August 26, 2025 ā¢ 27 mins
šļø REPLAY: Back by Popular Demand!
Welcome back to The Mom Sweat Sanity Podcast!
GUESS WHO IS BACK?! šš Hailey Babcockāaka Hailey Happens Fitness!
This episode was such a hit the first time, we had to bring it back. Hailey is on a mission to empower women, especially those in their 40s and beyond, with the transformative power of strength training. Together, we dive into motherhood, building a business from the ground up, and why perseverance, accountability, and consistency matter more than ever. Plus, Hailey shares whatās ahead in her strength training world this fallāyou donāt want to miss it!
āØ Tune in for an inspiring, energy-packed replay that will have you ready to lift heavy and live well.
Find Hailey here: š haileyhappensfitness.com š² Instagram: @haileyhappensfitness
Hey, Iām Brittany ā can we be friends? Iām all about leveling up, pushing comfort zones, and embracing new challenges. On the Mom Sweat Sanity podcast, we cover it allāfitness, family, personal growth, relationships, and those WTF moments. Nothingās off the table!
As an Accountability Coach, I help women take action on their goals, get aligned, and grow forward with confidence.
If you love this episode, the best compliment you can give is to like, share, and subscribe. š
Letās connect: š² @brittanyandersoncoaching š brittanderson.com
Ā
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hey everyone, thanks so much for tuning in today. Today I have Haley Babcock back on the podcast.
Haley Happens Fitness is also how she is known best in the fitness industry.
She has made it her mission to convert women, especially those in their 40s
and beyond, to the miracle of strength training.
If you know Haley, it is to love Haley. We talked all the things from motherhood
(00:23):
to building a business, perseverance,
accountability, and consistency, and all the upcoming things that are happening
in her world of strength training and programming coming up this fall.
So tune in for our conversation.
Hey, everyone, and welcome to the MomSweat Sanity Podcast. I'm Brittany.
Leveling up often means finding new seats at the table. So can we be friends?
(00:43):
I'm all about pushing comfort zones and embracing new challenges.
As an accountability coach for women that may just be like you,
I'm here to help you take real action on your goals.
On the MomSweat Sanity Podcast, We talk everything from fitness and family to
personal growth and those WTF moments.
Nothing is off the table. So listen in weekly for guest topics and mom moments
and let's crush life together.
If you love the podcast, the best compliment you can give is a like,
(01:05):
comment and subscribe. Thank you so much for tuning in.
Well, thank you for being here today. I thought today maybe we'd have a bit
of a different conversation about kind of going down the paths of how you kind of got into this again.
Just a bit more on the momhood side and then a sneak peek on what's up next
for you through the fall.
And then I'd love to have you into the group in October, kind of as we were chatting.
(01:26):
Yeah. Sounds good. Yeah. Okay. Amazing. Well, thank you. Thank you.
Yeah, of course. So I will, well, I'll intro you again, but Haley,
thank you so much for being here.
Haley has been on my podcast before with all of the amazing insights on women,
35 plus lifting and why weights are so important for us.
So we will definitely, you know, tap into that a little bit here,
(01:49):
but I'd love to start on a different level with you today.
And just to ask you what inspired you to keep evolving in your fitness career,
especially as you kind of got towards that 40 plus age?
Okay, so I don't remember where we left off last time. So if I'm repeating anything,
then I apologize. No, you're all good.
(02:10):
But I mean, I was always super active. And then I did Ironman for a decade up until I was 40.
And kind of just started, I was teaching Pilates at the time too.
And number one, Ironman is kind of all consuming.
And I knew that I couldn't kind of keep that path up.
And I just kept getting like these injuries. And then one ended up being pretty major.
(02:31):
But I started kind
of seeing like when I was in the Pilates world
I started seeing holes in women's training
and by that I mean like I would
do maybe a Pilates fusion class where we did TRX or just like a little bit of
dumbbell weights kind of in in between some Pilates on the reformer and these
(02:56):
women are coming like five days a week and and this is not dissing Pilates at all.
I still have all the equipment. I still use the equipment, but I just started
noticing that we weren't really getting significantly stronger in that setting.
And it's good for so many things, but no one could do a full pushup,
(03:18):
not a single person that I worked with pull up out of the question.
I mean, nor did we have anything to really test that, but overhead strength, super low.
And so I just started seeing these things and started to just be like,
well, we have to be adding more load in here.
But I didn't really know what that looked like other than strength training.
But I myself was kind of only doing body weight and easy dumbbells.
(03:42):
And that's all I had time for when I was doing this endurance training.
So I started just seeing people with injuries different than mine,
but that just kept coming in with different injuries and not really getting
significantly stronger or getting the body composition they wanted.
And of course, nutrition plays into that, but that's a separate conversation.
(04:04):
So anyhow, when I got injured, I just decided that I was super interested in,
I kind of went down this rabbit hole of strength training.
I got certified while I had surgery and I was recovering.
I spent like 14 hours a day, like any waking time getting this certification
vacation done because I couldn't walk for six weeks.
And so I did that. And then I just started like I did, this wasn't my plan at all.
(04:29):
And I think this is where you start to be like, you know, whatever that is,
is that a spiritual being guiding you?
Is that the universe guiding you? You know, something is like,
driving you towards your own path.
And sometimes you don't know what it is. So I thought I was going to be the TRX gal.
And I did TRX. And that was pretty much it during the pandemic.
(04:50):
And then I started to kind of be like, well, we need more than that.
And so I just started following leaders. I started taking courses.
And then I just saw this big...
This mists of like information that was being provided to women.
And I was in that and I was like, okay, if I'm going to be having an online
(05:11):
presence, like 20 year olds aren't going to be interested in me. I mean, I'm old.
I, you know, I'm 41, almost 42 at this time.
And I was just like, well, how can I make my market?
Like, I just want my people. I don't really care about what's happening at my
daughter's age. Who's now 20.
I want to be working where I'm at and what's changing for me and what do I have
(05:34):
to change to kind of evolve my own training.
So for me, it was time to give up the endurance. Obviously, I still cycle a
lot, but it's pretty seasoned into the summer.
And then the majority of my year is strength training.
And I just saw all like, once I went down that road, I was like, oh, okay, this is it.
(05:55):
And then I got more into the nutrition piece. and I started collaborating with
experts that were way smarter than me on different topics because I was just
like, why do only personal trainers have this information?
So I take a course and I'm getting the nutrition needs and the different needs
(06:16):
for females or whatever it is.
Why doesn't the general public have this? Because they're being sold.
They're They're the cash cow in the fitness industry. They're being sold anything.
And they're desperate at this point. They're like, you know,
maybe I'm raising teenagers.
Maybe I'm just starting my family. Maybe I'm losing parents.
So they're dealing with all of these issues. And they're just like.
(06:39):
Well, I don't have... Of course, a 20-year-old looks amazing.
You know, they don't have kids. They don't... They can do whatever they want.
They can work out whenever they want.
And so I started to just be really targeted on...
My age range kind of around my age
range and what was changing and how we
address this with just like these are
(06:59):
the statistics this is the this is the information this is the data this is
the science and then you guys get to make up your own mind but when someone's
only pushing one specific diet whether it's keto or fasting or whatever it doesn't
work for everyone like Like, how do we just provide the facts?
Here's what the journals say. And then you get to decide if this works for you or not.
(07:23):
Absolutely. I love too what you're doing. Like you're building this empire of
knowledge, but also with other people around you that are able to support in
so many different areas.
Because like one person can't do it all and we're not supposed to.
So what do you specialize in? And then what you bring in so many other experts
to help fill those answers for everyone.
And I think it's just such a remarkable thing that you're doing.
(07:46):
And the way that you were able to pivot your career into something that is so
needed now, especially I think as we hear more about, you know,
lifting heavy shit and properly eating or like actually eating period,
you know, it's, it just gives so much inspiration.
What advice would you give to those that are hesitant and kind of pivoting on
(08:09):
their dreams? Because, you know, there's so much unknown in there.
Okay. If we're talking about any dream or just like fitness dream?
I think just in any, like you really, you followed something obviously personally,
because you were in the fitness side of something that was no longer serving you.
But then you followed this dream of making this whole, you know, work empire.
(08:31):
I don't even feel like maybe you, you don't, I don't know. I feel like you don't
even call it work so much as it's such an ingrained part of you that you just do so naturally. Yeah.
So a couple of things, I would say, number one, you're never too old to start
something because, I mean, I was 41 when I, when I, well, actually I was 42
(08:53):
when I actually started my app.
And, and again, that wasn't in the cards. It was just, my husband happened to
be home because of COVID and we were like, we might as well film some stuff.
I kind of always wanted to, but I was like, there's never time because he's
always gone. But, you know, I raised my kids.
I had my first baby at 23. No, no, no. I'm sorry, 27. I was like,
(09:15):
that's really young, 27.
And I just stayed home. Like that was just, that's what I wanted to do.
My husband was traveling.
He was living in different parts of the country, like half of every week so
that we weren't always moving around.
And so I was just like, this is my role, which kind of got me into the Ironman
world because I just needed like a purpose outside of raising kids.
(09:39):
I hear you. I needed like some kind of break because my husband was never home
to give me a break and I was just like, I need something.
So that was the first step. But then, you know, I mean...
I was always too scared. I always have had great ideas. And I,
I mean, I could give you like a handful of ones that somebody else did.
And we all have that. You're like, oh, you know, you find, you see something
(10:01):
on TV. You're like, I knew that.
I thought of that, but I never had the confidence to be like,
well, I can't start a business. I don't know how to start a business.
I don't even know how to form an LLC or like register a name. I mean, I had zero clue.
And then I took this business class and well, we took it together.
Didn't we take the business class together? I don't think so. Okay.
(10:24):
Nevermind. Jill fit. I took this business.
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I did not take that, but yes, I know who you're talking. Yes. Yeah.
And so I took this cause I was just like, well, I don't know what I'm going
to do here, but now I just like uploaded an app and I guess I'm trying it out for a year.
And she was really just like, like jump off the cliff and figure it out.
Like if you're not, you know, like if you have a lot of grit and you're willing
(10:48):
to put in the work and like, just see where it goes.
And, and so I was just, I was like, okay, I'll give it. I mean,
literally it's like sink or swim.
I keep jumping off and then you get more confidence after the first time.
I mean, the first 18 months I ran,
any course, I talked to my friends into, and my family and everyone who knew
(11:10):
me, I'd be like, Like, so I'll actually Venmo you back like half of the price
if you want to get into this.
Cause I was like, I just need eyes on it. Cause I know I have good information,
but like, I also don't have 10 years to, you know, have that really slow build because I'm older.
And so I just found ways of like, okay, this is an investment.
This is what I'm going to try.
(11:32):
And, and it's worked. And it definitely is, as you know, there is no such thing
as just like easy wins and entrepreneurship is just like roses and sunshine all the time.
But thank you for saying that too, because also just start, right?
Like you don't know if you're going to enjoy it unless you actually just literally
(11:54):
lead and you will build the confidence as you said also.
But I think so So many of us are like sit in that fear and just don't do it.
And is this something with age that comes where we begin to be like,
ah, fuck it. What do I have to lose really?
Or, you know, like enough of sitting on the sidelines, just like launching everything.
(12:14):
All of our smart ideas be taken over. It's like, no, your turn. Yeah.
And it's funny because my husband is in advertising and he actually was,
he worked for Gary V. I don't know if you're familiar with Gary V.
Anyways, he was his first chief creative officer for four years in New York
City. That's why we were back East. But he...
I went to Cannes, which they have this advertising award show,
(12:41):
worldwide award ceremony every year.
And so we went a couple of years before with another company,
but we went this year with Gary.
And I met Gary in person and then his whole crowd. And he was...
One of his partners for another brand was there.
And the guy was like, oh, what do you do? And my husband's like,
(13:03):
oh, she's wanting to start a fitness, you know, fitness app.
And he was like, oh, let me see your Instagram. And I had like 900 followers. He was like, great.
Yeah. You know, like, good luck. And I was like, you're like,
that was a little demoralizing, but just watch me.
This is embarrassing. Like, why did you say that?
(13:25):
And he was like trying to build me up. I was so mad at him. but I
mean I kind of learned a lot from him working with
Gary and you know we went like we had
some different interactions with him well I did he
was obviously working with him every day but you
know he was really just like give it a shot what do you have to lose like you
(13:46):
know and I was just like I don't know regret I think it's anything in consistency
like no one even in fitness right not enough people are willing to just put
in the consistent effort So they don't see changes. So they quit.
So like in anything, just if you want to be doing something different, just keep showing up.
Yes. And you're going to want to quit hands down nine million times.
(14:09):
I mean, I want to quit less now, but like those first couple of years are rough
because it's you putting yourself out there and there's this like,
nobody else really gives a crap, but you think everyone gives a crap.
And so you're just like, well, if this doesn't work, then everyone's going to
think like, well, Haley couldn't do it.
Nobody even cares. And if people care, like they're not people you want in your
(14:31):
circle anyways. But that was big for me as I was just like.
I'm having the guts to try. I don't know where it's taking me,
but I'm worth, I'm into it enough to figure it out.
Yeah, you definitely are. Absolutely.
So on that note, working 35 plus women in all of those types of avenues,
(14:53):
what is a common misconception that you see amongst them all with,
you know, strength training and what they're worried about possibly?
Well, everyone's worried that if they eat a regular amount of food,
that they're going to get really overweight.
Number one, that's always big. So it's always like over-exercising,
(15:14):
under-eating, this pattern.
And then they're just like, why am I stuck? And I'm like, if I could go around
with you for 24 hours, like as a ghost in your house and just like watch you,
I could probably tell you what that was.
But food is a big part of it. But also the, I mean, still, I talk to someone that but I can't share.
(15:36):
This is like something happening in the fall. I can't share yet,
but everyone knows this person.
And, you know, even they were asking me about strength training questions and
they were like, well, I put in this goal because I don't want like big bulky muscles.
And I was like, it's not happening. Like it's, you know, really hard for women
to build muscle, especially as we start losing estrogen.
(15:58):
And, you know, for me, I'm like, Like I lift really heavy and I do a lot of volume all year round.
And I might be too, I might look bulky to someone. I might be not bulky enough
to someone else, which is fine.
Everyone has like their body preference that they want.
But after working with women, especially those that do not have estrogen anymore,
(16:21):
that are post-menopausal, it is significantly harder for me to add muscle to their frame.
They're doing everything. They're eating. They have protein.
They're putting effort in the gym.
And it's just like squeaking along, trying to get... I mean,
(16:42):
of course, there's probably outliers.
I haven't seen them for the over 50 crowd.
There's definitely outliers with women that still have estrogen that might get
really big fast, but it's really rare.
And usually if you see someone out
there there's some kind of drug that
might be involved of why you know everyone always takes the crossfit people
(17:06):
and whatever but they're like i don't want to look like that okay those people
are working out multiple times a day you know it's almost like their life this
is now become what they're yeah for sure i mean it's really it's It's really rare.
And I mean, last I would say, just work to build your lean mass because then you can eat more,
(17:28):
you're going to be healthier. Any injury or, you know, heaven forbid,
any illness or disease that comes along, you're set up for success to overcome that.
50 times more than someone that's frail.
Absolutely. I just see even in my circle at the moment, like my dad has dealt
(17:50):
with some injuries as of late, which has totally just taken him down in terms
of muscle mass and everything.
And in general, he's a very fit individual.
And to now see him the way he is, I have been so thankful that he actually was
in shape before all this happened because I could not imagine.
I don't think he would have weathered this storm if he did not have that muscle.
(18:13):
No. And I mean, there's lots of women that have reached out to me that are like,
you know, my main reason isn't even body composition.
I mean, I mean, I think that no one's going to say that they don't like the
body composition aspect if it happens, but they're like, I watched my parents,
like their health decline and what that looked like.
(18:36):
And I don't want my kids to like to put that on my kids if possible.
I mean, obviously that's not always possible,
but they're just like, I want to do everything I can to be independent so that
I can live a life where I'm not reliant on anyone else, or at least for as long
as possible, if not forever.
So I think it's the message is getting received. Now it's just,
(19:01):
I don't know what to do. Where do I start?
How do I get confidence to build that up? And that all just comes with practice and time. I mean...
When I started lifting in 20, let's see, 2019, when I went to the gym,
I mean, this was like the first time where I was like, I guess I'm going to
try to lift a barbell. I don't know if I can do it.
(19:23):
And it becomes intimidating, right?
Totally. So I would go in the town I lived in in New Jersey. There was a YMCA.
The bougie, you know, luxury gym was like a mile down the street.
And I was like, I'm going to the YMCA for a lot of reasons.
But I would go there before my kids got out of school and I had to pick them
(19:45):
up at like 3 p.m. because I knew it would be like me and some old dudes.
And then it was just like, for me, it gave me the confidence because I didn't
feel like people were like, I didn't know what to do.
Like I taught myself for that first six months year.
And I'm just that. So that's a good way. like look for maybe a gym that's not
(20:07):
as intimidating or, you know, go at hours that maybe just a few times to at
least get comfortable with some of the equipment.
And then after you do it once, it's like, okay, I know how this is going to
work, or I know what I can lift and I know what I can't.
So I'm not going to go throw down a barbell if I can't actually like stand up with it.
I mean, and those are all just learning, like, you know, everyone's been there
(20:30):
where you're you're looking over the shoulder, you're like, I hope nobody saw that.
Like those gym memes that we see going around, right?
That you're on the equipment completely wrong and you just look like a total.
Yeah, totally. And then if you're like, we've all had those beginnings.
Like no one has started weight training and not had some times where you're
like, remember when I did this and I thought that it was like,
(20:53):
you know, I knew how to use this right.
And I was using, everyone has that. And like,
I don't know. Who cares? That's life. We all start, we're all beginners in something new all the time.
So like, the fact that you just start, you have courage. So keep going.
So when you work with someone through a program, and say they come in totally green.
(21:17):
How soon, I don't know if this is too broad in general, but like,
how soon could you start to tell them that they'll start seeing results in their
weight and their strength training?
Well, the first eight weeks you see results really fast, but they're neuromuscular.
It's not actually adding muscle to your frame, but it feels good.
And it gives women confidence because they're like, I started out at five pounds
(21:40):
and now I can do, you know, 17.5, the 17.5 dumbbells.
And that's always a good confidence builder for them. And I mean,
it doesn't matter because they're happy.
They are getting stronger, even if it's not actually putting muscle in their
frame yet. It does start after that initial period.
(22:01):
And then it really is, it depends on the age.
Again, like someone that's 39 is going to adapt better than someone that's 60,
just from the role that hormones play.
But also it's you
know it depends on how many
hours a week they're going how how their effort
(22:22):
level is if they're working out with a trainer or not but I mean there's a long
runway of benefits if you're a newbie and so that's what I try to tell my people
because they're like I don't I haven't started I wish I would have started we
all wish we would have started when we were 25 but we got the cardio message.
Like none of, I mean, very few women were in the weights room.
(22:44):
I wasn't. I mean, I would have never been like, I'm going to be a strength trainer
and, you know, go hit the gym. Never.
But that runway for someone that's a newbie or if they've lifted before when
they were younger, but they've had, you know, a few years off of really consistent lifting,
they start over and it's, you know, there's a runway.
(23:06):
They get those newbie benefits. if you've been out of the gym for a significant
amount of time. And so that's always what I try to...
Like plug in as a super big positive as I'm like, you guys are going to get
all of these changes and this body composition and this muscle in the first 18 months,
maybe 24 months of lifting that someone who's lifted for five years,
(23:27):
really heavy and really consistently is not going to get because they're kind of tapped out.
You think of like a track runner, you know, they'll go from starting out at
a nine minute mile, maybe two over four years of running at,
you know, collegiate level or high school, and they don't just keep going up
to a three-minute mile, a two-minute mile.
You start to tap out at that higher level.
(23:50):
So it's really exciting to bring someone into the weights room when they're
new because they're going to see so much and they're going to put on a lot of
muscle if they're eating and they have enough protein and they're overloading
the exercise the right way.
Outside of that, the muscle is pretty... Strength training is pretty forgiving
giving as long as you're providing effort.
(24:13):
Amazing. Okay. I know that we're short on time here today, so I'm going to wrap
up with one more and then we'll see you again in October.
But what can we look forward to? What's next?
I've been doing Power Happens and I'm just starting it again because I'm like,
okay, I need to get back to the gym. I've been more cardio this summer also.
But what's next? What can you actually tell us?
(24:34):
So I have a couple of programs that I can't announce yet, but some exciting
collaborations that are coming.
And then I do have a Power Happens, the original beginner and intermediate, a 2.0 version coming.
That's just 12 weeks additional of kind of building off of what we were doing
(24:56):
in the last program. And then.
Foundations happens 2.0. So people have loved that course.
It's one of my, probably my bestseller outside of the power.
And then that that's coming along with a membership for my platform.
So I have a ton of programs.
(25:16):
I do like to sell them individually for women that don't want a membership,
but it's much, you know, it's much more economical if, if you have the membership.
So I like having both options so that people can choose whether they want,
you know, a bunch for a smaller amount or just like one and they don't like
the commitment of a membership. I like having both options there.
(25:37):
So that's kind of what's coming down the pipeline. And Haley has got a lot of work to do.
So amazing.
Oh, my gosh, that's so exciting. And you just kicked off or are you kicking
off soon? Nutrition, the nutrition happens, too.
Yeah. So that starts September 9th and then October will be shred and then November is membership.
(26:00):
And then December, I'm not doing anything. So nobody bugged me.
Good for you. I'm not launching anything.
Yeah. Family time. Taking a few weeks. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. Oh, good. Okay. I'm so excited for everything and I'll definitely link
things as I'm able with you, but thank you for showing up here.
I loved our conversation today and just a good catch up too. Yes, absolutely.
(26:22):
Thanks so much for having me. And I look forward to October as well.
Thanks, Haley. Appreciate it. Have a wonderful day. You bet. Okay. Bye. Bye.
If you liked my conversation with Haley today, and you can't wait to have more
of her in your world, then come join me in the Momentum Mastermind for my 12-week
group sessions commencing the third week of September.
(26:44):
Haley is going to be a special guest coming back at you in October for all things
strength, creatine, all the secrets that we need to know as women 40 plus really
building ourselves up for longevity.
So I can't wait for that. And if you're interested in joining this 12 week mastermind
series on all things personal and business growth, then come reach out and let's get you started.
(27:09):
Hey, everyone, thank you so much for tuning in today. As a mom of three,
an endurance sport junkie and an accountability coach, I get what overwhelm
and feelings of high expectation can feel like.
By getting crystal clear on tangible goals, I will work with you to create personalized
action steps with unwavering accountability to ensure you hit your goals.
(27:30):
If this sounds like something you're interested in, reach out to me at momsweatsanity
on Instagram or momsweatsanity.com for your free exploration call.
Thank you so much for tuning in today. If you enjoyed today's episode,
please be sure to share it.
Hey everyone, thanks so much for tuning in today. Today I have Haley Babcock back on the podcast.
Haley Happens Fitness is also how she is known best in the fitness industry.
She has made it her mission to convert women, especially those in their 40s
and beyond, to the miracle of strength training.
If you know Haley, it is to love Haley. We talked all the things from motherhood
(00:23):
to building a business, perseverance,
accountability, and consistency, and all the upcoming things that are happening
in her world of strength training and programming coming up this fall.
So tune in for our conversation.
Hey, everyone, and welcome to the MomSweat Sanity Podcast. I'm Brittany.
Leveling up often means finding new seats at the table. So can we be friends?
(00:43):
I'm all about pushing comfort zones and embracing new challenges.
As an accountability coach for women that may just be like you,
I'm here to help you take real action on your goals.
On the MomSweat Sanity Podcast, We talk everything from fitness and family to
personal growth and those WTF moments.
Nothing is off the table. So listen in weekly for guest topics and mom moments
and let's crush life together.
If you love the podcast, the best compliment you can give is a like,
(01:05):
comment and subscribe. Thank you so much for tuning in.
Well, thank you for being here today. I thought today maybe we'd have a bit
of a different conversation about kind of going down the paths of how you kind of got into this again.
Just a bit more on the momhood side and then a sneak peek on what's up next
for you through the fall.
And then I'd love to have you into the group in October, kind of as we were chatting.
(01:26):
Yeah. Sounds good. Yeah. Okay. Amazing. Well, thank you. Thank you.
Yeah, of course. So I will, well, I'll intro you again, but Haley,
thank you so much for being here.
Haley has been on my podcast before with all of the amazing insights on women,
35 plus lifting and why weights are so important for us.
So we will definitely, you know, tap into that a little bit here,
(01:49):
but I'd love to start on a different level with you today.
And just to ask you what inspired you to keep evolving in your fitness career,
especially as you kind of got towards that 40 plus age?
Okay, so I don't remember where we left off last time. So if I'm repeating anything,
then I apologize. No, you're all good.
(02:10):
But I mean, I was always super active. And then I did Ironman for a decade up until I was 40.
And kind of just started, I was teaching Pilates at the time too.
And number one, Ironman is kind of all consuming.
And I knew that I couldn't kind of keep that path up.
And I just kept getting like these injuries. And then one ended up being pretty major.
(02:31):
But I started kind
of seeing like when I was in the Pilates world
I started seeing holes in women's training
and by that I mean like I would
do maybe a Pilates fusion class where we did TRX or just like a little bit of
dumbbell weights kind of in in between some Pilates on the reformer and these
(02:56):
women are coming like five days a week and and this is not dissing Pilates at all.
I still have all the equipment. I still use the equipment, but I just started
noticing that we weren't really getting significantly stronger in that setting.
And it's good for so many things, but no one could do a full pushup,
(03:18):
not a single person that I worked with pull up out of the question.
I mean, nor did we have anything to really test that, but overhead strength, super low.
And so I just started seeing these things and started to just be like,
well, we have to be adding more load in here.
But I didn't really know what that looked like other than strength training.
But I myself was kind of only doing body weight and easy dumbbells.
(03:42):
And that's all I had time for when I was doing this endurance training.
So I started just seeing people with injuries different than mine,
but that just kept coming in with different injuries and not really getting
significantly stronger or getting the body composition they wanted.
And of course, nutrition plays into that, but that's a separate conversation.
(04:04):
So anyhow, when I got injured, I just decided that I was super interested in,
I kind of went down this rabbit hole of strength training.
I got certified while I had surgery and I was recovering.
I spent like 14 hours a day, like any waking time getting this certification
vacation done because I couldn't walk for six weeks.
And so I did that. And then I just started like I did, this wasn't my plan at all.
(04:29):
And I think this is where you start to be like, you know, whatever that is,
is that a spiritual being guiding you?
Is that the universe guiding you? You know, something is like,
driving you towards your own path.
And sometimes you don't know what it is. So I thought I was going to be the TRX gal.
And I did TRX. And that was pretty much it during the pandemic.
(04:50):
And then I started to kind of be like, well, we need more than that.
And so I just started following leaders. I started taking courses.
And then I just saw this big...
This mists of like information that was being provided to women.
And I was in that and I was like, okay, if I'm going to be having an online
(05:11):
presence, like 20 year olds aren't going to be interested in me. I mean, I'm old.
I, you know, I'm 41, almost 42 at this time.
And I was just like, well, how can I make my market?
Like, I just want my people. I don't really care about what's happening at my
daughter's age. Who's now 20.
I want to be working where I'm at and what's changing for me and what do I have
(05:34):
to change to kind of evolve my own training.
So for me, it was time to give up the endurance. Obviously, I still cycle a
lot, but it's pretty seasoned into the summer.
And then the majority of my year is strength training.
And I just saw all like, once I went down that road, I was like, oh, okay, this is it.
(05:55):
And then I got more into the nutrition piece. and I started collaborating with
experts that were way smarter than me on different topics because I was just
like, why do only personal trainers have this information?
So I take a course and I'm getting the nutrition needs and the different needs
(06:16):
for females or whatever it is.
Why doesn't the general public have this? Because they're being sold.
They're They're the cash cow in the fitness industry. They're being sold anything.
And they're desperate at this point. They're like, you know,
maybe I'm raising teenagers.
Maybe I'm just starting my family. Maybe I'm losing parents.
So they're dealing with all of these issues. And they're just like.
(06:39):
Well, I don't have... Of course, a 20-year-old looks amazing.
You know, they don't have kids. They don't... They can do whatever they want.
They can work out whenever they want.
And so I started to just be really targeted on...
My age range kind of around my age
range and what was changing and how we
address this with just like these are
(06:59):
the statistics this is the this is the information this is the data this is
the science and then you guys get to make up your own mind but when someone's
only pushing one specific diet whether it's keto or fasting or whatever it doesn't
work for everyone like Like, how do we just provide the facts?
Here's what the journals say. And then you get to decide if this works for you or not.
(07:23):
Absolutely. I love too what you're doing. Like you're building this empire of
knowledge, but also with other people around you that are able to support in
so many different areas.
Because like one person can't do it all and we're not supposed to.
So what do you specialize in? And then what you bring in so many other experts
to help fill those answers for everyone.
And I think it's just such a remarkable thing that you're doing.
(07:46):
And the way that you were able to pivot your career into something that is so
needed now, especially I think as we hear more about, you know,
lifting heavy shit and properly eating or like actually eating period,
you know, it's, it just gives so much inspiration.
What advice would you give to those that are hesitant and kind of pivoting on
(08:09):
their dreams? Because, you know, there's so much unknown in there.
Okay. If we're talking about any dream or just like fitness dream?
I think just in any, like you really, you followed something obviously personally,
because you were in the fitness side of something that was no longer serving you.
But then you followed this dream of making this whole, you know, work empire.
(08:31):
I don't even feel like maybe you, you don't, I don't know. I feel like you don't
even call it work so much as it's such an ingrained part of you that you just do so naturally. Yeah.
So a couple of things, I would say, number one, you're never too old to start
something because, I mean, I was 41 when I, when I, well, actually I was 42
(08:53):
when I actually started my app.
And, and again, that wasn't in the cards. It was just, my husband happened to
be home because of COVID and we were like, we might as well film some stuff.
I kind of always wanted to, but I was like, there's never time because he's
always gone. But, you know, I raised my kids.
I had my first baby at 23. No, no, no. I'm sorry, 27. I was like,
(09:15):
that's really young, 27.
And I just stayed home. Like that was just, that's what I wanted to do.
My husband was traveling.
He was living in different parts of the country, like half of every week so
that we weren't always moving around.
And so I was just like, this is my role, which kind of got me into the Ironman
world because I just needed like a purpose outside of raising kids.
(09:39):
I hear you. I needed like some kind of break because my husband was never home
to give me a break and I was just like, I need something.
So that was the first step. But then, you know, I mean...
I was always too scared. I always have had great ideas. And I,
I mean, I could give you like a handful of ones that somebody else did.
And we all have that. You're like, oh, you know, you find, you see something
(10:01):
on TV. You're like, I knew that.
I thought of that, but I never had the confidence to be like,
well, I can't start a business. I don't know how to start a business.
I don't even know how to form an LLC or like register a name. I mean, I had zero clue.
And then I took this business class and well, we took it together.
Didn't we take the business class together? I don't think so. Okay.
(10:24):
Nevermind. Jill fit. I took this business.
Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. I did not take that, but yes, I know who you're talking. Yes. Yeah.
And so I took this cause I was just like, well, I don't know what I'm going
to do here, but now I just like uploaded an app and I guess I'm trying it out for a year.
And she was really just like, like jump off the cliff and figure it out.
Like if you're not, you know, like if you have a lot of grit and you're willing
(10:48):
to put in the work and like, just see where it goes.
And, and so I was just, I was like, okay, I'll give it. I mean,
literally it's like sink or swim.
I keep jumping off and then you get more confidence after the first time.
I mean, the first 18 months I ran,
any course, I talked to my friends into, and my family and everyone who knew
(11:10):
me, I'd be like, Like, so I'll actually Venmo you back like half of the price
if you want to get into this.
Cause I was like, I just need eyes on it. Cause I know I have good information,
but like, I also don't have 10 years to, you know, have that really slow build because I'm older.
And so I just found ways of like, okay, this is an investment.
This is what I'm going to try.
(11:32):
And, and it's worked. And it definitely is, as you know, there is no such thing
as just like easy wins and entrepreneurship is just like roses and sunshine all the time.
But thank you for saying that too, because also just start, right?
Like you don't know if you're going to enjoy it unless you actually just literally
(11:54):
lead and you will build the confidence as you said also.
But I think so So many of us are like sit in that fear and just don't do it.
And is this something with age that comes where we begin to be like,
ah, fuck it. What do I have to lose really?
Or, you know, like enough of sitting on the sidelines, just like launching everything.
(12:14):
All of our smart ideas be taken over. It's like, no, your turn. Yeah.
And it's funny because my husband is in advertising and he actually was,
he worked for Gary V. I don't know if you're familiar with Gary V.
Anyways, he was his first chief creative officer for four years in New York
City. That's why we were back East. But he...
I went to Cannes, which they have this advertising award show,
(12:41):
worldwide award ceremony every year.
And so we went a couple of years before with another company,
but we went this year with Gary.
And I met Gary in person and then his whole crowd. And he was...
One of his partners for another brand was there.
And the guy was like, oh, what do you do? And my husband's like,
(13:03):
oh, she's wanting to start a fitness, you know, fitness app.
And he was like, oh, let me see your Instagram. And I had like 900 followers. He was like, great.
Yeah. You know, like, good luck. And I was like, you're like,
that was a little demoralizing, but just watch me.
This is embarrassing. Like, why did you say that?
(13:25):
And he was like trying to build me up. I was so mad at him. but I
mean I kind of learned a lot from him working with
Gary and you know we went like we had
some different interactions with him well I did he
was obviously working with him every day but you
know he was really just like give it a shot what do you have to lose like you
(13:46):
know and I was just like I don't know regret I think it's anything in consistency
like no one even in fitness right not enough people are willing to just put
in the consistent effort So they don't see changes. So they quit.
So like in anything, just if you want to be doing something different, just keep showing up.
Yes. And you're going to want to quit hands down nine million times.
(14:09):
I mean, I want to quit less now, but like those first couple of years are rough
because it's you putting yourself out there and there's this like,
nobody else really gives a crap, but you think everyone gives a crap.
And so you're just like, well, if this doesn't work, then everyone's going to
think like, well, Haley couldn't do it.
Nobody even cares. And if people care, like they're not people you want in your
(14:31):
circle anyways. But that was big for me as I was just like.
I'm having the guts to try. I don't know where it's taking me,
but I'm worth, I'm into it enough to figure it out.
Yeah, you definitely are. Absolutely.
So on that note, working 35 plus women in all of those types of avenues,
(14:53):
what is a common misconception that you see amongst them all with,
you know, strength training and what they're worried about possibly?
Well, everyone's worried that if they eat a regular amount of food,
that they're going to get really overweight.
Number one, that's always big. So it's always like over-exercising,
(15:14):
under-eating, this pattern.
And then they're just like, why am I stuck? And I'm like, if I could go around
with you for 24 hours, like as a ghost in your house and just like watch you,
I could probably tell you what that was.
But food is a big part of it. But also the, I mean, still, I talk to someone that but I can't share.
(15:36):
This is like something happening in the fall. I can't share yet,
but everyone knows this person.
And, you know, even they were asking me about strength training questions and
they were like, well, I put in this goal because I don't want like big bulky muscles.
And I was like, it's not happening. Like it's, you know, really hard for women
to build muscle, especially as we start losing estrogen.
(15:58):
And, you know, for me, I'm like, Like I lift really heavy and I do a lot of volume all year round.
And I might be too, I might look bulky to someone. I might be not bulky enough
to someone else, which is fine.
Everyone has like their body preference that they want.
But after working with women, especially those that do not have estrogen anymore,
(16:21):
that are post-menopausal, it is significantly harder for me to add muscle to their frame.
They're doing everything. They're eating. They have protein.
They're putting effort in the gym.
And it's just like squeaking along, trying to get... I mean,
(16:42):
of course, there's probably outliers.
I haven't seen them for the over 50 crowd.
There's definitely outliers with women that still have estrogen that might get
really big fast, but it's really rare.
And usually if you see someone out
there there's some kind of drug that
might be involved of why you know everyone always takes the crossfit people
(17:06):
and whatever but they're like i don't want to look like that okay those people
are working out multiple times a day you know it's almost like their life this
is now become what they're yeah for sure i mean it's really it's It's really rare.
And I mean, last I would say, just work to build your lean mass because then you can eat more,
(17:28):
you're going to be healthier. Any injury or, you know, heaven forbid,
any illness or disease that comes along, you're set up for success to overcome that.
50 times more than someone that's frail.
Absolutely. I just see even in my circle at the moment, like my dad has dealt
(17:50):
with some injuries as of late, which has totally just taken him down in terms
of muscle mass and everything.
And in general, he's a very fit individual.
And to now see him the way he is, I have been so thankful that he actually was
in shape before all this happened because I could not imagine.
I don't think he would have weathered this storm if he did not have that muscle.
(18:13):
No. And I mean, there's lots of women that have reached out to me that are like,
you know, my main reason isn't even body composition.
I mean, I mean, I think that no one's going to say that they don't like the
body composition aspect if it happens, but they're like, I watched my parents,
like their health decline and what that looked like.
(18:36):
And I don't want my kids to like to put that on my kids if possible.
I mean, obviously that's not always possible,
but they're just like, I want to do everything I can to be independent so that
I can live a life where I'm not reliant on anyone else, or at least for as long
as possible, if not forever.
So I think it's the message is getting received. Now it's just,
(19:01):
I don't know what to do. Where do I start?
How do I get confidence to build that up? And that all just comes with practice and time. I mean...
When I started lifting in 20, let's see, 2019, when I went to the gym,
I mean, this was like the first time where I was like, I guess I'm going to
try to lift a barbell. I don't know if I can do it.
(19:23):
And it becomes intimidating, right?
Totally. So I would go in the town I lived in in New Jersey. There was a YMCA.
The bougie, you know, luxury gym was like a mile down the street.
And I was like, I'm going to the YMCA for a lot of reasons.
But I would go there before my kids got out of school and I had to pick them
(19:45):
up at like 3 p.m. because I knew it would be like me and some old dudes.
And then it was just like, for me, it gave me the confidence because I didn't
feel like people were like, I didn't know what to do.
Like I taught myself for that first six months year.
And I'm just that. So that's a good way. like look for maybe a gym that's not
(20:07):
as intimidating or, you know, go at hours that maybe just a few times to at
least get comfortable with some of the equipment.
And then after you do it once, it's like, okay, I know how this is going to
work, or I know what I can lift and I know what I can't.
So I'm not going to go throw down a barbell if I can't actually like stand up with it.
I mean, and those are all just learning, like, you know, everyone's been there
(20:30):
where you're you're looking over the shoulder, you're like, I hope nobody saw that.
Like those gym memes that we see going around, right?
That you're on the equipment completely wrong and you just look like a total.
Yeah, totally. And then if you're like, we've all had those beginnings.
Like no one has started weight training and not had some times where you're
like, remember when I did this and I thought that it was like,
(20:53):
you know, I knew how to use this right.
And I was using, everyone has that. And like,
I don't know. Who cares? That's life. We all start, we're all beginners in something new all the time.
So like, the fact that you just start, you have courage. So keep going.
So when you work with someone through a program, and say they come in totally green.
(21:17):
How soon, I don't know if this is too broad in general, but like,
how soon could you start to tell them that they'll start seeing results in their
weight and their strength training?
Well, the first eight weeks you see results really fast, but they're neuromuscular.
It's not actually adding muscle to your frame, but it feels good.
And it gives women confidence because they're like, I started out at five pounds
(21:40):
and now I can do, you know, 17.5, the 17.5 dumbbells.
And that's always a good confidence builder for them. And I mean,
it doesn't matter because they're happy.
They are getting stronger, even if it's not actually putting muscle in their
frame yet. It does start after that initial period.
(22:01):
And then it really is, it depends on the age.
Again, like someone that's 39 is going to adapt better than someone that's 60,
just from the role that hormones play.
But also it's you
know it depends on how many
hours a week they're going how how their effort
(22:22):
level is if they're working out with a trainer or not but I mean there's a long
runway of benefits if you're a newbie and so that's what I try to tell my people
because they're like I don't I haven't started I wish I would have started we
all wish we would have started when we were 25 but we got the cardio message.
Like none of, I mean, very few women were in the weights room.
(22:44):
I wasn't. I mean, I would have never been like, I'm going to be a strength trainer
and, you know, go hit the gym. Never.
But that runway for someone that's a newbie or if they've lifted before when
they were younger, but they've had, you know, a few years off of really consistent lifting,
they start over and it's, you know, there's a runway.
(23:06):
They get those newbie benefits. if you've been out of the gym for a significant
amount of time. And so that's always what I try to...
Like plug in as a super big positive as I'm like, you guys are going to get
all of these changes and this body composition and this muscle in the first 18 months,
maybe 24 months of lifting that someone who's lifted for five years,
(23:27):
really heavy and really consistently is not going to get because they're kind of tapped out.
You think of like a track runner, you know, they'll go from starting out at
a nine minute mile, maybe two over four years of running at,
you know, collegiate level or high school, and they don't just keep going up
to a three-minute mile, a two-minute mile.
You start to tap out at that higher level.
(23:50):
So it's really exciting to bring someone into the weights room when they're
new because they're going to see so much and they're going to put on a lot of
muscle if they're eating and they have enough protein and they're overloading
the exercise the right way.
Outside of that, the muscle is pretty... Strength training is pretty forgiving
giving as long as you're providing effort.
(24:13):
Amazing. Okay. I know that we're short on time here today, so I'm going to wrap
up with one more and then we'll see you again in October.
But what can we look forward to? What's next?
I've been doing Power Happens and I'm just starting it again because I'm like,
okay, I need to get back to the gym. I've been more cardio this summer also.
But what's next? What can you actually tell us?
(24:34):
So I have a couple of programs that I can't announce yet, but some exciting
collaborations that are coming.
And then I do have a Power Happens, the original beginner and intermediate, a 2.0 version coming.
That's just 12 weeks additional of kind of building off of what we were doing
(24:56):
in the last program. And then.
Foundations happens 2.0. So people have loved that course.
It's one of my, probably my bestseller outside of the power.
And then that that's coming along with a membership for my platform.
So I have a ton of programs.
(25:16):
I do like to sell them individually for women that don't want a membership,
but it's much, you know, it's much more economical if, if you have the membership.
So I like having both options so that people can choose whether they want,
you know, a bunch for a smaller amount or just like one and they don't like
the commitment of a membership. I like having both options there.
(25:37):
So that's kind of what's coming down the pipeline. And Haley has got a lot of work to do.
So amazing.
Oh, my gosh, that's so exciting. And you just kicked off or are you kicking
off soon? Nutrition, the nutrition happens, too.
Yeah. So that starts September 9th and then October will be shred and then November is membership.
(26:00):
And then December, I'm not doing anything. So nobody bugged me.
Good for you. I'm not launching anything.
Yeah. Family time. Taking a few weeks. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah. Oh, good. Okay. I'm so excited for everything and I'll definitely link
things as I'm able with you, but thank you for showing up here.
I loved our conversation today and just a good catch up too. Yes, absolutely.
(26:22):
Thanks so much for having me. And I look forward to October as well.
Thanks, Haley. Appreciate it. Have a wonderful day. You bet. Okay. Bye. Bye.
If you liked my conversation with Haley today, and you can't wait to have more
of her in your world, then come join me in the Momentum Mastermind for my 12-week
group sessions commencing the third week of September.
(26:44):
Haley is going to be a special guest coming back at you in October for all things
strength, creatine, all the secrets that we need to know as women 40 plus really
building ourselves up for longevity.
So I can't wait for that. And if you're interested in joining this 12 week mastermind
series on all things personal and business growth, then come reach out and let's get you started.
(27:09):
Hey, everyone, thank you so much for tuning in today. As a mom of three,
an endurance sport junkie and an accountability coach, I get what overwhelm
and feelings of high expectation can feel like.
By getting crystal clear on tangible goals, I will work with you to create personalized
action steps with unwavering accountability to ensure you hit your goals.
(27:30):
If this sounds like something you're interested in, reach out to me at momsweatsanity
on Instagram or momsweatsanity.com for your free exploration call.
Thank you so much for tuning in today. If you enjoyed today's episode,
please be sure to share it.
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