The Practice Brave Podcast

On today's episode, I interviewed Michaela North (you may know her at @hungryfitness on IG). She is a coach, athlete, mom of 4 and has navigated competing through motherhood, rehabbing her diastasis and ultimately choosing abdominoplasty surgery. We talked about competing and what rehabbing a diastasis after twins and 2 additional pregnancies was like, and how the fitness culture has evolved for athlete moms.

We hope this episode is super relatable and helpful for those in the trenches of pregnancy, motherhood, diastasis (or any symptoms/injuries), as well as a embracing an evolving fitness experience, making big decisions and recovering from surgery.

8 Week Postpartum Athlete Training Program: http://www.briannabattles.com/8weeks

This is part 3 of a 4-episode series on abdominoplasty.

Do you need help knowing if this is right for you? Many have been told that surgery is the only choice to resolve a diastasis, and this is simply NOT true. Please download this free ebook so you can feel fully informed about diastasis, what you can do, and if you choose surgery, this ebook gives you tools, context and resources for navigating:

Diastasis Recti & Athleticism E-Book

This episode sponsored by:

Iconic grass-fed protein drinks.

I interviewed Lisa Ryan, a coach and high-level athlete who rehabbed a significant diastasis (was able to do muscle ups and lift heavy etc), yet ultimately chose abdominoplasty surgery to improve both the aesthetic and tension of her midline.

We discuss a lot of what we both expected, and what we were surprised about. This episode is a full disclosure of the good, the bad and the ugly that we wish everyone knew before choosing surgery. This combines both our personal experience and coaching professional take on the before, during and after surgery approach with managing expectations and outcome.

This is part 2 of a 4-episode series on abdominoplasty.

Do you need help knowing if this is right for you? Many have been told that surgery is the only choice to resolve a diastasis, and this is simply NOT true. Please download this free ebook so you can feel fully informed about diastasis, what you can do, and if you choose surgery, this ebook gives you tools, context and resources for navigating:

Diastasis Recti & Athleticism E-Book

This episode sponsored by:

Iconic grass-fed protein drinks.

Having an abdominoplasty is a significant choice, and it's typically multifaceted. Unfortunately there is a LOT of misunderstanding around the choice and/or circumstance to get one, and even more stigma and shame.

On this episode, I'm sharing what circumstances led me to have this surgery in February of 2019, and what struggles I experienced prior and after. This episode provides context for the many considerations that influenced my choice, as well as what to consider before getting abdominoplasty surgery.

This is part 1 of a 4 episode series on abdominoplasty.

Do you need help knowing if this is right for you? Many have been told that surgery is the only choice to resolve a diastasis, and this is simply NOT true. Please download this free ebook so you can feel fully informed about diastasis, what you can do, and if you choose surgery, this ebook gives you tools, context and resources for navigating:

Diastasis Recti & Athleticism E-Book

This episode sponsored by:

Iconic grass-fed protein drinks.

Some of the most common questions I've been asked since sharing that I had my breast implants removed 2.5 months ago is, "what is recovery like?" "How do you feel?" "How was returning to exercise?" I cover these questions and themes in this episode.

There's a lot of fear around surgery because of the recovery process. It can be intimidating and hard to know what to expect, from the early weeks (navigating wound care and swelling), to easing back into exercise strategically, knowing what to watch for, what to do and not do.

If you're wondering what recovery and return to exercise looks like post explant, I think you'll appreciate the personal and professional insight from this episode.

SHOW NOTES: www.BriannaBattles.com/episode33

The Practice Brave podcast brings you the relatable, trustworthy and transparent health & fitness information you're looking for when it comes to coaching, being coached and transitioning through the variables of motherhood and womanhood.

You will learn from athletes and experts in the women's health and coaching/performance realm as they share their knowledge and experience on all things Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism.

Whether you're a newly pregnant athlete or postpartum athlete, knowing how to adjust your workouts, mental approach and coaching can be confusing.

Each week we'll be tackling questions around adjusting your workouts and mindset, diastasis recti, pelvic health, mental health, identity, and beyond. Through compelling interviews and solo shows, Brianna speaks directly to where you're at because she's been there too!

Tune in every other week and share the show with your athlete friends!

I'm starting off 2021 with a confession!

I had my breast implants removed in November 2020.

I know I'm not alone in this choice and experiences that have accompanied the decision to get them (and get them out less than 2 years later).

I hope this episode helps continue a conversation around advocating for yourself, regardless of the circumstance!

In this weeks episode, I hope to have an honest conversation, to take away the shame and/or stigma surrounding this, and instead shine light on a very common experience for many women.

This is my personal experience, and is not medical advice.

For more information on this subject matter, check out this Facebook group and website

https://www.healingbreastimplantillness.com/

Thanks for listening today! Find me (@Brianna.Battles) on Instagram. I am with you!

www.BriannaBattles.com/episode32

It's hard to know what information to believe when it comes to your skin and hair because of all the BS that gets shared on social media (just like the Fitness industry, honestly.)

I asked board-certified dermatologist Dr. Samantha Ellis to come on the show to break down what we need to know about taking care of our skin and hair. Whether you're low maintenance or not, Dr. Sam shares how you can take great care of your skin and hair without investing a lot of money or time.

We talk about everything from natural skin care to pregnancy and postpartum changes to getting botox. Don't miss this episode, it's a good one!

Thanks for listening today! Head over to the show notes for the links and resources mentioned in this episode and to connect with Dr. Sam. Talk soon!

SHOW NOTES: www.BriannaBattles.com/episode31

Vanessa felt like if she COULD, then she SHOULD when it came to pushing herself in the gym while pregnant. She felt the pressure to be a "healthy role model" in her gym during pregnancy and postpartum even though she was tired, really tired.

In this episode, Vanessa Long shares her journey through motherhood (so far) as an athlete with athlete brain. We hope that by having this conversation, we can help you navigate these periods of evolution with more grace, empathy, and acceptance. You won't want to miss this one!

Thanks for listening this week and every week! Find Vanessa (@v_reyes) and myself (@Brianna.Battles) on Instagram and head to the show notes for more on this episode.

SHOW NOTES: www.BriannaBattles.com/episode30

Have you trained or worked with a dancer before? Maybe you have, maybe you haven't but knowing this special population is important if you're a coach. In this episode I am chatting with physical therapist Danelle Dickson who works extensively with dancers.

Danelle shares what is unique about working with dancers, why they don't seek help as quickly as other athletes, and how you can best connect with them as a practitioner.

Head over to instagram to continue this conversation with Danelle (@3ptdc) and I (@Brianna.Battles). You can find the links and resources mentioned in this episode on the show notes. Thanks for spending time with us today!

SHOW NOTES: www.BriannaBattles.com/episode29

I'm sitting down with my mom in this episode to talk about her experience raising my sister and I as a single mom. We sat on my couch and talked through what life was like growing up with my dad as a drug addict, how my mom decided to divorce him, and what life has looked like since then.

My mom, Sharon, also shares how she started working out in her 50s and what Crossfit has done for her. This is a super casual conversation but one that I hope resonates with you. You aren't alone in what you're facing!

Thanks for spending time with us today. Let me know what you think of this episode and show my mom some love on Instagram @Mom4Everyone!

SHOW NOTES: www.BriannaBattles.com/episode28

Have you asked yourself the question, "Why didn't anyone tell me about THIS?" when it came to pregnancy and postpartum? Menopause carries similar sentiments and that's why I am talking to my friend, Amanda Thebe, about menopause in this episode.

We are talking about the many changes women go through during menopause, how we can be proactive and more from Amanda's book, Menopocalypse.

Menopause may seem far away but perimenopause can begin in your late 30s and early 40s which is not far away for many of us. Don't miss this episode so you can be proactive in your health.

Thanks for listening today. Find all the links and resources mentioned in this episode at the show notes below!

SHOW NOTES: www.BriannaBattles.com/episode27