Why More Cardio Isn't Helping You Lose Weight

Nausheen: I've done cardio and strength training, I guess, if you want to call it that, but not to the level it is now. And it seemed to work for years and it was fine. I had no issues with weight. And then after having my son, I essentially lost whatever weight I did gain with him, which wasn't a lot. But then gradually, year after year, like two years after he was born, it kept creeping back up, like you said. And I couldn't understand why that was happening. Even my son, he knows that I track macros now and he's five. So he's asking questions about that and wanting to eat healthier. There have been so many instances with him where he made his own little sheet because he sees me using MyFitnessPal. So he's writing down stuff he's eaten, or draws it and then puts a checkmark next to it saying, "Oh, this is healthy." Stuff like that.

Nikkiey: Let's talk about your results.

Nausheen: I have lost 17 pounds since I started, which I didn't even know I had that much to lose. I was just like, man, that's a lot.

Nikkiey: So what's going on, everyone? Hey, you guys, welcome back to another story. I have an amazing WarriorBabe here with us, and I'm sure you'll hear yourself in her story today. Before she found WarriorBabe, Nausheen was doing everything she thought was the right way of doing it: working out daily, piling on cardio, pushing harder. But her body just wasn't responding the way she was hoping. And after having her son, the weight slowly crept back up. No matter what she did or what she was trying, nothing seemed to be working. We'll unpack all of this with her and her journey. But now she's stronger. She's more confident. She's no longer chasing that number on the scale. She's building muscle, she's fueling her body properly, and she's becoming a role model for her family. So today you get to hear her story straight from her. Nausheen, welcome to the show.

Nausheen: Thank you, Nikkiey. I'm beyond excited to be here.

Nikkiey: Before we recorded, we were just catching up and getting to know each other, and you have such a lively spirit and such good energy. So I'm excited for everyone to get to embrace that today. Welcome. I'm excited you're here.

Nausheen: Thank you. Thank you.

Nikkiey: So let's go back to before you found WarriorBabe. Take us to the version of you before finding us. What's your story? What were you going through at that point that led you to finally realize, hey, something needs to change?

Nausheen: So, going back, I had my son in 2020, when COVID hit. Before then I was obviously still working out. Cardio was my go-to. I was an avid runner and would always go out and run. I've done several half marathons, and even did a marathon once. After that I didn't try to pursue that again, but a bunch of half marathons.

Nikkiey: At least you can cross it off your list, right?

Nausheen: Yes, exactly. Did it once. So cardio was always my thing. And I resonated really well with you when you said you started out your journey with Pinterest boards. That's exactly what I did. I would go in and look at different exercises for upper body, lower body, different body parts, and just started there. But comparing all of those workouts to what I'm doing now, I felt like that was more just going through the motions and not really challenging myself to do better, to lift heavier, and knowing that I can do it now. That was the biggest change. So again, I'd done cardio and strength training, I guess, if you want to call it that, but not to the level it is now.

And it seemed to work for years and it was fine. I had no issues with weight. Then after having my son, I essentially lost whatever weight I did gain with him, which wasn't a lot. But then gradually, year after year, the first two years after he was born, it kept creeping back up, like you said. And I couldn't understand why that was happening. I didn't think I'd changed the way I was eating. I was working out even harder than before. So what was the reason that was happening?

It's just really frustrating to think you're doing all the right things but you're not getting the results you want. At that point I was very frustrated, mentally and physically. My husband, who's my biggest support, realized it and said something's going on and we've got to figure something out. So we started researching online, and I came across your ad, I think on Facebook. I just started listening. And I know the target audience was 45, 55, 65-year-old women, but that didn't derail me from listening further, because I felt like what you were saying was real and genuine. So I wanted to keep listening, and then I learned about your podcast. For an entire year before joining WarriorBabe, I listened to every single episode, wanting to learn and understand what you were saying and the message you were trying to get across. I'd come back and talk to my husband about it, like, this is what is actually happening, or this is what I probably need to be looking into. At one point I even tried to calculate my own macros.

And then it was like, I need some professional help. At that point I just didn't think I was doing the right things. Clearly my body was not what it used to be. And I think I struggled more because I'd never had a weight issue. Then all of a sudden having to deal with it and not fitting in my clothes, I just felt like I wasn't myself, and I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin. And I was even thinking back to, does it have to do with the pregnancy? That was one of the biggest scary thoughts I had. And then seeing how that was affecting my relationship with my husband and my son was not sitting well at all.

Nikkiey: Well, kudos to you for recognizing something wasn't working and that you needed to make the change. And for a whole year listening to episodes, that's amazing. And putting things into action yourself and tracking. You were just so hungry to figure it out, and you implemented the action, so thank you. Because in episodes I say, don't just listen to me.

Nausheen: Yeah.

Nikkiey: Actually do something about it.

Nausheen: Do something about it.

Nikkiey: So thank you for doing that. There's one thing I want to peel back and unpack in what you're mentioning. You felt like you were doing everything right. You were working out, you were running. Looking back now, knowing the answers you have now, was there anything specific that was keeping you stuck? What do you think you weren't doing that you're now aware of and doing now?

Nausheen: A hundred percent nutrition and recovery. I think those are the two biggest things I was missing. Nutrition in the sense that, and this is probably going to sound so ridiculous, I always thought protein was just for bodybuilders. Like, oh, they're just taking protein to build muscle, and obviously I don't want to look bulky, so that's not for me. I never considered that it's one of the most essential macronutrients you need every single day to build muscle and change your body composition. So that's been a game changer for sure.

I'd never tracked calories or macros before joining WarriorBabe, but I definitely know that part was missing, because I didn't eat as much protein as I do now. And then from the recovery standpoint, I know you've talked on a lot of your episodes about spiraling, where if you miss one day you want to start over again the next week, or you just let it linger. I was the opposite. If I missed a workout, I was like, oh man, I've got to go make it up. So I wouldn't give my body a rest any day. Typically I'd work out six days, and then there'd be a seventh-day add-on, or at times I'd even work out two or three times a day to check it off the list. Like, oh, I did my workout for this week. I think it was overdrive. I didn't stop to even think, I can't just be in go, go, go mode every single day, every hour.

Nikkiey: And you're not alone in all of those thoughts. I got the chills when you were talking about protein equals, oh, bodybuilders just eat protein to build muscle. A lot of women feel that way, and a lot of women don't eat enough protein. But it's interesting to hear you say you didn't want to get too bulky if you ate protein. Did you end up getting bulky?

Nausheen: No, no, no. I feel so strong. It's one of those things where if you don't have it, you crave it at this point. Like, all right, where's my chicken? Where's my Greek yogurt? I need this stuff.

Nikkiey: So you were almost working out multiple times a day, every day, doing tons of cardio, doubling up on sessions. Let's talk about that for a second. How did that make you feel physically and mentally back then?

Nausheen: From a mental standpoint, I felt like, oh yeah, I checked the box and I did it. Physically, I was exhausted. I was tired. I was out of energy. And especially if it was a Sunday, knowing I'd have to get back on track on Monday, it was a whole other week. So I did more and more and more, and just kept piling it on, thinking this is the way to lose weight. And it just wasn't.

Nikkiey: And hearing that, you mentally just pushed through. You're such a go-getter. Learning that about you, you have such a go-getter mentality that you'll override the exhaustion your body is trying to tell you about. Like, hey, I'm tired. But no, I'm still going to go.

Nausheen: Yes. I've done that multiple times.

Nikkiey: So now I'm curious, how many days a week are you working out now compared to then?

Nausheen: Five days a week now versus seven. And Coach Jess has been so good and flexible about this. I've got access to a gym at work, so in my phase right now, we've set it up so that two days I'm in the office, I'm able to go to the gym and get access to gym equipment. The rest of the time I have a gym at home, so I use the equipment I have at home. She's made it so I'm not mentally exhausted or putting undue pressure on myself. If I don't make it to the gym, I'm still going to be able to get my workout in at home. That's been such a relief as well. That's been amazing.

Nikkiey: Was there any resistance you had to overcome, training so much and then your coach being like, girl, you've got to rein it back, you can't be doing this much? Were there any nerves, like, I'm so used to training this way? Let's talk about that.

Nausheen: It's been hard. It's been hard to not do so much and to not feel guilty afterwards, to say, okay, it's fine to rest. This is what you need to do. She's programmed it so I'm essentially having to take two days of rest and recovery. And even then, I'm on my feet most of the time. I barely sit down. But just not working out, and running around with my son or doing different things, has been such a blessing over the weekends. So my goal is to get my workouts in Monday through Friday and then have Saturday and Sunday with him. There were times, like when we had snowstorms, where I was like, oh my gosh, I just feel like I have an itch. I just want to go to the gym. And she was like, no, it's fine, just take this day off. So it's been such a mindset shift. And that's another thing. I didn't realize coming into the program that it's not just about nutrition and training. It's your mindset, which controls all of this. I'd never connected the dots before joining.

Nikkiey: Oh, so cool. So you feel like you've gotten an overall, all-encompassing approach: mindset, nutrition, all of it.

Nausheen: Yes. After joining, I even got a sign for our gym that says "progress over perfection." I keep looking at it and I'm like, yes, that's what needs to happen. I can't strive for perfection, because that's just going to hold me back from my goals. And to let life be what it is, right? Because you can't anticipate it. So figuring out how to navigate around it has been such a blessing.

Nikkiey: Ladies, are you feeling frustrated with the 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.

I love that. We'll unpack that a little more, but I'm also curious. You mentioned the impact this was having on your husband and your kiddo early on, when you were doing all of this and working out. Can you unpack how that felt for you then? And what was the biggest change in your journey with WarriorBabe that you feel has brought a balance now?

Nausheen: I think when I was first struggling, our relationship was taking a turn. I was constantly worried about the way I looked, how I fit in my clothes, not wanting to take pictures, not really wanting to dress up and go places. All those things started piling up, and I just didn't feel comfortable. I think he realized that pretty quickly. And even with my son, I didn't have anything negative against him, but I felt like, okay, after I had him, all of these things started happening. You don't want to think that way, but eventually it was taking a toll on me. So when I realized that and had these conversations with my husband, we were like, something really has to change. And that led me to WarriorBabe. And since then, and I shared this with Coach Jess too, I feel like the journey I've been on has really helped him pick up on things too, from incorporating workouts into his daily routine to eating better and healthier. And even my son, he knows that I track macros now and he's five. So he's asking questions about that and wanting to eat healthier. There have been so many instances with him where he made his own little sheet because he sees me using MyFitnessPal. So he's writing down stuff he's eaten, or draws it and puts a checkmark next to it saying, "Oh, this is healthy." Stuff like that.

Nikkiey: Wow. You're making it emotional. That's amazing.

Nausheen: Yeah. And I get questions from him when I'm eating. He's like, "Oh, can I have a piece?" But before that he's like, "Did you measure this?" And I'm like, yes, but you can have some. So it's ingraining that thought process in his mind now, knowing that you have to fuel your body appropriately to have the energy you need, even at this age. I know he's going to grow up and he's going to eat junk food, no doubt about it, but I'm trying to educate him as much as I can now. And he sees my husband doing it too. We typically grill every single weekend, so he knows we're outside grilling, getting everything ready for the week. He's able to see all the different changes. And I feel like having my husband's support on this journey has made it so much more enjoyable and healthier. We can talk about these things together, and I don't feel like I'm on my own little island trying to get healthier. I've got his support too. So it's been so nice.

Nikkiey: And he's doing it with you as well. He's working out, getting better.

Nausheen: Yeah. He started in February and he's actually lost about 20 pounds in the last month and a half, just by incorporating the workouts.

Nikkiey: I know, right?

Nausheen: I'm like, it took me a year and a half to lose 17 pounds, and you're here within two months, down 20 pounds. Just crazy.

Nikkiey: It's so annoying. They can make it look so easy too.

Nausheen: Yes. Like, all right, I'm just down 20 pounds. But he's been doing such an amazing job and helping me stay on track too. We're always talking about, all right, what's for dinner? We always figure that out together now. For the first year I was on my own, but since he started being more engaged with this too, it's just been more fun. I love it.

Nikkiey: That's incredible. It's so cool to see how much of a role model you're being for your son. He's going to be able to grow up learning this, and he'll implement the 80/20 rule. He'll have the jump on it.

Nausheen: Exactly.

Nikkiey: He'll know how because of watching you. So cool that it's happening already at five.

Nausheen: He's amazing. He's got a lot of self-discipline too, because he'll eat a piece of dessert or something and then come tell me, "Mommy, I already had dessert." He doesn't want more. So I don't even have to try with him. I guess he knows the balance.

Nikkiey: That's so cool.

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Okay. So let's talk about how you found us. You saw an ad on Facebook. What about that ad resonated with you? Do you remember what I was saying or what stuck out to you?

Nausheen: I think a lot of it was around cardio. Typically you talk about women in perimenopause, menopause or post-menopause, but this one was like, are you doing a lot of cardio and still not getting the results you want? And I was like, that sounds a lot like what I'm doing right now.

Nikkiey: Yes. Exactly. And double cardio sessions in a day. She's talking to me.

Nausheen: That's exactly how I felt. So it was definitely about cardio. And then I wanted to listen more. And seeing your physique and how you were incorporating strength training, I was like, that's what I want to look like. So essentially getting your physique the way you want it to be really resonated, knowing that what I was doing at that point wasn't working for me. It went from there, and I listened to different testimonials. A lot of them, again, were women who were older and had different backgrounds. But in my case it was more like, what I was doing is no longer working, so how do I change it and how do I get better at it? So I explored my options from there.

Nikkiey: I love that. And you mentioned you listened to the podcast too, and there were a lot of similarities in our stories in terms of Pinterest. I did a lot of cardio starting out too. I'm curious, when you were doing the cardio, did you have any fear of being in the weight room? Any fear of walking into the gym and doing weights? Or was it more that you loved cardio at the time and didn't really think about the weight aspect?

Nausheen: I think I was just comfortable in the cardio area, so I never really explored weight training. And it was always crawling with men. So it was like, all right, that's their place, and the women go to the treadmills and elliptical machines. That was kind of the breakdown. But it's so nice to see now, going to the gym, it's actually the opposite, which is really funny sometimes, because I see men on the treadmills and ellipticals and bikes, and the women are on the Smith machine doing free weights. So it's so cool.

Nikkiey: Women are slowly taking over the weight room.

Nausheen: Yes. I love it.

Nikkiey: That's awesome. So when you first joined, were there any fears around joining the program? Any hesitation? When I talk to WarriorBabes, some say they were skeptical. A lot of older women who join the program are like, who's this chick talking about metabolism?

Nausheen: She's 30 years younger than me.

Nikkiey: Yeah, exactly. Were there any thoughts or fears you had about joining?

Nausheen: Not really. I did a lot of research, obviously followed you on social media and listened to the podcast. And there are so many different testimonials you all put out there that it had to be true. There was just no way this wasn't a real business or a real thing. Before WarriorBabe, I'd never explored other programs or options, because I never had the need to. This was my very first one. So there was a little bit of hesitancy, but nothing to the point of, okay, no, this is not for real. It was the message you were getting across, and the way you were targeting your audience and really wanting to get your message across about what we're doing right now and how it needs to change. That really sat well, and I didn't think twice about it.

Nikkiey: Love that. And I love that you saw the demographic was older and thought you might be too young for the program, but that didn't stop you.

Nausheen: No. I felt like I could still relate to it.

Nikkiey: I love to hear that, because I hope other women don't feel left out. Otherwise we wouldn't be able to help everybody. I don't want them to feel left out just because we talk about menopause and all those things.

Nausheen: Right. And I took it in a way where eventually I know I'm going to be down that road. So learning about it now and getting everything I need to learn now, to set myself up for when it does come time, I thought would be beneficial.

Nikkiey: Love that approach. I love that perspective so much, because you're really setting yourself up for success now for the later years of your life, when you do walk into that phase.

Okay, let's talk about your first couple of weeks after joining. Were there any early wins or signs that this was going to work, that you were going to trust this process?

Nausheen: I'd say for the first couple of months, and I can't remember what my macros and calorie intake were at the time, but the way it was set, I was definitely shedding pounds. I think the thought was to retrain and get my metabolism back to normal. So we took that approach, and by October, I remember our Halloween costumes a year and a half ago, I was like, oh my God, this is crazy. I feel better. I feel so nice wearing this. We all dressed up as the jailer family, so I ended up wearing that and was like, oh, I feel good in this. I was losing weight consecutively, every week or so. I was taking progress pictures and updating check-ins and measurements. But I also realized what I was missing from my nutrition. Just going in and casually logging everything you're eating really brings awareness to what you're not eating that you should be, or vice versa, what you're taking in that you shouldn't.

That was very eye-opening. For the first few weeks I struggled a lot with that. All my numbers were negative, negative. So I had to go in and figure out what it was, and then learn how to play with it to get it to where you want it to be. It's definitely something you have to do to figure it out. It was a struggle at the beginning. And now a lot of that stuff comes naturally, so if I do need to pivot or something comes up that I didn't plan for, I'm not as overwhelmed as I was earlier in the journey, where I'd be freaking out like, I don't know what to eat now. It's more like, okay, if this doesn't work, I could do this, this or this instead. That's been super helpful.

Nikkiey: I love that reframe. You said you struggled a little at the beginning, and I want to unpack the macros side of things a bit, because that's such a big learning curve for people. You came in not knowing anything about macros. You were toying with it, seeing the negatives, and you didn't give up. You just kept going because you were determined to figure it out. And now you're saying it's easy, it's plug and play.

Nausheen: I don't think about it as hard as I used to when I started.

Nikkiey: There are so many women who are like, oh, macros are so overwhelming, macros are so hard, macros are X, Y and Z. They have so much resistance to trying something new that they stop before they even give it a chance to show them the full picture of how it can support their journey. What would you tell somebody listening who's thinking, I don't want to track macros, tracking sounds too hard, macros sound too hard? Knowing where you are today, where it's just plug and play and so easy, what would you tell somebody who's meeting that resistance out of the gate?

Nausheen: I'd have to say it's just like any other skill you'd learn. It's something you put your mind to and put all your effort into learning, and then it gradually gets easier. You didn't give up on learning how to drive a car or learning a language or anything like that, so why is this any different? It's hard because you don't know it yet. But once you grasp it and understand it, it's so much easier. The whole day goes by already knowing what you're going to eat, and you're not worried about it, or picking things up and randomly eating just because you're hungry, and then at the end of the day feeling terrible about it. And yes, it does take some time on the front end. Every night I track my macros for the next day, so I know exactly what I'm going to eat. Then going into the next day is so much easier. And even when you have social pressures, like going out to eat or grabbing lunch with your coworkers, it's so easy to say no now. Before, I'd be like, oh, I don't know what they're going to say, should I go, should I not go? Now I'm just like, no, I'm good, I packed my lunch, and that's it. And then they stop asking.

Nikkiey: That's awesome. I love that. It's not as daunting to say no anymore, right?

Nausheen: Right, exactly. It's pretty natural now. So I'd just say keep going at it, play with it and learn it, and eventually it sticks. And there are so many things the coaches have talked about, like, when you start planning, maybe put your protein in for the day first so you know that's locked in, and then make sure you're hitting your fiber. There are different things you can do to make it easier so you know what you're left with. Coach Jess and I have always talked about how it's very similar to managing your finances. You're not going to spend more money than you earn, so why would you spend more on your macros than you actually have in your bank? It's just a mindset shift.

Nikkiey: Oh, that's such a great answer. I love that. That's going to be so helpful for women listening. That's a beautiful way of painting the picture for them of not leaning into the resistance, overcoming it and just giving it a try.

Okay, so now I'm really curious. You've been with us for how long?

Nausheen: A year and a half. March is a year and a half.

Nikkiey: Oh my gosh. That's incredible. So did you end up extending?

Nausheen: I did. It was coming up, and I think you were running your sale. And it was funny, because I had to have the conversation again with my husband from a finance standpoint. When we first talked about it, it was obviously a big commitment, and we had to figure out financially how we were going to manage it and how it was going to work. So when the second year came around, I was like, I know we didn't talk about this, but I really think this is going to be super beneficial for me. The first year was just getting your feet wet and learning all the basics. But now it's really executing it, playing around with it, and seeing what you can and cannot do, and what your body goes through when you cycle through all the different phases. And I just love Coach Jess, so I wanted to stick it out one more year. I told her, this is the year I really want to see if I can do a lot of these things on my own and be more independent. So when it comes to planning my workouts or nutrition, she turns it around and asks, what do you think you should do? How do you think you should handle this? She's setting me up for the future. That's been so helpful. We're making notes as we go, and she's really challenging me to think through a lot of these things on my own. Then I come back to her and get her input too. It's been great to feel independent.

Nikkiey: That is prime-time coaching right there. Sorry, guys, she's taken. But yes, she's prime time.

Nausheen: She's so great.

Nikkiey: She is so great. She's awesome. Oh, I love that. That's so cool that you found your home with us for this time in your fitness journey, and that you're also learning how to navigate it yourself. That's what makes it so invaluable to work with a coach: you get to not only learn and be educated on this, but also be challenged. How would I do this? How do I think through this? How can I do this on my own after I'm done with WarriorBabe?

Nausheen: Yes.

Nikkiey: Which is the ultimate success for our babes. Some of them stay for five years, some stay a little longer, some stay two years and graduate on their way out. But I love that. Let's talk about your results. You talked a little bit about how much you've lost.

Nausheen: Oh my gosh. I went back to when I first started. I joined in September of 2024, so a year and a half ago. And I have lost 17 pounds since I started. I lost five and a half inches off my hips and six inches off my waist, which I didn't even know I had that much to lose. I was just like, man, that's a lot.

Nikkiey: Have you decreased in pant sizes? Or have you gained a booty?

Nausheen: I've decreased in pant sizes. Yes.

Nikkiey: That's awesome.

Nausheen: And right now I'm still at 1,720 calories while still maintaining all of this, in a cut phase right now. Looking at the results going back, it's been incredible. I never knew this could actually happen. And again, relating to you, I always felt like the whole skinny-fat version was always there, but never toned. Being able to actually see your body and see the muscles and work on reducing the fat around them was never in the picture until now. So I feel so confident in that sense.

Nikkiey: If you feel comfortable, give us a bicep flex. Hey, okay, girl. With the delt line right there.

Nausheen: Yeah, it's just... yeah.

Nikkiey: That's amazing. So you can see the muscle definition showing.

Nausheen: Yeah, for sure. The tone is there.

Nikkiey: You know how I feel about the word "toned."

Nausheen: I know you don't like it. The muscle definition is there. My husband's actually pointed that out a lot too. He's like, do you realize you can see your arms? I don't typically look at it on my own, but when he sees me working out, I'm like, yeah, have you seen this? This is crazy. And it boosts my confidence even more.

Nikkiey: Yeah, girl. You should be so proud. That's amazing. And you've lost the weight, but you're not at the number you thought you'd be at, and you've gained more muscle definition. And that scale may creep up as you continue to put on more definition and hold on to more muscle. It's either going to creep up a little bit or it's going to stay the same.

Nausheen: I'm okay with that trade-off for sure.

Nikkiey: Right, exactly. I love that for you. We were talking a bit beforehand, and you said this type of decision was... I don't want to take your words, because I want you to say it.

Nausheen: Oh, the best decision I've made in my life.

Nikkiey: Yes. That's what we were talking about.

Nausheen: Definitely. It's been so rewarding, and I'm just so grateful, because without my husband's support in this, and thinking about where I would be if I'd continued to explore things on my own or do what I thought was right this whole time, I wouldn't be where I am right now. Being able to be where I want to be mentally and physically helps me be a better mom and a better partner. And it's rubbing off on them in a positive way, and I'm becoming the role model I've always wanted to be. He's our only one, so I want to teach him all the great things that are out there, and for him to know how important it is to have self-care and be persistent, putting good things out there for him to pick up on as he grows older.

Nikkiey: I love that. We talked a little about being a role model for your husband and your son, and it's really cool. At the end of the day, that means so much to you, because you're showing them prime examples of health and fitness. If you want to elaborate a little more: your journey has impacted your fitness, but how about elsewhere in life? Work, your partnership, with your son, other areas?

Nausheen: I think there are so many things you learn from the fitness journey in terms of your mindset and looking at things from a different perspective, and you can apply that all across. Whether that's lifting other people up at work and being a better role model for them, or being available for my son as he needs me and teaching him the value of inner strength and being resilient, and all sorts of things we typically talk about week to week through community calls or our team huddles. It has a very profound impact on all areas of life, not just workouts and nutrition. And you physically feel better to do things and be active and be more involved with him. He's a toddler right now, so he's got a bunch of energy, and I want to make sure I can keep up with him.

Nikkiey: You've got to keep up with him on a daily basis. That's awesome to hear. It's been such a fun time here. I've really enjoyed getting to know you more and hearing your story, where you were at the beginning and where you are now, and how WarriorBabe has had such a positive impact on your journey. And also you executing the things, from listening to the podcast for a year before, to following through on what Jess is telling you to do. Of course it's hard, and eating more is crazy, but you still followed through. You trusted the process. So it's really cool to hear your story and to see where you are now. You've achieved the results you wanted, and you keep going.

So for anyone listening right now, what would you say to a woman who's in the same position you were in? Who thinks doing more, more cardio, more workouts, more of this, is the answer, but she's feeling exhausted, frustrated and defeated. What would you tell that woman listening right now?

Nausheen: If you're in the same boat I was, I would highly, highly recommend looking into the program and exploring your options here. I did my due diligence, like you said. I listened to the podcast and did the research to really understand what the program had to offer. But at the same time, it's trusting the process and knowing that as we get older, our bodies do change, and things that used to work in our twenties and thirties may not work. So it's figuring out what that next step is to get back to where you want to be and achieve the goals you want. I feel grateful for not having to struggle longer than I did. But if there are other people out there who have dealt with the same issue, where things used to work, you did a lot of cardio and didn't have any weight issues or concerns, but now you do, maybe this is the answer for you as well. So I'd just say look into the program. I don't regret it one bit. I think it's got so much to offer. It's not your typical workout program where they give you meals and workouts to do and that's it. You all offer so much more. So I'm just grateful, and I hope whoever is in the same position also seeks the same help and assistance that I did.

Nikkiey: Oh, thank you, Nausheen. I appreciate that. And for anyone listening who feels that through and through and really resonated with it, there are links below this video. Check out warriorbabe.com/apply. You've got nothing to lose. If it's not for you, it's not for you. If it is, this could totally change the trajectory of your entire journey and get you to where you want to be.

Nausheen, thank you. Your story is such a powerful reminder for everyone listening that doing more isn't always better, but doing what's right is. You went from overtraining, being exhausted and chasing results that just weren't coming, to where you are now: building strength, building confidence and building a lifestyle that actually works for you. You're so energetic and so happy and so excited about the changes you're seeing, and it's rubbing off. That's the most powerful part. It's not just changing your own life. It's setting the example and the tone for your family and for the generations to come, with your son, which is so cool. It's been a pleasure having you here and listening to your story. I just encourage you to keep going. You're such a light, and you've accomplished this incredible result so far. So keep going.

Nausheen: Thank you. Yes, I'm not stopping anytime soon. Thank you for having me.

Nikkiey: Of course. And as you continue to learn all the things, you sound like you absorb the knowledge so well, so it'll be cool to see where you go beyond this, how you uphold the lifestyle and how it becomes more ingrained in your identity.

Nausheen: Yes. This is who I am now.

Nikkiey: Oh, I love that. Well, thank you, Nausheen. I appreciate you being here.

Nausheen: Thanks, Nikkiey.

Nikkiey: Hey, really quick before you go, I have one small favor to ask. If this episode brought you value or sparked something in you, take just a moment to hit that review button. Your rating and review make all the difference in helping more women discover the tools they need to transform their fitness and their confidence. It takes less than a minute, but it can change the path of someone else's journey. Thank you so much for leaving that review. I appreciate you so much.