Here's the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, & Mindset for People Who Don't Want Life to Suck

In today’s episode, Coach Carmen Hayward joins us! She’s a nutrition coach, personal trainer, and proud menopausal woman, who shares her story of breaking free from decades of dieting and finally creating lasting change. From her first Weight Watchers diet at age 10 to owning a salon for nearly 20 years before switching careers, Carmen’s journey is all about reclaiming and embracing food freedom through education and self-trust.

We ...

In today's episode, we’re diving into a big conversation around one of the most common traps we see in nutrition and fitness: copy-paste culture.

You know the drill: asking for someone else’s calories, macros, or exact plan hoping it’ll work for you too. But here’s the thing: it doesn’t. And if you’ve tried that and crashed and burned, you’re not alone, and it doesn’t mean you’re broken. We get into why blindly following someone els...

In today’s episode, Dal Sekhon joins us to unpack the decades-long journey she’s taken from yo-yo dieting and extreme restriction to sustainable fat loss, cultural food freedom, strength training, and self-trust. Dal shares how losing 120 pounds was just one part of the transformation, and how much more meaningful the internal shifts were.

A major shift came when she gave herself permission to include her cultural Indian food in a w...

In today's episode, we’re answering more listener questions! We tackle your biggest questions about plant-based protein, pre-workout fueling, and easy, realistic lunches that don’t involve planning every last bite. Whether you're a vegetarian trying to build muscle or someone wondering if you HAVE TO eat before exercise, this conversation is full of judgment-free, real-life strategies.

Whether you’re early in your fat loss journey o...

In today’s episode, we’re joined by longtime listener Amy McCall Carlin! She’s an introverted music teacher, podcast host, and self-guided fitness enthusiast, who shares her refreshingly honest journey toward food freedom, strength, and sustainable habits.

Amy never had a formal coach, yet through listening, learning, and trying things out bit by bit, she completely transformed her approach to nutrition, movement, and mindset. Her s...

In today's episode, we dig into the real talk around eating out: how often, how much, and whether it’s sabotaging your goals. We’ll challenge you to stop hiding behind “this is just what we do,” and share personal stories, practical strategies, and the mindset shifts required to strike the balance between real life and real progress. From budgeting and convenience to cravings and connection, this conversation covers the full plate.

...

In today’s episode, we welcome back Susan Niebergall - someone who has deeply shaped our journeys and brought us all together in the first place! In this raw and wide-ranging conversation, Susan shares what it’s been like to transform her life in her fifties and sixties, how strength training prepared her for a wildly successful hip replacement recovery, and the mindset shifts that come with aging. From fad diets and Jenny Craig tr...

In today’s episode, we’re breaking down one of the most overcomplicated - and misunderstood - ideas in nutrition and fitness: reverse dieting and the transition to maintenance. If you’ve ever wondered when to raise your calories, how to navigate the fear of weight gain, or whether you need to track during maintenance, this episode clears the confusion with real talk and real strategies.

We explain why eating more doesn’t mean automa...

In today’s episode, Dr. Allan Bacon joins us for an unfiltered and evidence-based dive into the confusing (and very often manipulative) world of health and fitness content on major podcasts and social media.

We get real about why misinformation spreads so easily, how podcast hosts become accomplices to pseudoscience, and the responsibility we all have to demand better sources and explanations.

We also unpack hot-button issues around ...

In today's episode, we dive into the fundamentals of fat loss. We explain the difference between fat loss and weight loss, we break down why fad diets “work,” explain what research has shown to be necessary for fat loss, and teach you how to find the ballpark estimation of your calorie deficit, protein, and fiber goals. We discuss what it means to “eat more and lose weight,” and debunk a few weight loss myths floating around the in...

In today’s episode, coach and friend Kim Schlag joins us for a raw, relatable, and inspiring conversation about midlife, motherhood, and making space for yourself. Kim shares her journey from struggling with obesity in her thirties to becoming a strength coach who helps women in midlife feel strong and confident in their skin. We talk about what it really means to practice self-care - not just when life is smooth, but especially wh...

In today's episode, we’re diving into one of the most misunderstood concepts in the health and fitness world: what it really means to have a healthy relationship with food. This isn’t just about ditching the “good food vs. bad food” mindset - it’s about what happens when real life hits: travel, birthdays, brunches, and baseball games. If you’ve ever spiraled into a shame-fueled overindulgence after a cupcake or felt like every meal...

In today’s episode, Chris McMahon joins us! He shares his journey from being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 10 to coaching hundreds of clients through sustainable behavior change - while raising a family and working toward becoming a registered dietitian.

This conversation digs into the truth about blood sugar, why no one is actually addicted to cookies, and how to stop chasing extremes and start building the messy, human mid...

In today's episode, we chat all about navigating the busy summer season filled with vacations, grad parties, and spontaneous weekends away while keeping our goals on track. We share our insights on how to stay focused and resilient, even when life gets a bit chaotic. We walk you through a flexible mindset and a few go-to plans for eating events, parties, vacations, and those unexpected curveballs that summer often throws our way, a...

In today’s episode, we sit down with coach, mom, and cycle-breaker Carmie Hawkins to talk about what it really means and takes to raise your standards - whether you’re navigating parenthood, cultural expectations, or your own self-sabotaging patterns.

Carmie shares her raw, honest journey to reclaiming her life and rewriting the blueprint she’s passing on to her daughters. This is a conversation about agency, boundaries, and the pow...

In today's episode, we break down everything you need to know about navigating gym spaces with confidence. Beyond etiquette, we dive into the common fears people have about stepping into a gym, the mental roadblocks that keep people stuck, and why most gym-goers aren’t paying nearly as much attention to you as you think. We also discuss the importance of having a plan, why filming your workouts can be a game-changer, and how to han...

Dr. Krystle Zuniga, PhD, RD, CSO, LD, is a board-certified specialist in oncology nutrition with over 14 years of experience encompassing research, higher education, and clinical practice. As the owner of Cancer Nutrition HQ, she is dedicated to providing evidence-based nutritional support to cancer survivors, aiming to enhance their health and quality of life.

In today’s episode, we sit down with Dr. Krystle to bust myths and break...

In today's episode, we’re switching things up with an "Overrated/Underrated" style breakdown of popular fitness, nutrition, and mindset trends. From mini cuts to cold plunges to those supplements that claim to help with alcohol cravings, we’re giving you our honest, unfiltered takes (as ever) - with plenty of laughs and truth bombs along the way.

Whether you’re curious about rucking, spin classes, or InBody scans, we’re cutting thro...

In today’s episode, Pelvic Floor Specialist and PT Veronica Lane joins us to break down why pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms like incontinence are common but NOT NORMAL. If you are a human, you have a pelvic floor, and this episode is for you.

From understanding the anatomy of the pelvic floor to practical techniques for improving function, Veronica shares invaluable insights to help you regain control and confidence. We dive into ...