, youknow, sending you DMs and be
like hey, I saw your video andit made me do X, y and Z and, um
, I think that's so cool.
Um, but, yeah, so what?
What are your future plans for?

(49:25):
For fitness and, like yourjourney, like are there any
sports that you're interested in?
Or like what's, what's, what'son the horizon?

Courtney (49:33):
Yeah.
So I mean, realistically, youknow, just continuing to push
myself to be like a happier,healthier version of myself is
like my number one rule, right,so just continuing down that
road, just continuing down thatroad.
But I think you know my husband, he played football for
basically his entire life and hestill plays football as a 30
year old.
He plays like flag football andI think he's finally retiring,

(49:57):
but he has been getting intolike has gotten into running,
because that's something he'snever been able to really do
with playing football, becausehe was an O-line man.
He needed to stay bulky and,must you know, like had to lift
weights, you know, had to kindof go that route versus being,
you know, a runner and kind ofslimming down type thing.
So he's been running.
So I think it would be reallycool to do kind of get into the

(50:19):
running scene a little bit more.
I've done a 5K in the past.
I did that in college and thatwas actually really, really fun
and I loved it.
Um, I walked half of it but Istill got to say that I did it,
um, and I think it would be coolto kind of just continue to
like explore that journey andthen to do it with him, who was

(50:39):
like my best friend, I thinkwould be even more cool.
Um, and just to do somethinglike that together and kind of
push each other to like try newthings in that field, which
we've never done, so that'd bereally cool.
But I also think it'd be fun tolike have the ability just to
do like co-ed volleyball or justdoing like fun stuff with our
friends, and I think I don't.

(51:01):
I've never tried that beforebecause I was always so
self-conscious of being in abigger body and not being able
to move as quick as my friendsor whatever that would look like
, and now it's just like well,I'm bettering myself and why not
do those things when I am young?
and you know like why not?
So, realistically, I think,just trying new things, putting
myself out there and, um, I usedto play basketball and it's

(51:25):
always fun to shoot hoops andseeing if there's like maybe you
know, some sort of co-ed thingor just even like forcing myself
to do a pickup game withfriends and stuff.
So I think, realistically, it'sjust being more active and
finding different ways to beactive, versus just going to the
gym and lifting weights everyday and then going on my little
hot girl walks, you know, it'sjust doing different things like

(51:48):
that and just pushing myself tojust be better and try new
things.
So I think that's really justmy goal for fitness anyway.

Brett (51:58):
So yeah, I love it and um , I mean a lot of the things
that you talked about.
It's all about like connection,um, like planning co-ed sports,
like what.
What you said about running umdefinitely builds connection.
I uh, yeah, randomly, Ihonestly I think you should try
and get into the runningcommunity because that's like

(52:19):
that's been probably my favoritething I've I've done.
And um, you mentionedvolleyball.
Like I was part of a team foreight years, um, in Arizona, of
all places, but uh, thedifference I feel with, like the
people I run with is it's it'snight and day.
It's a weird feeling, but, um,I think it's just because it
sucks and you're doing it withsomeone who like also feels that

(52:40):
it sucks, um, but by the end,like you're, you're best friends
.

Courtney (52:51):
And um, that's why I love that Team Tim race.

Brett (52:52):
I was telling you about which I might have to hit you
and your husband up about andsay, hey, come on, I think
there's, there's, I believethere's a 10K option, but
there's the half marathon, whichis in February of next year.

Courtney (53:00):
So OK, gives me time to get myself going.

Brett (53:04):
Yeah, yeah, you got some time and that's actually one
thing I'm working on with withgetting after, because, like I
love seeing people run.
Um my brother.
He's the best example to mebecause he's also swore off
running and, um, when I gotmarried he was around 265 pounds
.
Um, he won't get mad if I'mtelling his weight out there.

(53:26):
But um, and he came to me andhe's like, hey, I want to run a
marathon in a year Cause he'slike I'm, I'm, I'm done, like I
want to, I want to change andsurely enough, like November of
the following year, he ran hisfirst marathon.
Um, and like he lost, I think.
I think he's down to two orthree now.
Um yeah, and just like seeingthe, the confidence that he

(53:48):
built in himself and the factthat he's like I'm going to
commit to a plan, stick to it.
And he showed up when he didn'twant to.
Um, his face when he crossedthe finish line was like the
most rewarding thing I've I'veever seen.
And, um, he felt that same wayabout himself and I think it's
just, it's a testament to youknow, doing those difficult

(54:08):
things and bonding with peopleand and sharing your journey
with them to help them on theirown.
And so, yeah, I think if youand your husband get into
running, hopefully you get thebug.

Courtney (54:19):
I mean, wisconsin is a beautiful place to run, so yeah
, it's been really hot here thelast couple of weeks, so maybe
I'll start running on thetreadmill inside.
So I'm not like gasping for air, but you know that's fair,
that's awesome.

Brett (54:34):
I think that's cool and it really is.
It's like you know, you have ahealthy body and I'm just going
to try and make the most of it.
So, really, really awesomestuff that you're doing, really,
really awesome stuff thatyou're doing.
But my last question for you isjust you know, if someone was
nervous to start their ownjourney or they had that gym
anxiety, what's some advice thatyou would tell them?

Courtney (54:57):
Baby steps are still steps.
I feel like I cannot preachthat enough.
So, even if you go to the gymand you walk on the treadmill
and you just look, you just takea gander, you see what's going
on, you get familiar wherethings are, you find out where
the locker room is, you find outwhere the bathrooms are, you
find out where oh, I want to trythe Smith machine, oh, it's
right there, okay.
And then you just, and then youjust leave.

(55:19):
You were there for 15 minutes,now do it again, do it again the
next day and maybe go for ahalf hour and maybe try out a
machine and just really, like,work up that courage and that
confidence.
Or, you know, maybe download afitness app or look on YouTube.
You know, just educate yourselfand just help boost that
confidence and when in doubt youcan reach out to me.

(55:41):
Just kidding, um, but I'mdefinitely going to.

Brett (55:44):
I'm going to put all your information in the show notes
so you might might get some.

Courtney (55:47):
You might get some people flooding your dms um but
yeah, it's just, you know it'sdo what makes you feel
comfortable, but push yourselfout of your comfort zone for
sure.
Um.
But I would like I said like,baby steps are still steps at
the end of the day.
So even if you're only going tothe gym once or twice a week,
you know, maybe the next weekyou can go three times and you

(56:08):
can do more and more things eachtime and you'll start building
that confidence and thatcomfortability which you can
then grow and prosper.
And I think that's so important.
And I think you should shareyour journey with your close
friends or someone that you canat least talk to about it.
I have a girl who DMs me everyday what she does, like she

(56:28):
tells me her steps, she tells mewhat she did at the gym and I
just I absolutely love it, likeI'm just, like I'm so proud of
you, like great job.
And then or she tells me like,oh, I didn't make it to the gym
today.
I'm like, girl, that's okay,like you know, like you're gonna
get it tomorrow, you know.
So it's just finding thatperson that you can share your
journey with and just kind ofcommunicate with, and just

(56:48):
having that person, and whetherthat's your significant other,
someone you met at the gym,whether it's an online person,
like just sharing your journeyand getting excited about it, I
think is so, so helpful too.
So Absolutely.

Brett (57:03):
Yeah, get excited about it.
I mean it's going to be hard,but you know what it's worth it
in the end.
And I just I love the messagethat you're promoting because,
like I said, it needs to be outthere more.
Everyone's in a different,everyone's in a different state,
everyone's at a different level, and it's important not to

(57:24):
compare yourself to other people, like we said, but instead seek
inspiration from them and learnfrom them yes um, so I, I love
it and um, yeah, so where wherecan people find, find you?

Courtney (57:38):
yeah, so I post mainly on my tiktok about, like, my
health journey.
So my handle is quartz cornerand it's q-u-A-R-T-S Corner,
yeah.
And then if you want to followme on Instagram, it's Courtney
Page with an E or with a threeinstead of an E, but those are
my main two places that I postabout things.

(57:58):
I'm debating on making a publicSnapchat just to like post
motivational things.
I have a private story thatI've had people add me on just
for like post motivationalthings.
I have a private story thatI've had people add me on um
just for like daily motivationalthings like that and what I'm
doing each day to day.
That's a little bit moreupdated and personal than TikTok
.

Brett (58:16):
So, yeah, I love it I'll definitely put it in uh in the
notes so people can find you.
But um yeah, I.
I would just say so people canfind you.
But um, yeah, I I would justsay keep doing it, like, keep
getting after it, keep showingup, because, um, speaking from
my own experience here, likewhen I do that, like I'm always

(58:37):
more proud, um, and and I alwaysfeel better and it sounds like
you've.
You've come to the sameconclusion, which, um, I think
is awesome.
So, yeah, yeah, it is a journey, but you know, life is life and
we're here for a while, so whynot make the most of it and and
do something a littlechallenging?
Get out of your comfort zoneand you'll learn a lot about

(58:57):
yourself.

Courtney (58:58):
Yeah, I feel like this is been the craziest part of my
life and, like you know, Ithink it's just it's nice to
know that, like I'm capable ofdoing things I never thought I
was capable of doing, and so I'mjust excited to see what more I
can do.

Brett (59:13):
All right on, I love it and, um, seriously appreciate
you coming on today and beingvulnerable, sharing your story,
and, um, I think this was just,yeah, it's a great conversation
that I think a lot of people canlearn from.
So, um, keep doing it becauseit's needed.
And, uh, yeah, I'm, I'mdefinitely gonna be following
you, so, maybe, I'll maybe I'llsend you my steps and be like

(59:35):
Courtney I only got.
I only got like 6,000 in today.
I was supposed to get 10.

Courtney (59:41):
And I'll be like it's all right.
It's all right Next time we'regetting them tomorrow.

Brett (59:44):
Yeah, that's.
That's what's important is.
You know, if you don't get itthe first time, you show up the
next time um going back to DavidGoggins, this is the last thing
I'll say, and then we can, wecan wrap up, but um, he's, you
know he's known to be just thecrazy man, right, but he does

(01:00:10):
have this quote that I think wecan all relate to, which is he
doesn't look as failure asfailure.
He looks at them as attempts.
Um, and that's like it's a bigmindset change.
But you're not failing.
If you miss a couple of days,just get back on track and it'll
be fine.
So yes but, Courtney, seriously,thank you so much for for
jumping on.
It was great to meet you andgreat to talk to you.

Courtney (01:00:22):
Thanks for having me.
I absolutely loved it.
This was super great.
You're super great, oh, but 10out of 10 would do it again.

Brett (01:00:29):
Awesome.
Well, yeah, we might have toget an update episode, maybe a
little bit later in the year,and see how things are going For
sure.
Yeah, really appreciate yourtime today and everyone else.
Thank you so much for listeningand, as always, keep getting
after it.