Today on The Your Level Fitness Podcast, I'm joined once again by Kevyn J for a conversation that goes far beyond weight loss.

We discuss Kevyn's nearly 10-year wellness journey, including his experience using a GLP-1 medication as one tool to improve his health, the importance of strength training, working alongside your healthcare team, and what it really means to pursue long-term wellness instead of chasing quick fixes.

From there, the conversation naturally expands into men's mental health, emotional awareness, community, lifelong learning, artificial intelligence, social media, and why genuine human connection may be one of the most important parts of living a healthy life.

Some of the topics we explore include:

• Viewing GLP-1 medications as one tool within a broader wellness strategy.

• Building strength, protecting muscle, and improving long-term quality of life.

• The importance of finding healthcare professionals who truly partner with you.

• Why men need safe spaces to talk openly about mental and emotional health.

• Creating authentic community instead of relying solely on social media.

• Lifelong learning, adapting to change, and embracing new technology without losing human creativity.

• Finding common ground with others through fitness, music, conversation, and shared experiences.

This episode is a reminder that wellness isn't just about changing your body. It's about building a life that allows you to stay active, stay curious, develop meaningful relationships, and continue growing into the person you want to become.

A huge thank you to Kevyn for joining me again and for continuing to advocate for wellness, inclusion, and authentic connection.

Follow Kevyn and continue the conversation:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/kevyn_j/

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@kevyn_j/

If you enjoyed this conversation, be sure to follow Kevyn on social media and stay connected with the positive work he's doing in the wellness and advocacy communities.

How do you know the difference between food noise, hunger, cravings, and emotions?

It's a question that becomes increasingly important as you work to build a healthier and more sustainable relationship with food.

In this episode of The Food Noise Podcast, we explore the importance of noticing and naming the thoughts, feelings, cues, and emotions that influence your eating decisions. Rather than judging yourself or trying to eliminate every thought about food, this conversation encourages you to become a curious observer of your own experience.

We discuss the difference between food noise and hunger cues, how cravings show up, the role emotions play in eating, and why not every thought or feeling around food is necessarily a problem. We also talk about how building awareness can help you move from feeling out of control around food to feeling more empowered in the choices you make.

The goal isn't perfection.

The goal is understanding.

Topics Covered:

• Defining food noise for yourself

• Hunger cues versus food noise

• Understanding cravings

• Identifying emotional triggers

• The skill of noticing and naming

• Observing without judgment

• Why food is emotional

• The role of emotional eating

• Building awareness around eating habits

• Taking ownership of food choices

• Moving away from all-or-nothing thinking

• Creating a healthier relationship with food

Continue The Conversation

If you'd like to continue the conversation around food noise, join the live streams at:

yourlevelfitness.com/stream

The live streams provide an opportunity to explore food noise, eating habits, emotional eating, body image, confidence, and building a forever active lifestyle that works for you.

Thank you for listening to The Food Noise Podcast.

The more clearly you can identify what you're experiencing, whether it's hunger, cravings, emotions, or food noise, the more empowered you'll become in making choices that align with the life and lifestyle you're trying to build.

What expectations are you placing on other people?

And more importantly, are those expectations fair?

In this episode of The Almost Daily Podcast, I explore the role expectations play in our relationships and why so much disappointment often stems from standards that may never have been communicated, agreed upon, or even consciously recognized.

We discuss the popular idea of having zero expectations of others, why that can be difficult in practice, and how learning to notice and name the expectations we carry can help us better understand ourselves and the people around us. I also talk about blind spots, self-awareness, emotional reactions, and the opportunity we have to reassess whether the standards we're holding others to are actually reasonable.

The goal isn't necessarily to eliminate expectations entirely. The goal is to become aware of them so we can decide what serves us, what serves others, and what may be worth letting go.

Topics Covered:

• Why expectations often lead to disappointment

• The idea of having zero expectations

• Recognizing unspoken standards

• Notice and name your expectations

• Self-awareness and personal blind spots

• Emotional reactions versus logical evaluation

• Fairness in relationships

• Holding others to unrealistic standards

• The expectations we place on ourselves

• Letting go of unnecessary frustration

• Reframing disappointment

• Finding victories in personal growth

Thank you for listening to The Almost Daily Podcast.

The more aware we become of the expectations we carry, the more opportunity we have to create healthier relationships, reduce unnecessary frustration, and approach ourselves and others with a little more understanding.

Today on the podcast, I am joined by Memo, a runner, content creator, and one of the most genuine people I've had the opportunity to connect with online.

What started as a conversation about running quickly became a deeper discussion about identity, fatherhood, mental health, social media, personal growth, and the moments that change the direction of our lives.

Memo shares how the COVID years led to unhealthy habits, weight gain, and a growing disconnect from the person he wanted to be. After becoming a father, everything changed. Faced with the reality of the choices he was making and the future he wanted for his daughter, he made a decision that would eventually lead him to running.

We talk about the difficult first steps, the lessons learned during his first year as a runner, and how slowing down ultimately helped him make more progress. We also explore the supportive running community on TikTok, the power of documenting your journey, and why connecting with others can make a difficult process feel a little less lonely.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How the pandemic impacted habits, health, and daily life

• Becoming a father and finding a new sense of purpose

• The frightening moment that motivated Memo to make a change

• Why slowing down helped him become a better runner

• Recovery runs, pacing, and avoiding burnout

• Using social media to document progress and build community

• The connection between running, mental health, and self-reflection

• Finding beauty in everyday life and appreciating the journey

• Why consistency matters more than perfection

• The lessons running teaches about patience, growth, and resilience

This conversation goes far beyond running. It's about becoming the person you want to be, appreciating where you are today, and continuing to move forward one step at a time.

To continue following Memo's journey, connect with him on TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@memoruns26

For years, I worked as a habit-based coach.

The principles were simple: actions create results. The habits you repeat consistently are what ultimately determine where you end up.

But over time, I became increasingly interested in a different question:

Why do some people follow through while others struggle to?

In this episode of The Almost Daily Podcast, I discuss the connection between mindset, emotions, habits, and actions. While understanding yourself and untangling the mental and emotional side of change is important, there is still a point where action has to happen.

I also share how I'm bringing more habit-based coaching concepts back into the content I'm creating, why structure still matters, and how simple daily actions can help you build a lifestyle that feels sustainable instead of overwhelming.

Topics Covered:

• The role of habit-based coaching

• Why actions create results

• The connection between mindset and follow-through

• Understanding why we do or don't take action

• Building a forever active lifestyle

• Why structure still matters

• Simple habits that support long-term success

• Water, produce, movement, and daily actions

• Avoiding overwhelm in health and fitness

• Creating sustainable routines

• The balance between self-awareness and execution

• Why following through is still essential

Thank you for listening to The Almost Daily Podcast.

Understanding yourself matters. Mindset matters. Emotions matter. But at some point, progress still requires action. The goal is to create a life where following through feels less like a battle and more like a natural extension of who you are becoming.

Why did Chad start running?

What began as preparation for a Spartan Race became a complete transformation of his physical health, confidence, mindset, and sense of purpose.

In this episode of Why Did You Start Running, Chad shares how a difficult period following COVID left him struggling with mobility, spasticity, self-doubt, and depression. Living with cerebral palsy, he found himself facing an important decision: continue down a path of inactivity or take a chance on himself and see what was possible.

That decision led to his first 5K.

Since then, Chad has logged more than 1,000 miles, completed dozens of races, earned a first-place age group finish, organized a charity virtual 5K, launched a scholarship program, and become a voice of encouragement within both the running and cerebral palsy communities.

We also discuss the power of community, the mental health benefits of running, navigating grief, overcoming self-doubt, and how one small decision can create opportunities you never imagined.

Whether you're a runner, someone living with a disability, or simply looking for a reminder of what's possible when you take a chance on yourself, this conversation is packed with inspiration and perspective.

In This Episode

• Why Chad signed up for a Spartan Race in 2022

• Living with cerebral palsy and navigating physical challenges

• How running helped improve mobility and confidence

• The mental and emotional benefits of running

• The importance of supportive communities

• Running through grief and difficult life experiences

• Finding purpose through helping others

• Creating a scholarship program and charity 5K

• Building confidence through personal growth

• Why taking one chance on yourself can change everything

Connect With Chad

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chadwillia1/

Learn More About Cerebral Palsy Perspective

Website: https://cerebralpalsyperspective.com

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone who needs a reminder that progress doesn't require perfect circumstances. Sometimes the biggest transformations begin with a single decision to try.

What is ghost fat?

If you've lost weight but still see the same person when you look in the mirror, you're not alone. Many people in weight loss communities describe a phenomenon often called "ghost fat," the experience of changing your body while still feeling connected to an earlier version of yourself.

In this episode of Body Image Shift, we unpack why this happens, why rapid weight loss can sometimes make the experience even more noticeable, and why changing your physical appearance doesn't automatically change the relationship you have with yourself. We explore the emotional side of body image, the limitations of weight loss as a solution to self-perception, and why learning to appreciate and love yourself at every stage of life may be one of the most important pieces of long-term change.

This conversation also dives into confidence, self-worth, identity, therapy, GLP-1 medications, and the gap that often exists between physical results and emotional healing. The goal isn't simply to change how you look. The goal is to change how you see yourself.

Topics Covered:

• What ghost fat actually means

• Why many people still see the "old version" of themselves

• Body image versus physical appearance

• The emotional side of weight loss

• Why rapid weight loss can amplify self-perception challenges

• Ghost fat and GLP-1 medications

• The difference between changing your body and changing your self-image

• Why confidence doesn't automatically come with weight loss

• Learning to appreciate yourself at every stage

• The role of therapy and emotional support

• Building a healthier relationship with yourself

• Creating an alternative way of seeing yourself

Continue The Conversation

If you'd like to continue the conversation around shifting your body image, join the live streams at:

yourlevelfitness.com/stream

The live streams provide an opportunity to explore body image, self-confidence, self-worth, weight loss, GLP-1 experiences, and the inside/out approach to building a forever active lifestyle.

Thank you for listening to Body Image Shift.

Weight loss can change your body. Lasting body image change happens when you learn to appreciate and love yourself at every stage of the journey.

What if confidence isn't something you earn?

What if confidence starts with a choice?

In this episode of The Confidence Podcast, we explore a different way of looking at confidence. Rather than viewing confidence as something that appears after enough success, enough accomplishments, or enough proof, we discuss why confidence often begins with a decision to trust yourself before you have all the answers.

The reality is that you'll never have complete certainty. There will always be unknowns, risks, and opportunities that require you to move forward without knowing exactly how everything will work out. The question becomes: Do you trust yourself to figure it out?

We also discuss how people reinforce beliefs about themselves, why many of us focus on failures while overlooking victories, and how your life experiences already provide evidence that you are more capable, resilient, and adaptable than you may realize.

Confidence isn't about guaranteeing success. It's about believing in your ability to navigate whatever happens next.

Topics Covered:

• Why confidence starts with a choice

• Trusting yourself before you feel ready

• The difference between confidence and certainty

• Reinforcing beliefs about yourself

• Why people focus on failures more than successes

• Recognizing the challenges you've already overcome

• Building self-trust through experience

• Taking action without having all the answers

• Defining success on your own terms

• Learning through setbacks and opportunities

• Why confidence grows through navigation, not perfection

Confidence Collection

Need a physical reminder of the confidence you're choosing to build?

Confidence Collection:

https://yourlevelfitness.shop/collections/confidence

Thank you for listening to The Confidence Podcast.

You do not need more proof to begin believing in yourself. You've already navigated challenges, setbacks, uncertainty, and change. Confidence starts when you choose to trust yourself to do it again.

Who are you without the weight loss goal?

It's a question many people never have to ask themselves. But for those experiencing significant success with GLP-1 medications, it can become one of the most important questions of all.

In this episode of Life During and After GLP-1, we explore what happens when weight loss is no longer the primary focus of your day-to-day life. For many people, years or even decades have been spent thinking about food, weight, body image, dieting, and trying to change themselves. When those thoughts become quieter and the weight begins to come off, a new challenge often appears: figuring out who you are beyond the struggle.

We discuss identity, self-perception, personal growth, and the opportunity to write a new chapter for yourself. We also explore why this transition can feel both exciting and uncomfortable, and how creating a life beyond weight loss may be one of the most important parts of the journey.

Topics Covered:

• Who are you without the weight loss goal?

• Identity during and after GLP-1

• Life beyond dieting and weight loss

• What happens when food thoughts become quieter

• Rewriting your personal story

• The emotional side of major life changes

• Moving beyond the struggle

• Self-discovery and personal growth

• Creating a new chapter in your life

• Building a life that isn't centered on weight loss

• Adjusting to a new reality

• Trusting yourself as you move forward

Continue The Conversation

If you'd like to continue the conversation around life during and after GLP-1, join the live streams at:

yourlevelfitness.com/stream

The live streams provide an opportunity to explore topics like GLP-1 medications, weight loss, body image, food noise, identity, and building a forever active lifestyle.

Thank you for listening to Life During and After GLP-1.

Weight loss may change your body. But who you become afterward is a story that only you can write.

Do you really want food noise gone forever?

It's a simple question, but one that deserves thoughtful consideration.

In this episode of The Food Noise Podcast, we explore the relationship between food noise, GLP-1 medications, and the future lifestyle you're trying to build. While many people welcome relief from constant thoughts about food, eating, weight, and body image, it's important to ask yourself what role you ultimately want those thoughts and feelings to play in your life.

We discuss the value of having a break from food-related stress, the importance of defining your own goals instead of accepting someone else's expectations, and how this quieter period can create an opportunity to build habits that support your long-term success. We also explore the emotional side of eating, the trade-offs involved with different approaches, and why your relationship with food deserves ongoing attention and care.

The goal isn't to tell you what your answer should be.

The goal is to help you get clear on what you want.

Topics Covered:

• Do you want food noise gone forever?

• Defining your own relationship with food

• Food noise and GLP-1 medications

• The importance of personal choice

• Evaluating trade-offs and side effects

• Using quiet periods to build habits

• Reintroducing eating routines and structure

• The emotional side of food

• Why food is more than fuel

• Preparing for life during and after GLP-1

• Building a sustainable relationship with eating

• Creating a forever active lifestyle

Continue The Conversation

If you'd like to continue the conversation around food noise, join the live streams at:

yourlevelfitness.com/stream

The live streams provide an opportunity to explore topics like food noise, GLP-1s, eating habits, body image, confidence, and building a lifestyle you can actually see yourself living for the long term.

Thank you for listening to The Food Noise Podcast.

The question isn't whether someone else thinks food noise should be gone forever. The question is what role you want food, eating, and those thoughts and feelings to play in the life you're building for yourself.