Episode 39 Transcript
[00:00:00] Welcome to The Be About Being Better podcast, where we help people make evidence based sustainable. Small changes for their health that compounded the huge shifts towards a better, more vibrant life. I'm your host Abbie Stasior, a health and life coach, future registered dietician, a master's graduate from Columbia University, and a certified intuitive eating counselor.
And I believe that we can't make lasting or meaningful change single handedly. So I'm so happy that you're here so that together you can see that a diet free, sustainable lifestyle is possible, and you can leverage that to live a better life. And remember my disclaimer, This podcast is meant to give you general information.
And it's not meant to substitute or replace medical advice, a diagnosis or serve as treatment.
Abbie: [00:00:00] Hello. Hello. Welcome back to the Be About Being Better podcast y'all. You are in for a little treat today. Uh, the episode that you're gonna be hearing is an interview with a previous client, Jenna. She went through the Be About Being Better Academy and she's gonna talk about her experience in the program and when she was going through the program.
She was engaged and she really felt this urge to start sweating for the wedding, and she was weighing herself every day and she felt a lot of pressure to change how she looked and felt a lot of pressure to lose weight going into the wedding season. So this. Episode is gonna be really important for you if you're engaged right now, if you're prepping for a wedding, like yes, certainly, but also if you're in a wedding or you're going to a wedding or have any event or going on vacation this summer, right?
Summer is approaching us at the time of this recording, so if you have any event or if you've ever felt pressure to lose weight or do a cleanse or something short term for an event, this episode is gonna be for you if you are also in the habit of weighing yourself every day. This episode is also for you because Jenna's testimony where she talks about how she was able to break free from this and how liberating it was, but also how difficult it was in the beginning, you know?
This is really gonna help you and give you a lot of perspective and it will also open your eyes into the types of coaching that I do with the clients that I work with the most closely. So if you've been listening to the podcast for a bit and you're getting a lot of tips and tricks and, and you're liking what you're hearing and you've been considering maybe taking our quiz to see which one of our Health Coaching Programs group could be for you, or applying to the Be About Being Better Academy, which is my signature health coaching program.
You know, this episode could give you a little bit more insights. You know, what I do with clients from hearing from a graduate of the program herself. So I'm really excited to, um, have you hear this interview with Jenna cuz she's just so fabulous and just such a great client to work with. And she saw a lot of success in the program and. This interview was recorded months after she went through the program, and she's still keeping up with all of these things today. So I am, I'm just so excited for y'all to hear her story because she has really made this a sustainable, healthy lifestyle and she dove into cycles thinking she'll talk about her routines and she'll talk about, you know, planning her wedding and all of that, and diet breaking away from diet culture.
So y'all are just really, really in for a treat and. I wanna let y'all know we have at the time of this recording, four spots left for our next class of the Be About Being Better Academy, starting June, 2023, so it's not too late. Head to the link in the show notes, learn more about the program apply. You can always DM me on Instagram if you have questions about the program.
I'm always willing to, to chat with you and once you apply, you're not committing to anything, but you're just, you know, give me a little bit of information about your goals, your contact info, and then you and I will hop on a Zoom call and we'll talk about your goals. We'll talk about your health history, what you really wanna accomplish, you know, why you wanna change your health now.
And um, and I'll give you more details about the program so that you can see if working together is the best fit for you. But if you have ever felt pressure to lose weight, if you know that dieting doesn't work for you and you want a sustainable, healthy lifestyle and not a get fit, quick solution, but actually a lifestyle that you can maintain long term.
And if you're someone that wants to feel confident on their wedding day and doesn't wanna feel pressured, have to change their body once they get engaged or, or not even just now, but like going to any event or vacation, you just wanna feel ah, Satisfied, comfortable, confident in your own skin. Now the academy is for you.
Those are the clients that I work with the most closely. They get the most accountability, the most customization, the most support, and I work with them on the mindset of all these things. Not only are we, you know, fully customizing your nutrition and your exercise routine and just your general morning and evening routines, but I'm helping you with your mindset.
I'm helping you heal your relationship with food. I'm helping you improve your body image. We just have an opportunity to dive deeper in, in the academy. So if you're looking to optimize your health and you really wanna break away from, get quick solutions to be about being together, academies for you.
And we got a few spots left, so head to the show notes, just submit application and you're not committing to anything. We'll just get on a call and, and see if it's best for you, hear more about it and, and you can tell me if it's something you wanna commit to. Awesome y'all. I'm super excited for you here to this episode.
Hello? Hello, y'all. Welcome back to the V about Being Better Podcast. I am joined with the Be About Being Better Academy graduate Jenna Cordero. Soon to be Jenna
Parks. Slay getting married. We are in our
Getting married era fiance era. We love this.
We love this journey for you and I am so excited to chat with you today to talk about how the Academy has changed your life and where your health was, where your health is now. You are seriously such an inspiration. I know you were such an inspiration too. The other clients that went through the academy at your time. Um, but I really think you're gonna be such an inspiration to our listeners, so thank you so much the podcast.
Jenna: Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited. This is like my favorite thing to talk about,
Abbie: Oh, okay. Good. Yay. All right, well, let's dive in. You know, I always start my, you know, podcast guest and We're just gonna dive right in the deep end. Um, I, I really don't, and for listeners that, I don't know if they know why I do this with all of my podcast guests, but I just saying it's so, like every podcast the same and you're like, so tell me about yourself. Where did you start? And it's like, let's just get into it. So I always like to change things up. What's one thing that you've been through, Jenna, that ultimately it was really hard to go through, but ultimately made you better?
Jenna: So, um, I am a pa, a Um, the listeners don't know, um, so I work in primary care. So, you know, at the end of the pandemic I was graduating PA school. Definitely didn't have the healthiest habits, um, just with all the studying, very rigorous, so lots of Taco Bell, fast food, late nights. You know, cortisol, very high, lot of stress. and then, you know, the pandemic, trying to find a job. I think I just kind of let my health go a little bit. Um, so I think 20 21, 20 22, my health was not great. Um, and I didn't feel great about myself and I think it was a lot of factors between school and the pandemic. So ultimately that was like my rock bottom and I was like, something has to change.
Abbie: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I think the pandemic really shaked all of us, you know? And especially working in healthcare during the pandemic, the struggle was seriously real. Um, so you had a lot of late nights definitely turning to fast food and like, how did that make you feel? Like, what were some of the, the outcomes of that?
Jenna: Um, You know, acne, like, I felt like I had a lot of like, puffiness in my face. Um, feeling low energy, not sleeping well at all. Anxiety. Um, you know, I went through a really, really bad bout of anxiety. Like, um, summer of 2020 after I graduated school. Like, I wasn't sleeping like at all. I was just up the whole night, anxious, just worrying about everything. Um, Yeah, not great. And as someone who, you know, I used to be a dancer and you know, I was always very thin growing up, very, very skinny. And then to lose that identity of myself was a little bit. You know, shocking. Um, to try and, you know, come to terms with my new body and my curves and you know, how my body had changed as I grew up too.
Abbie: Yeah, absolutely. And it, I mean, being a former dancer myself, I know it's something that you and I have connected on before. It is, So difficult to wrap your mind around. Like, I found some of my old leotards when I was home for Christmas and I'm like, This looks like it fits a American girl doll. How, how was I wearing that as a senior in high school? Like, that just No sense to me. And like, I know they're stretchy, but they're not, they're stretchy. Like definitely could not wear that, now. And you know, sometimes I do find myself, especially when I'm in like a deep luteal phase and about to get my period, like wishing that I had that body back. But it's like, Abby, you are not dancing 30, 40 hours a week anymore. It's not realistic. Why are we trying to go back to our 12 year old body? Let's start embracing the body that we have now. Um, but it, it is really hard, especially being in that world where you're constantly staring at yourself in the mirror. You're constantly wearing tights, like barely any clothes
Jenna: Mm-hmm.
Abbie: comparing
Jenna: In comparing yourself. Oh. Yes. You, took the words right outta my mouth. Like the comparison of like, you're staring in the mirror at yourself and you know, 15 other girls. So, um, luckily my dance studio wasn't very, you know, negative or competitive in that way, but you know, it gets to
Abbie: Yeah, Yeah. It definitely does and, and it's hard to recover from that. And when we're not exercising to that degree, it your body does. I mean, your body changes with age changes with hormones just as we get older, but also when you're not exercising the same way your body does change, and it can be hard to reconcile that for sure.
Jenna: Yeah. Yeah,
Abbie: Yeah.
Jenna: yeah, and drinking a lot as well. just like on the weekends to like you know, blow off steam. That was a, that was a big thing, you know, in college and grad school. I would wake up feeling horrible on the weekends. And then the weekdays I'd be studying. So it was just a constant cycle of negative feelings.
Abbie: Yeah, Absolutely. Absolutely. So wh where was that season in relation to you finding out about, like, us finding each other? I think we found each other on TikTok. Right.
Jenna: Yes, yes. On
Abbie: love that. Love TikTok. Yeah. So where was that journey like in relation, did you, like if. If you were kind of eating Taco Bell, like drinking more, having late nights ha like not feeling good about yourself and in your body. Did you try anything before the academy or you're like, no, I need help. I got immediate support.
Jenna: Um, I tried a lot, so, um, 2021, I think that's when I saw your tos. But before I had seen your tos, um, I actually was able to lose some weight on my own, not in the most healthy way.
Um, so that way was a combination of weight watchers and intermittent fasting. So I would eat between 12 and eight, um, and I did probably lose like 15 pounds. Um, I was doing some like home workouts, like home Pilates, walking, nothing too, some kickboxing classes here or there. But yeah, I was able to lose weight, um, and then gained it back and then tried fasting again. Um, I tried noom, which is the worst, worst thing in the world. Um, Noom. Yeah, we know. We know Noom, um, made me feel like I have to weigh myself every morning, which was a huge thing for me in the academy, as you know, that I had to work through. Um, so yeah, those were the three, weight Watchers, noom, and intermittent fasting. Um, and, you know, yes it was successful, but I did end up gaining the weight back and, you know, gained very unhealthy habits along the way. Um, So I saw your TikTok about cycle syncing. That was one of the first tos that I saw and I was like, Ooh, this is very interesting. Cuz you know, me being in the health field that really interested me a lot of, you know, the different cycles and everything. And I think you told me about, you know, your programs and I checked it out, but just at the time I didn't. It didn't feel right for me to do it. I just, you know, I was aware that it was there for me, but I was like, no, I can do this on my own. Um, and then this past summer when I got engaged, um, obviously I was so happy to be engaged, but I was just like, don't see myself being confident in a wedding dress. Like, I don't see that for me, like, as much as I'm so happy to be engaged and, you know, can't wait. I also, I don't feel good in my own skin yet, and I don't wanna go into a marriage feeling that way about myself. You know? Um, So again, I was like, yeah, I'm gonna try this on my own. A family friend does Optavia and my mom and I, yeah, I know my mom and I love this family friend. If she's listening, I'm sure she's not. Um, but We had a meeting with her about it because at this point I was like, okay, she's lost all this weight doing this. Like maybe this is what I need to do and I'll just like lose a bunch of weight and then like, you know, I'll be confident in the wedding dress and like, so we go, we do this meeting. And after I heard what it was about, I was like, this is the most unhealthy thing I've ever heard in my life. And I think that night I messaged you and I was like, I'm doing the academy. Like I,
Abbie: Oh
Jenna: I can't do this. So, At least I. I, I knew that it was unhealthy. I saw the red flags and I was like, mom, you're not doing that.
Abbie: Nope. And it is so expensive too, for y'all that don't know, it is like you can, they, they send you food if I'm not mistaken. And it is like eat, like you get like a little something to eat and you can only eat their meals and you have to take all of their supplements that they have all these crazy claims for.
Like
this burns all your fat
and changes your metabolism, ma'am. No it does not. It does not. Um, and they put you at such a caloric deficit. We've had several clients. Go through Octavia and then join our programs cuz they severe healing from all of this. Like it's literal trauma and it just ruins your relationship with food, destroys your body image. Um, because they put you at such a caloric deficit. I mean, they put, I think it's like 800 or a thousand calories a day. It's insane. And it's very expensive.
Jenna: What, what got me was when she said like, oh, they actually don't recommend that you exercise when you're on it. Like, yeah, because you're not eating enough to even be able to exercise. You're gonna pass out. So that to me, I was like, I need to exercise for my mental health and that no. That's not for me. So, um, yeah, that was like the defining moment of like, I'm doing something and I know that that's not the healthy way to do it, so, I'm just gonna do the academy and signed up.
Abbie: it. Yay. Well, you know, I always find that, you know, people find me at different times in their journey and people always sign up when it's the best time for them. When they feel like, okay, I can really commit. Like they know in the back of their mind. I'm there. Even people listening right now, you know that I'm there. Maybe we've even talked on the phone before about the, you know, that it's, you know, available to you. But it might not be the right time for you. Like, and as you know, Jenna, the academy works best when the client's really all in and they can really commit because we dive into some stuff. Like it's not easy work. I mean, we have to unlearn a lot of diet culture things and do things in a different way. Um, and it can be really challenging at times, like for you. I think one of the biggest hurdles that you had to get over was, um, not weighing yourself every single day. Do you mind speaking to that a little bit?
Jenna: Yeah, yeah, that was something that I didn't expect to be the hardest thing. Like, I don't know, I thought, um, the eating was gonna be more difficult or, you know, the following the workout plan, but it wasn't, it was like the mindset and then not weighing myself, um, which was a journey as you know, we tried and corrected a bunch of times. Um, but ultimately my fiance just hid the scale. about four months ago. I don't know where it is to this day. I have no idea. I haven't asked him to find it for me. Um, I haven't seen it.
Abbie: he threw it out.
Jenna: he very well may have. I don't know.
Abbie: Wow. Wow.
Jenna: I, yeah, so I have not weighed myself in a bit, you know, obviously working in a clinic, there are scales, but I, you know, Not very tempted at work to weigh myself surprisingly, cuz I think Noom ingrained in me that you have to do it when you wake up.So it was more so,
Abbie: in the morning, then you wouldn't weigh yourself. Okay. Now, did you have any like point where your fiance hadn't hidden it and you were trying to almost with your own willpower and discipline, not weigh yourself?
Jenna: Yes. Yes. And I was successful a few times. But I think it was just like me knowing that it was somewhere, like I remember looking for the scale bef like, like he wasn't home. And I like, I don't like to admit that, but like I was, I was, I was looking around our house for the scale.
Abbie: So it was still pulling your energy and attention Knowing that it was still there, kind of looming over you. So just having it like outta outta mind, outta sight completely, and you're not responsible for knowing where it is anymore, has really helped.
Jenna: Yeah. And yeah, you know, it's, it is what it is. But I have weighed myself, well, I went to the doctor, I did agree to get weight, so, you know, but it didn't trigger me like it did in the past, you know? I was okay with it. I was like, I'm healthy, I'm doing all these healthy things. So, um, yeah, slowly but surely, it's, you know, never gonna be perfect. But every day. A little better.
Abbie: Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely. And I think that that is so important for you to say that like, cuz I think a lot of people correlate a certain number with being healthy. But I think for you, and something we were able to work through in the academy is that. It's not about the number on the scale, you can actually be a lower number on the scale and be very unhealthy. Like I said, you lost weight doing weight watchers and intermittent fast, but you didn't necessarily do it in the healthiest way. Um, So, the number on the scale doesn't correlate to health, but you know, you can ha you have confidence in your healthy habits, in how you're eating and your mindset and your sustainable exercise routine, and your journaling or meditation, like whatever you're doing for your morning and evening routine may have changed a little bit since the academy, so I'd be curious to hear that. Um, but you can trust that you actually have a healthy lifestyle now and that's not tied to a certain number. So that helps you to feel more confident when actually getting
Jenna: Yeah. Yeah. Yep. And I think you told me once, like every time you don't weigh yourself when your brain is telling you to do it, like you're strengthening that connection. So I just tell myself that when I'm, when I don't weigh myself and I feel the urge, I'm like, okay, I'm gonna, I'm getting a little better with it, you know? Eventually, hopefully I won't have the urge anymore, so I just try to keep that in my mind.
Abbie: Yeah, absolutely. Cuz every time you would weigh yourself, it would strengthen that association, strengthen that habit for your morning routine. And every time you don't, it would help weaken it. Oh, it's so good. And just telling yourself, Hey, I'm feeling this urge to weigh myself right now. Not because I need to, but because I'm just in the habit of doing that in the morning where I don't really need that. I don't really need to. I'm gonna be okay. I'm gonna, I'm safe.
Jenna: Yeah, exactly. So,
Abbie: good. So good. I'm so proud of you. This is so good. Like, oh my gosh.So much growth. Um, so how are you feeling about your wedding day now?
Jenna: I feel great. Um, I feel like I'm confident. I've like, I didn't even realize that like I wasn't, I mean, we're doing a longer engagement, so almost two years from when we got engaged to when we're getting married. But I was just not really like feeling the motivation to like even start planning it. And looking back now, I think it's because I just, I was, yes, I was so happy to be engaged, but I just wasn't there with myself yet that I couldn't get myself to be planning it, if that makes sense. Um, so yeah, I think like a month or two into the academy, I was like starting to feel motivated to do it. You know, we booked our venue. So haven't went wedding dress shopping yet, but probably in April or May. So
Abbie: Yeah, it's so exciting, But at least you're like, okay, I can mentally start planning this now. Where before there was a mental block.
Jenna: Yeah, exactly.
Abbie: so good. Are there specific things that your fiance has done to make this journey of you finding body confidence you healing your relationship with food that have made it easier other than you know him removing the scale from the house and supporting you with that? Um, is there anything else that he's done where you're like, wow, like I, I really picked a good one there.
Jenna: Oh my god, so many things I could go on and on. Um, So, I mean, he cooks dinner a lot of the time because of my work schedule. So he's really good about like cooking healthy things and like he's totally gotten on board with, you know, the healthier meals, more veggies. Um, so that's been good to always know that I'll have some type of healthy dinner from him. Um, he always tells me that I look really good and you know, when I'm looking in the mirror and I'll be like, oh, I don't like, You know how my arm looks. He'll be like, it looks perfect. Like he just, you know, he hypes me up.
Abbie: Aw. Is that your love language? Words of affirmation?
Jenna: I think it might be, I think it's either quality time or words of affirmation. are probably my top
Abbie: Love it.
Jenna: Um, yeah, and then just, you know, both of us have started going to bed. Like we're, you know, nine o'clock we're, we're getting ready for bed. So that's been huge because we both used to stay up like really late watching TV or, you know, so, Yeah, I think he's lost weight with you. You said in the beginning, like people's, um, spouses or whatever partners will lose weight as a byproduct. I, it's definitely true.
Abbie: Yeah, isn't that wild? Like, and this isn't even a weight loss program, but you know, it's a healthy habits program, so you're focusing on healthy habits and we're doing that in a sustainable way. And sometimes when you do that, I mean, some people gain weight in the program because they're finally allowing themselves to eat and they're eating adequate calories. Um, and you're just kind of navigating that process. But some people do lose weight in the program. It's not really something we track or. Focus on, but sometimes it can happen as a byproduct and um, it's wild to see how with people living in the same household that just kind of pick up some of these habits that their partners can get healthier too. It's just, it's wild. But I love that. So it sounds like this is really brought you closer together.
Jenna: Yeah, I think for sure. Um, so yeah, we have our little routines. , but he's, he's so supportive.
Abbie: I'm so happy for you. That's awesome. So walk me through some of the other, um, like what would, what would you consider your major wins from the academy and the things that you got out of it?
Jenna: So besides, you know, the weighing myself thing, cause we already talked about that. Um, I am like the meal prep queen now. Like every Sunday I'm meal prepping. Like I am making four healthy breakfast and four healthy lunches every week. Like, I, I don't think I've missed a week since I started the academy. Um,
Abbie: so good.
Jenna: And that's been huge for me because, you know, working in healthcare, It just takes another decision out of my day when, you know, the whole day I'm making so many decisions and answering so many questions that just ha knowing that I have that food there ready for me Takes a lot of that stress out of the picture.
Abbie: Yeah, absolutely. And I think a lot of people believe that meal prepping is going to take more time and more energy out of their day, and it's like, yes, it is an investment on the front end like you do spend. Time on your Sundays, you've probably streamlined now where maybe in the beginning it was a significant amount of time, but for, for breakfast and for lunches doesn't have to be significant amount of time, especially if you streamline it. Um, and so yes, you are investing that time, but it's to save you time, energy, and attention throughout the week. It makes the rest of your easier.
Jenna: Yeah, it's, it's huge. So that's been. Great. Um, just eating breakfast in general was something that I didn't let myself do for so long. And like I felt so much better. Like I could show up better for myself, for my patients. Like I felt more energetic. Um, I wasn't like feeling like I needed to snack when I got home from work. Like I used to come home ravenous from work, even though I would eat a lunch. I would come home from work and I would just need to like snack. Um, and I don't have that anymore, so. That was huge. Yeah. Eat breakfast. Everybody Eat breakfast.
Abbie: Y'all didn't hear it from me. Coach Jenna's telling you. Sometimes I think you gotta hear it from somebody else too. Cause I feel like with that a piece of advice, I'm always like a broken record. But, um, so I appreciate that and it's so great to, like, there's the reason why y'all. That's why you have to eat breakfast because you're able to show up like your best self. One of the reasons you joined the academy was so that you could serve your patients better and actually have some nutrition advice to give them in a primary care
Jenna: Yes.
Abbie: So it's like you wanna make an impact that's you have specific gifts and talents that you were given to make an impact in this world, and you're able to fulfill that and reach your full potential if you're showing up as your best self. And if you have no energy to do that, or if you're just filled with thoughts like, oh, I'm so hungry. Oh, I'm so tired. Like, oh, I hate my arms. Oh, I feel so blood. Like, if all of those things are clogging your mind and taking up space, you're not able to show up as your best self. So by eating breakfast, we lowered the cortisol, which you said was really high for you back in the day during covid lowering the cortisol. And it's keeping you full and energy so you can show up as your best self. I love
Jenna: Yeah., yeah, and then like you said, you know, I've learned a lot to tell my patients, , the medical model, what we're taught in school, you know, um, isn't really the best advice to give to patients always. still is frustrating to me. BMI, and there's so many, I could go on and on about that, but that might be a separate episode. Um,
Abbie: Hope we need more time,
Jenna: you know, I, I didn't want to keep giving my patients the same boiler plate, like, oh, exercise for 150 minutes a week and eat vegetables. You know, there's a lot more that goes into it, so, I try. I don't have all the time in the world. I only get 20 minutes with my patients. But if I can give them something helpful that, that's a win for me. So, Um,
Abbie: absolutely. That's so good. And you don't have a lot of time, like I understand that I empathize with people in healthcare. You don't have a lot of time, but you have time to say something And most physicians and I used to, uh, work as a medical scribe and a primary care physician's office, so I know like they have time to at least say something. So it's like if you're gonna have a one liner. Mia's scribe is gonna put in the chart and that you're gonna say to the patient, let's make that an evidence-based non-diet, like a good one-liner that would actually help someone have sustainable, healthy habits and not
Jenna: Yeah,
Abbie: diet culture like, hello. Anyway, so Oh, I'm so happy you're making so, so much positive change. And that energizes me because I want like your patience. I might not have the ability to reach them. They may not be joining in my programs. You know, and so if I can pass some of these things onto you, you're able to ha continue on the ripple effect of what we're trying to do here and have people get away from diet culture. So I'm just so grateful for you. That's awesome.
Jenna: Oh, thank you.
Abbie: Now, one of the, um, other things I was just so impressed by, because you do have a busy schedule and it is very, Demanding working in healthcare and having to deal with all the BS that you have
Jenna: Yes.
Abbie: um, one of the things that we worked on were morning and in the academy, and I was so impressed that you really took ownership of your morning and evening routines. It was like, look, I need to, I think it was you put other clothes or you put your journal either in your guest room or a separate room upstairs. Where it's like, that's gonna be my space to do my morning routine so I don't wake up my fiance. Like, could you walk us through that thought process and how your morning routine has helped you with your day and how you've kind of customized that for
Jenna: Yeah, so that was huge for me was the morning routine I had, I feel like I changed it, like. 10 times it's changed even since the academy. A little bit. Um, you know, um, I put my phone across the room now that I still do, so that way I have to physically get out of bed to turn it off. Um, I'm a lot less likely to snooze or go back to sleep if I do that. Um, but yeah, basically I lay everything out in the guest room so that way I can get ready because I understand he doesn't wanna get up at five 15 in the morning. That's fine. Um, so I just go and do my thing in there. Um, And yeah, that was huge for me was just like putting everything in plain sight. Like, okay, these are my workout clothes, these are my clothes I'm gonna wear to work, here's my journal. Um, and it made things a lot easier for me. It was hard figuring out, okay, do I wanna, you know, journal and meditate before I work out, or do I wanna work out? And then, , I feel like I tried it both ways. Now I am a barre girly. I go to barre like all the time. I love it.
Abbie: love it.
Jenna: and you know, the, the academy made me like, have the confidence to wanna do that and realize that like, group fitness was something that I needed after just working out by myself in my house for, you know, two or three years. So now my routine has changed a little bit because I have to actually physically go in the car and drive to a class at 6:00 AM Um, Yeah, I just tweaked it, you know, a little bit and it works for me. So
Abbie: I love that. I love that. And one thing that you said earlier in the episode is that there were some trials in correction, and that's something that I'm so happy that you kept that verbiage from the academy because. We always say in society like trial and error, and if something's not working, we're trying something out and it's not working, then we see that as a failure. We see that as an error when in reality, especially with morning and evening routines, I want you to keep tweaking them and keep refining them and meeting yourself where you are in that season. So I'm so happy that you have refined your morning Um, and then changing your evening routine to help with the new changes in the morning routine. Like I just think that's what you're supposed to do as, as you evolve and get to know yourself better, more, and you, you just become more adaptable and it's not an error. You're not doing anything wrong, but maybe what you were doing before just isn't serving you for this season or what you need to do to accomplish in your morning. So it really is a trial and correction
Jenna: And it's like, even if you mess up, like, or you wake up late or whatever, I didn't meditate this day. Like, it's fine. I did, I went to a 50 minute workout class or like, you know, I got up and I journaled and I drank water. Like those are wins. So I'm given myself a lot more grace. I used to beat myself up about that kind of stuff, as you know. Um, But now, like, it's all right. You're you're doing good.giving myself some pep talks.
Abbie: Yes. you have to. You have to, and you have to recognize that those things. Are wins. That is you living a healthy lifestyle, sustainable, we're not gonna be able to do everything all the time for our health. I know I'm a broker, you've heard this in the academy, um, but I'm so happy that y you are living and breathing this now you've been able to sustain it, by like clearly in those three months you were really able to rewire a lot of things and now you really believe, okay, yeah, if I. Drink a little water. If I do my five minute journal, that is still a win. That is still me doing something for my health. Even if I didn't eat the best that day, or if I didn't eat what I meal prepped, or if I didn't, if I missed my workout class, I can still, it's not gonna ruin the rest of my day. I can still be healthy in that day. I.
Jenna: Exactly. Yeah,
Abbie: yeah, So we're almost, we're expanding our definition of what it means to be healthy, and you're making a conscious effort to call out your wins and celebrate yourself because you're gonna do those things more and more. What we recognize and reward gets repeated, so the more that you're celebrating yourself, number one, the better you feel. But the more often you're gonna do those things to to better yourself.
Jenna: Yeah, absolutely.
Abbie: Oh, so good. I'm so happy for you. Oh, like, this is all so amazing. I love it. So one of the reasons you joined the academy and how you found me was through my cycle syncing videos. So what have you done with cycle syncing? Is there anything that like surprised you when you were learning about cycle syncing? What was that process like for you when joining the academy?
Jenna: Yeah, so, um, I've. Was on birth control for like 10 years. Um, I got on it in high school because I was having very painful periods and I had a lot of acne, so my doctor was like, yep, like many of us. Um, I was put on birth control, um, and took the same one for 10 years. I mean, I didn't have any like, major horror stories. I know a lot of women, you know, are on several different. Types of birth control pills, and they go to, you know, implants or whatever. I was lucky to find one that worked for me. Um, but I was definitely curious about, you know, going off of it and, you know, my hormone health, all of that. Um, eventually, you know, I would like to start a family with my fiance, so that was a big thing for me was like, Making sure my hormones are optimized for down the line when we want to have children. A lot surprised me. You know, obviously I knew the, the phases from school, you know, from PA school, but, um, Yeah. The, the certain things that you should and shouldn't do were strange for me at first to be like, oh wow, okay, we're in our menstrual phase, like we're just gonna like stretch today. And having to be okay with that. Um, you know, whereas before I would kind of push myself to do harder workouts or Peloton rides and, you know, then I wouldn't feel great after. Um, and that was why, was because I was pushing myself to do something that my body was just not. Willing to do at that phase. Um, so I was interested in going off of birth control. I talked to you a little about it and you were like, Hey, I think you should, wait a little bit, do the academy for a month or two and, start to cycle even though you're on your, your birth control. So I did that. Every week I would plan what meals I was gonna make based on, you know, your little guide that you gave us Of like what foods were good to eat and when obviously you make the whole workout plan for us, which was great. So that way I knew exactly, you know, what workouts I should be doing. Um, so I did that for the three months and then I went off of birth control. Pretty much right when the academy ended. Um, and I got my period one day after.
Abbie: Are you serious? A one day
Jenna: Yep. One day. Yeah. I was expecting, yeah,
Abbie: Like
Jenna: and then even this month, even this month, it was a little more off. But I will admit I wasn't the best with cycle sinking last month. I did fall off a little bit with that, so I'm wondering if that has to do with it. I'm gonna try to be better with it this month. It came like three days late, but still. That's pretty,
Abbie: That's still pretty good. Yeah, because 28 days like, is kind of arbitrary. Like that there is a window. So three days really isn't bad. Um, in after being, um, on the pill for. 10
Jenna: 10 years.
Abbie: literally a literal decade. This, that's amazing. Wow. And that was one of the reasons why I wanted you to cycle, sink, and get used to the lifestyle and change and changing how you eat, how you exercise, how you do self-care, um, and start to cycle second and make that part of your lifestyle be before you went off. So it became Be, and also because y. You don't really know how your hormones are gonna react. Like not everyone's gonna get it the next day. I mean, for me, I had to wait one or two months. But people that aren't doing that could wait six to nine months, even a year to get a regular cycle back. Or, or a cycle back. So that is an honestly an incredible story. That's amazing.
Jenna: Yeah. I was very nervous specifically about my which, um, you know, I've had some breakouts. Nothing too, too bad so far. I am gonna go see a dermatologist just to,
Abbie: See what you can optimize.
Jenna: wanna look good for my wedding. Yeah. I want my skin to be nice.
Abbie: Yeah. And there's so many topical things that they can do. Versus having to take birth control for the purpose of skin relief. I mean, they have so many things now and they even have, um, pill that dermatologists recommend, like spir Lactone. I don't know if you've heard of that. They have a topical version of that. So if you have a lot of hormonal acne, most of the time they'll recommend Spera Lactone. But I just started that and I put it on during Ludial phase, and it really helps with my cystic acne. I'm like, all right, good. I don't have to take a pill every single day, but I'm still helping
Jenna: Yeah. Yeah. So. gonna go see my dermatology friends. Um, and, but yeah, I mean, it's been good. I feel so much more like in tune with my body now that I'm off of it. Um, I definitely feel less anxious and depressed. You know, I do take an antidepressant medication for my anxiety, but baseline, I already feel better. Like I just feel Like there's been a dark cloud lifted a little bit. Um, if that makes sense.
Abbie: Yeah. That's amazing. Good for you, Gemma. I mean, it takes a lot of courage too to get off of the pill and to change your lifestyle, um, to, to match the natural fluctuations of your hormones. Incredible.
Jenna: Yes, well I owe it all to you and also Alisa Vi's book In the Flow,
Abbie: In the flow. I love it. We'll link that up in the show notes so that y'all, um, can go grab her book. I love Elisa et and her work on cycle syncing, but it's obviously, you know, you could read the book and get a lot of insight, but sometimes you need. Help with how do I integrate it and with the foods that I like, or maybe some dietary restrictions. If you're vegetarian, for example, how do you make cycles sinking work? Or with the types of exercise that I like, how do I make cycles sinking work for me? So sometimes you need that customized support, and that's really what we do in the academies. I look at your preferences and your goals and your lifestyle, your time commitment, and figure out how what's gonna be best for you that you can actually sustain. It sounds like that's been working really well for you.
Jenna: Yeah, and I just tweak things here or there. Like if I do go to a bar class and I'm in Ludial, you know, bar is very low impact, but I'll just take the lighter weights or I'll do no weights. Um, whereas, you know, in my follicular or my ovulation, I'll grab the heavier weights and like really push myself a little more. Um,
Abbie: Love that. love that. Yeah. So even doing the same type of exercise all month long and keeping up with your bar class membership, you can change it based on where your energy levels are and where your hormone levels are. That's a perfect example. I love that. Love this for you. I'm so excited. Now, one thing I wanted to ask you about, you were always such an active member in the Academy community. You were always showing up to the calls and j just such a giver to the community. Could you speak a little bit to like what you thought of being in a group coaching program? I think sometimes that can be people. So from where where you sit, what was that like for you?
Jenna: I loved it. I literally, every Monday, like I looked forward to coming on the call with everyone. I miss them. , , you've just become like, a little family cohort, seeing the people that are in your small group every week and, you know, you get to know them, you celebrate their wins. Like, I was always so happy for the other people in my group when they would, you know, Do something that they wanted to do last week and they did it like that was so exciting to me. Um, So, yeah, and you learn things like from listening to the other members talk about what they're working on and then you give them advice. You can take some of that advice that you know, might not be for you specifically, but you, you learn as you're listening you coach them. So I love it.
Abbie: Absolutely. I love just opening up, hey, like if someone's struggling with water intake, what are y'all doing to hit your water goal every week? What's working for you? You can get so many other ideas like, yes, I have ideas. I know what's worked for previous clients, but there might be something else that somebody else is doing on the call and you're like, oh, I didn't like me. I didn't even think about that idea. You might be like, okay, I'm gonna pick that up. Ugh, so good. Love it. And I think you get more out of it, the more that you lean into it in the first call, you don't know these people, but you're with the same people every week, so it does get easier, which is nice.
Jenna: Yeah. and I just told myself like, I don't think I missed one call. Like I was like, I made this commitment to myself. I'm going to be there. And I, you know, was there every week and I looked forward to it. It was like the highlight of my week. Um,
Abbie: sweet. I love it. Oh, well, and you know, I, with the accountability piece too, and maybe that commitment It also helps that there's a financial commitment as well to hold you accountable. So do you mind speaking a little bit to the financial piece, especially with you planning a wedding and it's not easy. I speak with a lot of, uh, brides to be that are like, look, I want to do this, but I just can't invest right now because I have to invest in a wedding. So any tips on balancing that or what was your thought process with the financial
Jenna: like? I, was just like, I have to do this. Like I know that in the end this investment will pay off. And I looked at it sort of like this part of my wedding budget, you know, like this, like bettering myself and feeling better about myself. Like that will pay off. Um, yes, it is a financial investment, but a hundred percent worth every penny. Um, and you guys are so good with like payment plans, , so if you can do it. That's my advice.
Abbie: Oh, thanks Jenna. I appreciate you. Um, awesome. Yeah, and I really do try and work with people with, with different payment plans, um, just to make it easier for sure. Awesome. Well, is there anything else that, like any other, like words of wisdom that you have from the academy? Any other takeaways that you had?
Jenna: Yeah, um, I think it was, Very, you know, it, it changed me. It really did. Um, I think I messaged you at the beginning of January. I was like doing my plan, like my new planner for the year, and I was looking in last year's planner and I had written it, said like, write a letter to your future self.
And my letter that I wrote to my future self at the beginning of 2022 was all like, you know, Basically like you, you don't feel confident in yourself. Like you Like all I wanted to do was lose weight. I said, what is your number one goal for 2022? And I wrote, lose weight. I wanted to lose 25 pounds. That's what I wrote. And that was just so eye-opening for me. Like, wow, Like my mindset has just totally shifted. Like losing weight wasn't even on my radar to write down this year as any of my goals. Um, so. That was eye-opening and made me feel like I've made a lot of progress.
Abbie: good. That's so good. And it's like freeing. It's like, wow, look at all these other things that I can set goals with. Because now I don't have to put weight loss Um, oh, I'm so proud of you in your progress and thank you for, you know, giving the academy in your all for showing up and I with a coaching relationship, it's gotta come from both ways. Like, I can give you all the advice in the world, I can give you all the tracking sheets, all the recipes, all the ideas, um, but you are the one that actually has to make it happen and give it a try. And you are always so willing. To be coached and to try different things and work with me so it just worked because we were working together and you were really open-minded. So thank you for taking action, being a giver to the community, and it clearly, it's paid off. I can't believe you got your period in one day. Like, ah,
Jenna: It's wild. Thank you for, you know, making your tos cuz I wouldn't have found you otherwise. Um, you just are so supportive and I can't thank you enough for everything you did for me and you know, how you changed my life. So I'll forever be so grateful to you in the academy.
Abbie: I love you, Jenna. Thank you. You're the best. Now, my last question that I always ask every guest is, and you're familiar with this cuz you're in the academy and we set targets every single week, but what is one thing, one target that you have.For this week, what's one thing you're gonna do this week to better your health?
Jenna: So I've fallen off the meditation wagon a little bit. And it's because I have to drive to bar class and then I get back and there's not too much time in between. Like I really have to, you know, quickly shower and get out the door. So my target is gonna be that I'm going to meditate. Before I go to barre class,
Abbie: Perfect. Perfect. I think that's a great goal for you. Yeah. Cause I think after you're just in, go, go gomo, like you gotta get to work. Um, to be that long. Could just be five minutes.
Jenna: Yeah, but I've definitely noticed a difference of like, when I don't meditate, I feel work has been a little more stressful recently. Um, so I think I could use the, the meditation, um, or even, we'll see how this week goes, but even meditating like before bed might not be the worst thing either if I can't make it work in the morning. So,
Abbie: Yeah,
Jenna: my backup.
Abbie: options there for sure. Love that. Yay. All right, Jenna. Well, thanks for joining me today. I appreciate it, and I will chat with you soon.
Jenna: Thanks for having me. Bye.
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