How a 51-Year-Old Woman Got Strong Without Starving Herself

Luisa: I never thought at 51 I was going to be doing deadlifts. And then my coach is saying to me, hey, Luisa, I don't think you're lifting heavy enough. It's just a lot more than that.

Nikkiey: Today I have another WarriorBabe here with us, WarriorBabe Luisa. She spent years before WarriorBabe searching for answers. She was working with trainers. She was following strict diets. She was even taking medication, only to feel frustrated, exhausted and stuck along her journey. Every program left her feeling drained. Nothing seemed to work. But then she found WarriorBabe. She found us and everything changed. She's healed her metabolism. She's rebuilt her strength. She's discovered that true health isn't just about workouts and macros. It's about the mindset and the emotions, and breaking free from the habits and the stories and the beliefs that have been holding her back, and that hold a lot of women back.

And now she's stronger, healthier, and she's here rewriting her story with us. She's here to tell us her story on this interview today. Luisa, welcome. Excited to have you here.

Luisa: Thank you, Nikkiey. I'm excited to be here. Thanks again.

Nikkiey: Yeah, of course. So let's fill the listeners in. Where are you from? What do you do for work? And how old are you?

Luisa: I'm 51 years old. I'm currently not employed. I made a big life decision last year to quit my job after 27 years.

Nikkiey: Oh, man.

Luisa: And to follow my dreams to become a licensed esthetician.

Nikkiey: Women need more of that in the world.

Luisa: So I completed my certification, so I'm a licensed esthetician now. My husband and I travel back and forth from D.C. to Georgia because of his job. Now we're in Georgia, and I think we're probably going to be staying here in Georgia. So I'm in the process of getting my endorsement in Georgia so that I can practice here as well.

Nikkiey: Wow. Congratulations. Celebrating you on that journey. It's a new season of life for you.

Luisa: Yes. A big change. I was in banking. I went from banking to being an esthetician.

Nikkiey: Girl, that takes a lot of courage. Let's go.

Luisa: Thanks.

Nikkiey: All right. So let's dive in. What was your health and fitness situation? What did that look like before WarriorBabe?

Luisa: I was trying to think of how far I should go back, and I said, okay, let me start in my 30s. In my 30s I was doing Beachbody, and it was working. I was seeing changes. Then I got into my mid-30s and I started doing IVF treatments. So that completely took a toll on my body.

Nikkiey: Heck yeah, it does.

Luisa: So I started seeing a lot of changes. And in between that, I said, well, I'll do a weight management program. So I was in a calorie deficit because Beachbody wasn't working anymore. I wasn't really going to the gym. I was just walking or cycling or whatever. So I did that calorie deficit and the weight came off. Looking back now, knowing what I know now, I lost a lot of muscle, the little bit that I was able to build during Beachbody. So it came back again.

At that point I said, okay, well, I'll hire a personal trainer. And I hired a personal trainer. Everything was good the first maybe three, four, six months. At that point I said, well, I want to do a bikini competition. I had no idea. I just said, okay, let me put a goal out there. And then as we got closer to that one-year mark, my coach said, I don't think it's going to happen, Luisa. I'm not seeing the changes. I don't think you're ready. I said, fine, whatever.

So then we started doing HIIT training. But in all of this, knowing what I know now, I wasn't fueling my body properly. So I was working out really hard, and it was really hard to recover from my training. I had hired a couple, so she would train me sometimes and he would train me sometimes. I would find myself canceling my workouts because I just couldn't keep up with it. I was really, really tired, super sore. And so I was stuck. I wasn't seeing any additional results.

And then I ended up moving to D.C. at the time, so I had no trainer. So I said, well, let me join F45. And I joined F45. It was a lot of HIIT training and cardio. And I ended up with a really bad sore back, and I was just really, really tired. In the midst of all this, I had moved to a different city, gotten a new job in the same company but a different environment. And I just was not seeing the weight come off. I was just exhausted. I'm like, what am I doing wrong?

Nikkiey: Can I just interrupt you? With all of that that you were doing with the training, you mentioned that you weren't fueling your body enough. Can you talk a little bit about what your nutrition habits looked like? How were you eating in congruence with your workouts?

Luisa: I didn't fuel before I went to my workouts. I would do pre-workouts, but the liquid stuff.

Nikkiey: Sure.

Luisa: And afterwards, if I was tired in the morning, I would have a cup of coffee and maybe some toast or something. And that was it. I didn't think about protein. I didn't think about any of that. So I was crashing. I was literally crawling towards the end of the day.

So F45 didn't work. Then I said, okay, well, let me try Optavia, another calorie deficit. And I was starving. I wasn't working out at the time because the person I was doing the program with said, well, all you can really do is walk. You can't really train. You can't go to the gym because you're in a calorie deficit. So I tried that for maybe three months. It didn't work out at all.

So then I said, okay, let me go to an endocrinologist, because I have thyroid issues, and see if they can check out my hormones, see where I am, and if we need to modify my medication. They gave me a whole bunch of supplements. They said, just continue to go to the gym, but do keto. So you're going to do keto, take the supplements, keep working out, and you'll be fine. And that didn't work out either. I was still super tired, super sore, bloated, very low energy.

Nikkiey: What was the most frustrating part about that, feeling like nothing was working?

Luisa: When I look back, it's like, what am I doing wrong? How come? What's wrong with my body? Why can't I do this?

Nikkiey: Breaks my heart.

Luisa: Because I was following everything, especially what the endocrinologist said. I'm doing what they're telling me to do. But everything was a quick fix, and then I just regressed. And so the weight kept piling on, piling on.

And then I joined the Blueprint in October of 2022. I knew nothing about macros, like nothing. When they signed me up, they said, have you ever heard of macros? I was like, no, am I supposed to know about this? Because I'd never heard about it. Anyway, fast forward to January 2023. I said, well, I really, really need help. I need somebody to hold my hand and really guide me through this, because I just can't do it anymore. And that's when I signed up for the VIP program.

But before that, I forgot to mention, I was scrolling through social media and I saw you on Facebook, and I said, man, she's a badass. Look at her muscles. And you keep featuring the women that are in the community, and I'm like, they're like me. They're my age. So if they can do it, I can do it. They changed their total body composition. When they speak about their experience, they really feel confident. Everything changed. So I said, I can try this. I'm going to try this. I tried everything else, so what can I lose? So that's how I got involved in the Blueprint and then the VIP.

Nikkiey: I love that. I want to unpack that whole experience for you of how you found us, scrolling through Facebook, and what resonated with you the most. But before I get to that chapter of your journey, I want to take a couple of steps back. You mentioned on the interview form that someone told you that you would never be able to look strong or muscular. I want to find that person and go fight them for you. Who says that? How did that belief affect you? How did that affect your confidence?

Luisa: I still remember to this day. The person said to me, you're too old to build any muscle. You're too old to do anything.

Nikkiey: What a projection of an insecurity to put on someone. That is so wrong.

Luisa: So, yeah, I still remember that.

Nikkiey: Wow. Sorry if I'm getting defensive for you. I'm sorry if it's a family member or close friend.

Luisa: No, no. It's somebody that's no longer in my life.

Nikkiey: Okay. Well, how did that affect you? What emotions came to the surface for you during that time?

Luisa: At the time I was like, man, I wonder if that's true. And then I said to myself, you know what, I'm going to prove to this person that I can do this. And this was when I had the coach, and that's why I said I want to participate in a bikini contest. That's the reason why I said that. Because I wanted to prove that person wrong. But yeah, here we are, years later.

Nikkiey: What was your turning point? During that conversation, or maybe a couple of days later, maybe you started to believe it but you didn't accept it, because you were like, no, I'm going to prove this person wrong. What was the turning point where you decided you weren't going to accept that as your reality?

Luisa: Because I don't like people to tell me that I can't do something. I can't stand it.

Nikkiey: We would get along. Someone's going to tell you you can't, and you're like, watch me, I'm going to go do it.

Luisa: Yes. I can't stand it.

Nikkiey: I love that. Did that struggle impact any other areas of your life, like your relationships or your own self-worth? How did you feel during that time when you were doing the work? You mentioned earlier that you felt like something was wrong with you. There are so many women that feel that way. There are so many women that feel like they're strangers in their bodies, even though they're trying to do so many of the things they're being told to do. They feel like they're broken. We've had WarriorBabes come to us saying something's wrong with me, but really it's all the shit that's out there telling them to do calorie deficits and eat less and overtrain. And of course you're not going to get where you want to be. And this takes a toll on you as a person, because you think you're following all the things. How did that impact, not just what you were trying to achieve, but other areas of your life?

Luisa: One of the things I've learned about myself in the program is that you feel guilty because you're eating, or you feel guilty because you're not going to the gym enough. And it plays a really big toll on your mind, on how you feel about yourself and how you look at yourself. And I think in every aspect as a woman, when you go to the gym, you feel like you're not doing a good enough job, or you're not doing it right, or people are going to criticize you. I think there are a lot of emotions involved in that.

Nikkiey: Yeah, totally. We need a whole episode together to unpack all the emotions a woman experiences during that time. How about this one? You mentioned that you felt like you were at a dead end before WarriorBabe. What did that mean to you?

Luisa: At one point I was like, why am I even going to the gym? Why am I even doing this? It was almost like self-punishment. I'm not going to do this anymore because I'm not getting anywhere. I'm feeling tired. I'm not seeing any change. I'll just eat whatever I want and not go to the gym, because I wasn't seeing any results. I wasn't feeling happy. I didn't like putting on clothes. I always covered myself because I didn't want to look at myself in the mirror.

Honestly, when I had to take those first pictures, oh my gosh, they were so hard to take. It was hard to see myself. It was the hardest thing. But one thing on that: if you are scared to take pictures, don't be scared to take pictures. Because I look back at those, and my coach has called me out on it. I tell her in my check-ins, I feel a little fluffy. And she says, okay, Luisa, let's look at your pictures, where you were and where you are now. And by the way, you haven't been hitting your macros, or you've been lagging on this or that. So take your pictures. It's so scary to look at yourself. But then when you look back, it's like, holy cow, I did all of this. And you don't realize it, because for me, I was just doing what Coach was telling me to do. I was learning along the way as well, because it was so new to me. So you don't realize it until you actually take a moment and look back at everything you've actually done.

Nikkiey: I love that you added that. I think that's really important for the women listening, because at the beginning of the journey, you're starting a journey for a reason and you're given the visual right in front of your face. You have to look at it, and it's uncomfortable. And you're like, how did I get this far? I'm not happy with the way that I look. But to your point, it's about remembering why you started the journey. Six months later, you can look back and be like, holy cow, the comparison is completely different, and I'm seeing the results. And there's the accountability. You have to take the pictures, because the coach doesn't know how to work with you until she sees your body and what you look like, so she can really formulate a plan, knowing where your muscle mass is relative to your fat, and give you a plan that's going to be optimized for you. And then on a weekly basis, those photos are accountability. It's framing the story differently to make you want to take the pictures and post them. Is there anything else you wanted to say there before I jump into the next bucket?

Luisa: No.

Nikkiey: Okay. You mentioned that you saw me while scrolling through Facebook. Was there anything that resonated with you specifically that made you decide to click to learn more, or to fill out the 19-question application? At that point I think that's how many questions it was. I know it was pretty lengthy. What resonated with you the most during that time?

Luisa: Like I said earlier, what resonated with me was that the women on there were my age group. And they were having success. They were having great results. They were feeling better. They were feeling more confident. They were stronger. That was really what made an impact for me, knowing that there are women like myself out there that have gone through the struggle and have been successful with the program. So if they can do it, I know I can do it. I felt like I would fit in, like it would be the place for me.

Nikkiey: Oh, I love that.

Nikkiey: Ladies, are you feeling frustrated with body changes you're experiencing during menopause? It's time to take control. If you're between 45 and 65 years old and tired of struggling with body fat and muscle loss, WarriorBabe is here for you. At WarriorBabe, we've helped over 18,000 women just like you lose body fat, build toned muscle and understand their bodies better, with personalized plans based on hormone and thyroid testing and more. Imagine knowing exactly what your body needs to see real results, and results that last. Don't wait anymore. Take charge of your health and join our community of strong, empowered women. Visit warriorbabe.com/apply today to start your transformation. That's warriorbabe.com/apply. All right, let's get back to the show.

Nikkiey: What made you say yes when you talked to one of our enrollment advisors?

Luisa: When I was talking to her, she asked, so what are you doing now? I said, well, I'm doing HIIT training, I'm doing this. And she said, I think you're doing your body a disservice. You think you're doing a good thing. And then when I told her what I was eating, she said, you're totally under-eating and you're doing all of this. No wonder you have no energy. So I knew that something needed to change, because I was working out, but there was something missing in the puzzle that I wasn't doing.

So what I liked is that we had workouts, but we were also looking at nutrition. That was the one piece I was missing when I had my personal trainer. I love them. They were great. I had a lot of fun. But I was missing that other piece, which is the nutrition, which is so, so important. When I go to the gym sometimes, I look back and think to myself, how did I even manage to do this without proper nutrition? How was I even holding up for 45 minutes to an hour without properly giving my body what it needed to perform what I was asking it to do? No wonder I was feeling so tired and sore. It just wasn't working. The two don't work together.

Nikkiey: Isn't that crazy, from what you were doing to what you know now?

Luisa: Yes. It's crazy for sure.

Nikkiey: Hey, while you're listening, if you're getting value from this episode, take a moment to tap that review button or share this podcast with a friend. It's a small gesture that goes a long way in helping more women find their way to feeling stronger and more confident in their skin. I appreciate you so much for taking the time to support this show.

So I'm curious, because you mentioned a little bit about what you were eating beforehand, and then coming in, you were learning our approach at the beginning. What did Coach Jen do with you in terms of taking your nutrition from where you were to, I'm sure, getting you to eat more food? And what was that process like for you?

Luisa: My first year, I would say, was about learning a lot, and we were just working on healing my body. I don't think I knew that at the time. We were just working on healing my body, and I consider that I was pretty patient, because I wasn't seeing drastic changes, but I was feeling better. My clothes were fitting better. I wasn't as bloated. And she slowly started increasing my macros, and we were playing with that to see how my body would react. We didn't do any cuts. We did maybe a mini cut, but most of the time I was in maintenance, trying to heal the body. And Jen was so gentle with everything.

For me, it didn't feel like I was healing, but I really was, now that I look back on it. There's a lot of healing that takes place when you're giving the body what it needs in order to do what you're asking it to do. And there are also a lot of mental things that happen, emotional things and triggers. I mentioned earlier about feeling guilty if I had a slice of pizza, or if I went out and maybe had a drink. You stay away from all that. Now I'm like, oh, I can do this, as long as it makes sense.

Nikkiey: Yep.

Luisa: Not that I do it all the time, but I know. So I'm not restricting and not having the things I enjoy and punishing myself or feeling guilt.

Nikkiey: You had to rewrite that narrative in your mind. There was guilt with the other programs you did, where it felt like those things were restricted or not allowed. And here we were basically saying you can have those things if it makes sense for your day, and you can unlock things. So it's rewriting that narrative.

Luisa: Yes. So a lot of my first year was spent, like I said, on healing the body and learning about macros. The first several months were really, really hard, navigating how to use MyFitnessPal, what to do as far as my meals, weighing everything. And now sometimes I play a little game. I'll say, well, I think this is this many grams, and I'm like, oh, I got it. So it's a lot of learning the first year. But it's needed in order to get where you want to be. It's the stepping stone toward your goals. We have to do this because this is crucial. This is the learning point. This is the healing point. This is the mental shift point of unlearning old habits, unlearning ways of thinking. And I'm still learning.

Nikkiey: Yeah, totally. What I love to hear, as you explain it as the healing period, is you recognizing that you couldn't continue to do more of what you were doing, because it wasn't getting you the results you wanted. So you openly accepted, okay, I'm going to eat more food. I'm going to eat at maintenance for a good portion of a year, as you mentioned, knowing that it's healing your body. And even though you may not see tons of changes, you know that internally your body is healing from all of the years that you didn't fuel it enough, or were doing too much cardio. And you were taking that time to set the stage for the next thing you were going to do with us, whether it was a cut or maintenance or whatever you went into next, which I'll ask you about in a little bit. But I love that you recognized it as a healing period.

You also mentioned that you thought WarriorBabe was just going to be nutrition and workouts.

Luisa: Yes.

Nikkiey: But it ended up being so much more.

Luisa: It is a lot more.

Nikkiey: Was that a surprise to you about the program?

Luisa: It's so much more. When we have our huddles, we talk about a lot of mindset, breaking old habits. Even in our group chats, we share a lot about our struggles and things we go through as women. And now I'm going through starting menopause, so there's a whole bunch of emotions that go through your body and mentally. WarriorBabe does such an amazing job at supporting you, not only with your coach, not only with your group or the Facebook community, but the calls, the podcasts you do, education on so many different things. Now you're doing stuff on meditation. That's so important.

And all of that affects us physically, because it affects the things we do physically. If we're not doing the basics, not getting enough sleep, not eating, not mentally or emotionally on the right track, it's going to hinder everything else we try to do in our lives. So it's not just about working out and macros. It's so much more. And I want people to know that, because it's so important.

Nikkiey: I love that. That's what we strive to be within this space. Maybe this is similar to the answer you just gave me, but I'm curious, what made WarriorBabe different from all of the other programs you tried before you found us?

Luisa: It's a big community, but at the same time, with the coach, it's so personable. My coach has modified my workouts and my macros based on where I am in life. Last year when I quit my job, I was going to school full time. I'm older, so it's hard for me going back to school and learning such different things. So we talked a lot about what I needed my workouts to look like and what I needed my macros to look like, because I was busy and my brain and my body were under a lot of stress, taking in all this new information and navigating the change of not doing what I was doing before.

So we would look at where I was and what we needed to do to not add additional stress on me. How was I sleeping? What did I need my workouts to look like? I think at one point Jen was building my workouts and I said, I need my workouts to be exactly 45 minutes. And she started laughing. She said, why 45 minutes? I said, because I have this much time to work out and then go to school, and I like to do my workouts in the morning because I just feel so much better. So even to that point. And honestly, I spent a lot of time in maintenance, because it wasn't the right time to do anything else.

Nikkiey: Can I actually go back to the last question? Maybe it was just me. It's hard sometimes to pick it up through a computer. Did that question get you a little emotional, about how it's so much more?

Luisa: Yes.

Nikkiey: Why?

Luisa: Oh my gosh, Nikkiey, you're going to make me cry.

Nikkiey: Sorry. I saw it and I didn't want to let it go. I just wanted to circle back to it. This is what makes it so beautiful.

Luisa: Yes, it is. It's so much more than that. It's more than just working out and learning how to eat healthier.

Nikkiey: What is it to you? What's so much more about it?

Luisa: It's letting go of old beliefs, of things you thought you had to be or couldn't be. I never thought at 51 I was going to be doing deadlifts. And then my coach is saying to me, hey, Luisa, I don't think you're lifting heavy enough. So it's just a lot more than that. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cry.

Nikkiey: No, please. This is a safe space, girl. I'm here with you.

Luisa: I think for the women that are not in the community, it would be hard for them to understand. But I guarantee you will understand if you join the community. Those of us that have been in the community for a while, or even a year, or even six months, truly understand when I say that this is not a program that is just workouts and nutrition. It's so much more than that. It forces you to really take a deep look in the mirror and ask yourself, who do you want to be? Forget about who you were, or who you thought you were, or who people told you you were. Who do you want to be? Who cares what people think? Write your story, set your goals, connect with your coach, lean on your community, listen to the education we have in the community, and just take ownership.

It's not always going to be perfect. You're not always going to feel like you're on top of the world. That's not life. But you're going to be able to listen to your body, listen to your emotions, and sometimes even talk yourself out of the most negative thing in your mind. It can be when you wake up in the morning feeling like crap and telling yourself, you know what? I hear this a lot too: you get to go work out, because some people can't do that. And sometimes you just have to give yourself grace and say, you know what, you deserve a break. But don't sit there too long, because you've got to think about what your plans are and what your goals are and who that person you want to be is, and you owe it to her.

Nikkiey: I got chills. You're my hero, Luisa. That's beautiful. It takes a lot of awareness to see that it's not about who you are right now. It's about the person you're wanting to become, and that person is going to need to show up a little bit differently. And she's also got to put the blinders on and the earplugs in for the people that don't get why you're doing what you're doing, because this is your journey, and you're the only one that really understands that mentally.

And what was beautiful in what you said earlier about the community is that when women seek out something like this, there's not a lot of belief, because it's been trampled on by the things they've done and tried before. So you're not just buying into the workouts and the fitness and the nutrition. You're buying into the belief that somebody has on the other side, like Jen or the coaches or the community of women that are in this too, who maybe have been here a little bit longer. I'm sure you, being in the program longer, have watched newer people come in, maybe three or four months in, or maybe in their first week, and you've been able to pour into them and say, I believe that you can do this too. It's a trickle effect. So to your point that women won't know it until they're in it, that's very valid. You don't really know until you're in it and surrounded by the energy of the belief that's getting poured into you by your coach or the women on a daily basis.

Luisa: Yes.

Nikkiey: Wow. Thank you for getting emotional. I love that shit. It brings out the rawness in a conversation. It brings out the realness behind the human. Everybody has their own experience, and we all feel that on so many levels.

Luisa: Yes.

Nikkiey: So where are you now in your journey with Jen? You did the healing for the year. Where are you at now? What's the focus?

Luisa: We started talking late last year about what I wanted to accomplish this year, and we started off with a build. So I'm in a build.

Nikkiey: Let's go. How are you feeling about that?

Luisa: It's funny you're asking about that, because I had my check-in with Jen. I love her. I love my community. I love Jen. And she called me out. She said, all right, Luisa, I'm going to have to give you some tough love. What am I going to have to tell you to get you to see that you can lift heavier? You're stronger than you think. She literally pulled up my numbers and said, this is what you've been doing for the past three weeks. I need you to think about this and get back to me. I need to know what's preventing you. What's causing that fear?

So I did a lot of digging deep, and I said, well, Jen, I can't ask anybody to spot me, or my back, or this. I want you to check my form. So anyway, I got to the gym this morning and I said, I'm going to show her. I'm going to send her a video. And I did. And she said, I'm really proud of you. You stepped it up, but I think you can do more. There's no hesitation in you lifting that bar, Luisa. So I promised her that I'm going to push myself to my limits.

And she said, even if you just do five reps, you have to show yourself what you're capable of doing and really believe. And I said, well, I don't like asking for help. I'm at the gym. I don't want to ask anybody to help me lift or spot. She said, it's okay to ask for help. It's okay to ask for help. And that's one of the other things I've learned, that it's okay to ask for help. You're not weak if you ask for help. But yeah, she definitely called me out on it. So we're going to be working through that.

Nikkiey: I love that. How did it feel to get that type of honesty from your coach?

Luisa: I needed to hear that. If she didn't do that, I was going to keep doing the same thing I was doing, because I was comfortable. And one of the things she said is, your body's not going to change unless you push it. If you keep doing the same thing, we're not going to see results. We both know what your goals are. We both know you love going to the gym. We both know you're dedicated. But I need to see more. I need to see you push yourself. And one of the things she always says is, I believe in you.

So with that being said, there are times she sees what I don't see.

Nikkiey: Yep.

Luisa: And she makes you dig deeper. It's not to stir up emotion or get you upset. It's to really help you have a thought process: why am I doing this? Why am I not doing this? What's stopping me from doing this? I love that, because if she didn't do that, I wouldn't have pushed myself. And I'm going to continue to push myself, and I'll send her more videos with higher weight and show her.

Nikkiey: You need somebody like that in your corner. You show her. That's right. And she'll be hearing this, and she's like, okay, well, show me, Luisa. Let's go, Jen. Keep pushing her. So what are some of your other top achievements?

Luisa: Obviously I've gotten stronger. I've done mini cuts. And one of the things I mentioned to Jen is that I don't feel self-conscious when I go to the gym anymore. There could be guys there, and I used to be so afraid to go where the bench and all the free weights were. I'd think, I don't know what to do, I don't know if I'm doing it right. But now I have a plan, and I won't be afraid to say, are you done with that? Because I need to use it.

Nikkiey: Hell yeah. How many more sets do you have? How many more reps do you have?

Luisa: Whereas before I would be like, well, I guess I'm not going to do that today because somebody else is using it.

Nikkiey: Let's go.

Luisa: So that's one of the things I've noticed. I love going to the gym. In the morning, that's what starts my day. It sets the tone for the day. And I'm confident. I put my AirPods in, and I either listen to you or listen to music. I was listening to Unstoppable today when I was doing my deadlifts, by the way.

Nikkiey: Let's go.

Luisa: I put it on replay, replay, replay. I'm like, I need to listen to this. Today's the day. So that's one of the things I've noticed about myself. I'm more confident at the gym.

Nikkiey: What does it feel like to look back and see how far you've come?

Luisa: It feels really good. It feels amazing, because I never thought I would be where I am now. I'm eating more food than I ever have in my life, and I'm like, that's crazy. I'm going through perimenopause, and I feel stronger. I have more energy, more clarity, and I sleep better. That was one of the things: I did the hormone testing that you had offered, with Dr. Cabral, and we worked through some things and treated some things with Jen on that. So I'm sleeping a lot better. It feels great to feel so empowered and confident, and to not be afraid to go into the gym by myself and do what I've got to do, and go home and just have a great start to my day.

Nikkiey: I love that so much. What about if you had never made a change? Where do you think you'd be today?

Luisa: The first thing that comes to mind is the other day, my husband and I went to Lowe's, and he said, well, I'll carry that bag of mulch. Before, I would never have been able to carry that bag of mulch.

Nikkiey: Oh, I love that visual.

Luisa: I forgot to tell Jen that. I said, oh, that's okay, just hold the cart, I'll carry it. And he's like, holy shit.

Nikkiey: Let's go. Oh, I love that.

Luisa: And he's always teasing me. He's like, come on, you're a WarriorBabe, I know you can do it. So that's one thing too: it's good to have that support. If you don't, well, like you said, it's your story. But it's nice to have that support as well.

But back to your question. If I had never done this, I would probably be feeling really crappy, especially with everything my hormones are going through now, starting a different phase of my life in perimenopause. I probably would have never quit my job and taken that leap of faith. I don't believe I would have been able to do that. And the reason I say that is one of the things I've learned in the WarriorBabe journey is that it's okay to fail. It's okay to ask for help. It's okay to trust. And if you don't succeed, at least you tried.

Nikkiey: Amen. Love that. That's great advice.

Luisa: So a lot has changed.

Nikkiey: You should be so proud of your journey, Luisa. It's really cool to hear this story, the real, raw, honest side of where you were before, the middle, where you are now and what you've accomplished.

Luisa: Thank you.

Nikkiey: As we wrap up today, is there anything else you wanted to share before I ask a couple of final questions and we close the interview?

Luisa: I would say if you're thinking about joining WarriorBabe, it's an investment, not only in your physical well-being, but in your mental and emotional well-being. There are a lot of things we learn in the program about navigating life in general. It's funny to think about it that way. When you're working out and you say, well, I can't do this much weight, you start thinking about what one of your peers said, or the ladies in your group said about what they did and how they overcame that. Or something someone said on your podcast, or something you said, or something somebody posted in the community. And it helps you get through that. But it's definitely an investment in yourself. And it's more than just workouts and macros. It's so, so much more.

Nikkiey: Oh, I love that. What would you say to someone listening who feels like they've tried everything and still aren't seeing results?

Luisa: Don't give up. I almost gave up, and I'm glad of the day that I came across your video and I picked up the phone and called. I didn't know what to expect. I knew nothing about macros. I didn't know if I was going to be able to work out at the gym by myself, because I was used to having a coach by my side helping me navigate through that. I'm going to say it's not easy. When you begin, you feel like, oh my gosh, it's a lot. But just take it one step at a time. One step at a time. Don't overwhelm yourself with, I want to lose 20 pounds. It's not about that. It's about taking baby steps to really, really heal from the inside out.

Nikkiey: Wow. This is very inspiring and very motivational, Luisa, hearing your entire story. Thank you for sharing that and breathing life into the listeners. Because just like we said at the beginning, one person's life can be changed by this. This is a beautiful evolution of where you were before to where you are now.

And it's proof, you guys, as you're listening to this, that you're never too far gone to take control of your health, to take control of your life. You were told you would never gain muscle, and look at you now. You could have believed that perimenopause or this stage of life was going to hold you back, or that your metabolism was just going to continue to work against you and this is just what it's supposed to be. But you didn't settle for that. You didn't settle for those limitations, and neither should anybody listening to this. If you know you can do it, maybe you don't have a hundred percent belief, but maybe you have 50 percent, and the other 50 percent is in the WarriorBabe program, so you can rewrite your own story just like Luisa did. So take the step, go to warriorbabe.com and check it out. You might surprise yourself. Luisa, thank you for being here and sharing your story. It was beautiful.

Luisa: Thank you, Nikkiey. I appreciate it.

Nikkiey: Real quick, if this episode resonated with you or gave you the push you needed, I'd love for you to pay it forward. Drop a quick rating and review, share the podcast with someone who might need it, and help me keep spreading the word. Your feedback not only helps the show grow, but it might just be the nudge someone else needs to kickstart their transformation. Thank you so, so, so much for your support.