Life After Bodybuilding: How to Eat and Train Sustainably

Nikkiey: Welcome back to the show, listeners, and to all of the new listeners. I'm glad to have you guys here. Instead of going through my normal opening that I do in every single podcast, I just want to get right into it. Today is a very, very special day on the show. We have our very first guest here virtually with us. She is such an amazing woman, you guys. I met her a few years ago at First Form headquarters, and she first struck me with her awesome Swedish accent. I can't wait for you guys to hear it. As I got to know her more, she just has the absolute biggest heart, along with the most amazing legs and the most amazing arms, you guys. Just an incredible body all around. But she has an amazing heart and wants to help so many people. She's here on this earth doing amazing things, like impacting the lives of so many women that she works with in her IBFit coaching crew, and we'll talk more about that today. I get to have her here on the show with us today so that you guys all get to experience a glimpse of her awesomeness firsthand. Ida, welcome to the show, girl. So excited to have you here.

Ida: Thank you so much for having me. That was a really huge introduction of me. Thank you for painting that picture of me having a big heart. That means a lot, because I look up to you. You are such a badass queen. I really love seeing other women that are super strong, and that really plays on the strength of women, and that you really uplift other women. You're a queen.

Nikkiey: Thanks, girl. I appreciate you. I'm super stoked to kick this off. I know that you've been doing all of the things, nutrition, fitness, for a really long time. And you've done some incredible things back in Europe, back home. Like I said, she's from Sweden, guys. She's won incredible gold medals, championship titles. You did the bodybuilding world, you retired, you moved to the States, and now you're doing fitness for the passion that you have for it. So do you mind taking the audience and myself through your journey? I just want to know more about you. Share your fitness journey with us and why fitness is so important to you.

Ida: My fitness journey started when I was very, very young. Just like anyone else in the teenage years, you try a lot of sports. You like them or you dislike them. And I just fell in love with lifting things. That was my top thing in school. But also, I had a neighbor who had this huge yard. He was a trucker, so he always had a lot of stuff, and he always needed help. So I was carrying his tires and logs and stuff, and I was like, wow, I'm strong. I'm only 13 years old, but I'm strong. This is cool.

Then I figured out that there was a gym in my small town, and it was owned by the only bodybuilder in town. He was the real deal. He knew his stuff. He was very, very strict, like, don't do that, and don't do that, and yada yada. He took me in when I was 15 and started to guide me. He said, well, you're going to turn 15 this year, so I will let you in. So I was actually 14. But who is consistent with anything during the teenage years? I did a lot of things, but it always went back to lifting weights or lifting anything, because I naturally just felt strong from the get-go.

When I was 19, I moved out from my mom and dad to show them that I could stand on my own two feet. I come from a very big family, and it was only my dad working, so we weren't privileged enough to be able to play all sports. We entertained ourselves with a lot of things when I grew up. And being five girls growing up together, I loved being around my friends that were male. I've always had a really easy time connecting with guys. It's always been like that, because I've always been surrounded by women. I don't know why that is.

But when I moved, I found a group of people. We met up in nightclub settings. We were all party people, because I was. I worked 11 years of my life, from 14 to 25, in the restaurant business, so I was always in that kind of space of partying and stuff like that. But every single day, I went to the gym with my guy friends and my girlfriends, one or two of them. We were a crew, a gym crew, and we had so much fun.

Unfortunately, my dad passed away when I was going into my 20th year, and that was a big turn of events for my life. I just kept going and working out a lot to release the mental stress I was going through of losing my dad, after also losing a lot of other people in my life. There were a couple of years where I just lost a lot of my closest people. I guess that's how I coped with grief: building myself stronger from the outside in, even though I always say build yourself from the inside out. For me, I did it the reverse way. And I fell in love with being in control of the weights, because I felt like if I can control something that is working against me, I will feel so much stronger and more capable. So it just happened. It's like an endorphin rush, or a runner's high for other people. That's how I feel when I lift. It's simply my thing.

Nikkiey: And man, is it your thing. If you guys start following her, and I'll put all the links to her socials in the description below, we'll talk about it at the end of the podcast, man, is she making it her thing. She is such a badass. When I watch you on Instagram doing your workouts, I'm like, I've got to channel some of that energy into my workout, all the way across the States.

Ida: I feel like it really picks something up for me, where I'm like, okay, I am capable, and I'm going to lift this mother F from that point to that point, and I'm going to do it in such a good way because I'm really feeling it with all of my being.

In 2013, we went to watch a show together. It was not our first show going as a crew to watch other people compete, but it was the first one that really hit home for me, and I understood that, wow, this is maybe something that I really want to do. We had just had the greatest, biggest buffet from the hotel we were staying at, because in Sweden, hotel buffets are a thing. And I was so full, extremely full. And at the break of the competition, they had an audience competition. The guys didn't give me a choice. When they asked, does anyone want to compete in the Mrs. Washboard, they pushed me out of my chair. I didn't even realize that a few moments later I was going to stand there on the stage showing my abs. That was the first time I won a trophy.

Nikkiey: No way. Wait, pause. Hold on a second. So your first time getting on stage and having a trophy in your hand came from your friends pushing you out of your chair and telling you to get on stage?

Ida: Yeah. They didn't give me a choice.

Nikkiey: See, there's a part of you from when you were younger, pushing tires, and I need to pause on that thought right there. Because at that age, you wanted to help people. You were helping him, right? And he took you under his wing to come into the gym and all that jazz, which is just amazing. Because, guys, when I say she has the biggest heart, she has the biggest heart. And then from lifting the tires, you knew, dude, I'm strong, I can do anything. Basically that mindset, at such a young age, that's huge. And that carried you through to getting pushed by your friends to get on stage. Wow.

Ida: Yeah. And I won 50 bucks and a trophy, and I still have the trophy at my mom's place. It's such a big memory for me. Because I was full, you know, when you have a food baby? And I still went up there and showed my abs, and everyone was like, wow.

Nikkiey: Only you would be able to have a food baby, get on stage and show your abs.

Ida: I'm a foodie. The year after, I competed in my very first show on that very stage, the same competition. I got the same amount of points as number one, but they placed me number two. Politics, even there. But for me, I did not even expect to place at all, because I did it all on my own. At that time, I had been a coach for about three years, but I had never coached anyone to the stage yet. That was still super new to me. So I did everything on my own. I had no idea what I was doing, but hey, here I am.

Then the woman who came to coach me found me at that competition, and she said, I want to take you under my wings and we're going to do this together. Together with her, at the next show a couple of months later, I placed fifth, I think. Yeah, fifth. That was such a bad experience. It was the craziest competition I've ever done, because it was not well planned backstage. I didn't even have my shoes on when I came up on stage. My bikini bottoms were too low, so it didn't take my physique to a better state. No, it was not good.

Nikkiey: Was that because you were feeling rushed, or because of the setup?

Ida: Yeah, we were running a little.

Nikkiey: Got it.

Ida: It was not a good setup of a show at all, unfortunately, but it was still fun. Don't get me wrong. But I totally get that I didn't place higher. A week later, I went to compete in the biggest novice competition there is in Sweden, and I won that in my category.

Nikkiey: That's awesome. With the categories for bodybuilding over there, was it women's physique? Or was it like figure?

Ida: More like figure. Yes, figure. But in Sweden at that level, which is the amateur level, it is called body fitness, which doesn't really make sense, because we don't have fitness. We have athletic fitness, where you have to do different types of bench, chins, and, what do you call it, kind of like an obstacle course race. We don't have the flipping and gymnastics thing. Rather, you have to show that you're strong and that you're fit. So we have that, but I did body fitness, which is the same posing and everything as figure. So I'm a former figure competitor, I guess.

Nikkiey: Okay. And was that your last show?

Ida: No, that was my number three. Then I took a year off to really build myself and get back into a good groove of homeostasis, you know, balance. It didn't go very well, but I did it. Two years after that, I went back to competing, and I did the Swedish National Championships and placed first. Then I placed first at the Nordic Championships as well. So I'm a Swedish and Nordic champion. Then I got invited to do the European Championships. Well, before that, I won a third one as well, so I have four wins in total. Then I did the Europeans and placed 10th, and I shouldn't have competed that time. I was so close to pulling out because I didn't feel good. I wasn't in a good place. I just shouldn't have competed at all, but I did, because it was too late to withdraw from the competition. So I put my mind to it and went, and it still was good. I mean, 26 girls, in my worst shape, I placed 10th. I'm kind of okay with that. It's never been about winning for me. Not even once.

Nikkiey: Elaborate on that. What was it all about? Why compete?

Ida: The glam.

Nikkiey: The glam. Okay. You pulled that off well.

Ida: No, seriously though. The feeling of stepping up on stage, all made up, with your hair done, in a very shiny, nice bikini, showing off what you built. I think from the very get-go I was very aligned with the fact that people are different. If you are one of those who make up your mind to go up there and say, hey, judge me in comparison to the others, you need to be okay with that. And all I could do was bring my A game. It doesn't matter what everyone else looks like. If they like you, they're going to give you good points.

Nikkiey: Love that.

Ida: I always enjoyed the feeling of having a date to work really hard toward, to get to my best shreddedness or just my best shape. Because in figure, it's not always about being the most shredded. You need to be so symmetrical, so balanced. You need to have the aura, and you have to be ripped in the right places. I guess I was never the most ripped.

Nikkiey: But for the four wins that you had, you were symmetrical, right? For the four wins, they judged you basically off your symmetry, and the level of leanness you brought to the stage compared to the other girls.

Ida: Yeah.

Nikkiey: So that unpacked pretty much your entire journey. You're pretty much a badass from start to finish, from being a teenage girl flipping tires to, I'm going to go step on stage, I'm going to own my shit, I'm going to bring the glam, I'm going to bring the confidence. I know there's a decent amount of people listening to this podcast who are interested in bodybuilding or have done bodybuilding, and they have questions about some of the things you mentioned. So I want to unpack a couple of things. You said one of the reasons you love stepping on stage, second to the glam, was that you're going to put in the work for the weeks or months to get ready to step on stage. What do you experience in that timeframe?

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Ida: Everything. You experience absolutely everything about yourself, about other people, and especially about your body. Our beings are so unique and so cool. And at some point, to really put yourself to the test of doing uncomfortable things is so self-developing. It's top-tier level. For me, it was, okay, I'm going to challenge myself, because that is what bodybuilding is about. As I said, you can never compare yourself to others, because you don't know what the judges will like. But during the time of getting there, there's going to be so much work on yourself to be able to cope with the different things. Because there are going to be days when you feel like, I am not heading in the right direction, or, today I'm so tired and I still need to put in the work. You still need to do your normal daily job if you're not a professional. So it's a lot to actually handle and take care of, and that's really hard.

Nikkiey: You're learning so much about yourself. You're learning so much about your mindset. You're learning so much about what you're fully capable of. And I think, elaborating on that, it's a lonely road unless you have friends or a boyfriend or somebody who knows what you're going through. It's you versus you every single day.

Ida: I actually do think that many people rely too much on other people. We are an animal that moves in groups, and I'm totally fine with that. But I think that if we focus on ourselves first, and that sounds very selfish, I know, but let's keep going, because it's not. If you focus on the things that you need for your being to feel good, to be balanced, you will take care of other people way better. You will be able to handle problems that come your way so much better, and stress will not agonize you in the same way as if you're not in a good place. People around you will always be super important, and I've always been so blessed with the people I have around me, because they are amazing human beings. But that also makes me want to be a better person, which makes me need to focus on myself to make sure I can greet them the same way they greet me.

So a competition diet, which is an extreme diet, is not something I recommend to anyone who is not willing to go the full length of uncomfortableness. Because it is uncomfortable.

Nikkiey: Amen, sister. It's freaking uncomfortable. Say that louder for the audience.

Ida: It is so uplifting too. Because it's when you understand that you are capable of doing something like that that you're like, holy shit, Sherlock, life ain't too bad. This is something I chose for myself, so I better not whine about it, honestly.

Nikkiey: Oh my God, babe. Spot on. If there's anything to take away from a competition prep and the journey you're on, it's definitely learning and uncovering your best self. And like you said, it's uncomfortable and you have to take it seriously. If you're going to go to the extreme, go to the extreme, full send, be proud of yourself for going that far, stepping on stage and doing all of the things. If you stick to it and get ready in the right way, you're there giving your best when you step on stage. Not only do you learn so much about yourself, but there's so much discipline in those daily actions that you build for yourself. Don't you feel like that's why you're so successful now, still maintaining your body? You most likely built some of those discipline habits during competition that carry through your whole lifestyle, right?

Ida: That is spot on. Honestly, when it comes to discipline and creating the type of lifestyle that both of us live, I feel like the people who find that really hard are the people who don't dare, or aren't capable of pushing themselves to that space in time when you can actually experience the wins from it. It's all about being unexperienced. Everyone can get to exactly where we are, being disciplined and going to the gym, or eating some type of food that works well with your body. They just haven't experienced it yet. And that's okay, because there are so many things I haven't experienced yet, but I cannot be mad at myself if I don't try. That's a big thing for a lot of people right now. They might be willing, but they might not know how, and they might not feel totally ready for it. And when something is super unknown, it's even harder for us to get there.

Nikkiey: Absolutely. To carry that thought, we can lead into talking about coaching. You coach women. We're on the other side, right? We've gone through all of the challenges. We've endured all of the uncomfortableness of changing our body composition, of building muscle. So we've seen the outcome that a lot of women want to accomplish, because we're there, we've done it. What do you feel is the biggest hurdle, maybe two, that you had to overcome, or that women have to overcome, to get to the result they want?

Ida: I think one of the pros and one of the cons of being a woman is that we are very emotional. We are a being of more tenderness and more love, and we care especially about how other people see us. That is a really big thing for us. And our society is still, in some weird way, in an age where women cannot have muscles, where muscles are seen as manly, even though, newsflash, men and women are human beings. Human beings are a species which has muscles. We are just women, and we have never been utilizing them the same way. But nowadays women have a choice. We can go to a gym as well. We have never been able to do that before, because it was a space for men, to be strong enough to do their work if they had very labor-related work, while women have been home taking care of the household and kids. And I get that. I'm not taking anything away from that, because I think we are really good at that, because we feel so much and we dare to express what we feel. But I also think that's one of the things that holds us back a little bit, because we care a little too much about what other people think, or what we think they will think about us if we do. And I think women, generally speaking, haven't yet experienced how uplifting and self-esteem raising it can be to be physically strong.

Nikkiey: I think that's spot on. I think women hold the opinions of others too closely. Like you said earlier, we need to stop relying on people. We need to start thinking for ourselves and what we want to accomplish, and know that we're fully capable of accomplishing it if we put our minds to it and let all of the opinions and judgments and criticism fade away. And I think it'd be an inspiration to hear this answer from you. I'm sure you get it. Social media has, what do they call them, the keyboard ninjas, the trolls. Man, they come in hot. I'm sure you've gotten comments like, you look like a man. I know I do. So how do you handle that?

Ida: My 20-year-old self would say, this sucks, this is not fair, and that would hold me back. But I'm in my thirties now, and I am more comfortable in my own skin than I've ever been in my whole darn life. I could not care less what an insecure person on the other end says about my physique, because we obviously don't think the same. That's if I'm going to be a little bit aggressive and just get to the point.

Nikkiey: No, I love that. Why do you feel that way? Why do you feel that you just don't care?

Ida: Because I am so fed up with feeling the need to fit in. I can no longer relate to the girl I once was, always trying to please others. I still do. I am the biggest people pleaser. Well, not quite. I know a few that are even worse. But I've transferred that energy into my business instead, into actually caring for others. I feel like one of my jobs in life is to really encourage women to go out there and be like, I ain't taking that, because I am here for me. I am not here to please your eyes. And if I feel like I cannot take on comments like that myself, how can I teach that to others?

So when someone says, hey, you look like a man, or, ooh, gross, or, that's too muscly for a female, I'm like, according to you. But according to me and to biology, muscles are something that we all have. And honestly, if we look at it this way, if they say that I'm a man, what do they say about the guys that don't have the muscles that I do? Are they called females because they don't have a developed physique? In my head, it just doesn't add up. So when people comment stuff like that, I'm like, oh, I wish you knew better. I rather feel sad for them.

Or even worse, what I have found myself doing when people give that to me is that I'm more worried about what that teenager, that 20-year-old, or that woman new to this lifestyle sees when she reads that. Because I know how hard it was for me in the beginning. So if she sees that insecure man writing that on my post, and she reads it, and she feels that it's directed at her, how can she handle that? That makes me sad and frustrated.

Nikkiey: Spot on. You're so spot on. And the women need to know that the people commenting that, the guys commenting that, in addition to all of the things you said, they're just insecure. They wish they could look like you. They wish they could have the discipline and the hard work and the motivation and the effort to do what you've done and to transform your body. I've had people like that, and I've clicked on their page. And sending love to these guys, I don't want to bash them, but guys, just put in the work. That's what it takes. Instead of shaming somebody, we're here to lift each other up. Don't shame people because of the hard work they put in to change their body.

Ida: Everyone is so differently built. Honestly, if I compare myself to any other guy who works out as many hours as I do, as hard as I do, he's going to be twice my size. And why is that?

Nikkiey: Why is that? Let's elaborate on that.

Ida: Because I'm a woman. I don't have the same freaking hormone setup as a guy does. But that does not mean that I can't still look the best that I can, or lift the way that I can. Again, I am not trying to become anyone other than me, so I'm also not annoyed anymore. The only reason I'm annoyed when people write that is because I know people are watching my comments, and I don't want a woman who wants to look like the two of us to see that, because maybe she cannot cope with that just right now.

Nikkiey: That's your heart, man. I love it, Ida. You're so sweet. Nobody thinks about that stuff that deeply. That's deep. You're concerned about a woman who may be feeling insecure, who aspires to look like you or me, and she sees that comment, and that could easily deter her from wanting to embark on her journey.

Ida: That's pretty much how I feel. And trolls will always be trolls. People will always have different opinions, and I'm okay with that. Just because I train the way I do or teach the way I do does not mean I expect everyone to look the way I do or train the way I do. I'm totally fine with that. I cannot, in my wildest imagination, even picture myself starting to play soccer, for example, because I don't like football. I cannot even handle balls. How do you even do that? Whenever people can understand that it's fine to have different opinions, things will go way easier for everyone.

Nikkiey: So let's talk about this. You did all the bodybuilding. You went through all of that jazz. You mentioned there was a year where you were trying to get your body back to homeostasis, and it was a tough year. I want you to elaborate on that a little, because I know there are people who come off a competition and, I mean, I came off of mine and gained 25 pounds back in one month. I'm like, what the hell just happened? So share, because people who have competed or want to compete will relate to that, and they can understand what to expect. What happened in that year?

Ida: Before I forget to say it, I think the most important thing is that whenever you go into a competition state of mind, like, okay, I'm going to compete, I'm going to find myself a coach, and I'm going to do this right, one thing you really should consider is making sure that coach will still be there when you're done. It's so important to have that person who keeps you accountable, helps you reverse diet, and helps you with your mental game. Because trust me, for X amount of weeks you're going to fight your hardest to become your leanest. You're going to focus so much on getting those shreds. And then all of a sudden, you're going to have to focus on returning to a healthy body fat percentage. Because it ain't healthy to be at a competition body fat percentage. It's just not, especially for women.

Nikkiey: It is, especially when you go through all of that for all of the time leading up to show day, and you're like, oh man, I just want to maintain and keep my body. But that's not good. It's not healthy. It's not sustainable. It's so extreme, like you mentioned earlier, that you just cannot maintain that physique. So share a little bit more. How did you get your body back to homeostasis? What did you have to go through?

Ida: Honestly, I don't think it ever went back to normal until a couple of years ago, now that it's been so many years since I last competed. I competed the entire 2015, and then I went off, and I did not keep my coach as close to me as I should have. And she did not really put an interest into that either. It's not her fault. I was just too new, and I was like, I can do this by myself. I'm a coach too, I know. But no. It doesn't matter if you're a coach or if you're well experienced. It's always good to have that person.

Then I started to compete again in late 2016. The first year I competed, that was 56 weeks of dieting, because I had so many competitions.

Nikkiey: Holy moly. If y'all are on video, my jaw just dropped.

Ida: Yeah, it was a long, long diet. So I was so over it. I was so over being in a state of pain, because it's painful and you're so tired. It's a nice feeling at the same time, but it's also a little bit dreadful. Then 2016 also became very long, because I won, and then I won again, which took me to another one that came in May 2017. My last competition was at the end of November, then I did a big photo shoot for a big magazine in mid-December, and then from December to May you need to either go off a little bit or keep going a little bit. That's when it got a little bit not good for my body. It's always hard to go from, okay, let's first get shredded, and then, let's get normal again. It doesn't even matter if you do it correctly or if you overeat everything and gain all those 25 pounds in an instant. It will still be tough.

Nikkiey: What made you decide to retire after all those years? We were catching up before the podcast, and you were like, I'm just not extreme. I'm leading this lifestyle now, which we all admire. I admire it so much. I see you living the life, going through an awesome cut, and then having the Fit Couple Foodies, which we'll talk about in a minute. How is your lifestyle now compared to when you were a competitor?

Ida: Honestly, as I said, I never knew that it was the end when I stopped competing in 2017. I did not say the words, I'm done, because I kind of expected myself to go back and compete. I was not done, because I was at the highest level as an amateur, and I felt like the pro card could be a thing. But my entire focus shifted. I got a dream job that I loved, and I was like, I can absolutely do this and compete at the same time. But am I willing to go to that extreme? I never got to that point, because I didn't feel ready. And not because I placed 10th, because again, it never bothered me what I placed or didn't place. That was not part of the idea. But really focusing on my profession, having my coaching business on the side, and being a really needed person at my normal job, I was trying to find my way back to, okay, but how should I eat? How should I plan my days around food and eating and training and all of that, when other people plan my day for me? A lot of things were mismatching.

And then I moved.

Nikkiey: Is that when you moved to the States, in 2017?

Ida: No, 2019. So for two years I was really going back and forth. Should I compete again or not, or should I just focus on my job? It honestly took me until maybe two years ago to find my way back to a body, a physique, that I really loved. And that is why I don't feel the love for competing anymore. Because you will never feel as victorious as you do when you're at your leanest, until you actually become okay with who you are and stop identifying yourself by how many kilograms you weigh.

Nikkiey: Oh my God, I just got the chills, girl. It's so true.

Ida: It is hard, though. I am a figure online. I have my social media presence, and I'm a bodybuilding girl, so I should be ripped. But I need to be balanced for me. I need to be balanced for the women and the men that I coach, who struggle so hard to just feel energized. I have plenty of energy for everyone who wants it, and I just want to share how you get to that state of being. So for me, competing is not what I turn to right now, because I just love feeling this balance of eating things to perform in a certain way, not to look a certain way. And all of a sudden, I look better than I have in years.

Nikkiey: That is so powerful. That is such an evolutionary process, Ida. Everything you just said. You did it for you, and now you want to do it for others. I'm sitting here like, oh wow, when I met you a couple of years ago, the timelines are aligning. It's been a couple of years that you've been getting into this groove of this lifestyle. You were only in the States for a year or two when I met you. And I remember having this conversation with you at First Form headquarters, the first night of the event, when you were talking about how you didn't think you wanted to do this anymore, and you were starting to find the balance in yourself. It's cool to hear this now, catching up two years later, and how evolved your journey has truly become, to living this entirely. You're so much more than just a bodybuilding figure online. From my perspective, I see you as an inspiration to lead the healthy lifestyle that you do. And you guys incorporate the cheat meals. You guys have to check out the YouTube channel, Fit Couple Foodies. They vlog their entire cheat meals, which is so cool. And I see that today is a cheat meal day as well.

Ida: We post the videos on Wednesdays, but we most commonly record on Saturdays, because on Saturdays my clients are always super busy themselves to have calls and stuff, so that's when I have time allocated to actually film. We bike ride a lot. We take our bikes, and we have seen the entire LA area on bikes, and it's super fun. It makes you feel like you really experience it in a whole other way.

I have always been a foodie. As I said, I spent 10 years of my life in the restaurant business, and I come from a family that really likes food. One is a chef. My mom always taught us to cook, and my dad always had fun experiments going on when he was cooking. So food is just a big thing. And honestly, the time when I feel my best self, when I feel like I'm working the best physically, emotionally and mentally, is when I actually have a day when I just eat whatever comes to mind. Sometimes that is a sweetgreen salad, and sometimes that might be a super greasy chili burger or whatever. Or a big cheesecake, or a brownie, whatever that might be. I do not restrict food. What I do is choose food that makes me feel good in my entire being.

So Monday through Sunday, except Saturdays, is when I eat things that I know my brain and my body and my muscles work well on. Because if I eat sugar, if I eat processed food, if I eat food that's too fatty, my ADHD brain does not cope. I could not sit here and talk to you and be focused if I did. So I have chosen to choose food for my being, for my profession, and for my lifting. So it's not hard for me anymore to say no to sugar during the week.

Nikkiey: You eat to fuel your body, not really for the taste and enjoyment of it. You're like, is this going to fuel me the right way? Am I going to feel good after I eat this? And when you ask that type of question, outside of your cheat meal days, if you're trying to choose between a burger or chicken and sweet potatoes, just that question, am I going to feel better after I eat this? The burger, the cheeseburger, probably not. You're going to feel a little bit slowed down. So you choose to eat to fuel your body and for a function, which I love.

Ida: But the good thing is, when you are a foodie and you have experienced so many different types of foods, you become an expert in making that chicken and rice and that broccoli and that sweet potato taste heavenly, because you know the flavors and you can enhance things. My life is not boring, but that's because I love routines as well. Not all days will look the same, but I want them to look as similar as they can, because then I know that I'm functioning well. And I think that's what people forget to focus on. They focus on, how will this pizza or this burger make me look? No. How will it make you feel?

Nikkiey: Yes. 110%. And what you just said there too. People are always like, how do you eat the same thing every day? And I'm like, how do you not eat the same thing every day?

Ida: Sometimes I think people have 500 hours per day, because it feels like they have too much time to choose. Can you imagine how many minutes or hours people waste thinking about what they're going to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner? My ADHD brain, again, says no to that, because the more choices I get, the more trouble I'm in. If you ask me, hey, do you want pizza for lunch, or what do you want for lunch, my brain starts to go full-on. It spreads all over the place. It gives me back 500 different questions. Do I want to have that chicken from that place, or do I want to go to Cheesecake Factory and eat that, or do I want to do that? That's how my brain goes. So I don't want to have the question.

Nikkiey: That's so true.

Ida: So you have to get to know yourself. When you start your journey in fitness and health, or you just want to feel a little bit better, ask yourself, what would I feel better from? Tune in. Don't ask everyone else. And then when you know, like, maybe I can dig this for a long period of time, ask for help. How can I make this work in my life?

Nikkiey: 100%. Spot on. Ask for help. Coaches need coaches too.

Ida: Coaches need coaches. People need coaches.

Nikkiey: There's a reason why people are professionals in the space. I always say, stop trying to figure out how you should be doing all of these things to create a transformation for yourself. Buy the time that a professional has put into learning all of these things and making all of the mistakes. That's literally what you're buying: that person's time, education and mistakes. That will literally accelerate your ability to put in the work she's telling you to do and get the results.

Ida: And plan your meals ahead of time so you don't have to think about it.

Nikkiey: Exactly.

Ida: I even write you your shopping list, so you don't even have to think about that. Just go.

Nikkiey: So what are you guys having for your cheat meal this Saturday?

Ida: This Saturday, we're not sure yet if it's going to be Saturday, Sunday or Monday, because we are finalizing the challenge that we have been doing.

Nikkiey: That's right. I saw that on your story. This is the last week, right?

Ida: Yes. So it's going to be the final check-in and stuff like this this weekend, and depending on when we can do the trip to the facility we have to go to, it's going to depend on that. But we are going to do a what-we-crave cheat day, so we're going to eat exactly what we feel like that day. Because we have been holding back a little bit since we're trying to cut. If I just want to stay the same, I can eat whatever I want on Saturdays. But lately, since I want to cut, I need to be a little more careful with my decisions. But on Saturday, or whenever that's going to happen, I'm definitely going to have my brownies, I think, or the cookies I have in my freezer that look really good. The big-ass cookies. Really big cookies. But they actually don't have refined sugar in them, so I'm really hyped for those. I'm also in a big mood for a big sandwich. That's what I want to have. A nice Italian, with prosciutto and brie cheese and stuff.

Nikkiey: Brie cheese. Okay, that sounds bomb.

Ida: I think that's going to be it. Or maybe I can even go for a pizza, just because I've said pizza four times now, so maybe I'm craving a pizza. I think I will wait to say exactly until I wake up that day, and I will let you know.

Nikkiey: I'm going to watch that too, definitely. And all you guys, check it out. Fit Couples Foodie? Am I saying that right?

Ida: Fit Couple Foodies. Like a fit couple. We have such a blast when we're doing it. We did an Oreo challenge recently. So just a warning: never pair an Oreo with hamburger dressing. That's disgusting.

Nikkiey: Oh my God. Wait, I saw that. What were you guys thinking? Why did you do that?

Ida: Because everything in life cannot be enjoyment. Just putting it out there. Sometimes you just have to give. That is just the oddest combination. Even the hot sauce one was better, honestly. I still haven't had burger dressing again, because I just, no.

Nikkiey: No can do. PTSD moment.

Ida: Yeah. But it's going to be a fun video. I do know that one of my favorite apple fritters is just around the corner from the place we're going to, so maybe that's going to be the start.

Nikkiey: Oh, snap. There are so many more questions I want to ask, and I know the viewers will want to know. You just touched on the cut that you're in, and we caught up before kicking off this podcast about your cut. You were like, I have to be a little bit more careful, and I know you were saying six out of the seven days, this is what I do. So elaborate on that. What does a cut mean to you? What are you doing in this cut that may be different from those who think it's got to be extreme?

Ida: Honestly, I am eating the same food I'm always eating. I'm even trying to change it up a little more frequently as well, to make sure that I get everything I need. The only thing I have changed is the amount that I eat. And I also took away two of my rice cakes. So instead of having four to five, I'm only allowed two rice cakes with peanut butter on them per day. I have that every single day, even on my cheat days. Honestly, it's my biggest...

Nikkiey: That's your kryptonite. That's your favorite thing to eat. What was that, Rice Krispies Treats and peanut butter?

Ida: No, just a rice cake. A caramel rice cake with peanut butter on top. I just have to. I don't feel whole without it. So that's pretty much the change I've been making. And I'm not trying to get my super, super leanest, because I wanted to take time. So I'm not doing anything extreme. I'm taking it very slowly so that I can adapt my body to feeling like, okay, it's okay to be hungry. Just drink a little more water. Have a warm cup of tea. Have some coffee or whatever. You have made this decision for yourself, so you better own up to it and be okay with it.

During our cheat days, normally I really don't even think about what I eat. As I said, I might have a full tub of peanut butter and rice cakes together with everything else I'm having. But now I'm really trying to stick more to good, better foods, or just a very small amount of the good stuff. This last weekend, we did a taste review between Shake Shack and In-N-Out, and I took about three bites of each thing and a few fries. That is what I could do on a normal day too, which I absolutely would. If someone says, hey, can we meet up at In-N-Out, I'd be like, yeah, but I don't really feel like eating it. But if they say, oh, I'm full, can you please have mine, I will say yeah. I will not restrict myself. I would eat it. But it's not what I prefer.

So my cheat days, my Saturdays, have been a little bit smaller. But the trick I use there is that I start my morning making sure I get enough protein, and then I push the meals together so I'm fuller for longer, so I'm not overeating. That's pretty much the tip there, to make sure I don't have the time to eat more.

Nikkiey: That's good stuff. And how you said you know you're going to be hungry, so you just drink a little more water. I think a lot of people are afraid of being in a caloric deficit or going into a cut because they're going to be hungry. Well, you can say you're going to be hungry. You need to expect that. And some of your tips would be: drink more water, or put your meals a little closer together so you feel fuller longer.

Ida: And that's when I ask myself, okay, what time of the day is it easier for me to be hungry? For me, it's so easy to be hungry at the beginning of the day. Many others might not feel like this, but I'm so busy the first eight hours of my day. So I can just keep going and do things and get a lot done, and then get my meals a little closer together before I go to bed. It's still calories. You make it flow.

Nikkiey: Exactly. Yes, I love that. And you can have Oreos and burger sauce in your cut.

Ida: Yeah, but don't.

Nikkiey: No, seriously, guys, I know you're going to check out her socials and Instagram and all that jazz. You've done such an incredible job with this cut you've been in. It's been so cool to see the transformations you share and where you were at the beginning. I know you just went through this challenge and you're continuing with this cut, and seeing your transformation now, man, talk about body goals. Your body is just amazing.

Ida: Thank you. I know it's different, but I want it to be different.

Nikkiey: Hell yeah, girl. I love that. You do you, boo.

Ida: I will have my big arms. Well, you're also a chica with big arms. I have seen them. The big arm club.

Nikkiey: Some people just have that. It is what it is. I love everything you shared with the audience today. Where can they find you? Can you share your Instagram handles, the main ones you're at?

Ida: Yeah. I have my name, Ida Bergfoth. I know it's a little bit tricky. It's actually mountain foot in English. Berg is mountain, and fot is foot. So, mountain foot.

Nikkiey: Oh, that's really cool. I'll save you, because spellings and all that jazz. I'll put the links in the description below for you guys. Definitely follow her. You're such an inspiration, babe, truly. You have such a big heart, like I said, and you want to help so many people. Talk a little bit about your coaching so they know where they can check out your coaching links.

Ida: My coaching app is called IBFit. I find it's a powerful name, just like I love WarriorBabe.

Nikkiey: I know, I love it.

Ida: I love the entire essence of that name. But it's IBFit, and on Instagram that's Team IBFit, if you want to see some transformation stuff. Otherwise, IBFitCoaching.com is the website, where you can see the reviews and the options that I have.

Nikkiey: Thank you so much for being on the show. So many people in the bodybuilding world, or women just starting out on their journey, are going to be helped by everything you elaborated on, from dealing with opinions to being able to enjoy being in a cut. I appreciate your time. I appreciate your freaking energy. You truly do have energy to give to tons of people. You're an amazing inspiration. So everybody, go check out Ida. Ida, again, babe, thanks for being on this podcast. I appreciate you.

Ida: Thank you so much for having me on. I feel blessed to be the first guest on this podcast, this collaboration part that you're doing. It's awesome. You're killing it.

Nikkiey: Thank you so much. All right, guys, peace out.

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