March 18, 2025 • 31 mins
When Christine Cernera's 13-year-old son began experiencing debilitating symptoms in 2011, she never imagined how dramatically this health crisis would redirect her life's path. For six agonizing months, multiple doctors dismissed his pain as "all in his head." That traumatic experience—which eventually led to a diagnosis of a duodenal ulcer—became the unexpected catalyst for Christine's midlife transformation.
"That whole experience was so impactful in my life and it showed me that I had to trust my instincts," Christine shares with host Robin Hackney in this revealing conversation about health advocacy, career reinvention, and finding purpose through personal crisis. At 47, while juggling her son's health struggles and a demanding office job, Christine gained 20 pounds and reached a breaking point that demanded change.
What followed was remarkable. Christine left her office career to become a personal trainer before turning 50, then evolved into a functional nutritional therapy practitioner focused on helping others reclaim their health through digestive support, blood sugar regulation, and sustainable lifestyle changes. Now approaching 60, she's unexpectedly found herself a viral fitness sensation after a simple video of her morning mobility routine in pajamas garnered millions of views.
The most powerful insight Christine offers comes from her own lived experience: everyone has 15 minutes to dedicate to themselves daily. "If we take care of ourselves as young mothers, even a little bit, we will be better mothers to our children," she advises listeners who might be postponing self-care until some mythical "later" arrives. Her practical approach emphasizes small, consistent actions rather than radical overhauls—whether that's stretching, strength training, or simply taking time to breathe.
Whether you're facing a health challenge, contemplating a midlife pivot, or simply trying to establish better habits, Christine's journey offers both inspiration and practical steps to reclaim your wellbeing at any age. Subscribe to hear conversations that blend wellness wisdom with real-world application, and join our community of listeners seeking balance in both spandex and wine glasses.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to the Spandex and Wine podcast.
I'm your host, robin Hackney,and I'm so happy that you're
here.
This podcast is a place forconversations about balancing a
healthy lifestyle and beinghappy more specifically, happy
hour.
Together we'll explore allthings wellness and wine.
I hope you learn a little,laugh a lot and, along the way,
(00:22):
know you're not alone on thisbalanced wellness journey.
Ready to jump in?
Pour something in your glassthat makes you happy, because
it's time for spandex and wine.
Hey guys, it's Robin.
Thanks for coming back to thepodcast.
(00:42):
I was looking back on pastepisodes and there are just so
many favorites of mine and I'dlike to sprinkle in here and
there replaying some of those,because I feel like the messages
are worthwhile putting themback out there.
I know some people go back andlisten to episodes and some
people don't, so this was onethat I really enjoyed, so I
thought that I would play it foryou today.
Here is Christine with Reclaimyour Health A little early.
(01:03):
Hi, christine, welcome to theSpandex and Wine podcast.
Hey Robin, thank you for havingme.
Well, I'm happy that you're here.
You have touched so many liveswith your Instagram account and
just what you do in general.
I know you're a functionalnutritional therapy practitioner
(01:24):
.
You're a personal trainer.
You have a program that youwork one-on-one with clients.
But before we get to some ofthat, I want to know where it
all started, because I read thatit was with your son.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Yes.
So in 2011, my son, who wasthen 13, and he's now going to
be 27, became very sick.
It was like January 2011.
And, to make a very long storyshort, it was six months of him
being sick.
Three doctors later we didn'tget a diagnosis till May of 2000
(01:57):
or almost June 2011, that hehad a duodenal ulcer at 13,.
But he had gone through sixmonths of pain and depression.
I'll be honest, it was terrible, but during that whole time I
was working full-time in anoffice.
Luckily it was near my home, soI was going from my office to
home to school.
He was being homeschooledbecause he was growing up
(02:20):
constantly and constantly.
This was for almost six months.
So that whole experience was sotraumatizing for both me and I.
But it was also an amazinglearning experience for me,
because I've always been aquestioner and a researcher and
that whole experience was soimpactful in my life and it
(02:43):
showed me that I had to trust myinstincts, because they were
telling me that his symptomswere in his head.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
The first two doctors .
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Yeah, the first two doctors were.
They did an endoscopy.
Oh, they didn't find anything.
It's in his head and as a mom,you know, and I'm sure you know
this it was, I mean, first ofall, horribly painful to watch
your child go through this.
I just wanted to go through itfor him, right, but just
basically not giving up on.
I knew something was wrong.
(03:12):
I was determined to find it andthe other thing that you know,
in retrospect now, in 2024,versus then, there was so much
less information to beresearched.
Now there is so muchinformation out there.
I was constantly researching onmy computer and it was so hard
to find information about guthealth and nutrition like there
(03:35):
is now.
There's so much, almost toomuch now.
But anyway, that experience ofnot being heard by doctors, that
was my biggest concern.
Knowing that something was wrong, not being listened to, my son
not being listened to, that iswhat spurred me to leave the
(04:01):
office environment which I wasin for most of my adult life,
and first I became a personaltrainer before I, right before I
turned 50.
So I was 47 when I was goingthrough this with my son and I
had gained 20 pounds while hewas sick, because I was just
like, first of all, so stressedout, eating ever, like it was
terrible.
And I, when he got better, Iwent back to the gym.
(04:23):
I made a commitment to myselfthat I would never let that
happen to myself again, whichI've stuck to, and that was over
10 years ago.
And then I became I left myoffice job, which I was becoming
increasingly unsatisfied with,became a personal trainer and I
I actually was a personaltrainer up until 2022, but I
(04:43):
kind of gave that up to do focuson the nutrition aspect and you
know, lifestyle for people Iwork with.
But that was the turning pointfor me.
Like when that happened to myson and myself, it just changed
my whole outlook on everything.
Um, yeah, probably thinkingabout it right now, like it,
(05:05):
it's just so, so traumatic andfor my son, obviously for my son
as well yeah, it has made himvery much more in touch with his
body than most people his age.
So, if there's any benefit to it.
It was that he learned never togive up and to listen to your
body, so that's what happened aswell.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Yeah, oh my gosh, I hate that you had to go through
that.
I hate that he had to gothrough that.
And as a mom, oh my gosh, it'sjust heartbreaking when your
child is sick.
I can't imagine that that agetoo would be such a tough age to
go through that.
So I'm sorry that that wastheir catalyst to get to where
you are now, but I can tellyou're doing amazing things and
you're touching people inwonderful ways, so
(05:50):
congratulations on that.
How is your son doing now?
Speaker 2 (05:54):
He's good.
He's married for two years, helives nearby, which is great he
still has.
You know, like I said, he knowshis body.
So when he has something comeup that he feels really good,
comes to me, he talks to meabout it.
But, overall, beautiful, he'shealthy, he's smart.
You know, I'm very blessed tohave like two great sons.
He's my younger son.
I have an older son too.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Yeah, yeah, good.
Yeah, I have two boys as well,so I can.
I can definitely relate.
I can't even imagine what thatwas like.
Okay, so I'm glad that he isdoing better and take me to like
what you're doing now.
I see you on Instagram, butI've also read that you have a
program that you work withclients one-on-one as well.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
I do do one-on-one.
I don't know if you, it's notreally health coaching, so I'm
not technically a health coach.
So as a functional nutritionaltherapy practitioner, what we
really do is gather a lot ofinformation from who we work
with.
So as far as symptoms, healthhistory, a food journal, you
know, kind of seeing what kindof stress is in the individual's
(06:56):
life, using that information tocreate like bio-individual
recommendations to kind of bringtheir body to balance.
So of course we don't diagnoseanything because we're not
doctors, but we make anassessment based on all of that
information and then work ondigestion.
That's a big one, and that alsobrings me back to my son.
(07:16):
So that's why I was attractedto functional nutritional
therapy, because it really isbased a lot on digestion and how
it affects your overall health.
So that blood sugar regulation,stress and those are the top,
those are the foundational.
Sleep Now you know I'veintroduced sleep and movement to
that too.
So it's really a holisticapproach.
(07:38):
And then we make you knowrecommendations and kind of
follow up like six weeks laterand see how they're doing.
But it's I am very much.
It's not that I don't believein supplements, I do, but I feel
like there's a time and placefor them.
I really am a food firstpractitioner and if I do
(08:00):
recommend supplements, it'susually functional support for
your digestion.
That's how the one-on-ones work.
It's very intense for a lot ofpeople.
You have to be ready Like Iwon't ever give people
recommendations that I don'tthink they're ready for.
It can be tiny little startslike just drinking more water
with electrolytes, you know, andthat's it.
Like it really depends on theperson.
And then I work with people whoare like okay, I'm ready, I'm
(08:22):
going to, like I'm going to dothis, and they do it.
I have people who've done that.
So I really have to gauge thatwith the individuals I work with
.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
And then with your that restart program, is it
something that you do?
Just you offer a few times ayear?
Is it something that'scontinual?
Can someone reach out to younow?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Yes, actually I'm going to be launching the
restart small group programagain.
I haven't done it since lastyear because I was busy doing
other things, but it's a fiveweek program that we meet every
week and I've been doing itsince covid.
I've been doing it online.
That's just the way it, youknow, developed.
I used to do it in person moreum, so each week we discuss a
(09:03):
different topic.
First week is getting startedhow to prepare your kitchen for
removing processed foods andsugars for three weeks, so that
the actual I hate the word detox, but the actual removal of
those foods is from week.
It's week two, three, four.
So first week is preparation.
(09:23):
Second week is all aboutdigestion.
Third week is all about bloodsugar regulation.
Fourth week is about healthyfats and why they're important.
And week number five is likehow would you proceed after
doing that three week?
You know, cleanse, if you wantto call it that, and it's an
(09:43):
hour and a half each week.
You get materials.
I do provide even extraresources as far as recipes and
lifestyle resources for myparticipants.
But yeah, I, I usually Iannounce when I have the dates
ready.
So I will be announcing that onInstagram and on my Facebook
page.
I'll be doing that within thenext couple of months.
But yeah, it's a great programbecause almost everybody who's
(10:07):
done it Most people lose weight.
That is not the intent of it,it's just a good side effect.
The intent of it is to getpeople to eat more whole and
minimally processed foods,removing all processed foods and
almost all sugar for just threeweeks, which seems overwhelming
for a lot of people.
(10:27):
But you know, I feel like withmy support, it's definitely
doable and it's worth it, youknow.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
And very eye-opening as well, and I love that you do
it one-on-one, but I feel likethere's so much power in a small
group too, because then theyhave the support with the others
in the group and you're notalone, like you're like, okay,
sally's doing it with me, so I'mgood, I've got this.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
So that versus the one-on-one is much more
appealing to a lot of people.
The one-on-one is just like,it's just too much for like
people aren't ready for thatsometimes.
So that's why I like Restarttoo.
Like you said.
It's just like kind of diffusesthe you know I don't want to
say accountability, but you knowit diffuses that pressure.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Right, right, but it kind of it has a little bit more
pressure in a way too, becauseyou have the others doing it as
well and you're like, okay, ifthey can do it, I can do it.
So I don't.
Pressure's not the right word.
I guess support andaccountability would be more
appropriate.
Yeah, Good point.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah, you're right.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Yeah, Well, I came across your account on Instagram
and I've been following you fora little while and I love the
reels and everything that youpost, because it is broken down
in small nuggets that you canreally comprehend and it's
doable things that you canactually do and it's not like,
oh my gosh, she's swinging fromthis bar and she's, you know,
eating this and that and it'sit's something that's easy to to
(11:49):
follow.
So I appreciate that.
I appreciate that you have thatcontent.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Thank you.
Yeah, I, everything I do onsocial media is what I do Like,
and that's how I get my ideastoo.
So I'll just be, you know,doing what I do and I'm like, oh
, I should do a reel on this.
You know, just, sometimes it'ssilly, sometimes it's, you know,
like serious stuff.
But yeah, like I want to beauthentic because I like that
when I see it on social media.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
Right, Right, and it's funny that you say that
because, like they are, they'realways saying you have to have
reels, you have to do this, youhave to do that, and I just got
so hung up in having to put thatcontent out there.
But what you just said waseveryday things that you're
doing.
Oh, this could be a reel.
It's true, people want to seewhat you're actually like and
what you actually do.
Oh, this could be a reel.
It's true, people want to seewhat you're actually like and
(12:36):
what you actually do.
So I really appreciate thatabout you.
Thank you.
Thank you, yeah, and when wedidn't hit record yet, we were
talking before, if you don'tmind me bringing this up, but
how a couple of your reels havegone viral, which is wonderful,
but then what it brings with it.
So share just a little bit, ifyou don't mind, what we were
talking about before.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Yeah, of course I love talking about it because I
think others can learn from it.
So it's more on Facebook thanInstagram.
So I'm sure you're aware whenyou post on Facebook you can set
it to automatically post on.
I'm sorry, when you post onInstagram it can automatically
post to Facebook.
That's how I've always had itset up.
But I was really concentratingon Instagram.
But I had a reel in Februarywhich was just me doing a
(13:22):
mobility workout that I startedfor myself as a challenge on
February 1st.
I do 15 minutes of mobilityworkouts every morning and I've
been doing it every morning,even if it's a little shorter
than 15 minutes.
So I just did this quick reelof me demonstrating these moves
and I think about four dayslater on Facebook it just blew
up Like I got over a millionviews and I went from 1200
(13:45):
followers to 15,000 followersand as a small content creator
small business, only person it'svery overwhelming when that
happens.
So, I was like, oh, this isgreat, you know awesome.
And I got access to just morefeatures on Facebook, anyway.
Then it leveled off.
I got a lot of women, mostlywomen following, which makes
sense, mostly like 50s, 60swomen I'll be 60 in May, so it
(14:09):
makes sense.
And then I posted a reel twodays ago and so and this is
exactly how it happened I wasdoing my morning mobility
workout in my pajamas, which ishow I usually do it.
My husband recorded me frombehind, which I didn't really
know.
I didn't know he was doing.
I had music on because he'sproud of me.
He's like you know he doesn'tdo it, but he's proud of me and
(14:33):
he was like you hear him talkingin the background about how
this is the unglamorous realityof what my wife does and how she
stays in such good shape.
And it was literally like Idon't know 10 seconds, maybe, I
don't know, and I'm like youknow what I'm going to.
He showed it to me.
I'm like I'm posting this, so Iposted it on Sunday, I think,
and that reel out viral my otherreel.
(14:55):
So now I have over two and ahalf million views.
I'm up to 40,000 followers.
But the thing about this reel isit caused so much controversy?
First cause I was in my pajamasand he took it from behind and
my butt is kind of like stickingout doing these like lunges and
a deep squat.
So I got a lot of nastycomments about not a lot, I
shouldn't even say a lot.
Most of the comments were great.
(15:16):
Yeah, women like, oh my gosh,this is awesome.
So it was amazing.
But a lot of comments werebashing my husband because he
said this is the unglamorousside of what my wife does.
I did not understand that atfirst.
I'm like why are they gettingso upset?
So there was so many commentsabout how arrogant he is.
(15:39):
How how can he say that aboutyou?
And you know it was crazy.
So and I'm still gettingcomments like that.
And then other people aredefending my husband, saying
will you chill out?
He's, he was actually beinglike nice about it, he was proud
of his wife.
So it's just amazing what youknow, all the different
perspectives that you see.
(16:00):
When you know you post anything, I will say anything.
Even the other reel got likenegative comments.
So I guess my message is youcan't care about what people
think, so you just do, do whatyou want to do, and especially
if it helps people, and I thinkmost of what I post I would say
90% of the feedback is this isgreat.
(16:20):
It inspires me, so that's whatkeeps me doing it, you know,
yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Yeah, no, continue doing it.
There's always going to be thehaters out there.
I think you're doing a fabulousjob.
So, yes, please, please, please, keep sharing the content that
you're sharing.
Yeah, yeah, job.
So yes, please, please, please,keep sharing the content that
you're sharing.
Yeah, yeah, I want to go backjust a little bit.
So, before your son got sickand you, you made this
transition, had you always beena healthy person, had you always
worked out.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
I always.
I've always worked out sinceI'm about 16.
I feel like now I was born in1964.
So we're talking about like theseven, like late seventies,
early eighties.
And I remember when I was 16and 17, I did struggle with
anxiety and depression and oneof my teachers in high school
said to me to start working out.
He said running, but runningdidn't really resonate with me.
(17:05):
So he lived in Brooklyn, newYork.
I had this bed, little bedroom,and I got a little weight bench
and some like cheap dumbbellsand weights and I would work out
in my bedroom.
When I was like 17 I readmuscle and fitness magazine.
So back then that was a littleweird, like I could say.
Like now it's like everybody'sinto this, so always loved
(17:26):
strength training.
There have been times in my lifewhere it has kind of gone to
the wayside, depending on whatI've been going through.
But it always came back andit's always been something that
I've relied on to help me feelbetter mentally and, of course,
physically.
So as far as always being ahealthy person, I've always
veered toward this holisticapproach.
(17:47):
But because of the time I grewup in it wasn't very popular, so
I always kind of kept it at bay.
But for example, when I had mysons, I had midwives, and that
was in 1993 and 1997.
And people, some people werelike a midwife, like why would
you do that?
Oh my God, you know.
But I always kind of felt drawnto that philosophy of childbirth
(18:11):
is not a medical, you know,it's not something that has to
be intervened with unlessthere's something very critical
going on.
And they did work with a doctor.
But I always saw them for myvisits.
They delivered my sons.
It was an amazing experience.
So I I've always kind of veeredthat way, but I didn't fully
(18:32):
embrace that until that happenedto my son and I approached 50
years old.
Like 50 was huge for me and now60 is huge for me too.
So I would say I've always been, um, you know, health minded.
But now since I turned 50, it'sbeen like radical, like yeah,
(18:52):
and I don't mean radical in abad sense, it's just more like I
know that I can impact myhealth in a good way and that's
what I want others to know sobadly, because I feel like not
enough people know how much youcan impact your health in a
positive way with little thingseven you can impact your health
in a positive way with littlethings even.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, absolutely.
And I love that that teachersteered you that way and I love
that you were open to that too,because sometimes, when you're
in that place where you'reanxious, you're depressed, you
don't feel like doing anything,you don't feel like moving, but
in reality, if you could justtake that first step, you're
going to feel so much betterthat first step.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
you're going to feel so much better.
It's so true.
I mean, and I, you know, I'vehad family members with the same
, you know, struggles withanxiety and depression.
My son, actually my, both mysons.
But and I don't think they'llmind me saying this, but I
always tell them and they'revery like workout conscious to
that they know that movementhelps.
So that is the other thing thatis so important for myself, and
(19:51):
to teach other people that toleave this legacy for your
children and your grandchildrenof how you can create better
health for yourself and how Iwant to age well so I can pick
up my grandchildren and help mykids and not be a burden to them
, as you know, as least less ofa burden as I can be, you know.
(20:11):
So that's really important tome.
And my mom, who's 85, shelistens to everything I say and
she's amazing, Not good Like shelives that's fabulous.
Yeah, she lives on her own.
She goes to like activities atthe senior center.
She dances, like I'm so proudof her, like she listens to
everything I tell her to do.
So that's to me, is her gift tome also, you know, yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Yeah, oh, that's so cool.
Will we see her in a reel?
Speaker 2 (20:39):
She is so self-conscious and shy I mean
that's a good idea, though Ishould try to get her on there
because she's very spry for herage and very with it, so I would
love to get her on one.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Absolutely, Absolutely.
So, besides your, your restartprogram and your one-on-one,
your small group that's comingup, what's in store for you?
Like what?
What do you see in the nextfive years that you're doing?
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Uh, you know now that I'm getting more of a following
on Facebook, I really like I'mstarting a subscription program
on there soon.
It's very inexpensive, it'slike ninety, nine cents a month.
But I want to offer like asmaller group of people who are
really dedicated to their health, more personalized attention.
So like that, where I can likedo it from anywhere.
(21:27):
I am Like, for instance, we'regoing to Europe in May, um, for
my birthday and my husband'sbirthday, and I'm like you know,
and here I am thinking, oh, Ihave to bring my computer, cause
I got to show my followers likehow I'm exercising while I'm
away, you know.
So I do want to be kind of adigital nomad type of person.
I want to be able to reachpeople this way and help them
(21:49):
this way more than I have been.
Not that I don't like doingone-on-one in person with, like
local individuals, but I reallydo like the ability now to reach
so many people all over theworld.
So I love that.
So I see myself.
Just so I see myself.
(22:13):
Just you know, doing that moreonline and more live things.
And you know I'm thinking ofother programs that I want to
create that are specific tofeedback.
I'm getting from a lot of womenmy age, especially now that
I've increased my followers somuch.
I'm getting so many messagesfrom women in their fifties and
sixties.
I'm in pain.
I my mobility, um, you know, Idon't feel good, I don't have
(22:35):
energy.
So I'm really seeing the needfor someone like me to let them
know that there's hope, right,feel better.
So that that is what I'm reallyhearing so much of in the last
week.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
I was just saying to my husband.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
I'm like so many women are reaching out to me and
I want to help them, so muchyou know.
So I'm thinking of other waysto focus on these people who are
really devoted to their healthNot just you know, it can't be
everybody, but there are peoplewho are very motivated to want
to get healthier and work for it.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Yeah, yeah, okay.
So then I have to ask you howare you structuring your
boundaries and setting things upso you have balance in your
life, because it's got to bedifficult with so many people
reaching out and you feel likeyou want to help everyone.
What are you doing to make surethat you're protecting yourself
?
Speaker 2 (23:27):
That's a really good question and very appropriate,
especially because of what?
The last few days I have beenfeeling overwhelmed.
So, for instance, I woke upthis morning and my first thing
my husband said, oh, how manyfollowers do you have now?
Because it's been growing likeexponentially every day and I'm
like I am not looking at myphone right now.
I said I cannot 630.
This morning, I'm like no, so Ihave to.
(23:49):
That's one boundary I'mstarting to.
I'm getting off my phone earlierin the evening and not picking
it up, and I think that's a goodrule for everybody, whether
you're a content creator or not,because that's who.
What do we do?
The first thing, pick up thephone.
So that's a little thing.
I started just today because ofthis overwhelm I've been
(24:12):
feeling and I have adaughter-in-law who's actually a
social media manager forsomebody online who's pretty
like up there and she alwayssays to me ma, it's your account
, you can do whatever you wantwith it, you don't have to
answer anything you don't wantright away.
And I always hear her voice inmy head like all right, she's
right, like, because I'm thattype of person who has that
(24:33):
urgency, naturally.
So when something like thathappens, I'm like, oh, I gotta
do it, I gotta so.
That that was such a goodquestion, robin, really, because
you can see, I'm a very type Aperson and I want to just get
things done.
So it has to be veryintentional for me to take that
step back.
So I'm just starting.
Yeah, yeah, that's the firstthing.
(24:54):
Don't grab the phone right away, wait at least an hour.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
I mean and it is hard to find balance it totally is
because you do.
I mean, like I said before, youwant to help everyone.
I'm the same way.
I tend to put my clients aheadof me and I want to make sure
that I give them everything thatthey need.
But then if I don't help myself, then that's not really helping
anything and I can see howbeing in a position where you're
at, where you have so manyfollowers, it could affect your
(25:21):
relationship, like with yourhusband or your kids, if you
allowed it to.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Right, exactly, yeah, not even like that.
Like 40,000 isn't even thatmuch, but it's just me, and like
I can't even imagine whatpeople who have.
I mean, they end up hiringpeople.
Right, right, that handles allthat.
But I'm like that's what I said.
I'm like imagine these peoplewho have like a million
(25:46):
followers, like they have tohire people because you need
that boundary and for yourmental health, you know Right.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Yeah, we both follow.
Go ahead, sorry, I think weboth follow Dr Brandon Parker,
yes, yes, and he has like amillion followers, but yet he'll
have a personalized messageback.
I'm like, how are you doingthis?
Speaker 2 (26:06):
I saw that you interviewed him on a podcast.
I love him.
I've been following him sincehe had like 15,000 followers.
Oh wow, I love his content somuch I actually did like a duet
with him on one of my reels.
But yeah, like to stay.
To get to that point is stillpersonalize your responses.
That's amazing.
You have to be able to balance.
(26:27):
To do that.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Yeah, it is, yeah.
So let me ask you this then.
So the lady right now listening, that is maybe in her late 30s,
early 50s, has spent her wholelife taking care of other people
, taking care of kids, doing thejob, all of that, and now is
ready to take that step to makesure that she is healthy in her
next phase of life.
(26:49):
What piece of advice would you?
Speaker 2 (26:51):
give her.
So you just explained.
You just described me when Iwas that age like had no idea.
I wish I had somebody tellingme what you're asking me, right?
So, as somebody with autoimmunedisease too, which I'm sure
started developing when I was ayounger mother because of stress
and not taking care of myself,my, my main piece of advice for
(27:15):
young moms out there juggling iswe all have time to take 15
minutes for ourselves.
I didn't know that then either.
Nobody told me this then, butlike everybody has time to take
15 minutes to do something forthemselves whether it's like a
stretching routine that I do, Idon't know weight training,
(27:38):
sitting there, meditating, whichis not my thing, but this is
like my, meditating, doing thestretching yeah, everybody has
15 minutes, especially nowadayswhen all we do is how long do we
stay on here?
15 minutes is like right onhere.
So I would tell that mom andlike, kind of going back to what
(27:59):
you said about you, know whatgood am I to my clients if I'm
not taking care of myself?
If we take care of ourselves asyoung mothers, even a little
bit, we will be better mothersto our children, right?
How many times have I thoughtback to when I lost my temper
with my kids when they weresmall and I still feel guilty
about it, you know oh gosh, yeah, yeah.
(28:20):
I remember the time I yelled atandy and, oh my god, I
traumatized him.
So, like you know, we're goingto lose our temper.
But we're much more likely tolose it if we never give
ourselves time to ourselves.
And that doesn't even count.
Watching TV, that means justactually doing something for
yourself, right, right, no, I ahundred percent agree, but every
(28:41):
day, like taking 10 or 15minutes.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Right yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
Not once a month, right, right, and whatever that
is for you, it can be differentfor everybody reading a book
doing a right, and whatever thatis for you, it can be different
for everybody reading a bookdoing a movement routine,
whatever it is.
But, yeah, that's just takethat, that's it.
It's small, but it would makesuch a big difference.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Yes, yes, I agree.
So how can the listeners findyou?
Speaker 2 (29:06):
So I'm on Instagram at reclaim I'm forgetting what I
have it on Reclaim your healthwritten out totally.
So it's reclaim Y-O-U-R healthunderscore.
That's my Instagram handle andon Facebook it's reclaim your
health.
You know all separate words andI'm probably starting a YouTube
channel, but that's not yet.
(29:27):
But that's the main places theycan find me and I do answer all
messages and respond toeverybody.
So yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
Oh, that's great.
I so appreciate you taking thetime to be here sharing your
story.
I think, again, you're justsharing wonderful content and
helping so many people, so verygood.
You know what I forgot mywebsite.
I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
Oh yeah, let's.
Let's say it, I'll put it inthe show notes as well.
Okay, I do have it.
It's justwwwChristineCerneracom, my whole
namecom, because I couldn't getreclaim your help.
So that's my website where youcan like.
I can be contacted throughthere also.
So yeah, it was a pleasure,robin, thank you.
You're a great interviewer,thank you.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Thank you.
Thank you so much for takingtime out of your schedule.
You're welcome.
Thank you for listening.
If you're enjoying this podcast, be sure to follow Spandex Wine
so you don't miss an episode.
To do this, just go to thepodcast and click subscribe or
follow.
Wherever you're listening, lookfor the plus sign or follow
(30:32):
button.
This is one of the best thingsthat you can do for the podcast.
If you'd also be willing togive a five-star review, that
would be amazing and muchappreciated.
Lastly, please share an episodewith a friend or five to keep
the love going, and join thespandex and wine community in
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(30:53):
Feel free to reach out to me atany time by emailing info at
spandexandwinecom or text me at913-392-2877.
I appreciate you, thank you.
Hello and welcome to the Spandex and Wine podcast.
I'm your host, robin Hackney,and I'm so happy that you're
here.
This podcast is a place forconversations about balancing a
healthy lifestyle and beinghappy more specifically, happy
hour.
Together we'll explore allthings wellness and wine.
I hope you learn a little,laugh a lot and, along the way,
(00:22):
know you're not alone on thisbalanced wellness journey.
Ready to jump in?
Pour something in your glassthat makes you happy, because
it's time for spandex and wine.
Hey guys, it's Robin.
Thanks for coming back to thepodcast.
(00:42):
I was looking back on pastepisodes and there are just so
many favorites of mine and I'dlike to sprinkle in here and
there replaying some of those,because I feel like the messages
are worthwhile putting themback out there.
I know some people go back andlisten to episodes and some
people don't, so this was onethat I really enjoyed, so I
thought that I would play it foryou today.
Here is Christine with Reclaimyour Health A little early.
(01:03):
Hi, christine, welcome to theSpandex and Wine podcast.
Hey Robin, thank you for havingme.
Well, I'm happy that you're here.
You have touched so many liveswith your Instagram account and
just what you do in general.
I know you're a functionalnutritional therapy practitioner
(01:24):
.
You're a personal trainer.
You have a program that youwork one-on-one with clients.
But before we get to some ofthat, I want to know where it
all started, because I read thatit was with your son.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
Yes.
So in 2011, my son, who wasthen 13, and he's now going to
be 27, became very sick.
It was like January 2011.
And, to make a very long storyshort, it was six months of him
being sick.
Three doctors later we didn'tget a diagnosis till May of 2000
(01:57):
or almost June 2011, that hehad a duodenal ulcer at 13,.
But he had gone through sixmonths of pain and depression.
I'll be honest, it was terrible, but during that whole time I
was working full-time in anoffice.
Luckily it was near my home, soI was going from my office to
home to school.
He was being homeschooledbecause he was growing up
(02:20):
constantly and constantly.
This was for almost six months.
So that whole experience was sotraumatizing for both me and I.
But it was also an amazinglearning experience for me,
because I've always been aquestioner and a researcher and
that whole experience was soimpactful in my life and it
(02:43):
showed me that I had to trust myinstincts, because they were
telling me that his symptomswere in his head.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
The first two doctors .
Speaker 2 (02:51):
Yeah, the first two doctors were.
They did an endoscopy.
Oh, they didn't find anything.
It's in his head and as a mom,you know, and I'm sure you know
this it was, I mean, first ofall, horribly painful to watch
your child go through this.
I just wanted to go through itfor him, right, but just
basically not giving up on.
I knew something was wrong.
(03:12):
I was determined to find it andthe other thing that you know,
in retrospect now, in 2024,versus then, there was so much
less information to beresearched.
Now there is so muchinformation out there.
I was constantly researching onmy computer and it was so hard
to find information about guthealth and nutrition like there
(03:35):
is now.
There's so much, almost toomuch now.
But anyway, that experience ofnot being heard by doctors, that
was my biggest concern.
Knowing that something was wrong, not being listened to, my son
not being listened to, that iswhat spurred me to leave the
(04:01):
office environment which I wasin for most of my adult life,
and first I became a personaltrainer before I, right before I
turned 50.
So I was 47 when I was goingthrough this with my son and I
had gained 20 pounds while hewas sick, because I was just
like, first of all, so stressedout, eating ever, like it was
terrible.
And I, when he got better, Iwent back to the gym.
(04:23):
I made a commitment to myselfthat I would never let that
happen to myself again, whichI've stuck to, and that was over
10 years ago.
And then I became I left myoffice job, which I was becoming
increasingly unsatisfied with,became a personal trainer and I
I actually was a personaltrainer up until 2022, but I
(04:43):
kind of gave that up to do focuson the nutrition aspect and you
know, lifestyle for people Iwork with.
But that was the turning pointfor me.
Like when that happened to myson and myself, it just changed
my whole outlook on everything.
Um, yeah, probably thinkingabout it right now, like it,
(05:05):
it's just so, so traumatic andfor my son, obviously for my son
as well yeah, it has made himvery much more in touch with his
body than most people his age.
So, if there's any benefit to it.
It was that he learned never togive up and to listen to your
body, so that's what happened aswell.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Yeah, oh my gosh, I hate that you had to go through
that.
I hate that he had to gothrough that.
And as a mom, oh my gosh, it'sjust heartbreaking when your
child is sick.
I can't imagine that that agetoo would be such a tough age to
go through that.
So I'm sorry that that wastheir catalyst to get to where
you are now, but I can tellyou're doing amazing things and
you're touching people inwonderful ways, so
(05:50):
congratulations on that.
How is your son doing now?
Speaker 2 (05:54):
He's good.
He's married for two years, helives nearby, which is great he
still has.
You know, like I said, he knowshis body.
So when he has something comeup that he feels really good,
comes to me, he talks to meabout it.
But, overall, beautiful, he'shealthy, he's smart.
You know, I'm very blessed tohave like two great sons.
He's my younger son.
I have an older son too.
Speaker 1 (06:15):
Yeah, yeah, good.
Yeah, I have two boys as well,so I can.
I can definitely relate.
I can't even imagine what thatwas like.
Okay, so I'm glad that he isdoing better and take me to like
what you're doing now.
I see you on Instagram, butI've also read that you have a
program that you work withclients one-on-one as well.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
I do do one-on-one.
I don't know if you, it's notreally health coaching, so I'm
not technically a health coach.
So as a functional nutritionaltherapy practitioner, what we
really do is gather a lot ofinformation from who we work
with.
So as far as symptoms, healthhistory, a food journal, you
know, kind of seeing what kindof stress is in the individual's
(06:56):
life, using that information tocreate like bio-individual
recommendations to kind of bringtheir body to balance.
So of course we don't diagnoseanything because we're not
doctors, but we make anassessment based on all of that
information and then work ondigestion.
That's a big one, and that alsobrings me back to my son.
(07:16):
So that's why I was attractedto functional nutritional
therapy, because it really isbased a lot on digestion and how
it affects your overall health.
So that blood sugar regulation,stress and those are the top,
those are the foundational.
Sleep Now you know I'veintroduced sleep and movement to
that too.
So it's really a holisticapproach.
(07:38):
And then we make you knowrecommendations and kind of
follow up like six weeks laterand see how they're doing.
But it's I am very much.
It's not that I don't believein supplements, I do, but I feel
like there's a time and placefor them.
I really am a food firstpractitioner and if I do
(08:00):
recommend supplements, it'susually functional support for
your digestion.
That's how the one-on-ones work.
It's very intense for a lot ofpeople.
You have to be ready Like Iwon't ever give people
recommendations that I don'tthink they're ready for.
It can be tiny little startslike just drinking more water
with electrolytes, you know, andthat's it.
Like it really depends on theperson.
And then I work with people whoare like okay, I'm ready, I'm
(08:22):
going to, like I'm going to dothis, and they do it.
I have people who've done that.
So I really have to gauge thatwith the individuals I work with
.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
And then with your that restart program, is it
something that you do?
Just you offer a few times ayear?
Is it something that'scontinual?
Can someone reach out to younow?
Speaker 2 (08:41):
Yes, actually I'm going to be launching the
restart small group programagain.
I haven't done it since lastyear because I was busy doing
other things, but it's a fiveweek program that we meet every
week and I've been doing itsince covid.
I've been doing it online.
That's just the way it, youknow, developed.
I used to do it in person moreum, so each week we discuss a
(09:03):
different topic.
First week is getting startedhow to prepare your kitchen for
removing processed foods andsugars for three weeks, so that
the actual I hate the word detox, but the actual removal of
those foods is from week.
It's week two, three, four.
So first week is preparation.
(09:23):
Second week is all aboutdigestion.
Third week is all about bloodsugar regulation.
Fourth week is about healthyfats and why they're important.
And week number five is likehow would you proceed after
doing that three week?
You know, cleanse, if you wantto call it that, and it's an
(09:43):
hour and a half each week.
You get materials.
I do provide even extraresources as far as recipes and
lifestyle resources for myparticipants.
But yeah, I, I usually Iannounce when I have the dates
ready.
So I will be announcing that onInstagram and on my Facebook
page.
I'll be doing that within thenext couple of months.
But yeah, it's a great programbecause almost everybody who's
(10:07):
done it Most people lose weight.
That is not the intent of it,it's just a good side effect.
The intent of it is to getpeople to eat more whole and
minimally processed foods,removing all processed foods and
almost all sugar for just threeweeks, which seems overwhelming
for a lot of people.
(10:27):
But you know, I feel like withmy support, it's definitely
doable and it's worth it, youknow.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
And very eye-opening as well, and I love that you do
it one-on-one, but I feel likethere's so much power in a small
group too, because then theyhave the support with the others
in the group and you're notalone, like you're like, okay,
sally's doing it with me, so I'mgood, I've got this.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
So that versus the one-on-one is much more
appealing to a lot of people.
The one-on-one is just like,it's just too much for like
people aren't ready for thatsometimes.
So that's why I like Restarttoo.
Like you said.
It's just like kind of diffusesthe you know I don't want to
say accountability, but you knowit diffuses that pressure.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Right, right, but it kind of it has a little bit more
pressure in a way too, becauseyou have the others doing it as
well and you're like, okay, ifthey can do it, I can do it.
So I don't.
Pressure's not the right word.
I guess support andaccountability would be more
appropriate.
Yeah, Good point.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah, you're right.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Yeah, Well, I came across your account on Instagram
and I've been following you fora little while and I love the
reels and everything that youpost, because it is broken down
in small nuggets that you canreally comprehend and it's
doable things that you canactually do and it's not like,
oh my gosh, she's swinging fromthis bar and she's, you know,
eating this and that and it'sit's something that's easy to to
(11:49):
follow.
So I appreciate that.
I appreciate that you have thatcontent.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Thank you.
Yeah, I, everything I do onsocial media is what I do Like,
and that's how I get my ideastoo.
So I'll just be, you know,doing what I do and I'm like, oh
, I should do a reel on this.
You know, just, sometimes it'ssilly, sometimes it's, you know,
like serious stuff.
But yeah, like I want to beauthentic because I like that
when I see it on social media.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
Right, Right, and it's funny that you say that
because, like they are, they'realways saying you have to have
reels, you have to do this, youhave to do that, and I just got
so hung up in having to put thatcontent out there.
But what you just said waseveryday things that you're
doing.
Oh, this could be a reel.
It's true, people want to seewhat you're actually like and
what you actually do.
Oh, this could be a reel.
It's true, people want to seewhat you're actually like and
(12:36):
what you actually do.
So I really appreciate thatabout you.
Thank you.
Thank you, yeah, and when wedidn't hit record yet, we were
talking before, if you don'tmind me bringing this up, but
how a couple of your reels havegone viral, which is wonderful,
but then what it brings with it.
So share just a little bit, ifyou don't mind, what we were
talking about before.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
Yeah, of course I love talking about it because I
think others can learn from it.
So it's more on Facebook thanInstagram.
So I'm sure you're aware whenyou post on Facebook you can set
it to automatically post on.
I'm sorry, when you post onInstagram it can automatically
post to Facebook.
That's how I've always had itset up.
But I was really concentratingon Instagram.
But I had a reel in Februarywhich was just me doing a
(13:22):
mobility workout that I startedfor myself as a challenge on
February 1st.
I do 15 minutes of mobilityworkouts every morning and I've
been doing it every morning,even if it's a little shorter
than 15 minutes.
So I just did this quick reelof me demonstrating these moves
and I think about four dayslater on Facebook it just blew
up Like I got over a millionviews and I went from 1200
(13:45):
followers to 15,000 followersand as a small content creator
small business, only person it'svery overwhelming when that
happens.
So, I was like, oh, this isgreat, you know awesome.
And I got access to just morefeatures on Facebook, anyway.
Then it leveled off.
I got a lot of women, mostlywomen following, which makes
sense, mostly like 50s, 60swomen I'll be 60 in May, so it
(14:09):
makes sense.
And then I posted a reel twodays ago and so and this is
exactly how it happened I wasdoing my morning mobility
workout in my pajamas, which ishow I usually do it.
My husband recorded me frombehind, which I didn't really
know.
I didn't know he was doing.
I had music on because he'sproud of me.
He's like you know he doesn'tdo it, but he's proud of me and
(14:33):
he was like you hear him talkingin the background about how
this is the unglamorous realityof what my wife does and how she
stays in such good shape.
And it was literally like Idon't know 10 seconds, maybe, I
don't know, and I'm like youknow what I'm going to.
He showed it to me.
I'm like I'm posting this, so Iposted it on Sunday, I think,
and that reel out viral my otherreel.
(14:55):
So now I have over two and ahalf million views.
I'm up to 40,000 followers.
But the thing about this reel isit caused so much controversy?
First cause I was in my pajamasand he took it from behind and
my butt is kind of like stickingout doing these like lunges and
a deep squat.
So I got a lot of nastycomments about not a lot, I
shouldn't even say a lot.
Most of the comments were great.
(15:16):
Yeah, women like, oh my gosh,this is awesome.
So it was amazing.
But a lot of comments werebashing my husband because he
said this is the unglamorousside of what my wife does.
I did not understand that atfirst.
I'm like why are they gettingso upset?
So there was so many commentsabout how arrogant he is.
(15:39):
How how can he say that aboutyou?
And you know it was crazy.
So and I'm still gettingcomments like that.
And then other people aredefending my husband, saying
will you chill out?
He's, he was actually beinglike nice about it, he was proud
of his wife.
So it's just amazing what youknow, all the different
perspectives that you see.
(16:00):
When you know you post anything, I will say anything.
Even the other reel got likenegative comments.
So I guess my message is youcan't care about what people
think, so you just do, do whatyou want to do, and especially
if it helps people, and I thinkmost of what I post I would say
90% of the feedback is this isgreat.
(16:20):
It inspires me, so that's whatkeeps me doing it, you know,
yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Yeah, no, continue doing it.
There's always going to be thehaters out there.
I think you're doing a fabulousjob.
So, yes, please, please, please, keep sharing the content that
you're sharing.
Yeah, yeah, job.
So yes, please, please, please,keep sharing the content that
you're sharing.
Yeah, yeah, I want to go backjust a little bit.
So, before your son got sickand you, you made this
transition, had you always beena healthy person, had you always
worked out.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
I always.
I've always worked out sinceI'm about 16.
I feel like now I was born in1964.
So we're talking about like theseven, like late seventies,
early eighties.
And I remember when I was 16and 17, I did struggle with
anxiety and depression and oneof my teachers in high school
said to me to start working out.
He said running, but runningdidn't really resonate with me.
(17:05):
So he lived in Brooklyn, newYork.
I had this bed, little bedroom,and I got a little weight bench
and some like cheap dumbbellsand weights and I would work out
in my bedroom.
When I was like 17 I readmuscle and fitness magazine.
So back then that was a littleweird, like I could say.
Like now it's like everybody'sinto this, so always loved
(17:26):
strength training.
There have been times in my lifewhere it has kind of gone to
the wayside, depending on whatI've been going through.
But it always came back andit's always been something that
I've relied on to help me feelbetter mentally and, of course,
physically.
So as far as always being ahealthy person, I've always
veered toward this holisticapproach.
(17:47):
But because of the time I grewup in it wasn't very popular, so
I always kind of kept it at bay.
But for example, when I had mysons, I had midwives, and that
was in 1993 and 1997.
And people, some people werelike a midwife, like why would
you do that?
Oh my God, you know.
But I always kind of felt drawnto that philosophy of childbirth
(18:11):
is not a medical, you know,it's not something that has to
be intervened with unlessthere's something very critical
going on.
And they did work with a doctor.
But I always saw them for myvisits.
They delivered my sons.
It was an amazing experience.
So I I've always kind of veeredthat way, but I didn't fully
(18:32):
embrace that until that happenedto my son and I approached 50
years old.
Like 50 was huge for me and now60 is huge for me too.
So I would say I've always been, um, you know, health minded.
But now since I turned 50, it'sbeen like radical, like yeah,
(18:52):
and I don't mean radical in abad sense, it's just more like I
know that I can impact myhealth in a good way and that's
what I want others to know sobadly, because I feel like not
enough people know how much youcan impact your health in a
positive way with little thingseven you can impact your health
in a positive way with littlethings even.
Speaker 1 (19:16):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, absolutely.
And I love that that teachersteered you that way and I love
that you were open to that too,because sometimes, when you're
in that place where you'reanxious, you're depressed, you
don't feel like doing anything,you don't feel like moving, but
in reality, if you could justtake that first step, you're
going to feel so much betterthat first step.
Speaker 2 (19:28):
you're going to feel so much better.
It's so true.
I mean, and I, you know, I'vehad family members with the same
, you know, struggles withanxiety and depression.
My son, actually my, both mysons.
But and I don't think they'llmind me saying this, but I
always tell them and they'revery like workout conscious to
that they know that movementhelps.
So that is the other thing thatis so important for myself, and
(19:51):
to teach other people that toleave this legacy for your
children and your grandchildrenof how you can create better
health for yourself and how Iwant to age well so I can pick
up my grandchildren and help mykids and not be a burden to them
, as you know, as least less ofa burden as I can be, you know.
(20:11):
So that's really important tome.
And my mom, who's 85, shelistens to everything I say and
she's amazing, Not good Like shelives that's fabulous.
Yeah, she lives on her own.
She goes to like activities atthe senior center.
She dances, like I'm so proudof her, like she listens to
everything I tell her to do.
So that's to me, is her gift tome also, you know, yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
Yeah, oh, that's so cool.
Will we see her in a reel?
Speaker 2 (20:39):
She is so self-conscious and shy I mean
that's a good idea, though Ishould try to get her on there
because she's very spry for herage and very with it, so I would
love to get her on one.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Absolutely, Absolutely.
So, besides your, your restartprogram and your one-on-one,
your small group that's comingup, what's in store for you?
Like what?
What do you see in the nextfive years that you're doing?
Speaker 2 (21:05):
Uh, you know now that I'm getting more of a following
on Facebook, I really like I'mstarting a subscription program
on there soon.
It's very inexpensive, it'slike ninety, nine cents a month.
But I want to offer like asmaller group of people who are
really dedicated to their health, more personalized attention.
So like that, where I can likedo it from anywhere.
(21:27):
I am Like, for instance, we'regoing to Europe in May, um, for
my birthday and my husband'sbirthday, and I'm like you know,
and here I am thinking, oh, Ihave to bring my computer, cause
I got to show my followers likehow I'm exercising while I'm
away, you know.
So I do want to be kind of adigital nomad type of person.
I want to be able to reachpeople this way and help them
(21:49):
this way more than I have been.
Not that I don't like doingone-on-one in person with, like
local individuals, but I reallydo like the ability now to reach
so many people all over theworld.
So I love that.
So I see myself.
Just so I see myself.
(22:13):
Just you know, doing that moreonline and more live things.
And you know I'm thinking ofother programs that I want to
create that are specific tofeedback.
I'm getting from a lot of womenmy age, especially now that
I've increased my followers somuch.
I'm getting so many messagesfrom women in their fifties and
sixties.
I'm in pain.
I my mobility, um, you know, Idon't feel good, I don't have
(22:35):
energy.
So I'm really seeing the needfor someone like me to let them
know that there's hope, right,feel better.
So that that is what I'm reallyhearing so much of in the last
week.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
I was just saying to my husband.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
I'm like so many women are reaching out to me and
I want to help them, so muchyou know.
So I'm thinking of other waysto focus on these people who are
really devoted to their healthNot just you know, it can't be
everybody, but there are peoplewho are very motivated to want
to get healthier and work for it.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Yeah, yeah, okay.
So then I have to ask you howare you structuring your
boundaries and setting things upso you have balance in your
life, because it's got to bedifficult with so many people
reaching out and you feel likeyou want to help everyone.
What are you doing to make surethat you're protecting yourself
?
Speaker 2 (23:27):
That's a really good question and very appropriate,
especially because of what?
The last few days I have beenfeeling overwhelmed.
So, for instance, I woke upthis morning and my first thing
my husband said, oh, how manyfollowers do you have now?
Because it's been growing likeexponentially every day and I'm
like I am not looking at myphone right now.
I said I cannot 630.
This morning, I'm like no, so Ihave to.
(23:49):
That's one boundary I'mstarting to.
I'm getting off my phone earlierin the evening and not picking
it up, and I think that's a goodrule for everybody, whether
you're a content creator or not,because that's who.
What do we do?
The first thing, pick up thephone.
So that's a little thing.
I started just today because ofthis overwhelm I've been
(24:12):
feeling and I have adaughter-in-law who's actually a
social media manager forsomebody online who's pretty
like up there and she alwayssays to me ma, it's your account
, you can do whatever you wantwith it, you don't have to
answer anything you don't wantright away.
And I always hear her voice inmy head like all right, she's
right, like, because I'm thattype of person who has that
(24:33):
urgency, naturally.
So when something like thathappens, I'm like, oh, I gotta
do it, I gotta so.
That that was such a goodquestion, robin, really, because
you can see, I'm a very type Aperson and I want to just get
things done.
So it has to be veryintentional for me to take that
step back.
So I'm just starting.
Yeah, yeah, that's the firstthing.
(24:54):
Don't grab the phone right away, wait at least an hour.
Speaker 1 (24:59):
I mean and it is hard to find balance it totally is
because you do.
I mean, like I said before, youwant to help everyone.
I'm the same way.
I tend to put my clients aheadof me and I want to make sure
that I give them everything thatthey need.
But then if I don't help myself, then that's not really helping
anything and I can see howbeing in a position where you're
at, where you have so manyfollowers, it could affect your
(25:21):
relationship, like with yourhusband or your kids, if you
allowed it to.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
Right, exactly, yeah, not even like that.
Like 40,000 isn't even thatmuch, but it's just me, and like
I can't even imagine whatpeople who have.
I mean, they end up hiringpeople.
Right, right, that handles allthat.
But I'm like that's what I said.
I'm like imagine these peoplewho have like a million
(25:46):
followers, like they have tohire people because you need
that boundary and for yourmental health, you know Right.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Yeah, we both follow.
Go ahead, sorry, I think weboth follow Dr Brandon Parker,
yes, yes, and he has like amillion followers, but yet he'll
have a personalized messageback.
I'm like, how are you doingthis?
Speaker 2 (26:06):
I saw that you interviewed him on a podcast.
I love him.
I've been following him sincehe had like 15,000 followers.
Oh wow, I love his content somuch I actually did like a duet
with him on one of my reels.
But yeah, like to stay.
To get to that point is stillpersonalize your responses.
That's amazing.
You have to be able to balance.
(26:27):
To do that.
Speaker 1 (26:28):
Yeah, it is, yeah.
So let me ask you this then.
So the lady right now listening, that is maybe in her late 30s,
early 50s, has spent her wholelife taking care of other people
, taking care of kids, doing thejob, all of that, and now is
ready to take that step to makesure that she is healthy in her
next phase of life.
(26:49):
What piece of advice would you?
Speaker 2 (26:51):
give her.
So you just explained.
You just described me when Iwas that age like had no idea.
I wish I had somebody tellingme what you're asking me, right?
So, as somebody with autoimmunedisease too, which I'm sure
started developing when I was ayounger mother because of stress
and not taking care of myself,my, my main piece of advice for
(27:15):
young moms out there juggling iswe all have time to take 15
minutes for ourselves.
I didn't know that then either.
Nobody told me this then, butlike everybody has time to take
15 minutes to do something forthemselves whether it's like a
stretching routine that I do, Idon't know weight training,
(27:38):
sitting there, meditating, whichis not my thing, but this is
like my, meditating, doing thestretching yeah, everybody has
15 minutes, especially nowadayswhen all we do is how long do we
stay on here?
15 minutes is like right onhere.
So I would tell that mom andlike, kind of going back to what
(27:59):
you said about you, know whatgood am I to my clients if I'm
not taking care of myself?
If we take care of ourselves asyoung mothers, even a little
bit, we will be better mothersto our children, right?
How many times have I thoughtback to when I lost my temper
with my kids when they weresmall and I still feel guilty
about it, you know oh gosh, yeah, yeah.
(28:20):
I remember the time I yelled atandy and, oh my god, I
traumatized him.
So, like you know, we're goingto lose our temper.
But we're much more likely tolose it if we never give
ourselves time to ourselves.
And that doesn't even count.
Watching TV, that means justactually doing something for
yourself, right, right, no, I ahundred percent agree, but every
(28:41):
day, like taking 10 or 15minutes.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Right yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:45):
Not once a month, right, right, and whatever that
is for you, it can be differentfor everybody reading a book
doing a right, and whatever thatis for you, it can be different
for everybody reading a bookdoing a movement routine,
whatever it is.
But, yeah, that's just takethat, that's it.
It's small, but it would makesuch a big difference.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
Yes, yes, I agree.
So how can the listeners findyou?
Speaker 2 (29:06):
So I'm on Instagram at reclaim I'm forgetting what I
have it on Reclaim your healthwritten out totally.
So it's reclaim Y-O-U-R healthunderscore.
That's my Instagram handle andon Facebook it's reclaim your
health.
You know all separate words andI'm probably starting a YouTube
channel, but that's not yet.
(29:27):
But that's the main places theycan find me and I do answer all
messages and respond toeverybody.
So yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:37):
Oh, that's great.
I so appreciate you taking thetime to be here sharing your
story.
I think, again, you're justsharing wonderful content and
helping so many people, so verygood.
You know what I forgot mywebsite.
I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
Oh yeah, let's.
Let's say it, I'll put it inthe show notes as well.
Okay, I do have it.
It's justwwwChristineCerneracom, my whole
namecom, because I couldn't getreclaim your help.
So that's my website where youcan like.
I can be contacted throughthere also.
So yeah, it was a pleasure,robin, thank you.
You're a great interviewer,thank you.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Thank you.
Thank you so much for takingtime out of your schedule.
You're welcome.
Thank you for listening.
If you're enjoying this podcast, be sure to follow Spandex Wine
so you don't miss an episode.
To do this, just go to thepodcast and click subscribe or
follow.
Wherever you're listening, lookfor the plus sign or follow
(30:32):
button.
This is one of the best thingsthat you can do for the podcast.
If you'd also be willing togive a five-star review, that
would be amazing and muchappreciated.
Lastly, please share an episodewith a friend or five to keep
the love going, and join thespandex and wine community in
our private facebook group bysearching spandex and wine.
(30:53):
Feel free to reach out to me atany time by emailing info at
spandexandwinecom or text me at913-392-2877.
I appreciate you, thank you.
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