We hit November and BAM we're already hit with all the super intense, "Are you going to wait to the new year to change your life?! Get ahead of everyone else!" messaging. But that doesn't really help you, does it? It probably just makes you feel motivated for a second, then guilty if you don't end up taking action or sticking with it. That's not your fault. Those messages are pretty empty & don't give you much to work with. So I'm hopping on to give you some helpful tips on how you can start to think about some goals or resolutions for next year & small actions you can start with now to set yourself up for success in the new year.

Stefanie Michele, Certified Coach, MS, OT/L, shares her personal journey dealing with & healing from Binge Eating Disorder, becoming a coach & helping people on their own roads to recovery. She shares the process she walks her clients through, from breaking down their own subconscious fat phobia, healing their body image, unsubscribing from diet culture, realizing the emotions that are tied to their disorder, and so much more. We also review how to set healthy boundaries with friends and family, especially going into the holiday season, as well as how to help and support loved ones going through any disordered eating patterns. 

Connect with Stefanie on IG- @iamstefaniemichele

Listen to Stefanie's Podcast- Life After Diets

Work with Stefanie

Stefanie's Recommendations:

This week I invite Certified Holistic Nutritionist, Katie McKersie, on the podcast to share her journey of healing her PCOS through nutrition & lifestyle, PCOS Q&A, post birth control syndrome, and the importance of hormone health. 

Connect with Katie on IG - @holistico.katie

Work with Katie: holistico.ca

Recommendations on this episode:

Becca Rivera, better known as Becca One Checca, Head Trainer of EverybodyFights Hilltop, joins me on the podcast to share how she went from analyzing dirt to becoming a Boston fitness queen, how she helps her clients find lasting motivation, the importance of finding your why, and some realities of being a fitness professional. 

Connect with Becca on IG - @becca1checca

Train with Becca - absandbody.com

TW: body image, disordered eating & exercise

This week I open up all about my personal journey with body image- the good, the bad, and the ugly. While I dig deep & get a little raw with you all, I hope that it helps you feel less alone in any of the negative thoughts you've ever had about your own body, battles you've ever had with food, and of course poor relationships you've ever had with exercise. This is not meant to be sad or to receive pity, rather to serve as a way to connect & let you know, you are not alone! After I share my own story about my low self worth, disordered eating, and exercise obsession, I also share things that helped me start my own healing journey. I hope this helps! Oh, and you're perfect exactly as you are.

Recommended IG Accounts:

@mikzazon

@thebirdspapaya

@meg.boggs

@movingwithmarina

(there are so many more- please tag me in an IG story and share your favorites so I can also share!)

Sarah Gaines, former Boston fitness instructor, creator of JoySpace & JoyFlow, & teacher of body image, self love, and spirituality joins me on this week's episode. She shares how she went from dieting since age 8, to finally getting her "dream body" & what came with that, to finding healing & tapping into intuition and helping others do the same. I have already listened to this episode three times before posting it because damn fam, it's a GOOD one. 

Connect with Sarah- @sarahjgaines

Move with Sarah on JoySpace

My dear friend Sydney Ortega, owner of Simply Placed in downtown Beverley, MA, joins me this week & shares how she quit her 10 year career in digital marketing to follow her dreams & open her very own home boutique. She gives so many useful tips on approachable ways to refresh your home's decor, how to better organize, and how to develop your own personal style.

Shop Simply Placed with 10% off THIS WEEK ONLY, using code BUILDWITHBRABEC

Connect with Syd- @shop.simplyplaced

Syd recommends:

Hi friends! I'm going to start releasing some "Build with Brabec Quickies", which will be super short, digestible episodes that focus on small pieces of advice, inspiration, and self development so we can all continue to be inspired by each other! In this week's quickie I talk about self limiting beliefs, waiting to chase after your goals, and how we are all WORTHY of our dream life right now. Enjoy!

I was lucky enough to sit down with this absolute GEM of a human being! Natalie Lizarraga, LA native turned Boston media leader, shares how she broke into her on-air anchor role in her late twenties, her relationship with fitness, how she stays so confidence with so many eyes on her, and what it means knowing some of said eyes are young girls.

Connect with Nat on IG- @natliztv

On this month's solo episode I ugly cry about Texas' new abortion law, chat about pop culture, and answer lots of listener questions about showing up for yourself, getting started in a fitness routine after having a baby or going through an injury, mindfulness tips, and so much more!