July 25, 2025 • 51 mins
In this episode, I sit down with Leah, personal trainer, Tonal powerhouse, and globe-trotting mom who shares how she balances a life on the move with her passion for strength training. We dive into her journey as a coach, what it’s really like training while traveling with family, and how Tonal has transformed the way she trains and connects with others. From programming her own class on the platform to joining the Tonal Training Lab in NYC, Leah’s story is filled with heart, hustle, and true strength. Whether you’re a busy mom, fitness lover, or part of the Tonal fam this conversation will leave you inspired.
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Episode Transcript
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Katie (00:00):
I am beyond excited to welcome someone who wears so
many hats and somehow stillmanages to crush every single
one of them.
She's a personal trainer, she'sa tonal superhero, and a proud
member of the Traveling FamilyTribe.
And one of the most inspiringwomen I have had the pleasure of
knowing you may have seen herlight up on the tonal community,
(00:21):
not just through her ownjourney, but also by programming
an actual class on the platformand taking part in an incredible
tonal training lab in New York.
She's proof that you can trainanywhere, anytime, and still
lead with heart purpose andstrength.
So please help me welcome one ofmy amazing, amazing friends, the
unstoppable.
(00:42):
Leah.
Hey Leah.
Thank you so much for having metoday, Katie.
This is so fun.
So I, I've just been wanting toget you on the podcast because I
know we've been talking about alot with, like, we did the
tonal, um, meetup the firsttime, the first time go around
when we first met in person.
And then we did the tonaltraining lab, and there's been
(01:04):
so much that you've been a partof, of tonal, so I'm excited to
get into that kind of chitchat.
But first we'll do some littlesprinkle to kind of break the
ice kind of questions.
So we're, we'll do five of them.
We'll do five of'em.
So, all right, let's go.
All right, so if your tonalcould talk, what do you think it
(01:26):
would say to you after you do aworkout?
Depends which day, because on abooty day would look at me like,
what just happened?
Let, let's go with a booty daybecause that's your favorite
day.
So what would tonal say to youafter an epic booty day?
(01:47):
It would tell me that I need twodays off after that.
Okay.
I'm exhausted.
That's funny.
That's funny.
That's great.
That's my high volume day.
I love it.
I love it.
So I've always wondered thisbecause I'm very, I'm a Taurus,
so I love Music Chorus, Emily.
Yes.
So what song during, let's GoWith Leg Day.
(02:10):
Let's Stick With Leg Day.
Instantly gets you to like liftthat pr or literally like.
Hip thrust to the clouds per se.
Hip thrust.
I mean, I am a classic rock girlall the way, so I can't use any
of my own music in my classes,which is annoying.
But I, I'd have to say likeFreebird, have you hip thrust to
(02:31):
Freebird?
No.
No.
Do it.
I dunno.
That song wakes me up.
I'm like, let's go.
That's so great.
That's like me and that CelineDion song When I do the X-Men,
it's, it's kind of like that.
I, I, I, I'll I did that for youthe one time.
I'm like, I'm gonna try thisout.
(02:51):
Just embrace it Bryce.
I will, I will try, I will trythe uh, free bird.
'cause Joe Joe's a big, hugefree bird fan, so that's usually
good taste.
Good taste.
Yeah.
So free bird on a hip thrust.
All right, everybody note thatdown.
Don't knock it.
I want everyone reporting backand be like, yeah, please.
It's coming from the glutequeen.
(03:12):
So we gotta make that noted thatwe all try hip thrusting to free
bird when they get into thatguitar in the chorus.
Just like, just go with it.
It's beautiful.
I love it.
I only thought this because itcame on the other day when I was
doing it.
Oh my gosh, you're so funny.
You're so funny.
I, I already know this answer tothis question.
Would you rather have, oh, youknow what?
(03:35):
I'm gonna switch it up.
I'm gonna switch it up because Ialready know the answer, but I'm
gonna make it tough on you.
Oh, boy.
Okay.
Would you rather have a heavyleg day or a heavy back day?
Day?
No.
I actually hate leg day.
So, because I'm obsessed withbooties like everyone thinks.
(03:55):
I love leg day, hate leg day.
So when I program for myself, ifit's gonna be a three week, like
three a week, leg day, it'sgonna be a quad heavy, hammy
heavy, and then just glute, juststraight up, isolate the glutes.
That's the day I love.
But other than that, back day,back day, best day.
Back day, day.
I mean, what is it about thatgood pull?
(04:16):
Like I just like gimme rows allday anytime.
You know, my, my upper body selfloves to hear that, you know,
that that is my number one.
Like for my birthday, I think Imade a back in booty day.
I am like, what do I wanna dofor my birthday back in Booty?
And we just went back and forthand we just come.
That's an interest.
That's a very interesting comboback in booty.
It's kind of brutal.
(04:38):
Because it's all posterior, butlike it's just for fun.
Like it was just for fun.
How well does your lats handlethat?
I mean, that's a lot.
Well, so when I isolate mybooty, I'm not using a lot.
A lots, so I'm not doing T Oh,so you're just doing glute, so
you're just doing glute focus?
Yeah, like true.
Isolate the glute.
So it's actually very littlelats, no quads, very little
hammies kind of thing.
(05:00):
Ah, because I was gonna besmart.
When you wanna train like fivedays a week, you know you're
gonna burn out.
So.
That's inter Yeah, because Ican't, like on leg days, if I
have a, like a heavy leg dayheavy quad and I have to hit it
back leg and back, I always givea rest day in between.
'cause Yeah, you can't, it'sbrutal.
Those lots are working on a goodleg day.
(05:22):
All right, so, well this is ourlast sprinkle question.
I have many of these stories andI don't know if you do, but what
is the weirdest or funniestthing that has happened while
you were working out?
So why I don't use the camera alot.
I'm worried they're spying onme, but oh my God, I'm clumsy
(05:44):
and after I'm tired.
So me getting out of the, theposition that I'm in for a lot
of these lifts, it's notgraceful.
So I just think like me endingany heavy lift move would
probably be hilarious to anybodyelse in the room.
Like, I've had so many of thoseoopsies like pulling my hair out
by the rope or like, oh my God.
(06:05):
Like every time, like I have toposition it very carefully'cause
I do that nonstop and then therope almost pulling my pants
off.
You know, that kind of thing.
Oh, it hasn't happened to meyet.
But you know what the funnything is is when I posted about
that, like five or six peoplemessaged me and they're like the
rope of death.
That is so funny.
Yeah.
'cause it gets me up top a lot,but Oh my God.
(06:27):
And then when you're doing thecrunch, the rope crunch every
time, like, I'm just gonna losesome hairs.
They're gonna be in there.
It is.
What?
It's, I'm bald.
It's pulled from back.
No one's seeing it.
It's fine.
Oh my gosh.
All right, so I, there's manythings that I'm interested to
hear about you, but you know,and I'm sure the listeners are
gonna be interested to hear yourstory also.
So I want you to kind of takethis time to like introduce
(06:49):
yourself.
You know, talk about yourfitness journey, talk about, you
know, your, um, what inspiredyou to start being a personal
trainer and, uh, just, you know,kind of go from there.
So just kind of like, tell usabout Leah.
All right.
So I actually, I love gettinginto this because I had
(07:09):
everything.
I won't curse on your podcast,but like, just you can, you can
hold that.
Can I ask backwards?
Yeah, you're fine.
Out.
I had been working outconsistently since high school
through college, and I was justlike, sorry, you're gonna,
you're gonna cringe.
I'm gonna say it.
I was chasing, being thin andtoned.
I was that girl for a very longtime, a decade or so before I
(07:33):
learned the ways.
But that's why like now, when Ihear girls say that, like I know
a lot of personal trainers,they're like so irked by that
word toned.
And it drives them crazy whenthey're like, I'm coming to be
thin and I get it because I wasthat girl.
So I'm never gonna judge youbecause you know what?
Like most of us were that girl.
We've learned and we've grown.
But I was, I was that girl for along time.
(07:55):
I was a little heavier than Iwas now.
I was fluffy and I just was verybothered by my appearance in the
mirror.
And I was obsessed for like along time, like longer than I'd
like to admit.
And that was such a big part ofmy self-worth for so.
Long and like I look back onthat and that's what makes me
cringe.
Like not the word tone, not Iwanna work out to be thin, but
that that was me for such a longtime and I let that, like my
(08:18):
world revolve around that forsuch a long time.
That number on the scale, thatsize on the pair of pants and
just like the muffin top hangingover.
And until I had kids, that wasreally me.
I was doing all of the cardio.
I didn't wanna lift heavy,'causeI didn't wanna get bulky.
Just cr, it's fine.
Cringe, right?
And guess what?
I spent about a decade workingout like that and I looked
(08:41):
exactly the same.
So that's why I love being atrainer.
That's why I became a trainer.
I'm like.
This isn't working.
Let me actually learn whatworks.
Let me understand the sciencebehind all of this.
So I started getting into that,like right when I was pregnant
with my first son, and I had allthis terrible back pain and I
was achy and I was just reallyuncomfortable.
(09:02):
So after I had him, Michael wasjust like, all of a sudden I
didn't care about being thinanymore.
I didn't care about my weight.
It was, you know, like, you knowwhat you look like after you
have a baby?
Yes.
It's what it's.
And all of a sudden I didn'tcare.
It just, I had this big mentalshift and I just, like, all I
cared about was this little guythat I was holding, and I just
(09:22):
wanted to be the best person forhim.
I didn't wanna be skinny.
I wanted to be strong.
I wanted to be able to hold him.
I wanted to be able to play withhim.
I wanted to lift him up.
I wanted to carry him aroundwithout my back being tired.
So I, there was my shift.
All of a sudden I was like,okay, I wanna be stronger.
I need stronger legs.
I need a stronger back so I canbe a better mom.
And that's when I got intostrength training.
(09:44):
And ironically, what happenswhen you consistently strength
train?
I started losing weight.
Surprise, surprise.
Oh, cardio.
It was too much.
I've always had a very busylife.
I was a teacher before I was atrainer.
I'm always on my feet runningaround, not enough sleep.
And I was inflamed.
And the cardio was only makingit worse, is what I learned when
I finally learned.
(10:05):
So you were, you were a teacherbefore?
I was.
I was an art teacher for.
Six years before I had Asher.
I didn't know that.
Okay.
So, so, so Leo, like you candraw and paint.
Not so well.
It was more the photography.
So I love, I did, I did love allthose things too.
(10:28):
Was I especially talented?
No, and I think that's part ofwhat made me a great art teacher
because I was teaching thesekids like, you don't have to
have that natural skill.
It's all about your creative,your interpretation to these
different projects andelementary art.
Like that was, I loved it untilI became a mom, and then it was
just like it was taking me awayfrom my baby and I just.
The drops at the daycare and thecrying every day.
(10:48):
Like I knew I couldn't do thatanymore.
Mm-hmm.
And during all this time when Ihad him and I was starting to
train more and I started lookinginto getting a certification,
'cause I just was alreadylearning all of this anyway for
myself.
And then that was great becausethen when I had my second, I
could stay home and I could justbe a trainer.
So I was training, they werekeeping, I was training when
they were napping.
(11:09):
My mom would help me once a weekand I was able to.
Private train and be there.
So I took a long leave fromwork.
I never went back.
I love that.
I, I mean, I'm a stay at homemom, so I, I know how it is, you
know, it's like I didn't know, Ididn't even want kids, so I
didn't know how much I was gonnalove them until I had them.
You know, when you're at home,you never miss a beat.
(11:31):
You never miss a moment.
You're just like, you know, you,you can, you can still have you
be your, you know, own, youknow, go after your own personal
goals mm-hmm.
And stuff like that, but at thesame time, you can be there for
all those amazing moments.
Yeah, I kind of had bothexperiences, so I went right
back to work with my oldest.
I know what that's like.
And then I stayed home with myyoungest, and I think that was a
(11:52):
really good balance becausestaying home with Asher and
missing him and just all thatguilt like made me appreciate
being home with Ethan.
And so all those days, like, youknow, it's not easy, especially
when there's two of them andthey're so close in age.
Like that was a rough two years,but anytime I was like, I don't
think I can do this anymore.
I'm like, well, I could be atwork, I could be missing it all.
I remember what that was like.
(12:13):
And then I just take a deepbreath, go into the bathroom for
a couple minutes, you know?
'cause sometimes it gets wildand you just need to breathe.
That's so true.
And you know, once there's twoyou're outnumbered.
Yeah.
And like, you know, when theylose it, they usually both lose
it at the same time.
So that was fun.
They both lose it, but it's justgrateful to be there with them.
And I know like, you know, thoseare moments I can never get
(12:35):
back.
So do you prefer,'cause uh, youtrain at a gym now, right?
Do you prefer?
Do you like when you weretraining like privately bef when
you first started, did you enjoydoing that more or did you enjoy
working in the gym more now?
It's like, I just thinkeverything in my life works out
the way it's meant to because Ilove that at the time.
(12:56):
Mm-hmm.
But there's something like theenergy of a group fitness class
and just like having a blastwith everyone.
It's like I get to go to workevery day and just hang out with
my friends and laugh and party,and I get paid for it.
Like it's, it's the best job.
Like it's the highlight of myday is my classes.
So I definitely prefer theclasses over the private
training now, but if you askedme before, I would've said the
(13:17):
opposite.
How long have you been at thatgym?
Five years and change five yearsand change Wow.
A little baby from nothing towhat it is now.
That's crazy.
So I, I know like with when yougot your tonal, when did you
(13:38):
decide to add that into yourrotation?
I was at that point where I wasstarting to outgrow just the
dumbbells and I just, I didn'thave the time to get to the gym.
Forget like actually paying fora membership, but it was a big
time issue for me.
I had this very, very limitedwindow.
I'm always giving up sleep towork out,'cause like, especially
with my kids younger than theyare now, they're.
(13:59):
Was no time for me in the day,and I know a lot of moms can
relate to that.
Not even moms, just workingwomen.
It is hard to find time for you.
So I had to make it really earlyin the morning and the time it
would've taken me to drive tothe gym and back and get
settled.
I would have no time left toout.
So I was looking for a cablemachine for home, and I had
(14:19):
never heard of tonal.
Tonal.
You guys, you got out theadvertising.
I don't know.
Nobody knows what you are orthat you exist.
They do because AIA and I, butwhen I like, oh, this is
interesting.
This is actually cheaper than afull cable machine.
Like, still very expensive, butI was like, I can do this over a
(14:39):
couple of years.
And I, I told my husband aboutit that he bought it.
Oh my gosh, that's so funny.
You know, speaking of yourhusband, I'm glad you brought up
your husband because I had astory like, well yesterday I was
out in public, my introvertitself went out in the wild and
I was driving and I was going,going to park, and I look over
to my left and there was a big,huge pickleball.
(15:02):
And I was like, I immediatelythought of your husband.
I was like, because Aaron askedme all the time, she's like,
what does Leah's husband do?
I was like, well, he likes to dopickleball.
Yeah.
Even you like, that's all hedoes.
I'm trying so hard now to makehim,'cause he will only gimme
two days.
Under 30 minutes.
That's what he has limited me tobecause he has just stopped
(15:24):
strength training.
And I'm like, bro, you're aninjury waiting to happen.
Like as your wife, this isphysically painful to watch.
I'm like, you have to strengthtrain a little, a little.
And he said, two days, 20minutes.
Like I cannot work with, that'stime.
So I'm still, I, I'm making hima little program called Pickle
Power.
There you go.
You know, I'm surprised Tonalhas does his bare minimum, like
(15:45):
just to have some strength onhis body.
I'm surprised Tonal hasn't comeout with a pickleball program.
Maybe we need to make that note.
Maybe.
Maybe that's another thing thatwe could add to the list because
they have golfing.
Yeah, that's pickleball is justwhere out.
Everyone is obsessed right now.
Everybody loves pickleball.
Yeah, so I'm trying,'cause likeI know the way he moves as a
(16:06):
pickleball player, I know wherehe needs the strength and really
I'm just trying to build somemuscle.
So that he doesn't have hurt.
There you go.
No rolling ankles.
We want strong ankles.
Yeah.
So I've been playing around withthis one for a minute.
It, it's, but that's what I loveabout programming'cause it's
like this puzzle that I wannasolve.
And I used to love that in math,in school.
(16:28):
So, so that, so that they giveyou an objective and then I'm
like, okay, we're gonna makethis happen.
We're gonna get to you there.
We're definitely gonna get intoyour programming skills here in
a moment because I, there wassomething big that happened on
Tonal that you got to do.
Um, but one thing I like as, asa personal trainer and somebody
that may be like looking intotonal, what do you think is like
(16:52):
one of the best advantages oftonal that you think people
should be taken advantage of ordo you think that they should
know about?
Honestly, as a personal trainerwho trains people on the tonal
occasionally, the rep countingand the tracking, the weights
and the little intervals, likethe way you're going up, and
(17:13):
little like, that's a gamechanger as a personal trainer
because number one, like.
It's hard as you get stronger tomake that five, 10 pound jump to
the next set of dumbbells, oreven on a traditional cable
machine.
And the fact that I can justlike one pound this week,
another pound next week, andthen you know what?
You don't even notice that it'sheavier and it's such a safe way
(17:34):
to get stronger.
I love that.
And then the counting the reps,because like when I'm training
someone, I'm literally like, Ihave my hand by my side and I'm
like talking to them.
So I'm like this, I'm like, I'mjust like trying to track the
reps.
I'm like, okay, you're goodbecause like, that's not their
problem.
That's my problem.
That's why I'm getting paid.
Oh my gosh, that's so funny.
I'm like, let's just hang.
It's counting for me.
(17:55):
So, so I got a question for youbecause it, it happens to me.
Do you ever like.
You're, you're counting in yourhead.
Say you're facing away fromtonal and you're counting in
your head and you're, you know,doing whatever, and you're
counting and you look over atonal and they're like three or
four shy of reps and you'relike, you dunno how to count
tonal.
Yeah.
I swear on those decline fives.
(18:16):
Like, every time I'm like, bro,I did 10.
Like, why are you not giving theding.
I'm just like, come on.
I know that was, I do that allthe time.
And I'm like, I'm like, Katie,you don't know how to count so
you, you're wrong.
And I'm like, I know.
I, I counted it.
(18:37):
Yeah.
I'm not exaggerating when I saythat is the hardest part.
The trainer is the.
I don't know what I would do.
I would be like, I'm a spacecadet, so I I, I don't even, I
would probably end up doing likea hundred reps by the time I
finished because I'd be like,did I do that right?
Did I do that?
I used to, and I still do itwhen I'm lifting with the
dumbbells and like, you knowwhat?
(18:57):
I'm at the point now where I'mlike, whatever.
If I did the reps, I didn't.
I'm gonna go until I feel like Icould only go one or two more
depending on how I'm training inthat phase, but I'm just like,
that's the better way.
Anyway, there you go.
All right, so this is somethingI've been exec this gonna gonna
get it, get it, get into some ofour topics about your personal
experiences that you've had withtonal.
(19:20):
And the first one being yougetting to write a, like a
class, a chest, and back threeway.
Right?
Class and Joe getting to do it,and you got to go to the tonal
studio and this wholeexperience, how was it and how
did it, how does it make youfeel when you see a class that
(19:44):
you programmed on tonal on alarge prop platform like that?
Man, that that month it cameout.
I think we face hurt.
I did not stop smiling, but I'llnever forget.
I remember seeing that emailwhen they're like, we're gonna
have this contest.
And all of us, like me and thekids and Elon, we were just
sitting around in the livingroom and I show'em this.
(20:05):
I'm like, I'm winning this.
Like I told, like, you know,like programming is my heart and
soul and like all they wanna,like when I do the.
Programs with a coach.
Like I'm just like, I want myprogramming, but I want them
coaching me and like I've beendreaming about that since I got
a tonal.
So when I saw that contest, Iwas like.
(20:27):
We're gonna make this happen.
And the funny thing is the onethat won, I didn't even write
for the contest that was justpart of a program I was doing at
the time.
So it was called Chest and Backthree Ways and it was part of
two chest and back workouts Ihad in a program where I was
just like looking to reallyround out my chest and back
'cause I'd been neglecting them.
So I was doing that program forlike three months, different rep
(20:49):
schemes and it, like, I hadgotten some good results from
it, like I was really happy withmy growth and I keep going back
to it, like since I've repeatedthat program myself a couple
times.
So that's half of the chest andback day, but it's just, it's
pretty solid.
It's well-rounded, but not theone I expected to win.
I was so like, I was so excitedfor you and that the fact that
(21:09):
Joe got to do it, I was likechest and back, J Joe and Leo
and then Joe.
I mean Joe was my coach at thetime, like my first year on
tonal.
I didn't take programs.
I took like that Tony one justto start out'cause I liked him,
but like, you know, I was verylike doing my own thing.
I'm very like anal when it comesto my training.
But then Joe's programming wasso similar to how I program,
(21:32):
like Power Build is so similarto how I work out.
So I'm like, okay, I'm gonna trythis.
I loved it.
Loved it.
Mm-hmm.
So Power Build one, two, andthen I went into HOV and that's
just like, I'm like, okay, I'llgive these coaches a chance.
It was just like,'cause likewhen you posted that video of
like you in the studio and thenlike Joe's there and you guys
(21:53):
are doing pushups next to eachother, I was just like, yeah,
nothing's better than being soexcited for your friend to do
something so incredible that youknow, that like, it's just like
when you know when people workso hard for something and then
something like really specialhappens for them, you're just
like, the joy is just spilling.
That's what I love about youbecause that's who you are to
(22:15):
the community.
Like I know like everybody'swins are Katie's wins.
Like I've never met somebodywho's like so dedicated to
everyone else and like wants tosee them shine.
Like you are the ultimatecheerleader in that group and we
all love you.
Like, just so you know.
'cause I think you know.
In case you feelings mutual.
Feelings mutual.
(22:35):
But I had love you man, that youWell, you know, I love a, a
chest day.
I am chesty all day.
Um, but we should do, maybe weshould do a chest and back
three-way, 2.0 and we can addsome pushups in there.
Oh, do I?
Got you.
See, that's the thing.
It was a partner workout.
So like that's one of two chestand back days.
The other one's got your pushup.
(22:56):
Okay, so, so yeah, like betweenthe two.
But that was the only thing thatwas funny about all this.
It was like half of this puzzleand the two fit together.
I love it.
So maybe I got that other one.
So if anybody needs it, so weneed, we need to make a note to
tonal that we need a 2.0.
Yeah.
They need a 2.0.
And then it's just like the waythese two workouts work
together, it's just a beautifulthing.
(23:16):
I gotta say it's some of my bestwork.
So, so how, how long Total had.
How long total have you been onTonal?
That is a mouthful.
Four years.
If only.
We had gotten it before COVID.
I wish.
But like right after COVID, wegot our tonal.
That would've been great tohave.
So you've always been a part ofthe tonal community for the past
(23:39):
like four years.
Mostly, yes.
That first year, not quite asmuch because I really just
looked at it as a machine and Ididn't understand the power of
the community.
I don't even know if I joinedthe OTC when I first got it.
I just don't remember.
But if I did, I wasn't in there.
And I have to give you a lot ofcredit for why I started going
in because it was you that Inoticed.
And just the way that you'relifting everybody up and you're
(24:01):
supporting everyone.
And I was like, this is really agreat community.
Like this is unlike anythingelse on Facebook.
And now I'm gonna go back onFacebook just for this
community.
And you were a big part of that.
So I'm gonna give credit wherecredit's due because, and I
wanna be like Katie, I wannamake other people feel how she
makes me feel.
And you know what's so great?
You know what's funny?
So here's a story.
(24:22):
Okay?
So we did, we did the fasttrack.
With to, with tonal.
And we, you know, got anopportunity to go and I got to
meet Leah for the first time inperson.
But how our whole friendshipstarted was, um, we got, I got
picked to go and I was like, I,I wanna meet people.
Like I wanna know who's going sowe can start chitchatting, so we
(24:44):
can plan dinner, so we can planall this stuff.
And I was just like, so I'masking everybody, are you going,
are you going?
Then somebody messaged me.
And said, Hey, Leah's going.
And I was like, oh.
I'm like, okay, I'll find her onInstagram.
We were already following eachother, like before this ever
came up.
(25:05):
And I'm like, dude, we'realready friends.
Okay.
So I was like, I messaged Leahand I was like, girl, we're both
gonna be there.
And then you said the lurker,you said?
Yeah.
That was funny.
I didn't post, I just lurk.
She's like, Katie, I've beenlurking your page.
You're so inspired.
And I'm just like, dude, we'regonna be, we're just gonna be,
(25:25):
we're gonna be best of friends.
No, I have to say also like,that was a crazy day.
I don't, what was it?
Something happened that day andI was like, oh, I can't go.
This is too much.
And I was like, no, I gotta beKatie.
That was, I'm like, Ilan, thisis your problem.
That was such an e, like as fastas it went by, like the ca, like
(25:49):
it just went by too fast.
But it was like, it was so it,it was a de like, I would say a
picture perfect of like thetonal community and like the
people were there, you know,like Tamika and Mo, and you
know, our little group wasformed.
I know by that.
It's so cool.
(26:10):
And then like, yeah, the, westill talk every day now.
Like I just love it.
Like this community iseverything.
It's just so next level and it'sjust like that was the magic of
the tonal lab.
Like I loved every, that's why Ikept going every weekend.
I was like, I don't know how theheck I found the time reflecting
on it.
I'm like, how did I make it tothe city?
Like literally every weekend forlike six weeks.
But I did because I just wantedto meet everybody.
(26:32):
I love that for you, that yougot to, now we're gonna, we're
you are like flowing right intothis.
We are going right into thetonal training lab talk and I'm
excited to talk about it becauseI was there too.
Oh my God.
That was special times.
So since you got to go to a lotmore, uh, classes and a couple
were different styles of what,you know, I pretty much took the
(26:54):
same class four different times.
I think pretty much same for me,but I went to like two of the
special ones that were like theprogram.
Cool.
All right, so let's talk, let'stalk about your, your experience
at the Tonal Training Lab.
My experience really was thecommunity.
Yes, it was incredible to meetthe coaches in person, but I
(27:16):
just feel like, I don't know, Imaybe like being a trainer,
being in that world.
It's just like, I love coaches,but I love the people.
Like that's what it's about forme.
So like for me, I was just soexcited to go and meet.
Everybody and everybody wasthere a different week.
And there were some people like,especially like just people
you've been chatting with andsupporting and like, you know,
(27:37):
back and forth online for like ayear, two, three years.
And for us all to come together,it was just special.
It was like nonstop smiles.
It wasn't about the workouts.
'cause you know me, I was doingmy own thing.
I was in there like lowering thedials.
'cause I was like, can't do Ledid that yesterday.
Whatever.
Yep.
We were about the workout.
I was there a hundred percentfor the people.
It was, it was so special.
Like it just like.
(27:59):
I don't know.
It it, it just showed.
Yes, you can see it on like theinternet, but it's totally
different when you're in theroom with these people when you
are, you know, getting to talkto them in person and hug them
and squeeze them and, you know,chase around, burn your face off
coffee and.
Speed.
Walking through New York,getting lost?
(28:22):
No.
Next time we gotta find you, I'mgonna research like I'm gonna
find the hottest coffee in NewYork City.
We're gonna get your face off.
Don't understand New Yorkers andthe coffee.
I just don't like all of them atme.
Like, like here.
Just like everyone's like suingeach other.
So I think they're afraid ifit's really hot and it actually
(28:43):
burns your skin, it leaves amark.
You know?
Like now your business isclosing.
I don't know.
But I was just like, I'm like,this isn't even like lukewarm.
Like, come on, like can we heatit up?
And they look at me like, what?
Just bring me steam water.
Next time I'll bring like aflask of boiling water.
(29:04):
There you go.
So for all the tonal traininglab classes that you were there,
um, what was the mostunforgettable like moment, um,
you know, maybe a class or acoach said something to you?
What is something that made youlike, oh my gosh, I can't wait
(29:27):
to do this again.
It was like literally everyworkout in every class, like the
trainers are just like the bestpeople on the planet.
Like this is a special crew thatthey found.
And then just like every class,I got to meet someone different,
but if I had to pick like onecoach Akeem, if there's ever a
tonal lab in the future, you allhave to take his class like
(29:50):
this.
Man, I, I hope he had a napafter this class.
So quick on everybody aroundthis room.
I have seen nothing like it.
Like he motivated me as atrainer.
I'm like, I just wanna be likeyou when I grow up.
Like he was like hands onjumping, flying around this
room, making everyone feel likethey were the only ones there.
(30:10):
And then I hit my, my 9 millionwith him there.
So that was cool.
So that was, that was soawesome.
Every last class, but like, sohappy that I, I squeezed one in
with him because.
He's just like next level, likeyou think he's got energy on the
screen, you gotta see thisminute person.
Totally true.
Like I.
Definitely like this one coachI'm missing a picture with.
(30:30):
Um, because, you know, when wewere went the first time, it was
so exciting that Yeah, you justforget.
Like, you just forget.
So it's just like, you know, andI didn't get to take a class
with him when I went to thetotal training lab, but like
hugging Akeem makes the world.
Stop.
Like it makes you just like,he's just one of those people
that he hugs you and you're justlike, you forget everything else
(30:53):
around you, and you're justlike, you're such, I love you.
You know?
He's, I mean, like, you can'tnot smile around him.
No.
Right, dude.
Yeah.
He is like, um, like I keep, youknow, always leaving like tonal
notes and stuff like that.
Like I am like begging for likea muscle building program, kind
of like, you know, power build.
(31:15):
Yeah.
You know, you know, uh, like a,in like, I mean, he's huge.
He, he needs a muscle buildingprogram.
Like now.
Yes.
That came from somewhere.
Yes.
And we know its the energy, likehe has proven that.
And then some lift.
Let's go to those low wraps.
Very, yes, low wraps.
Plan program.
Throw on a little hypertrophy.
(31:36):
I'll take it.
So in your whole, like let's saytraining journey on tonal, let's
look at the whole big picture.
What event?
Do you think like, kind of likechanged you as a trainer,
changed you in your own, likepersonal training?
Um, what is one thing that haslike made something better or
(32:00):
made you better?
Um, with tonal.
That's a good, like picking onething I don't think I can do.
I think it's just a lot oflittle nuggets are along the
way.
Even just like taking a classand a coach just says something
in a way.
I never thought of it and I waslike, oh, that's really a good
way to break down this move.
Things like that.
(32:20):
Like I think one of them, onething I learned from one of the
coaches was putting the back ofyour calves against the bench to
help people with RDL.
That helped me so much as atrainer.
I didn't do that before and thatunlocked R DLS for so many
people I trained.
So I just love all these littlenuggets, like one little thing
you didn't expect to get out ofa class, but that's why I like
the lives.
And if I can get in one, it'scool because you never know what
(32:42):
you're gonna learn.
That is true.
All right.
This is probably one of myfavorite parts because this is
like, I, I absolutely livevicariously through you is when
you are traveling with yourfamily and you are, you are
like, like a, like, you feel meon my anxiety because I know
when we were going to New York,you had everything planned out
(33:04):
for me and I was like, oh mygosh, everything's gonna be
fine.
She knows the restaurant, sheknows this, she knows that
everything's gonna be totallyfine.
So in your traveling with yourfamily and you know, juggling,
you know, your work life, yourhusband's work life, all this
other stuff, how is it that,like you guys go to the most
(33:25):
amazing places and we're alsojealous of it?
And also, what is your, what isthe best place or favorite place
that you've had, like amemorable family moment in your
travels that you've guys done?
We are definitely like, that'sone thing we connected on.
My husband and I, we love totravel, we love exploring.
(33:48):
We like just filling oureyeballs with new places.
I love anything nature, likehiking in the most remote whack.
I don't care.
I'm like, find a hike and we'lltake it.
But then like getting the kidson board has been really fun.
But for us, like a big part oftravel is the food and our kids
are kind of stinkers when itcomes to eating.
So that was like the onenegative, like we just said,
(34:09):
taking them to Spain, which was.
Amazing.
But the food man, they're,they're tough.
So I wouldn't say the food with'em, but, oh, let's see.
We went, what was this placecalled?
I think the El, the elephantthing was pretty cool.
When you guys went to theElephant sanctuary.
Oh no.
For me and my husband, that wasthe highlight, but we didn't
take the kids, so we went toThailand.
(34:29):
That was just Oh, that's right.
But otherwise, yes, for sure.
I mean, that whole trip, thattrip I had been planning for
over a year.
So our thing is my husband willfind the flights.
And the hotels and he just like,he'll tell me to start a credit
card.
He'll tell me what to charge onit.
And I'm like,'cause I know it'sgonna be a trip.
There you go.
There you go.
I love it.
You're able to save money foractivities and food because we
(34:52):
won't take a trip until we havethe miles to like get the free
flight and the free hotel.
Which is a huge help'causetraveling is expensive.
But uh, this last one we went tothis place, I think it's called
Serra.
I'm probably saying it wrong.
And the whole thing was like, itwas this epic on top of a
mountain.
You're gonna take this hike andsee just like the most amazing
(35:13):
views we got there and it wasfog.
And I'm talking like you couldnot see four feet in front of
you.
And this is why I love myfamily.
'cause like we had the one daythere, right?
And it was all about the viewsand we could see.
Nothing.
And I mean like literallynothing.
So we're there for hours.
We have nothing.
We still did the hike, likethat's like, I love them because
(35:34):
we'll just whatever it is whatit is, we'll make the most of
it.
We're like, maybe it'll clearwhen we get to the top.
No, we walked up like an hour'sworth of stairs straight up to
the top of this mountain.
We saw nothing, so we're justlaughing.
But when we got down like thatlast 30 minutes before we had to
leave and head back.
The clouds cleared.
So we did get to see it for alittle bit, not on top of the
(35:55):
mountain, but just like that oneday like Elon and I were
reflecting and it's just like wedid something right with these
kids because it's like no matterwhat happens, no matter how
backwards things go, like wejust always have the best time
together.
And I think with traveling, youkind of have to be like, fly at
the seat of your pants becausenothing is ever gonna.
Oh my God.
Because yeah, when we took themthe summer before, we went to
(36:17):
Costa Rica, which was great, andit was an epic trip.
And then we get to the airportand we have an overnight flight
that never takes off for twodays.
So we at like three in themorning are in a swarm of people
trying to get cars to the samehotel.
We're waiting in this hotel fortwo hours to get a room, and we
have to be back at the airportat six in the morning.
So we had like two hours by thetime we get checked in and our
(36:39):
kids were just like.
We'll sleep on the floor becausewe sussed out on the floor while
we're waiting for a room.
We throw one over the shoulderalso while I work out.
'cause this was like a year agoand they're heavy now and we
just lop them in the bed like,but they just, they go with
everything.
They're just a pleasure totravel with.
So.
(36:59):
And boys are easy to travel.
That's what I hear.
I think boys are easier thangirls.
Yeah.
They really like, they're justvery adaptable and they're just
like, I lose it before they dousually.
So.
Credit for that.
All right, so I've got some,some good feel questions to kind
of wrap this up.
So I, this is, you know, let'sget into some like how Leah
(37:24):
would inspire, like some wordsof encouragement.
What advice for women that youfeel that you didn't get when
you trained or when you startedyour journey that you would want
other women to hear from you.
A big thing when I'm traininganyone new.
(37:45):
Is asking them, what are yourgoals?
And by that I mean not like Iwanna grow this or I wanna do
this like, like the why I guessis a big thing.
So just understanding, like Iwant people to get to the root
of the real reason why they wanta certain goal.
So if you're gonna tell me youwant.
For me, like let's be honest,it's a booty.
Why?
(38:05):
What is that gonna benefit youlike?
I like to go into like what thisis going to bring to your life,
I guess, and make it less aboutthe physical.
Like how is this going to giveyou better endurance?
How is this gonna make you abetter mom?
How is this gonna make you abetter wife?
How is it going to make yourlife more enjoyable?
I really like people to likeconnect with that.
True.
Why not just like that, why wethrow out at the beginning of a
(38:27):
program, but like reallyunderstand.
Why is it that you wanna dothis?
Because if you have that strongwhy that'll carry you through on
the days you don't feel like it.
So not thinking of the aestheticgoals Yeah.
To get away, like that's a bigthing for me in general because
that was something I did wrongfor such a long time.
So even now, like even thinkinglike I'm not, I try to stay away
(38:49):
from size period being smalleror being bigger.
Mm-hmm.
I wanna be stronger.
Right.
Will that make the musclesbigger?
Yes, but I don't want that to bethe focus.
I want you to focus on beingable to push past something,
getting that first pull up,getting that first pushup, then
getting more.
But just like what will thatstrength give you instead of the
(39:09):
aesthetics?
Right.
Right.
And I think that that's, like,that's one thing with me.
'cause I give people a lot thattalk about like my size and I
said, you, you know, at the sametime, yes, I have a bigger size,
but I said there's also womenthat are stronger than me, that
are a lot smaller than me.
Um, you know, take Casey forexample, she can pump out way
(39:30):
more pull-ups than I ever could.
Casey can, you know, she's.
She's a batty and she, she's arunner.
So that, that does, I'm, I'mprimarily bo you know, strength
building and muscle building,and she's a freaking strongest
as shit, you know?
So I said, it's just, you know,I think that's like sometimes
(39:50):
when, you know, kind of goesback to that like, you know, I
wanna be the smallest version ofmyself and like how you're
talking about like, beinglooking at the strongest and
like how we talk about like thefunctional strength part of it.
Strength and mobility.
Those are my big goals.
And that's another thing too.
Like we all have so many goals.
Would I love to have greatendurance and also be a yogi and
(40:11):
do all these other things?
Yes.
But I have to understand like Ionly have so much time and
there's only so much my body cantake.
So we have to train in thosephases, right?
And we need to kind of hyperfocus in on a couple goals at a
time.
And that's kind of like how Ilook at, for me, I look at Akeem
and Joe because of how mobilethey are and the size.
(40:32):
That they are and they stillprioriti prioritize exactly what
you're talking about.
Yeah.
And for me, that was the game.
Because for me, like when I gotto the root of what is my real
why for myself, it's how I feeland what I can do.
I wanna never say no to my kids.
And even now, like they are mysize and bigger and I still
wanna do all the things withthem.
And I still wanna be able to,like, they wanna wrestle, I
(40:54):
wanna be able to take'em down,right?
They're never winning.
But then I also wanna feel good.
I don't wanna wake up in themorning and be like, Ugh.
Like I don't wanna be achy.
Now that I'm in my forties and Ifeel great, I feel better than I
did in my twenties.
And I know mobility takes creditfor that.
So I try to prioritize mymobility just as much as I do
strength.
And that means endurance hasgotta take a backseat.
(41:15):
That means flexibility has totake a bit of a backseat.
'cause I can only do so much.
Right.
And I think that's, I thinkthat's another kind of message
with tonal that I think we bothcan agree on is that they don't
push the all over place haywire,um, multi over training, you
know, focusing on so manydifferent things.
(41:36):
Like tonal is very, you know,straight line.
And I respect and appreciatethat, like you can tell that a
lot of thought and planning isputting into these programs.
It's not just random movesthrown together.
Like there is a goal and thework makes sense for the goal,
right?
Because it's all about, becauseI love, I mean, I know some
people complain about not beingable to join, you know, multi
(41:58):
programs, but for me as somebodythat had.
Had a history with overtraining, feeling like I don't
do enough.
That is that for me, when Ifirst started out, that was
needed.
That was like so needed becauseyou could easily, easily.
Overtrain and do way too muchdoing multiple programs because
(42:21):
you wanna do this with yourfriend and you wanna do this
with that friend and it easilycould get you back into trouble.
And that's one thing, as abeginner, as somebody that when
I first started on tonal, I'mthankful for that.
They have that.
Oh, a hundred percent.
Like anytime that question comesup, I'm.
I love you all and I know likein your mind, like you think
this is best, but that's justlike one of those things like
(42:42):
there's, there's a lot of rightways to do things.
Okay.
There's not just one and likewhenever people, that's another
like thing that irks me a bit iswhen people are like, not this,
it has to be this or that movesnot good, this moves better.
I'm like, actually, they're allwonderful.
There's a lot of different pathsthat will all lead you to the
same goal, but over trainingisn't one of those.
Yeah, that is, that is.
(43:03):
Like, I mean, because you knowthat when we talked about you
had came from, you know, feelinglike that and nothing's worse
than feeling like that I for along time.
Yeah.
More is better.
No, it's not.
And I, and then I think that'swhat you and I can sit here
today and kind of be a voice toother women that you don't need
to do more.
You don't need to breakyourself.
(43:25):
You know, there, I mean, Leahhas had, I mean, how many, how
much are you deadlifting now?
How many are ups?
No.
I wanna know how much you lift.
I wanna know, because I know youhit a pr.
So I did, uh, uh, those versagrips changed my life.
I finally like, came to the darkside, you know?
(43:46):
All right, I, the grip is good.
The forearms are good, but yes.
It was time and then the PRSjust kept coming with a dead
low, as Katie knows,'cause I'mso excited every time I get one
and I said her, but I couldn't.
I got to 1 45.
I cannot get one 50.
I tried.
That bar was not moving.
Not with my shoulders be.
I love it.
I love it.
And that that's, we're gonna getthat one 50 though.
(44:08):
Not yet, but it's coming.
Oh yeah.
Oh yeah.
Hands down.
That's coming because it's justlike as soon as for me, when I
started using the Versa grips,it's like I was the same way.
I kind of felt like, oh my gosh,I'm not gonna build my grip
strength, but now I can hold 90in both hands without the Versa
grips.
So my grip over time, naturallygot stronger because you can't
(44:29):
just let the Versa grip, like, Imean, you gotta grip it.
90 pounds.
You gotta grip that.
Yeah, I mean, at those kindawheats, like, I'm not using the
Versa grips for anything under ahundred.
So it's like, you know, minimum,even if I'm gonna do it on a
handle move, it's gonna be wellover 50.
So.
Like some point, you know, weneed a little help.
Yeah.
(44:49):
I had, uh, Amy, because we hadbicep, we had, uh, bicep moves
the other day and I was tellingher, I was like, you're gonna
hit failure on your biceps andthen you're gonna have to do the
chin up.
I said, you're gonna need yourVersa grips.
I was like, because you'regonna, you're, these are gonna
hit fatigue first.
So I had her use the chin up.
She's like, girl, that was likegame changer.
(45:09):
That's, I never use them for apull down move.
Like, I'm always okay.
Maybe I haven't gotten.
To my full potential there andthat's why.
But yeah, the lift, the pullingfrom the ground, ho ho there's
mul.
You know, there's just, I thinkit's just all depends on like
what, like moves your fatiguingand then sometimes you're gonna
need that extra help to makesure that you're able to burn
(45:30):
out and get those extra repsthat you need to.
Because sometimes my forearms ormy, my grip, my hands are sweaty
and there's just no way that Ican hold onto the weight.
So I have to use the versa ofgrips'cause I'll use.
Yeah, it'll depend what it'spaired with, you know, because
that other fatigue, like I tendto do like a push pull day for
upper body.
(45:50):
Mm-hmm.
So it's not like I'm doing twopulling moves in a row and maybe
that's letting the grip recovera little bit.
Yeah, that sounds good.
All right, so last, lastquestion, and this is the, this
is the good one.
What message do you want toleave for, for women that are
navigating.
Family, motherhood, work,fitness, and finding themselves
(46:12):
again, what is a message thatyou would want to give to them?
One message that was very hardfor me to learn, but very
important is that you have to,and I'm gonna say this like to
everyone, you have to pour yourown cup first.
You are no good to your family.
If you're burned out, you're nogood at work, if you're burned
(46:34):
out.
So.
I know.
I know, but you have to takecare of yourself first.
It will make everything elsebetter.
I'm not saying be selfish.
I'm not saying neglecteverything else, but you are a
person and you need toprioritize yourself.
Even if it's 20 minutes a day,you need some time each day for
you and for me, that is workingout.
(46:56):
But also give yourself gracebecause life is crazy and
nobody's perfect, and that'sokay.
We're all human.
I love that.
Pour into your cup and then giveyourself grace, because not
every day is perfect becauseit's very easy to, I mean, it's
easy to lose yourself in eitherwhich way if you put too much of
something into one thing.
(47:18):
And I think that's what like Joetalks about a lot is that, you
know, fitness is not his onlything is like, fitness is not
your only thing and not my onlything.
Um, it's a part of it, but itenables us to be able to do the
other things that we would liketo do.
And I think that's, you know,with you and your traveling and
you want, you know, I mean, youwanna travel forever.
(47:39):
I mean, it's, it's hard on thebody to travel, and that's what
it is.
You make your fitness fit yourlife, okay?
You're not working out foranyone else but yourself.
So like, what are yourpriorities?
What does your life look like?
That's how you're finished.
Should look to support yourlife.
Not fight with it.
Not fight with it.
No, not fight with it.
It should compliment it.
(48:02):
There you go.
Well, Leah, I thank you so muchfor sitting down with me today
and answering all thesewonderful questions.
I'm sure everybody is just gonnalike, send you so much love
after this, but where can peoplefind you or, you know, maybe
your gym, uh, your socials,where can they find you?
You have to come spend some timewith me at FedEx 50 in Linbrook,
(48:24):
New York.
I would love nothing more thanto have anyone in this community
in my classes.
It would absolutely make myentire week so Linbrook, FedEx
50.
If you're in New York, hit meup.
Even if you're in the city, thetrain station's right there.
Every time I go into the city, Ipark at the gym.
I don't pay for marketingbecause it's right there.
I swear, 40 minutes into thecity.
And then I am not a big socialmedia person outside Instagram,
(48:48):
but I'm on Instagram.
It's my name Leah Tuko ofS-T-U-K-O-V, because no one
knows how to spell that.
Oh my gosh.
You're so funny.
And I, I think we, I think we doneed to gear up the recipes on
the social again.
I love it.
That's fair.
I have been slacking.
I really have not been postingto the grid.
I love, I love the the Leahrecipes.
(49:09):
And the protein tries and stufflike that.
I love that stuff.
Oh, there's been a lot of failslately.
I think that's, that's witheverybody because social.
Because social media now,everything is like protein this
and protein this, and you wannatry it and you're just like, mm.
Oh, I tried.
Oh, I eat it.
Otherwise I send you a picture.
One I made last night, this likeyogurt chi bowl kind of
(49:33):
concoction, just to try to havea good protein breakfast.
The chia and the yogurt.
Don't do it.
That that was a mistake.
The way recording it was like,don't chia seeds, like expand in
your stomach or something.
Oh, I don't know.
I mean, it's still, actually,the taste was decent, I have to
say.
But I just, I had someblueberries, like I made some
(49:55):
blueberries into jam, and then Ijust mixed that in with the
yogurt and the chia seeds andI'm like, all right, let's see
what this looks like in themorning.
Yeah, I, I've, I've get likewith everything with cottage
cheese nowadays, I'm just like,there, there like, there's some
like cheese.
It makes, you know, perfectlygood reason to use it for like a
(50:16):
pasta or something like this.
But don't tell me brownies withcottage cheese.
I want the real thing.
You know what?
I would try it.
If you have that recipe, God,Leah.
Like worst thing, it doesn'twork out so funny.
I'll try it.
I I'll eat some gnarly thingsjust'cause I hate wasting food,
(50:37):
but I won't wake them again.
That's so funny.
That would be, that would begreat.
So we, we need to get like the,the protein trials going again
and like sharing protein recipesagain.
Yeah.
Maybe I should share that more.
'cause I have been trying, Ijust haven't been succeeding.
So no one wants to eat what I'vebeen making lately, but if I
stumble across anything Good,I'll share it.
Yeah, definitely.
So you guys, make sure you checkout Leah on her Instagram and
(50:59):
you know, if you're in the NewYork area, go see her at her
gym.
She would love to have you.
And Leah, thank you.
Thank you, thank you.
Thank you again for sitting downwith me today.
This is strength and numbers andI'll see you guys next time.
I am beyond excited to welcome someone who wears so
many hats and somehow stillmanages to crush every single
one of them.
She's a personal trainer, she'sa tonal superhero, and a proud
member of the Traveling FamilyTribe.
And one of the most inspiringwomen I have had the pleasure of
knowing you may have seen herlight up on the tonal community,
(00:21):
not just through her ownjourney, but also by programming
an actual class on the platformand taking part in an incredible
tonal training lab in New York.
She's proof that you can trainanywhere, anytime, and still
lead with heart purpose andstrength.
So please help me welcome one ofmy amazing, amazing friends, the
unstoppable.
(00:42):
Leah.
Hey Leah.
Thank you so much for having metoday, Katie.
This is so fun.
So I, I've just been wanting toget you on the podcast because I
know we've been talking about alot with, like, we did the
tonal, um, meetup the firsttime, the first time go around
when we first met in person.
And then we did the tonaltraining lab, and there's been
(01:04):
so much that you've been a partof, of tonal, so I'm excited to
get into that kind of chitchat.
But first we'll do some littlesprinkle to kind of break the
ice kind of questions.
So we're, we'll do five of them.
We'll do five of'em.
So, all right, let's go.
All right, so if your tonalcould talk, what do you think it
(01:26):
would say to you after you do aworkout?
Depends which day, because on abooty day would look at me like,
what just happened?
Let, let's go with a booty daybecause that's your favorite
day.
So what would tonal say to youafter an epic booty day?
(01:47):
It would tell me that I need twodays off after that.
Okay.
I'm exhausted.
That's funny.
That's funny.
That's great.
That's my high volume day.
I love it.
I love it.
So I've always wondered thisbecause I'm very, I'm a Taurus,
so I love Music Chorus, Emily.
Yes.
So what song during, let's GoWith Leg Day.
(02:10):
Let's Stick With Leg Day.
Instantly gets you to like liftthat pr or literally like.
Hip thrust to the clouds per se.
Hip thrust.
I mean, I am a classic rock girlall the way, so I can't use any
of my own music in my classes,which is annoying.
But I, I'd have to say likeFreebird, have you hip thrust to
(02:31):
Freebird?
No.
No.
Do it.
I dunno.
That song wakes me up.
I'm like, let's go.
That's so great.
That's like me and that CelineDion song When I do the X-Men,
it's, it's kind of like that.
I, I, I, I'll I did that for youthe one time.
I'm like, I'm gonna try thisout.
(02:51):
Just embrace it Bryce.
I will, I will try, I will trythe uh, free bird.
'cause Joe Joe's a big, hugefree bird fan, so that's usually
good taste.
Good taste.
Yeah.
So free bird on a hip thrust.
All right, everybody note thatdown.
Don't knock it.
I want everyone reporting backand be like, yeah, please.
It's coming from the glutequeen.
(03:12):
So we gotta make that noted thatwe all try hip thrusting to free
bird when they get into thatguitar in the chorus.
Just like, just go with it.
It's beautiful.
I love it.
I only thought this because itcame on the other day when I was
doing it.
Oh my gosh, you're so funny.
You're so funny.
I, I already know this answer tothis question.
Would you rather have, oh, youknow what?
(03:35):
I'm gonna switch it up.
I'm gonna switch it up because Ialready know the answer, but I'm
gonna make it tough on you.
Oh, boy.
Okay.
Would you rather have a heavyleg day or a heavy back day?
Day?
No.
I actually hate leg day.
So, because I'm obsessed withbooties like everyone thinks.
(03:55):
I love leg day, hate leg day.
So when I program for myself, ifit's gonna be a three week, like
three a week, leg day, it'sgonna be a quad heavy, hammy
heavy, and then just glute, juststraight up, isolate the glutes.
That's the day I love.
But other than that, back day,back day, best day.
Back day, day.
I mean, what is it about thatgood pull?
(04:16):
Like I just like gimme rows allday anytime.
You know, my, my upper body selfloves to hear that, you know,
that that is my number one.
Like for my birthday, I think Imade a back in booty day.
I am like, what do I wanna dofor my birthday back in Booty?
And we just went back and forthand we just come.
That's an interest.
That's a very interesting comboback in booty.
It's kind of brutal.
(04:38):
Because it's all posterior, butlike it's just for fun.
Like it was just for fun.
How well does your lats handlethat?
I mean, that's a lot.
Well, so when I isolate mybooty, I'm not using a lot.
A lots, so I'm not doing T Oh,so you're just doing glute, so
you're just doing glute focus?
Yeah, like true.
Isolate the glute.
So it's actually very littlelats, no quads, very little
hammies kind of thing.
(05:00):
Ah, because I was gonna besmart.
When you wanna train like fivedays a week, you know you're
gonna burn out.
So.
That's inter Yeah, because Ican't, like on leg days, if I
have a, like a heavy leg dayheavy quad and I have to hit it
back leg and back, I always givea rest day in between.
'cause Yeah, you can't, it'sbrutal.
Those lots are working on a goodleg day.
(05:22):
All right, so, well this is ourlast sprinkle question.
I have many of these stories andI don't know if you do, but what
is the weirdest or funniestthing that has happened while
you were working out?
So why I don't use the camera alot.
I'm worried they're spying onme, but oh my God, I'm clumsy
(05:44):
and after I'm tired.
So me getting out of the, theposition that I'm in for a lot
of these lifts, it's notgraceful.
So I just think like me endingany heavy lift move would
probably be hilarious to anybodyelse in the room.
Like, I've had so many of thoseoopsies like pulling my hair out
by the rope or like, oh my God.
(06:05):
Like every time, like I have toposition it very carefully'cause
I do that nonstop and then therope almost pulling my pants
off.
You know, that kind of thing.
Oh, it hasn't happened to meyet.
But you know what the funnything is is when I posted about
that, like five or six peoplemessaged me and they're like the
rope of death.
That is so funny.
Yeah.
'cause it gets me up top a lot,but Oh my God.
(06:27):
And then when you're doing thecrunch, the rope crunch every
time, like, I'm just gonna losesome hairs.
They're gonna be in there.
It is.
What?
It's, I'm bald.
It's pulled from back.
No one's seeing it.
It's fine.
Oh my gosh.
All right, so I, there's manythings that I'm interested to
hear about you, but you know,and I'm sure the listeners are
gonna be interested to hear yourstory also.
So I want you to kind of takethis time to like introduce
(06:49):
yourself.
You know, talk about yourfitness journey, talk about, you
know, your, um, what inspiredyou to start being a personal
trainer and, uh, just, you know,kind of go from there.
So just kind of like, tell usabout Leah.
All right.
So I actually, I love gettinginto this because I had
(07:09):
everything.
I won't curse on your podcast,but like, just you can, you can
hold that.
Can I ask backwards?
Yeah, you're fine.
Out.
I had been working outconsistently since high school
through college, and I was justlike, sorry, you're gonna,
you're gonna cringe.
I'm gonna say it.
I was chasing, being thin andtoned.
I was that girl for a very longtime, a decade or so before I
(07:33):
learned the ways.
But that's why like now, when Ihear girls say that, like I know
a lot of personal trainers,they're like so irked by that
word toned.
And it drives them crazy whenthey're like, I'm coming to be
thin and I get it because I wasthat girl.
So I'm never gonna judge youbecause you know what?
Like most of us were that girl.
We've learned and we've grown.
But I was, I was that girl for along time.
(07:55):
I was a little heavier than Iwas now.
I was fluffy and I just was verybothered by my appearance in the
mirror.
And I was obsessed for like along time, like longer than I'd
like to admit.
And that was such a big part ofmy self-worth for so.
Long and like I look back onthat and that's what makes me
cringe.
Like not the word tone, not Iwanna work out to be thin, but
that that was me for such a longtime and I let that, like my
(08:18):
world revolve around that forsuch a long time.
That number on the scale, thatsize on the pair of pants and
just like the muffin top hangingover.
And until I had kids, that wasreally me.
I was doing all of the cardio.
I didn't wanna lift heavy,'causeI didn't wanna get bulky.
Just cr, it's fine.
Cringe, right?
And guess what?
I spent about a decade workingout like that and I looked
(08:41):
exactly the same.
So that's why I love being atrainer.
That's why I became a trainer.
I'm like.
This isn't working.
Let me actually learn whatworks.
Let me understand the sciencebehind all of this.
So I started getting into that,like right when I was pregnant
with my first son, and I had allthis terrible back pain and I
was achy and I was just reallyuncomfortable.
(09:02):
So after I had him, Michael wasjust like, all of a sudden I
didn't care about being thinanymore.
I didn't care about my weight.
It was, you know, like, you knowwhat you look like after you
have a baby?
Yes.
It's what it's.
And all of a sudden I didn'tcare.
It just, I had this big mentalshift and I just, like, all I
cared about was this little guythat I was holding, and I just
(09:22):
wanted to be the best person forhim.
I didn't wanna be skinny.
I wanted to be strong.
I wanted to be able to hold him.
I wanted to be able to play withhim.
I wanted to lift him up.
I wanted to carry him aroundwithout my back being tired.
So I, there was my shift.
All of a sudden I was like,okay, I wanna be stronger.
I need stronger legs.
I need a stronger back so I canbe a better mom.
And that's when I got intostrength training.
(09:44):
And ironically, what happenswhen you consistently strength
train?
I started losing weight.
Surprise, surprise.
Oh, cardio.
It was too much.
I've always had a very busylife.
I was a teacher before I was atrainer.
I'm always on my feet runningaround, not enough sleep.
And I was inflamed.
And the cardio was only makingit worse, is what I learned when
I finally learned.
(10:05):
So you were, you were a teacherbefore?
I was.
I was an art teacher for.
Six years before I had Asher.
I didn't know that.
Okay.
So, so, so Leo, like you candraw and paint.
Not so well.
It was more the photography.
So I love, I did, I did love allthose things too.
(10:28):
Was I especially talented?
No, and I think that's part ofwhat made me a great art teacher
because I was teaching thesekids like, you don't have to
have that natural skill.
It's all about your creative,your interpretation to these
different projects andelementary art.
Like that was, I loved it untilI became a mom, and then it was
just like it was taking me awayfrom my baby and I just.
The drops at the daycare and thecrying every day.
(10:48):
Like I knew I couldn't do thatanymore.
Mm-hmm.
And during all this time when Ihad him and I was starting to
train more and I started lookinginto getting a certification,
'cause I just was alreadylearning all of this anyway for
myself.
And then that was great becausethen when I had my second, I
could stay home and I could justbe a trainer.
So I was training, they werekeeping, I was training when
they were napping.
(11:09):
My mom would help me once a weekand I was able to.
Private train and be there.
So I took a long leave fromwork.
I never went back.
I love that.
I, I mean, I'm a stay at homemom, so I, I know how it is, you
know, it's like I didn't know, Ididn't even want kids, so I
didn't know how much I was gonnalove them until I had them.
You know, when you're at home,you never miss a beat.
(11:31):
You never miss a moment.
You're just like, you know, you,you can, you can still have you
be your, you know, own, youknow, go after your own personal
goals mm-hmm.
And stuff like that, but at thesame time, you can be there for
all those amazing moments.
Yeah, I kind of had bothexperiences, so I went right
back to work with my oldest.
I know what that's like.
And then I stayed home with myyoungest, and I think that was a
(11:52):
really good balance becausestaying home with Asher and
missing him and just all thatguilt like made me appreciate
being home with Ethan.
And so all those days, like, youknow, it's not easy, especially
when there's two of them andthey're so close in age.
Like that was a rough two years,but anytime I was like, I don't
think I can do this anymore.
I'm like, well, I could be atwork, I could be missing it all.
I remember what that was like.
(12:13):
And then I just take a deepbreath, go into the bathroom for
a couple minutes, you know?
'cause sometimes it gets wildand you just need to breathe.
That's so true.
And you know, once there's twoyou're outnumbered.
Yeah.
And like, you know, when theylose it, they usually both lose
it at the same time.
So that was fun.
They both lose it, but it's justgrateful to be there with them.
And I know like, you know, thoseare moments I can never get
(12:35):
back.
So do you prefer,'cause uh, youtrain at a gym now, right?
Do you prefer?
Do you like when you weretraining like privately bef when
you first started, did you enjoydoing that more or did you enjoy
working in the gym more now?
It's like, I just thinkeverything in my life works out
the way it's meant to because Ilove that at the time.
(12:56):
Mm-hmm.
But there's something like theenergy of a group fitness class
and just like having a blastwith everyone.
It's like I get to go to workevery day and just hang out with
my friends and laugh and party,and I get paid for it.
Like it's, it's the best job.
Like it's the highlight of myday is my classes.
So I definitely prefer theclasses over the private
training now, but if you askedme before, I would've said the
(13:17):
opposite.
How long have you been at thatgym?
Five years and change five yearsand change Wow.
A little baby from nothing towhat it is now.
That's crazy.
So I, I know like with when yougot your tonal, when did you
(13:38):
decide to add that into yourrotation?
I was at that point where I wasstarting to outgrow just the
dumbbells and I just, I didn'thave the time to get to the gym.
Forget like actually paying fora membership, but it was a big
time issue for me.
I had this very, very limitedwindow.
I'm always giving up sleep towork out,'cause like, especially
with my kids younger than theyare now, they're.
(13:59):
Was no time for me in the day,and I know a lot of moms can
relate to that.
Not even moms, just workingwomen.
It is hard to find time for you.
So I had to make it really earlyin the morning and the time it
would've taken me to drive tothe gym and back and get
settled.
I would have no time left toout.
So I was looking for a cablemachine for home, and I had
(14:19):
never heard of tonal.
Tonal.
You guys, you got out theadvertising.
I don't know.
Nobody knows what you are orthat you exist.
They do because AIA and I, butwhen I like, oh, this is
interesting.
This is actually cheaper than afull cable machine.
Like, still very expensive, butI was like, I can do this over a
(14:39):
couple of years.
And I, I told my husband aboutit that he bought it.
Oh my gosh, that's so funny.
You know, speaking of yourhusband, I'm glad you brought up
your husband because I had astory like, well yesterday I was
out in public, my introvertitself went out in the wild and
I was driving and I was going,going to park, and I look over
to my left and there was a big,huge pickleball.
(15:02):
And I was like, I immediatelythought of your husband.
I was like, because Aaron askedme all the time, she's like,
what does Leah's husband do?
I was like, well, he likes to dopickleball.
Yeah.
Even you like, that's all hedoes.
I'm trying so hard now to makehim,'cause he will only gimme
two days.
Under 30 minutes.
That's what he has limited me tobecause he has just stopped
(15:24):
strength training.
And I'm like, bro, you're aninjury waiting to happen.
Like as your wife, this isphysically painful to watch.
I'm like, you have to strengthtrain a little, a little.
And he said, two days, 20minutes.
Like I cannot work with, that'stime.
So I'm still, I, I'm making hima little program called Pickle
Power.
There you go.
You know, I'm surprised Tonalhas does his bare minimum, like
(15:45):
just to have some strength onhis body.
I'm surprised Tonal hasn't comeout with a pickleball program.
Maybe we need to make that note.
Maybe.
Maybe that's another thing thatwe could add to the list because
they have golfing.
Yeah, that's pickleball is justwhere out.
Everyone is obsessed right now.
Everybody loves pickleball.
Yeah, so I'm trying,'cause likeI know the way he moves as a
(16:06):
pickleball player, I know wherehe needs the strength and really
I'm just trying to build somemuscle.
So that he doesn't have hurt.
There you go.
No rolling ankles.
We want strong ankles.
Yeah.
So I've been playing around withthis one for a minute.
It, it's, but that's what I loveabout programming'cause it's
like this puzzle that I wannasolve.
And I used to love that in math,in school.
(16:28):
So, so that, so that they giveyou an objective and then I'm
like, okay, we're gonna makethis happen.
We're gonna get to you there.
We're definitely gonna get intoyour programming skills here in
a moment because I, there wassomething big that happened on
Tonal that you got to do.
Um, but one thing I like as, asa personal trainer and somebody
that may be like looking intotonal, what do you think is like
(16:52):
one of the best advantages oftonal that you think people
should be taken advantage of ordo you think that they should
know about?
Honestly, as a personal trainerwho trains people on the tonal
occasionally, the rep countingand the tracking, the weights
and the little intervals, likethe way you're going up, and
(17:13):
little like, that's a gamechanger as a personal trainer
because number one, like.
It's hard as you get stronger tomake that five, 10 pound jump to
the next set of dumbbells, oreven on a traditional cable
machine.
And the fact that I can justlike one pound this week,
another pound next week, andthen you know what?
You don't even notice that it'sheavier and it's such a safe way
(17:34):
to get stronger.
I love that.
And then the counting the reps,because like when I'm training
someone, I'm literally like, Ihave my hand by my side and I'm
like talking to them.
So I'm like this, I'm like, I'mjust like trying to track the
reps.
I'm like, okay, you're goodbecause like, that's not their
problem.
That's my problem.
That's why I'm getting paid.
Oh my gosh, that's so funny.
I'm like, let's just hang.
It's counting for me.
(17:55):
So, so I got a question for youbecause it, it happens to me.
Do you ever like.
You're, you're counting in yourhead.
Say you're facing away fromtonal and you're counting in
your head and you're, you know,doing whatever, and you're
counting and you look over atonal and they're like three or
four shy of reps and you'relike, you dunno how to count
tonal.
Yeah.
I swear on those decline fives.
(18:16):
Like, every time I'm like, bro,I did 10.
Like, why are you not giving theding.
I'm just like, come on.
I know that was, I do that allthe time.
And I'm like, I'm like, Katie,you don't know how to count so
you, you're wrong.
And I'm like, I know.
I, I counted it.
(18:37):
Yeah.
I'm not exaggerating when I saythat is the hardest part.
The trainer is the.
I don't know what I would do.
I would be like, I'm a spacecadet, so I I, I don't even, I
would probably end up doing likea hundred reps by the time I
finished because I'd be like,did I do that right?
Did I do that?
I used to, and I still do itwhen I'm lifting with the
dumbbells and like, you knowwhat?
(18:57):
I'm at the point now where I'mlike, whatever.
If I did the reps, I didn't.
I'm gonna go until I feel like Icould only go one or two more
depending on how I'm training inthat phase, but I'm just like,
that's the better way.
Anyway, there you go.
All right, so this is somethingI've been exec this gonna gonna
get it, get it, get into some ofour topics about your personal
experiences that you've had withtonal.
(19:20):
And the first one being yougetting to write a, like a
class, a chest, and back threeway.
Right?
Class and Joe getting to do it,and you got to go to the tonal
studio and this wholeexperience, how was it and how
did it, how does it make youfeel when you see a class that
(19:44):
you programmed on tonal on alarge prop platform like that?
Man, that that month it cameout.
I think we face hurt.
I did not stop smiling, but I'llnever forget.
I remember seeing that emailwhen they're like, we're gonna
have this contest.
And all of us, like me and thekids and Elon, we were just
sitting around in the livingroom and I show'em this.
(20:05):
I'm like, I'm winning this.
Like I told, like, you know,like programming is my heart and
soul and like all they wanna,like when I do the.
Programs with a coach.
Like I'm just like, I want myprogramming, but I want them
coaching me and like I've beendreaming about that since I got
a tonal.
So when I saw that contest, Iwas like.
(20:27):
We're gonna make this happen.
And the funny thing is the onethat won, I didn't even write
for the contest that was justpart of a program I was doing at
the time.
So it was called Chest and Backthree Ways and it was part of
two chest and back workouts Ihad in a program where I was
just like looking to reallyround out my chest and back
'cause I'd been neglecting them.
So I was doing that program forlike three months, different rep
(20:49):
schemes and it, like, I hadgotten some good results from
it, like I was really happy withmy growth and I keep going back
to it, like since I've repeatedthat program myself a couple
times.
So that's half of the chest andback day, but it's just, it's
pretty solid.
It's well-rounded, but not theone I expected to win.
I was so like, I was so excitedfor you and that the fact that
(21:09):
Joe got to do it, I was likechest and back, J Joe and Leo
and then Joe.
I mean Joe was my coach at thetime, like my first year on
tonal.
I didn't take programs.
I took like that Tony one justto start out'cause I liked him,
but like, you know, I was verylike doing my own thing.
I'm very like anal when it comesto my training.
But then Joe's programming wasso similar to how I program,
(21:32):
like Power Build is so similarto how I work out.
So I'm like, okay, I'm gonna trythis.
I loved it.
Loved it.
Mm-hmm.
So Power Build one, two, andthen I went into HOV and that's
just like, I'm like, okay, I'llgive these coaches a chance.
It was just like,'cause likewhen you posted that video of
like you in the studio and thenlike Joe's there and you guys
(21:53):
are doing pushups next to eachother, I was just like, yeah,
nothing's better than being soexcited for your friend to do
something so incredible that youknow, that like, it's just like
when you know when people workso hard for something and then
something like really specialhappens for them, you're just
like, the joy is just spilling.
That's what I love about youbecause that's who you are to
(22:15):
the community.
Like I know like everybody'swins are Katie's wins.
Like I've never met somebodywho's like so dedicated to
everyone else and like wants tosee them shine.
Like you are the ultimatecheerleader in that group and we
all love you.
Like, just so you know.
'cause I think you know.
In case you feelings mutual.
Feelings mutual.
(22:35):
But I had love you man, that youWell, you know, I love a, a
chest day.
I am chesty all day.
Um, but we should do, maybe weshould do a chest and back
three-way, 2.0 and we can addsome pushups in there.
Oh, do I?
Got you.
See, that's the thing.
It was a partner workout.
So like that's one of two chestand back days.
The other one's got your pushup.
(22:56):
Okay, so, so yeah, like betweenthe two.
But that was the only thing thatwas funny about all this.
It was like half of this puzzleand the two fit together.
I love it.
So maybe I got that other one.
So if anybody needs it, so weneed, we need to make a note to
tonal that we need a 2.0.
Yeah.
They need a 2.0.
And then it's just like the waythese two workouts work
together, it's just a beautifulthing.
(23:16):
I gotta say it's some of my bestwork.
So, so how, how long Total had.
How long total have you been onTonal?
That is a mouthful.
Four years.
If only.
We had gotten it before COVID.
I wish.
But like right after COVID, wegot our tonal.
That would've been great tohave.
So you've always been a part ofthe tonal community for the past
(23:39):
like four years.
Mostly, yes.
That first year, not quite asmuch because I really just
looked at it as a machine and Ididn't understand the power of
the community.
I don't even know if I joinedthe OTC when I first got it.
I just don't remember.
But if I did, I wasn't in there.
And I have to give you a lot ofcredit for why I started going
in because it was you that Inoticed.
And just the way that you'relifting everybody up and you're
(24:01):
supporting everyone.
And I was like, this is really agreat community.
Like this is unlike anythingelse on Facebook.
And now I'm gonna go back onFacebook just for this
community.
And you were a big part of that.
So I'm gonna give credit wherecredit's due because, and I
wanna be like Katie, I wannamake other people feel how she
makes me feel.
And you know what's so great?
You know what's funny?
So here's a story.
(24:22):
Okay?
So we did, we did the fasttrack.
With to, with tonal.
And we, you know, got anopportunity to go and I got to
meet Leah for the first time inperson.
But how our whole friendshipstarted was, um, we got, I got
picked to go and I was like, I,I wanna meet people.
Like I wanna know who's going sowe can start chitchatting, so we
(24:44):
can plan dinner, so we can planall this stuff.
And I was just like, so I'masking everybody, are you going,
are you going?
Then somebody messaged me.
And said, Hey, Leah's going.
And I was like, oh.
I'm like, okay, I'll find her onInstagram.
We were already following eachother, like before this ever
came up.
(25:05):
And I'm like, dude, we'realready friends.
Okay.
So I was like, I messaged Leahand I was like, girl, we're both
gonna be there.
And then you said the lurker,you said?
Yeah.
That was funny.
I didn't post, I just lurk.
She's like, Katie, I've beenlurking your page.
You're so inspired.
And I'm just like, dude, we'regonna be, we're just gonna be,
(25:25):
we're gonna be best of friends.
No, I have to say also like,that was a crazy day.
I don't, what was it?
Something happened that day andI was like, oh, I can't go.
This is too much.
And I was like, no, I gotta beKatie.
That was, I'm like, Ilan, thisis your problem.
That was such an e, like as fastas it went by, like the ca, like
(25:49):
it just went by too fast.
But it was like, it was so it,it was a de like, I would say a
picture perfect of like thetonal community and like the
people were there, you know,like Tamika and Mo, and you
know, our little group wasformed.
I know by that.
It's so cool.
(26:10):
And then like, yeah, the, westill talk every day now.
Like I just love it.
Like this community iseverything.
It's just so next level and it'sjust like that was the magic of
the tonal lab.
Like I loved every, that's why Ikept going every weekend.
I was like, I don't know how theheck I found the time reflecting
on it.
I'm like, how did I make it tothe city?
Like literally every weekend forlike six weeks.
But I did because I just wantedto meet everybody.
(26:32):
I love that for you, that yougot to, now we're gonna, we're
you are like flowing right intothis.
We are going right into thetonal training lab talk and I'm
excited to talk about it becauseI was there too.
Oh my God.
That was special times.
So since you got to go to a lotmore, uh, classes and a couple
were different styles of what,you know, I pretty much took the
(26:54):
same class four different times.
I think pretty much same for me,but I went to like two of the
special ones that were like theprogram.
Cool.
All right, so let's talk, let'stalk about your, your experience
at the Tonal Training Lab.
My experience really was thecommunity.
Yes, it was incredible to meetthe coaches in person, but I
(27:16):
just feel like, I don't know, Imaybe like being a trainer,
being in that world.
It's just like, I love coaches,but I love the people.
Like that's what it's about forme.
So like for me, I was just soexcited to go and meet.
Everybody and everybody wasthere a different week.
And there were some people like,especially like just people
you've been chatting with andsupporting and like, you know,
(27:37):
back and forth online for like ayear, two, three years.
And for us all to come together,it was just special.
It was like nonstop smiles.
It wasn't about the workouts.
'cause you know me, I was doingmy own thing.
I was in there like lowering thedials.
'cause I was like, can't do Ledid that yesterday.
Whatever.
Yep.
We were about the workout.
I was there a hundred percentfor the people.
It was, it was so special.
Like it just like.
(27:59):
I don't know.
It it, it just showed.
Yes, you can see it on like theinternet, but it's totally
different when you're in theroom with these people when you
are, you know, getting to talkto them in person and hug them
and squeeze them and, you know,chase around, burn your face off
coffee and.
Speed.
Walking through New York,getting lost?
(28:22):
No.
Next time we gotta find you, I'mgonna research like I'm gonna
find the hottest coffee in NewYork City.
We're gonna get your face off.
Don't understand New Yorkers andthe coffee.
I just don't like all of them atme.
Like, like here.
Just like everyone's like suingeach other.
So I think they're afraid ifit's really hot and it actually
(28:43):
burns your skin, it leaves amark.
You know?
Like now your business isclosing.
I don't know.
But I was just like, I'm like,this isn't even like lukewarm.
Like, come on, like can we heatit up?
And they look at me like, what?
Just bring me steam water.
Next time I'll bring like aflask of boiling water.
(29:04):
There you go.
So for all the tonal traininglab classes that you were there,
um, what was the mostunforgettable like moment, um,
you know, maybe a class or acoach said something to you?
What is something that made youlike, oh my gosh, I can't wait
(29:27):
to do this again.
It was like literally everyworkout in every class, like the
trainers are just like the bestpeople on the planet.
Like this is a special crew thatthey found.
And then just like every class,I got to meet someone different,
but if I had to pick like onecoach Akeem, if there's ever a
tonal lab in the future, you allhave to take his class like
(29:50):
this.
Man, I, I hope he had a napafter this class.
So quick on everybody aroundthis room.
I have seen nothing like it.
Like he motivated me as atrainer.
I'm like, I just wanna be likeyou when I grow up.
Like he was like hands onjumping, flying around this
room, making everyone feel likethey were the only ones there.
(30:10):
And then I hit my, my 9 millionwith him there.
So that was cool.
So that was, that was soawesome.
Every last class, but like, sohappy that I, I squeezed one in
with him because.
He's just like next level, likeyou think he's got energy on the
screen, you gotta see thisminute person.
Totally true.
Like I.
Definitely like this one coachI'm missing a picture with.
(30:30):
Um, because, you know, when wewere went the first time, it was
so exciting that Yeah, you justforget.
Like, you just forget.
So it's just like, you know, andI didn't get to take a class
with him when I went to thetotal training lab, but like
hugging Akeem makes the world.
Stop.
Like it makes you just like,he's just one of those people
that he hugs you and you're justlike, you forget everything else
(30:53):
around you, and you're justlike, you're such, I love you.
You know?
He's, I mean, like, you can'tnot smile around him.
No.
Right, dude.
Yeah.
He is like, um, like I keep, youknow, always leaving like tonal
notes and stuff like that.
Like I am like begging for likea muscle building program, kind
of like, you know, power build.
(31:15):
Yeah.
You know, you know, uh, like a,in like, I mean, he's huge.
He, he needs a muscle buildingprogram.
Like now.
Yes.
That came from somewhere.
Yes.
And we know its the energy, likehe has proven that.
And then some lift.
Let's go to those low wraps.
Very, yes, low wraps.
Plan program.
Throw on a little hypertrophy.
(31:36):
I'll take it.
So in your whole, like let's saytraining journey on tonal, let's
look at the whole big picture.
What event?
Do you think like, kind of likechanged you as a trainer,
changed you in your own, likepersonal training?
Um, what is one thing that haslike made something better or
(32:00):
made you better?
Um, with tonal.
That's a good, like picking onething I don't think I can do.
I think it's just a lot oflittle nuggets are along the
way.
Even just like taking a classand a coach just says something
in a way.
I never thought of it and I waslike, oh, that's really a good
way to break down this move.
Things like that.
(32:20):
Like I think one of them, onething I learned from one of the
coaches was putting the back ofyour calves against the bench to
help people with RDL.
That helped me so much as atrainer.
I didn't do that before and thatunlocked R DLS for so many
people I trained.
So I just love all these littlenuggets, like one little thing
you didn't expect to get out ofa class, but that's why I like
the lives.
And if I can get in one, it'scool because you never know what
(32:42):
you're gonna learn.
That is true.
All right.
This is probably one of myfavorite parts because this is
like, I, I absolutely livevicariously through you is when
you are traveling with yourfamily and you are, you are
like, like a, like, you feel meon my anxiety because I know
when we were going to New York,you had everything planned out
(33:04):
for me and I was like, oh mygosh, everything's gonna be
fine.
She knows the restaurant, sheknows this, she knows that
everything's gonna be totallyfine.
So in your traveling with yourfamily and you know, juggling,
you know, your work life, yourhusband's work life, all this
other stuff, how is it that,like you guys go to the most
(33:25):
amazing places and we're alsojealous of it?
And also, what is your, what isthe best place or favorite place
that you've had, like amemorable family moment in your
travels that you've guys done?
We are definitely like, that'sone thing we connected on.
My husband and I, we love totravel, we love exploring.
(33:48):
We like just filling oureyeballs with new places.
I love anything nature, likehiking in the most remote whack.
I don't care.
I'm like, find a hike and we'lltake it.
But then like getting the kidson board has been really fun.
But for us, like a big part oftravel is the food and our kids
are kind of stinkers when itcomes to eating.
So that was like the onenegative, like we just said,
(34:09):
taking them to Spain, which was.
Amazing.
But the food man, they're,they're tough.
So I wouldn't say the food with'em, but, oh, let's see.
We went, what was this placecalled?
I think the El, the elephantthing was pretty cool.
When you guys went to theElephant sanctuary.
Oh no.
For me and my husband, that wasthe highlight, but we didn't
take the kids, so we went toThailand.
(34:29):
That was just Oh, that's right.
But otherwise, yes, for sure.
I mean, that whole trip, thattrip I had been planning for
over a year.
So our thing is my husband willfind the flights.
And the hotels and he just like,he'll tell me to start a credit
card.
He'll tell me what to charge onit.
And I'm like,'cause I know it'sgonna be a trip.
There you go.
There you go.
I love it.
You're able to save money foractivities and food because we
(34:52):
won't take a trip until we havethe miles to like get the free
flight and the free hotel.
Which is a huge help'causetraveling is expensive.
But uh, this last one we went tothis place, I think it's called
Serra.
I'm probably saying it wrong.
And the whole thing was like, itwas this epic on top of a
mountain.
You're gonna take this hike andsee just like the most amazing
(35:13):
views we got there and it wasfog.
And I'm talking like you couldnot see four feet in front of
you.
And this is why I love myfamily.
'cause like we had the one daythere, right?
And it was all about the viewsand we could see.
Nothing.
And I mean like literallynothing.
So we're there for hours.
We have nothing.
We still did the hike, likethat's like, I love them because
(35:34):
we'll just whatever it is whatit is, we'll make the most of
it.
We're like, maybe it'll clearwhen we get to the top.
No, we walked up like an hour'sworth of stairs straight up to
the top of this mountain.
We saw nothing, so we're justlaughing.
But when we got down like thatlast 30 minutes before we had to
leave and head back.
The clouds cleared.
So we did get to see it for alittle bit, not on top of the
(35:55):
mountain, but just like that oneday like Elon and I were
reflecting and it's just like wedid something right with these
kids because it's like no matterwhat happens, no matter how
backwards things go, like wejust always have the best time
together.
And I think with traveling, youkind of have to be like, fly at
the seat of your pants becausenothing is ever gonna.
Oh my God.
Because yeah, when we took themthe summer before, we went to
(36:17):
Costa Rica, which was great, andit was an epic trip.
And then we get to the airportand we have an overnight flight
that never takes off for twodays.
So we at like three in themorning are in a swarm of people
trying to get cars to the samehotel.
We're waiting in this hotel fortwo hours to get a room, and we
have to be back at the airportat six in the morning.
So we had like two hours by thetime we get checked in and our
(36:39):
kids were just like.
We'll sleep on the floor becausewe sussed out on the floor while
we're waiting for a room.
We throw one over the shoulderalso while I work out.
'cause this was like a year agoand they're heavy now and we
just lop them in the bed like,but they just, they go with
everything.
They're just a pleasure totravel with.
So.
(36:59):
And boys are easy to travel.
That's what I hear.
I think boys are easier thangirls.
Yeah.
They really like, they're justvery adaptable and they're just
like, I lose it before they dousually.
So.
Credit for that.
All right, so I've got some,some good feel questions to kind
of wrap this up.
So I, this is, you know, let'sget into some like how Leah
(37:24):
would inspire, like some wordsof encouragement.
What advice for women that youfeel that you didn't get when
you trained or when you startedyour journey that you would want
other women to hear from you.
A big thing when I'm traininganyone new.
(37:45):
Is asking them, what are yourgoals?
And by that I mean not like Iwanna grow this or I wanna do
this like, like the why I guessis a big thing.
So just understanding, like Iwant people to get to the root
of the real reason why they wanta certain goal.
So if you're gonna tell me youwant.
For me, like let's be honest,it's a booty.
Why?
(38:05):
What is that gonna benefit youlike?
I like to go into like what thisis going to bring to your life,
I guess, and make it less aboutthe physical.
Like how is this going to giveyou better endurance?
How is this gonna make you abetter mom?
How is this gonna make you abetter wife?
How is it going to make yourlife more enjoyable?
I really like people to likeconnect with that.
True.
Why not just like that, why wethrow out at the beginning of a
(38:27):
program, but like reallyunderstand.
Why is it that you wanna dothis?
Because if you have that strongwhy that'll carry you through on
the days you don't feel like it.
So not thinking of the aestheticgoals Yeah.
To get away, like that's a bigthing for me in general because
that was something I did wrongfor such a long time.
So even now, like even thinkinglike I'm not, I try to stay away
(38:49):
from size period being smalleror being bigger.
Mm-hmm.
I wanna be stronger.
Right.
Will that make the musclesbigger?
Yes, but I don't want that to bethe focus.
I want you to focus on beingable to push past something,
getting that first pull up,getting that first pushup, then
getting more.
But just like what will thatstrength give you instead of the
(39:09):
aesthetics?
Right.
Right.
And I think that that's, like,that's one thing with me.
'cause I give people a lot thattalk about like my size and I
said, you, you know, at the sametime, yes, I have a bigger size,
but I said there's also womenthat are stronger than me, that
are a lot smaller than me.
Um, you know, take Casey forexample, she can pump out way
(39:30):
more pull-ups than I ever could.
Casey can, you know, she's.
She's a batty and she, she's arunner.
So that, that does, I'm, I'mprimarily bo you know, strength
building and muscle building,and she's a freaking strongest
as shit, you know?
So I said, it's just, you know,I think that's like sometimes
(39:50):
when, you know, kind of goesback to that like, you know, I
wanna be the smallest version ofmyself and like how you're
talking about like, beinglooking at the strongest and
like how we talk about like thefunctional strength part of it.
Strength and mobility.
Those are my big goals.
And that's another thing too.
Like we all have so many goals.
Would I love to have greatendurance and also be a yogi and
(40:11):
do all these other things?
Yes.
But I have to understand like Ionly have so much time and
there's only so much my body cantake.
So we have to train in thosephases, right?
And we need to kind of hyperfocus in on a couple goals at a
time.
And that's kind of like how Ilook at, for me, I look at Akeem
and Joe because of how mobilethey are and the size.
(40:32):
That they are and they stillprioriti prioritize exactly what
you're talking about.
Yeah.
And for me, that was the game.
Because for me, like when I gotto the root of what is my real
why for myself, it's how I feeland what I can do.
I wanna never say no to my kids.
And even now, like they are mysize and bigger and I still
wanna do all the things withthem.
And I still wanna be able to,like, they wanna wrestle, I
(40:54):
wanna be able to take'em down,right?
They're never winning.
But then I also wanna feel good.
I don't wanna wake up in themorning and be like, Ugh.
Like I don't wanna be achy.
Now that I'm in my forties and Ifeel great, I feel better than I
did in my twenties.
And I know mobility takes creditfor that.
So I try to prioritize mymobility just as much as I do
strength.
And that means endurance hasgotta take a backseat.
(41:15):
That means flexibility has totake a bit of a backseat.
'cause I can only do so much.
Right.
And I think that's, I thinkthat's another kind of message
with tonal that I think we bothcan agree on is that they don't
push the all over place haywire,um, multi over training, you
know, focusing on so manydifferent things.
(41:36):
Like tonal is very, you know,straight line.
And I respect and appreciatethat, like you can tell that a
lot of thought and planning isputting into these programs.
It's not just random movesthrown together.
Like there is a goal and thework makes sense for the goal,
right?
Because it's all about, becauseI love, I mean, I know some
people complain about not beingable to join, you know, multi
(41:58):
programs, but for me as somebodythat had.
Had a history with overtraining, feeling like I don't
do enough.
That is that for me, when Ifirst started out, that was
needed.
That was like so needed becauseyou could easily, easily.
Overtrain and do way too muchdoing multiple programs because
(42:21):
you wanna do this with yourfriend and you wanna do this
with that friend and it easilycould get you back into trouble.
And that's one thing, as abeginner, as somebody that when
I first started on tonal, I'mthankful for that.
They have that.
Oh, a hundred percent.
Like anytime that question comesup, I'm.
I love you all and I know likein your mind, like you think
this is best, but that's justlike one of those things like
(42:42):
there's, there's a lot of rightways to do things.
Okay.
There's not just one and likewhenever people, that's another
like thing that irks me a bit iswhen people are like, not this,
it has to be this or that movesnot good, this moves better.
I'm like, actually, they're allwonderful.
There's a lot of different pathsthat will all lead you to the
same goal, but over trainingisn't one of those.
Yeah, that is, that is.
(43:03):
Like, I mean, because you knowthat when we talked about you
had came from, you know, feelinglike that and nothing's worse
than feeling like that I for along time.
Yeah.
More is better.
No, it's not.
And I, and then I think that'swhat you and I can sit here
today and kind of be a voice toother women that you don't need
to do more.
You don't need to breakyourself.
(43:25):
You know, there, I mean, Leahhas had, I mean, how many, how
much are you deadlifting now?
How many are ups?
No.
I wanna know how much you lift.
I wanna know, because I know youhit a pr.
So I did, uh, uh, those versagrips changed my life.
I finally like, came to the darkside, you know?
(43:46):
All right, I, the grip is good.
The forearms are good, but yes.
It was time and then the PRSjust kept coming with a dead
low, as Katie knows,'cause I'mso excited every time I get one
and I said her, but I couldn't.
I got to 1 45.
I cannot get one 50.
I tried.
That bar was not moving.
Not with my shoulders be.
I love it.
I love it.
And that that's, we're gonna getthat one 50 though.
(44:08):
Not yet, but it's coming.
Oh yeah.
Oh yeah.
Hands down.
That's coming because it's justlike as soon as for me, when I
started using the Versa grips,it's like I was the same way.
I kind of felt like, oh my gosh,I'm not gonna build my grip
strength, but now I can hold 90in both hands without the Versa
grips.
So my grip over time, naturallygot stronger because you can't
(44:29):
just let the Versa grip, like, Imean, you gotta grip it.
90 pounds.
You gotta grip that.
Yeah, I mean, at those kindawheats, like, I'm not using the
Versa grips for anything under ahundred.
So it's like, you know, minimum,even if I'm gonna do it on a
handle move, it's gonna be wellover 50.
So.
Like some point, you know, weneed a little help.
Yeah.
(44:49):
I had, uh, Amy, because we hadbicep, we had, uh, bicep moves
the other day and I was tellingher, I was like, you're gonna
hit failure on your biceps andthen you're gonna have to do the
chin up.
I said, you're gonna need yourVersa grips.
I was like, because you'regonna, you're, these are gonna
hit fatigue first.
So I had her use the chin up.
She's like, girl, that was likegame changer.
(45:09):
That's, I never use them for apull down move.
Like, I'm always okay.
Maybe I haven't gotten.
To my full potential there andthat's why.
But yeah, the lift, the pullingfrom the ground, ho ho there's
mul.
You know, there's just, I thinkit's just all depends on like
what, like moves your fatiguingand then sometimes you're gonna
need that extra help to makesure that you're able to burn
(45:30):
out and get those extra repsthat you need to.
Because sometimes my forearms ormy, my grip, my hands are sweaty
and there's just no way that Ican hold onto the weight.
So I have to use the versa ofgrips'cause I'll use.
Yeah, it'll depend what it'spaired with, you know, because
that other fatigue, like I tendto do like a push pull day for
upper body.
(45:50):
Mm-hmm.
So it's not like I'm doing twopulling moves in a row and maybe
that's letting the grip recovera little bit.
Yeah, that sounds good.
All right, so last, lastquestion, and this is the, this
is the good one.
What message do you want toleave for, for women that are
navigating.
Family, motherhood, work,fitness, and finding themselves
(46:12):
again, what is a message thatyou would want to give to them?
One message that was very hardfor me to learn, but very
important is that you have to,and I'm gonna say this like to
everyone, you have to pour yourown cup first.
You are no good to your family.
If you're burned out, you're nogood at work, if you're burned
(46:34):
out.
So.
I know.
I know, but you have to takecare of yourself first.
It will make everything elsebetter.
I'm not saying be selfish.
I'm not saying neglecteverything else, but you are a
person and you need toprioritize yourself.
Even if it's 20 minutes a day,you need some time each day for
you and for me, that is workingout.
(46:56):
But also give yourself gracebecause life is crazy and
nobody's perfect, and that'sokay.
We're all human.
I love that.
Pour into your cup and then giveyourself grace, because not
every day is perfect becauseit's very easy to, I mean, it's
easy to lose yourself in eitherwhich way if you put too much of
something into one thing.
(47:18):
And I think that's what like Joetalks about a lot is that, you
know, fitness is not his onlything is like, fitness is not
your only thing and not my onlything.
Um, it's a part of it, but itenables us to be able to do the
other things that we would liketo do.
And I think that's, you know,with you and your traveling and
you want, you know, I mean, youwanna travel forever.
(47:39):
I mean, it's, it's hard on thebody to travel, and that's what
it is.
You make your fitness fit yourlife, okay?
You're not working out foranyone else but yourself.
So like, what are yourpriorities?
What does your life look like?
That's how you're finished.
Should look to support yourlife.
Not fight with it.
Not fight with it.
No, not fight with it.
It should compliment it.
(48:02):
There you go.
Well, Leah, I thank you so muchfor sitting down with me today
and answering all thesewonderful questions.
I'm sure everybody is just gonnalike, send you so much love
after this, but where can peoplefind you or, you know, maybe
your gym, uh, your socials,where can they find you?
You have to come spend some timewith me at FedEx 50 in Linbrook,
(48:24):
New York.
I would love nothing more thanto have anyone in this community
in my classes.
It would absolutely make myentire week so Linbrook, FedEx
50.
If you're in New York, hit meup.
Even if you're in the city, thetrain station's right there.
Every time I go into the city, Ipark at the gym.
I don't pay for marketingbecause it's right there.
I swear, 40 minutes into thecity.
And then I am not a big socialmedia person outside Instagram,
(48:48):
but I'm on Instagram.
It's my name Leah Tuko ofS-T-U-K-O-V, because no one
knows how to spell that.
Oh my gosh.
You're so funny.
And I, I think we, I think we doneed to gear up the recipes on
the social again.
I love it.
That's fair.
I have been slacking.
I really have not been postingto the grid.
I love, I love the the Leahrecipes.
(49:09):
And the protein tries and stufflike that.
I love that stuff.
Oh, there's been a lot of failslately.
I think that's, that's witheverybody because social.
Because social media now,everything is like protein this
and protein this, and you wannatry it and you're just like, mm.
Oh, I tried.
Oh, I eat it.
Otherwise I send you a picture.
One I made last night, this likeyogurt chi bowl kind of
(49:33):
concoction, just to try to havea good protein breakfast.
The chia and the yogurt.
Don't do it.
That that was a mistake.
The way recording it was like,don't chia seeds, like expand in
your stomach or something.
Oh, I don't know.
I mean, it's still, actually,the taste was decent, I have to
say.
But I just, I had someblueberries, like I made some
(49:55):
blueberries into jam, and then Ijust mixed that in with the
yogurt and the chia seeds andI'm like, all right, let's see
what this looks like in themorning.
Yeah, I, I've, I've get likewith everything with cottage
cheese nowadays, I'm just like,there, there like, there's some
like cheese.
It makes, you know, perfectlygood reason to use it for like a
(50:16):
pasta or something like this.
But don't tell me brownies withcottage cheese.
I want the real thing.
You know what?
I would try it.
If you have that recipe, God,Leah.
Like worst thing, it doesn'twork out so funny.
I'll try it.
I I'll eat some gnarly thingsjust'cause I hate wasting food,
(50:37):
but I won't wake them again.
That's so funny.
That would be, that would begreat.
So we, we need to get like the,the protein trials going again
and like sharing protein recipesagain.
Yeah.
Maybe I should share that more.
'cause I have been trying, Ijust haven't been succeeding.
So no one wants to eat what I'vebeen making lately, but if I
stumble across anything Good,I'll share it.
Yeah, definitely.
So you guys, make sure you checkout Leah on her Instagram and
(50:59):
you know, if you're in the NewYork area, go see her at her
gym.
She would love to have you.
And Leah, thank you.
Thank you, thank you.
Thank you again for sitting downwith me today.
This is strength and numbers andI'll see you guys next time.
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