[INTERVIEW] 50-Year-Old Mother of Two Unlearns Decades of Bad Eating Habits and Poor Self-Esteem to Look and Feel the Best She Ever Has!

Speaker 1 (00:06):

Hey, Nicole, thank you so much for joining us today. How are you? 

Speaker 2 (00:10):

I’m doing well. Thank you. 

Speaker 1 (00:12):

Very good. I’ve been looking forward to this episode for a while and to be Frank, I’m not sure why it’s taken us so long to make it happen, but regardless now that we’ve spent such a wonderful time together, the three of us in Florida, we get to get your more of a, a stream line, a story like version of the past incredible year that you’ve had. And I’d love to kick things off by having you share with the listeners, why you joined the 5% community in February of 2021. 

Speaker 2 (00:40):

Well, I have struggled with, uh, weight loss for many, many years. Um, and I tried many different diets on my own read a lot of different books. I was always trying to lose that, you know, 10 pounds, but, um, more importantly, not just the scale part, but the mindset part was making me crazy. And I actually had watched a lot of your podcasts, um, over time about maintenance and how important, how, how hard it is in the maintenance part versus the actual diet part. So I could always do the diet part and lose it, but for some reason that that’s, that weight always came back on. And so all the emotions that were attached to that and failures and that, but all the things that you mentioned in your podcast seemed it was in my mind, but I didn’t actually do it, but I knew I should have done it. 

Speaker 2 (01:34):

And I didn’t know why. So I was always intrigued by, um, uh, your theories. They made sense. They were a little bit different. And the, and you know, you hear people always saying the yoyo and yoyo and I, I just, I, I knew there was some, some answers. I was trying to find what they were for me. And so I just didn’t wanna give up. Uh, and then you had sent that on an email that you started this 5% community. And I said, you know, I’m gonna, I’m gonna give you a try. And so that’s, that’s how I landed here. And, uh, it was amaz it’s a, um, it was the best decision I ever made. It really was. I’m really happy. So, 

Speaker 3 (02:12):

So I’m curious, Nicole, prior to joining the community, you said you were always trying to lose that 10 pounds. What, what do you feel like you were doing that wasn’t working for you? Um, what mistakes were you making, knowing what, you know now? 

Speaker 2 (02:29):

Uh, the biggest mistake was, um, probably lack of consistency. So I would get really excited about the scale. I’d watch it go down. Um, a lot of times there was only two times that it really went down. So I, when, let me, let me backtrack. So back in my younger years, I was always able to maintain like a certain weight, but I, I don’t even know that I was healthy at that time either because I was over exercising and undereating, and that seemed to have played me for decades. Like, I mean, years, I don’t wanna give away my age, so I’m gonna say years <laugh>. Um, and so it was a constant, um, it was constantly on my mind. I mean, it just was not healthy. And, uh, a couple of things happened, uh, through medication and, um, and a diagnosis that actually set the scale higher to a new set point. 

Speaker 2 (03:23):

So even though I always had kind of a healthy lifestyle, I guess I get, or what I thought was, I guess, I, I really wasn’t. I was under fueled. Um, and so it was, it was always in my head, like fear of getting fat fair of I, all these emotions tied to it. So I always felt like I was failing. Um, and so needless say, I, I jumped up to that, um, that new set point and struggled with that set point for years. Cause I, I remembered what I was in college and I was like, oh, and all those things worked for me then. And those same things, those same technique, even though they weren’t healthy were no longer working for me. So then I went through all these, like I did the zone diet, I did, you know, all these different diets. I went to the trainer and along those ways, the failures, I did learn something from all of those little things. 

Speaker 2 (04:14):

Um, but I, I, and, and the other thing is I, I always had, uh, I ate a lot of healthy foods, but I, you know, sometimes, you know, I’d look at a salad and I had too much fat in there. So I’d have feta cheese and olives and olive oil. Well, that’s a lot of fat. So I, here, I’m thinking I’m eating healthy and I’m counting my calories. And I was not at a high number of calories. I didn’t understand that it’s working out and eating. Right. And then I was still like stuck. It made no sense. So, and everyone had an opinion, like you lowered your metabolism and all these things. So, um, I just, so it was a very annoying journey <laugh> it was, but I didn’t wanna give up because I just, health is a very, uh, very important to me. So yeah. 

Speaker 1 (05:07):

I still remember eerily, like it was yesterday. And I’ve shared with this with you. So I know I can sit here just like our first call together is I was kind of learning more about you to see if you’d be a good fit for the community. If the community, most importantly, would be a good fit for you. And I remember just reading through like your questionnaire, getting to learn about you more, and you were, you were exercising twice a day, many days per week, you were overly overly like mono manically focused on the number of calories you were consuming. And then, you know, fast forward a year later, like when I actually got to spend time with you in person and were out eating out and about left and right. And you just presented yourself with such poise and confidence making food choices. And I, I know that it hadn’t, hadn’t really been a smooth and easy journey the last 12 months to get you to this point. And my first question I have on that note, Nicole was like, did you believe, you know, know upon the time you joined the 5% community that what you aspire to accomplish was actually possible? 

Speaker 2 (06:05):

No, I had, I actually came into it with hope, but not, not any expectations because I’ve been let down before I’ve put money in after money, after, you know, all, all of that time and money and energy and all those things. Um, so I just, I just said, you know what, let me try one last shot. I was reaching a milestone birthday and I honestly did not know what to expect, but the final outcome was exactly what I was looking for. So it actually worked out. But yeah, no, it was, it, it actually worked out. So yeah. 

Speaker 1 (06:42):

Yeah. I mean, I say it worked out and then some to say the least, which is really exciting. So now again, kind of using McKayla’s framework that I love looking back, knowing what you know now, was it the relationship with food? Was it the, the over exercise? What was the biggest factor you think, holding you back from really just getting out of your own way back then? 

Speaker 2 (07:06):

Uh, I, I think it was learning, learning how to eat, how to fuel for my body and having the blueprint and the structure to know what works and what to fall back on. So before there were so many variables like, oh, well this worked and I worked out really hard and I’m losing weight, but oh, wait. Now the weekend came. And I only had that one slice of pizza. I mean, that was really good with the calories, but it would still like, it just, it would, it was just, it was stuck. It was, you know, I just thought I was woo one, you know, one meal away from gaining like three pounds, you know, and all of those things. So, um, yeah, I don’t know. Did I answer 

Speaker 1 (07:51):

Absolutely. I mean, it’s very relatable. It really is. 

Speaker 2 (07:56):

So now I, I understand that that blueprint is really my fallback. So when I go and have a meal, um, I know it it’s understood that you don’t gain weight off of one meal, but I really thought that I gained weight off of one meal that I was somehow different. And that, for some reason I can just like, look at fries and gain weight, but it, but I know now that that’s obviously not true now, if I did that every I, yes, theoretically I would gain weight. So now when I’ve learned that, like when I go out, I can have a meal, not eat like an asshole <laugh> and, um, and be okay the next day and jump right back on. But I have a plan to fall back on that. I know that works for my, uh, what my goals are. So whether it’s in maintenance or if I’m in diet mode, which if I was in diet mode, I probably wouldn’t be going out. Well, I could go out, but I wouldn’t drink alcohol or whatnot, but mostly to stay consistent with your goals was a very big takeaway and that promoted consistency. So going out was okay for me, which was huge <laugh>, but that’s huge. I was awake for a week and I did not stress about it one time. 

Speaker 1 (09:13):

That’s awesome. Such a freeing feeling. 

Speaker 2 (09:16):

It is because, and that’s huge. If you ask any of my family or friends, they would say, thank you too. <laugh> they’ve heard it all. <laugh> so, yeah. Uh, 

Speaker 3 (09:28):

I love that so much. And I think that just, um, speaks so much volume to the approach that we take with, you know, creating a structure that’s individualized to you, but also still allowing it to be really flexible and simple enough that you can carry that with you on vacation. Cuz I kept hearing you say, you know, I have this structure now and so many people are lacking structure. They are trying to eat healthy and they’re trying to do all the things, but they driving themselves crazy in the process because they don’t really have a structured plan. That’s tailored to them and you do now. Right? Like, and so you’ve been able to navigate whatever life throws at you, whatever situation you’re in, you’re completely comfortable and confident to be able to navigate that. That is so damn freeing. And I can really, to everything that you said, because I was the same way, I was extremely neurotic with food because you know, I didn’t have a plan that made sense for me. I was always trying to adapt to something else. Um, and so yeah, it is really freeing. I have another question for you because I heard you talk a lot about the scale and being really, you know, scale focused. Where is your relationship with the scale currently and how has that evolved throughout, you know, the past year being in the 5% 

Speaker 1 (10:46):

Makayla? You just read my mind. I’m so sorry to interrupt. That was literally my thought like eerily in my mind. Not too 

Speaker 3 (10:52):

Much time together. 

Speaker 1 (10:53):

I know it’s too funny. Sorry, Nicole. Please answer. Cause I’m very curious too. 

Speaker 2 (10:58):

Um, well I have not divorced the scale. I cannot do that. <laugh> for some reason I may get there. Um, but I’m a very, uh, data focused person. And so if I know something works, so for example, the blueprint you guys provided was a structure that worked for me. I was able to see the progression. Um, I was able to, you know, if I would go off of it for too long, I could see it kind of creeping back up, but I’d go back to it and go back down. So, um, the, the, the scale provides a data point for me and not emotion. So before, and I’m not kidding and I’m embarrassed to say it, but I’m gonna say it is, I would literally say a prayer and do my cross before I stepped on that scale, please be, please don’t be up. I mean, that is neurotic. 

Speaker 2 (11:53):

That is something’s very wrong. <laugh> so I don’t do that anymore. So I just get on there. I have an app I downloaded called happy scale and I just look at the trend lines. Um, so if I’m in the process of leaving weight, I just wanna see that I know that it takes time. I know that, um, because I’ve been a lifetime Dieter that it’s not going to just, you know, it’s gonna be a, a slower process, but with consistency I saw that go down. And so, um, I’m in maintenance now and it’s staying there and I’m just, so I kind of just check in I’m in, it’s a couple days here and there, like I’m not as neurotic with that. I noticed I looked at it and it was like, oh, I didn’t weigh myself yesterday. So that’s means it’s not on my mind anymore, but I would weigh myself like two, three times a day, morning, night. I mean, it was a problem for sure. I mean, I was very focused and that mental energy really, there was a lot focused in my mind on that and that was not healthy. So, 

Speaker 1 (13:02):

And exhaust it, 

Speaker 2 (13:03):

It freed me for sure, but I still weigh myself <laugh> but that 

Speaker 1 (13:09):

That’s okay because you’re right. You, you have a different frame of mind in which you’re viewing that. Now it early data, it’s not this emotionally charged number that sets the tone for your day. You’re, you’re always in charge of that. And rather like, just like you mentioned, you’re able to see the big picture in these microcosms. You know, you see one way and you’re quick to say, oh, like, but the past week or the past month, I’m right where I’m supposed to be. And I think it’s funny, like how the, the weight loss industry conditions us to like dread scale plateaus. But when you really accept that dieting is a tool and that a lifestyle like we should celebrate plateaus because that means we’re maintaining like a champ. I always just find that very funny because we’re conditioned to dread them and hate them. And now here we are in maintenance, you and maintenance, you’re like celebrating a plateau. It’s like, yes, I haven’t lost to having gained and right where I’m supposed to be. And the change is like literally zero. 

Speaker 2 (13:57):

Yeah. I love it. <laugh> it’s great. 

Speaker 3 (14:00):

I also think it’s cool that, you know, the scale because the weight loss fitness health industry loves to like demonize certain things. And the scale is definitely one of those things. It’s either you’re all about it. Or you, you know, nothing at all. Like don’t weigh yourself, yada, yada, there are people that sit in the middle and I’m with you now. Like I’ve had to do a lot of work to get there, but I actually like to incorporate the scale because I too like data. Um, and I use it the same way that I approach dieting. Now it is a tool, so it’s not overly abused there. You know, the way I go into it, my emotions attached to it are entirely different, which allows it to be a part of my life in a way that doesn’t negatively impact me. And that’s huge, but for a lot of people, you know, and there are some people that find no use for it at all. And that is a okay too. It’s like completely individualized, just like all of this stuff. 

Speaker 1 (14:51):

Yeah. 

Speaker 2 (14:51):

But if I, when I have, so when I have certain goals, like even losing weight or like I just finished 75 hard, for example, I needed that to see, I know you can look in the mirror and stuff like that, but I like, I like to see what works and what doesn’t work. So, so that how so? I don’t know if that is part of motion, but yeah, it’s a data point. It, it tells me, is it, am I, am I getting to what my goals are? What are my goals now? And if my goals are maintenance and the scale shows that, then that’s what I’m doing. If I’m in, uh, a deficit, uh, diet, then I wanna look at the scale, see that it is moving in that direction. And then that will kind of tell me what I need to tweak on the carbs and fats. So I use that as data. Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (15:42):

Yeah. I don’t even own a scale. Would you believe that outside of a diet last year, I haven’t stepped on the scale more than like five times, like during a five week diet or six week diet. I used it, but it, but I agree when I’m dieting. Like I want that extra tool that variable, but my relationship has just come such a long way. Like Nicoles multiple times per day at one point in my life and now just don’t care. I know there’s so many other metrics I’m so in touch with how I feel, how I look like I know what is and what isn’t working. And that’s just a skill that takes a bajillion rep and years and years of implementation and consistency. And where I want to was shift our conversation next to Nicole is like, let’s dig in. You know, you’ve already kind of started alluding to some of your, you know, big wins the past 12 months. But what are, if you could answer three of the biggest breakthroughs or aha moments you’ve had during your five community experience thus far? 

Speaker 2 (16:36):

Um, well forming the unfuck withable statement was huge for me. Um, and it’s funny, cuz at first I felt like it, it, it kind of, I’m just, I’m being honest. I, I felt kind of teetered on corny. I wasn’t sure I believed what I was writing. Yeah. Um, I, it, it was, it was, it was definitely definitely different, but I was open to unlearning what I knew before relearning and I just said, you know, I’m gonna go all in. I’m gonna listen to what you have to say. I’m gonna trust the process and I’m going to like really trust the process. So I went in with this unfuck withable statement and I tweaked it one or two times actually just to kind of enhance it and make it more what I wanted. Um, it’s it’s on my bedside table. I looked at it every night. 

Speaker 2 (17:30):

I don’t always look at it now cause I think I pretty much have it me memorized. Um, and uh, it was probably around, I wanna say probably a month and a half ago that it was like, holy shit. Now that I lean on that statement now. Yeah. And one of the, within there is, um, you know, a quick reset. So if I kind of get those old patterns coming in, um, those old thought patterns or negativity, I’m able to now switch it back and lean on, go within myself and not exterior forces and just say, you know what, I’m unfuck with the pole. It’s okay. And it just switches and it, it really, I lean on that. I really do it it’s really helped a lot. So yeah, that was a breakthrough. Um, understanding my why. And I use that in everything I do now. Like why I’m I doing that? And do I wanna do that? Like do, why am I doing that? For what reason? Because then I will stick with it. Um, like the 75 hard phase one and the cold showers, that’s gonna be hard for me. I gotta figure out a new why. So I knew my why in the first portion of it. Uh, then I gotta restate my new, why, so I can get through, 

Speaker 1 (18:50):

You’re gonna learn to love them. 

Speaker 2 (18:52):

What’s that you’re 

Speaker 1 (18:53):

Gonna learn to love them. 

Speaker 2 (18:54):

Oh God. So sticking, like knowing your whys, like why am I doing certain things that is huge? And that is huge across many parts of my life, not just weight loss. Um, and that’s another thing that, uh, this, uh, was, uh, a big breakthrough is that my bandwidth has now shifted to other goals besides my big overarching goal was to lose weight. And it wasn’t even for vanity reasons. I mean, it isn’t, it isn’t right. So, you know, when I was younger, probably more for vanity, but now I’m more like, you know, like, why do I keep failing? Like what the hell? Like, so it was bothering me so much that I was like, I was so hell Ben on trying to figure it out. Like I am going to unlock this. I don’t know why it’s taking me so long. I, I don’t know what’s in place. What’s stopping me. What are the, you know, ma maybe it is just, you, you know, know it’s getting older metabolism. Maybe I screwed it up. What did I do wrong kind of thing. So now that I know that I was able to kind of, I I’ve learned like what you’ve taught me now, I’ve able to open my mind up to other things. So all those tools you taught me to lose weight transcends to other parts of my life. And so oh yeah. 

Speaker 1 (20:13):

I love it. 

Speaker 3 (20:14):

Amen. Yeah. So if you thinking back to, you know, your younger self, when you were struggling, knowing what you know now, what would you tell that younger self who was struggling? What’s like one piece of advice that you would give her? 

Speaker 2 (20:32):

I mean, I would probably tell her her to go. I would, I mean, I know I was stubborn back then. I thought I knew everything like, uh <laugh> I really did. It was so bad. Like you really have to be openminded. And so, you know, if somebody were to say, you know, stop don’t think about food. Well, like, okay. But I’m still thinking about food <laugh>, you know what I mean? Like don’t exercise so much. Okay. But I’m gonna exercise a lot, you know? So I think I probably actually set them up with, I would tell her to seek a professional, to set you into a structure, like learn it, those tools weren’t really readily available to me as they are. Now. This is one of the powers of like internet and things like that. I would’ve never found you guys had it not happened. So, um, I would’ve educated myself instead of kind of going in blindly. Um, and also in that sense, I also kind of probably figuring out again my why, like figure out why you’re doing that. Um, and probably helping with the whole self talk and yeah, for sure. So we, 

Speaker 3 (21:42):

So you mentioned, sorry, Paul. No, you’re good. You mentioned that, um, you know, coming into the program, you didn’t really believe that you were going to be able to achieve what you were able to. So I have another question for you and that’s just, you know, did you have any specific feelings? Can you pinpoint a time throughout the past 12 months where you’re like, you know, maybe you thought feelings of regret or doubt for joining the, or that it wasn’t going to work for you? 

Speaker 2 (22:11):

Not once mm-hmm <affirmative> yeah, really not once I, cause in fact, cuz every week it was like, um, I was like, holy shit, that’s such a different way than what I’ve learned. It’s not the same as what you hear everywhere else. Right. So it’s like these promises and I, okay, well I’m gonna do that. And I did that and you know, and I lost the weight, but like, it was just like starting out with two months of not taking food away, but adding it in and I’m like, okay, well that kind of aligns with everyone. Even my trainer saying, you’re under eating Nicole, you’re under eating, you’re under eating. And I’m like, oh I, if I eat, I’m gonna get fat. Like I’m to eat I’m because then that’s that much more weight I have to lose. I’m like, what are you talking about? You know? 

Speaker 2 (22:55):

Um, but I felt confident because there was a structure in place that, uh, was reminiscent of a lot, like the other program I came in that was successful. Um, I don’t know if I could mention that, but, um, but it was, it was similar to that. Um, so I knew that that worked and I knew that, um, the foods within the, those premium foods were something that was good for me. So that aligned with my health, with my health goals, it wasn’t eliminating foods. Um, you know, it was just, it was eating the right foods in the right amount for my frame and my goals and what I do like with exercise. So it just, it just built from there. So every week, in addition to the weight loss part of it, it also, uh, Finese the emotional part of it. And so those two combined is what was the winning ticket. 

Speaker 2 (23:50):

And I knew that very early on and then talking to other people in the community, noticing that, you know, like Tony’s story and, um, similar dialogue, even though we had a little bit, you know, we, we, we have different scenarios and settings and different challenges, but the struggles kind of seemed the same human struggles, you know, the negative self talk. I can’t lose the weight. I’m so busy. And um, and so just those little tools, like, you know, when you’re going for the snack, ask yourself, why is that emotional? Are you hungry? Are you thirsty? And you just kind of go through that, you walk away from the situation, you come back, those kind of things, those tools really helped you kind of get in your mind to see like, what am I experiencing right now? And that is that even, is that food or is that something else? And so those were all huge. So no, there was no, I mean, I just knew that this was like, no, this is going to help. This is not like, take this away, take that away, count that calories, put that on the scale. So it just, it, it took, it took my, um, kind of my mental energies in a whole different path away from food. So it actually made it far healthier than just focused on food. 

Speaker 4 (25:11):

Love that. 

Speaker 1 (25:12):

Yeah. What’s been your favorite part of the 5% community experience the last 15 or so months? 

Speaker 2 (25:20):

My favorite part, honest. I actually love, well, I, I love hearing people’s stories. I love the wins. I, I do, I do get inspired by people’s wins a lot and I also get inspired by people’s failures turn to wins. Mm. So those are very big for me, those two. And I look for that in a lot of people because the ones that are always kind of negative and they can’t get out of their own hole and then they don’t wanna be open to it. And like, but I always do it this way and this is what I do and trying to, it, it, I wanna be like, no, open your mind, listen, <laugh> like, just try it. So you’re not, you’re not singing that same record, like, cuz that’s not a good record, you know? Um, so I loved that. I loved hearing that in the people in the community. 

Speaker 2 (26:11):

They’re so nice. Um, you, you know, I don’t feel judged. Uh, so I like hearing the stories. I like sharing the stories that it makes me feel good too, without feeling like I’m braggy or you know, it just feels good and I feel supported it. So that was really good. And then I call the weekly calls my sermons because I always learned something from those calls. It’s so true. It is really weird, but I do cuz I always take something away from it. I do utilize that and it comes back to me, um, later, like, you know, when you, you’re thinking about it during the, you know, during the lesson and then after it comes back and it just all kind of ties together later. And so it’s just a, when you’re immersed at, it’s almost like a language that you’re immersed in and then it all starts to click. And so even though it wasn’t all at once, it did take time and consistency in showing up every week for it to be like, oh shit, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. You know, so 

Speaker 3 (27:19):

Yeah. That’s huge. Who would you recommend the 5% community too? 

Speaker 2 (27:26):

Uh, well, I mean I would recommend it to anyone that is trying to, um, have a healthier, um, mindset around food and weight and uh, a healthier mindset. Mm-hmm, <affirmative>, that’s a good answer, but I mean yeah, if you’re willing to be open-minded to kind of really work on yourself and I know that is really hard. I know that’s really hard cuz it’s almost like going to therapy in a sense to really look at yourself and self reflect. It’s not always easy but necessary to make changes. I mean, it just is. And if you don’t know, you’re just gonna be it’s change. Doesn’t happen until change happens and you need to go in there and, and work on that. And eventually the shifts happen. They don’t happen overnight and I have fallen back on it, old patterns in the beginning, but I found that those patterns now are like, so numb now, like they’re there, like, you know, you, there’s certain triggers. You’re like, oh I, I know what that is. And I like, I don’t want that. So yeah. 

Speaker 3 (28:37):

Yeah. You’re aware of it. And you know, you know, the strategies you’ve learned strategies and tools now to push it away, overcome it, walk away, whatever it needs to be. I think that’s awesome. 

Speaker 2 (28:48):

Yeah. Cause it’s easier to go back into familiar even if it’s bad, it’s familiar and that’s easy to do that. So taking a harder path to get to a better place sometimes is what it takes. 

Speaker 1 (29:02):

I like that a lot. Yeah. You probably the good point too. So many people come in, uh, any life changing opportunity program experience expecting to have the magic cure or the results in a day’s time, but you highlight a great point. The type of changes that we’re all after here, really, which is the internal, the mindset, the emotional, and then the behavioral components, you know, they do take time. And the change that you know is a result of the hard work isn’t really black and white and that easy to tell it’s really, you know, seeing the patterns that you’re working towards unlearning, you know, appearing at a, a lower frequency and a lower intensity. They’re still gonna happen there. You probably have years, or, you know, whoever’s listening years to decades of experience with these patterns that haven’t been serving you, the self talk, the negative thoughts, beliefs, et cetera. But as you begin working on them, they show up less often in your ability to quickly recognize them improves and strengthens so that you can let them go and get back on track with whatever, you know, you’ve replaced those thoughts or that script with something positive and something that’s served you 

Speaker 2 (30:02):

Exactly 

Speaker 1 (30:04):

My last question before we shift to more of a, a rapid fire fun way to end this interview, I guess I’m curious for a listener out there, Nicole, who has listened to your story thus far as resonating with it and is struggling on her own journey. What is one piece of advice or encouragement that you offer her? 

Speaker 2 (30:23):

Um, I would say that if you, if you, uh, are, if you’re really tired of, you know, spending money and going after things and going through the same, uh, same kind of old patterns and stuff to, to give you a shot, to, to come join the community and with life likeminded people and, uh, and, and just be open to learning a new way to get better. 

Speaker 3 (30:50):

I wanna piggyback off that question for a second, cuz I think talking to a lot of people that are great fits for the community and they’re very, very interested, oftentimes it comes up the hesitancy because of the investment <affirmative>. Um, did you have any specific, um, Hess, I guess, with joining, due to the investment and like how did, what empowered you to make the decision anyways? Cause for a lot of people it’s like, well I’ve invested so much already and nothing has worked. Why is this gonna be any different for me? 

Speaker 2 (31:24):

I did have, I did have a little hesitancy only because I kept spending money on, you know, whether it was trainers or, or books or, I mean even just the time alone. I mean time is money. I mean I had scoured the internet, what, what am I gonna do now? My friends would be like, what are you doing now, Nicole? I mean, it was just like <laugh>, you know, it was, you know, as I was always doing something and I would take it to a certain amount of time. I did, I didn’t just wasn’t just a week, but um, I just, again, it was the program I went to before was a, was successful for me, but then I of gained it right back because they took away a lot of fat and I was always in diet brain and it didn’t have the emotional component. 

Speaker 2 (32:11):

And so I knew that, you know, Paul had a similar structure in place, you know, there was a similar structure in place to that with the macros. So that was familiar to me. Um, so be because I had that already in place, it was easier to be like, yeah, okay. I know that that works. Um, and then the, uh, I, I didn’t realize on the emotional part that, that was so much a part of this. I didn’t realize that. So, um, that to me is the most powerful actually that part of it mm-hmm <affirmative> I think that was really the, the key component. Cause you know, if you have consistency in any kind of diet, if you follow keto diet, you have consist, you’ll lose weight, you know, you’ll, you’ll lose weight, but you’re not getting to the, to the real reason. And that’s what I understood. So to me that was worth multiple of what I paid for sure. So I can appreciate the, the hesitancy, if you have been down the path of, I’m gonna try this, now I’m gonna try that now, you know, um, and, and, and, and spending the money on that. But when you find a good professional, that knows what they’re doing, that has your best interests at heart, that is worth every penny. 

Speaker 1 (33:32):

And I’ll add to that too, like hiring a professional, a coach in any endeavor in life is incredibly value. Well, but do your research on set person, like you alluded to in the beginning, like you listened to my podcast for X amount of time, you got to know who I was and what I was about, what I stood for. You’d heard other success stories like you did your due diligence before making such an investment. So for everyone out there listening, like one of the best ways to kind of, you know, temper that fear of investment, if you will, is to do your, your research, like ask questions, ask why, learn, connect with the person that you are interested in, you know, working with that way. You get to know them on both the professional and hopefully a, a more personal human level as well. And you’re gonna start to be able to let your feelings take over your gut, the universe, whatever you want, gonna, whatever you want to call, it’s gonna really lead you like, oh, this is a really good fit. 

Speaker 1 (34:21):

And you’re gonna be able to really focus on the lifetime or long term value that you’re going to achieve from still doing the work. Like you still have to do the work, but get to know the person in the community who you are considering investing in, because that will really go a long way in smoothing out your decision process. And Nicole, I’m curious, you got to, as a wonderful, you know, opportunity, you were the 5% community member of the year, which we’re incredibly proud of you for. And so happy to celebrate you. We got to spend a couple of days together, down here in beautiful Tampa, Florida. What was your favorite part of that experience? 

Speaker 2 (34:55):

Wasn’t the ice <laugh> It was not the ice, 

Speaker 1 (35:02):

But you rocked it. 

Speaker 2 (35:03):

I dunno that I had a favorite. I enjoyed like the entire time. I didn’t have a favorite. I mean, we just like, you know, you were structured, you, you kind of came up structured in a way, but in, in a loose way, which I love. So we, we did do a lot, but it was so like laid back. So it was like, I was thinking about that like a couple days ago, I’m like, we really did. We kind of did a lot. I mean, it was fun. Got to know you guys a little more realize that you guys are really authentic. You’re the same in person as you are on TV <laugh> and, um, and so, yeah, no, it was just like a really cool experience and I’ve never been to Tampa, so that was cool. And it was so nice to see sun cause 

Speaker 1 (35:48):

<laugh>, 

Speaker 2 (35:48):

It’s very Dr. Outside. So, um, no, it was, it was really cool. I, I really, it was really special. 

Speaker 1 (35:55):

Yeah. You, we have a blast and McKayla before I shift to some rapid fire fun questions. Any other last questions you wanna ask Nicole while we have her? 

Speaker 3 (36:03):

No, I think we, I think we got ’em all outta you for the most part. 

Speaker 2 (36:07):

I just wanna add though, on that last comment, uh, with, um, uh, somebody trying, like, if they’re kind of on the fence of whether or not to join is that when you join a program, it really is important to trust the process before coming to a conclusion. So like, if you were to go to a doctor and a doctor’s prescribing you something, some sort of regimen for you and you don’t follow that and you go to the doctor and you’re like, you don’t know what you’re doing. You’re a bad doctor. You know, did you follow what your doctor was telling you to do? Are you putting in the work the doctor’s telling you? Because at some point, I mean, there could be, there are bad doctors, you know, there are, you know, bad professionals. I mean, they come in many different, you know, styles and effectiveness, but in order to true assess, if it’s the right person for you, you really need to be openminded and do the work that, that, I just wanna, I really, I, I can’t, I can’t express that enough because if, if you don’t try to do it or learn, it, it, it will, it won’t work no matter who you go to. 

Speaker 2 (37:14):

And you’re gonna keep going here, here, here, here, here. And that’s, I just wanted to, I just, that’s really important to share that. I think that’s important. 

Speaker 3 (37:23):

I love that. And Paul, that’s why we’re so, um, I use the right word here, but like careful and picky about who we bring into the community, because we want to like continue to foster that environment and, and set people up for success. Really. Like if you know, you aren’t at that readiness, then like you, you know, you’re, you’re not going to succeed because we’ll give you all the tools we’ll, you know, be there every step of the way, but yeah, you have to take ownership and you have to put in the work. Nobody can do it for you in anything in life. 

Speaker 1 (37:56):

Couldn’t agree more if the, one of the key traits that we look, look for, is it, are you open minded? Are you coachable? Because if you’re not, you know, the writings on the wall from, from early on in our, our connection call and it’s just not a perfect fit and that’s okay, there might be another perfect fit out there. But you know, we want like-minded individuals who, yes, they may share similar challenges and frustrations, but they have this deep burning desire to feel, be the S version of themselves. And they recognize that it, it requires grit. It requires falling down, getting back up, being open minded, new approaches in McKayla. I think I speak for both of us. Like we learn an incredible amount from each other person in here, because at the end of the day, it’s, like-minded humans connecting with like-minded humans. Some of us have weight loss and nutrition goals. Some of us don’t, we just want to feel better, be better. And ultimately everything we talk about from the emotional, psychological behavioral and nutritional component fuels that goal of feeling, looking and being better. So, Nicole, I’d love to wrap things up with a little bit of this or that here. So I’m gonna ask you a ahead, handful of rapid fire questions. I’m gonna give you two answers and just whatever comes top of mind, gut feeling, go with it. Okay. 

Speaker 2 (39:01):

All right. 

Speaker 1 (39:03):

Sweet or savory. 

Speaker 2 (39:05):

Savory. 

Speaker 1 (39:06):

I, I knew that actually from our trip together, McKayla and I were the one eating all the desserts <laugh> um, beach, vacation, or mountain bay. 

Speaker 2 (39:16):

Ooh, geez. That’s like a dead tie. Cause I like both. I’m not kidding. I love both. Okay. I’ll probably go for beach cuz I want sun right now. Beach. 

Speaker 1 (39:30):

Okay. Beach. It is beer or wine 

Speaker 2 (39:33):

Wine. 

Speaker 1 (39:36):

My next one is Netflix or book, 

Speaker 2 (39:39):

Book 

Speaker 1 (39:41):

Kindle or regular hard copy book. 

Speaker 2 (39:43):

Hard copy. 

Speaker 1 (39:44):

Relaxing vacation. Or go, go, go vacation. 

Speaker 2 (39:48):

Ugh. Depends on where it is. <laugh> it depends on where it is. Oh geez. Um, can I, I do a mix. 

Speaker 1 (40:01):

You can do a mix. 

Speaker 2 (40:02):

I’m gonna do a mix. I’m gonna go with a mix. <laugh> cause I don’t wanna just relax. I gotta do stuff too. So a mix. Yeah. 

Speaker 1 (40:09):

It’s more relaxing after you do it. 

Speaker 2 (40:12):

Yes, exactly. Exactly. 

Speaker 1 (40:14):

Awesome. Well, Nicole, thank you so much for joining us today. We really enjoy getting to connect with you. And most importantly, we appreciate you. You, you being courageous enough to share your story, your challenges, your frustrations, but also your incredible success of thank you so much for being here with us. 

Speaker 2 (40:29):

Thank you. I appreciate you guys. I appreciate you. Thank you. 

Speaker 1 (40:32):

Yeah. And for everyone listening, thank you for tuning in and listening to this episode, we have a strong feeling that you did find it valuable. And I’m certain that there was a lot of relatability of what Nicole shared about her story. So if you found this valuable, share it with someone else, you know, would benefit from hearing about Nicole’s experience and ultimately continue to do us a huge favor and please take 30 seconds, leave a genuine rating review of the show, whether that be on apple podcast, SoundCloud, Spotify, I, wherever you listen, it helps to grow the show. It helps to put Michaela and I in wonderful guests like Nicole in front of the right people, the right people who he need to hear the stories, the education and the strategies to ultimately feel, look, and be there best. Thank you again for listening and have a wonderful rest of your day. We’ll catch you in the next episode.