Questions asked by THRIVE clients:

1. Is there something you ate in a calorie deficit so much that you can’t stand it now?

2. How to find the balance between making progress while also recovering from injury?

3. When injuries should I be reducing calories if my activity is also reduced

4. Tips for socialising / nights out when in a fat loss phase?

5. Should I be aiming to do all four workouts at least once a week?

6. How many calories should I be aiming to burn in the gym sessions that you have given.

7. I’m going over my protein goal by 10-20g during weekdays and slightly under on the weekend, is this ok?

8. How do I figure out maintenance calories

9. I really love the thought of incorporating daily mindfulness and becoming a journal girlie. No matter how much I try to stay focused, I find it really difficult and my mind goes elsewhere or I feel like my journal entries are pointless. What tips would you give to someone who’s trying to really get into it for the first time, and what helped you stick with it in your day to day life?

10. If you’re not hungry at all but you still haven’t hit your protein or calorie count for the day, should you still eat in the evening (after dinner)? Also what would be your recommendation on the latest you should eat each day? Soz two questions in one lol

11. Any tips on how to do lunges properly. I am shaking every where!

12. I am going over with my protein by 30/40g but am still within my calories - is this ok? Or will it affect my fat loss phase

13. How do I manage staying on track and feeling burnt out (not burnt out from this but just life stuff haha)

14. How should I stay on track when someone else cooks my meals and it’s a big ask to request they weigh out everything they cook ?

15. If I’m making a dinner for 5 dinners in 1 batch, what’s the easiest way to enter this in? As I weighed each ingredient and then divided by 5 which was so much effort. Surely there is an easier way?

This week on The Thrive Coaching Podcast, Tara is joined for another packed Q&A episode.Then we get into your questions, and this week's lineup is a good one. We're covering how long a fat loss block should actually run (and whether you need rest in between), the mindset shift from chasing "skinny" to genuinely accepting your body, and what's really going on with evening snacking and sweet cravings — even when there's nothing in the house to reach for. We also get into how to fit steps into a jam-packed 7-to-5:30 workday when your lunch break isn't walkable.If you've been wondering how to know when to push through a tough week versus giving yourself grace, how to train around a back injury without losing progress, or how to stop a "bad day" spiralling into "I've blown it" — we've got you this week. Questions are open every Monday inside the Trainerize app — drop yours in and we might answer it on the next episode!📲 Follow us:[Instagram — @taragfit](https://www.instagram.com/taragfit/)[Instagram — @thrive.onlinecoaching](https://www.instagram.com/thrive.onlinecoaching/)[TikTok — @taragfitt](https://www.tiktok.com/@taragfitt)[YouTube — @taragfit](https://www.youtube.com/@taragfit)💬 Work with us:👉 Apply for 1-1 Coaching: https://thrivebytg.com/thrive-method/👉 Join the Thrive Method Waitlist: https://the-thrive-method.comQuestions Answered This Episode:* Should we be using electrolytes for hydration?* Steps to start accepting your body when you keep chasing "skinny" instead of health and strength* How long should a fat loss block be, and is rest needed in between?* Training tips while recovering from a lower back injury without re-aggravating it* Managing the mindset around reshuffling your week under stress — when to push through vs. ease off* NEAT energy: running vs. walking steps* Is conditioning beneficial for every goal — fat loss, muscle building, maintenance?* Training fasted vs. eating before a morning session — does it matter?* How to not feel overwhelmed by the whole program* Hitting your calories but still hungry — how to stay disciplined without overdoing it* Fitting steps into a 7am–5:30pm workday with an unwalkable lunch break* Planning a "sweat treat" into your week without it derailing you* Daily step target vs. weekly average — is 12,000 non-negotiable every day?* Dealing with running out of motivation every time you start something new* Bouncing back from a bad day of food or a missed workout without the "I've blown it" mindset* Best ways to stop evening snacking, even with no treats in the house* Running while in a calorie deficit for weight loss — good idea or not?* Podcast recommendations for mindset and positive thinking* Re-motivating yourself when you hit a rut and stop feeling like following the plan* Skipping tracking on holiday while staying mindful — and jumping back in after* Is form the priority when lifting, especially when form slips late in a set?* Navigating a weekly work lunch tradition without it derailing your goals* Stepping away from emotional/stress eating and managing cravings across your cycle* How to curb a sweet tooth that hits hard after lunch and when stressed* Craving sweet food all day after a sweet breakfast — even a protein-forward one🔔 Submit your question for next week's episode inside the Trainerize app every Monday — the more questions you submit, the better we can tailor the coaching to exactly what you're struggling with!

This week on The Thrive Coaching Podcast, Tara is joined by the coaches for another packed Q&A episode.

Then we get into your questions, and this week's lineup is a good one. We're covering how to handle judgement from people around not joining in on sweet treats or meals out, practical ways to improve your sleep, and how to stay motivated when you're having an off day. We also get into what actually flipped the switch for us as coaches to become consistent — and it's not what you'd expect.

If you've been wondering how to break free from feeling like you're always in a fat loss phase, how to cut back on drinking without losing your friends, or what to eat before an early morning gym session — we've got you this week. Questions are open every Monday inside the Trainerize app — drop yours in and we might answer it on the next episode!

📲 Follow us:

[Instagram — @taragfit](https://www.instagram.com/taragfit/)

[Instagram — @thrive.onlinecoaching](https://www.instagram.com/thrive.onlinecoaching/)

[TikTok — @taragfitt](https://www.tiktok.com/@taragfitt)

[YouTube — @taragfit](https://www.youtube.com/@taragfit)

💬 Work with us:

👉 Apply for 1-1 Coaching: https://thrivebytg.com/thrive-method/

👉 Join the Thrive Method Waitlist: https://the-thrive-method.com

Questions Answered This Episode:

* How do you deal with judgement for not getting sweet treats or meals out with people?

* What are some suggestions for better sleep?

* How do you stay motivated on an off day?

* What do you recommend eating before early morning gym training?

* What switch flipped in our brains as coaches that made us so consistent?

* How do I get out of feeling like I need to always be in a fat loss phase?

* How do I reduce my drinking when I feel pressure from friends?

* What do you say to yourself when you can't be physically bothered?

🔔 Submit your question for next week's episode inside the Trainerize app every Monday — the more questions you submit, the better we can tailor the coaching to exactly what you're struggling with!

This week on The Thrive Coaching Podcast, Tara is joined by the coaching team for another packed Q&A episode.

Then we get into your questions, and this week's lineup is a good one. We're covering how to choose the right gym when you're not feeling "gym-y," building the discipline to say no while working toward a fat loss goal, and what a good performance goal looks like when you're new to training regularly. We also get into breaking the late-night phone scrolling cycle that's wrecking your sleep.

If you've been wondering what the biggest mistake women make when trying to lose weight, how to prioritise as summer winds down and "back to school" season hits, or whether meditation is actually worth it — we've got you this week. Questions are open every Monday inside the Trainerize app — drop yours in and we might answer it on the next episode!

📲 Follow us:

[Instagram — @taragfit](https://www.instagram.com/taragfit/)

[Instagram — @thrive.onlinecoaching](https://www.instagram.com/thrive.onlinecoaching/)

[TikTok — @taragfitt](https://www.tiktok.com/@taragfitt)

[YouTube — @taragfit](https://www.youtube.com/@taragfit)

💬 Work with us:

👉 Apply for 1-1 Coaching: https://thrivebytg.com/thrive-method/

👉 Join the Thrive Method Waitlist: https://the-thrive-method.com

Questions Answered This Episode:

1. What are you looking forward to in the next few months?

2. After a summer of fun and sticking to the basics, what should we prioritise as we head into autumn and "back to school" season?

3. What are your thoughts on meditation? Do you find it helpful?

4. I'm looking to move gyms — what should I look out for or consider?

5. What's the biggest mistake women make when trying to lose weight?

6. How do you build the discipline to say no when you're working toward a fat loss goal?

7. What's a good performance goal for someone getting into the gym regularly?

8. I'm struggling with sleep because I'm stuck in a bad cycle of using my phone all evening — any suggestions for what to do instead?

🔔 Submit your question for next week's episode inside the Trainerize app every Monday — the more questions you submit, the better we can tailor the coaching to exactly what you're struggling with!

This week on The Thrive Coaching Podcast, Tara is joined by the coaches for another packed Q&A episode.

Then we get into your questions, and this week's lineup is a good one. We're covering how alcohol really affects fat loss progress (and whether staying within your calories is enough), how to plan for a girls' night out without derailing, the honest truth about workout order when you're juggling weights and cardio at the same time, and how to stop comfort eating after a stressful day at work. We also get into what actually happens once your 8 weeks are up — and whether Thrive Method or 1-1 coaching is the right next step for you.

If you've been wondering whether shift work sleep patterns are wrecking your recovery, how to carb load around a comeback match while injured, or how to keep training consistent when you're travelling between gyms (or heading home for a few weeks) — we've got you this week. Questions are open every Monday inside the Trainerize app — drop yours in and we might answer it on the next episode!

📲 Follow us:Instagram — @taragfitInstagram — @thrive.onlinecoachingTikTok — @taragfittYouTube — @taragfit

💬 Work with us:👉 Apply for 1-1 Coaching: https://thrivebytg.com/thrive-method/👉 Join the Thrive Method Waitlist: https://the-thrive-method.com

Questions Answered This Episode:

• Does alcohol hinder fat loss progress if you stay within your calories, or is it better to limit it — and why?
• What strategies help you plan for a girls' night out without losing progress?
• How do you get started with running/jogging if you've never been a runner?
• Does variable shift-work wake times affect recovery even if total sleep hours stay the same?
• Should you do weights before or after cardio when doing a 14-day ergo challenge alongside your training?
• How do you prevent comfort eating after a busy, stressful office day?
• If you could only focus on one habit for fat loss, what would it be and why?
• How do you keep working toward your goals during high stress or major life changes?
• How do you carb load for a GAA match while returning from injury and staying within your weekly average calories?
• How do you keep up progress when travelling home to Ireland and switching from gym classes to home/countryside workouts?
• How should you track progress across two gyms with different machine brands/weight stacks — match the weight or track effort separately?
• What happens at the end of the 8 weeks?
• If you still have a good bit of weight loss to go after the challenge, should you repeat Thrive Method or move to 1-1 coaching?

🔔 Submit your question for next week's episode inside the Trainerize app every Monday — the more questions you submit, the better we can tailor the coaching to exactly what you're struggling with!

This week on The Thrive Coaching Podcast, Tara and the Thrive Coaches are back with another packed client Q&A. This episode covers a huge range of ground — from training around an injury when your steps are limited, to finding the right balance between weight training and cardio classes without tipping into overtraining.

We also get into the nutrition side of things — savoury breakfast ideas beyond the usual eggs and avo, whether electrolytes and extra supplements are actually worth it, and why your MyFitnessPal calories might not match the recipe. Plus the mindset stuff that trips so many of you up — binge eating, getting back into routine after a heatwave, and the one habit that actually moves the needle most.

If you've ever wondered whether running outdoors stacks up against the erg bike, how many inches you should realistically expect to lose in a month, or why the scale creeps up even when you're doing everything right — this episode is for you.

📲 Follow us:
Instagram — @taragfit
TikTok — @taragfitt
Instagram — @thrive.onlinecoaching
YouTube — @taragfit

💬 Work with us:
👉 Apply for 1-1 Coaching: https://thrivebytg.com/online-enquiry/
👉 Join the Thrive Method Waitlist: https://the-thrive-method.com

Questions Answered This Episode:

Training & Technique

• Navigating fat loss while healing from an injury and struggling to get steps in
• How many bike/row/ski/HIIT classes to add alongside weight training without overtraining
• Is running outdoors a good alternative to gym cardio (erg bikes, ski erg, etc.)?
• Flat sole trainers vs running-style trainers for lower body days

Nutrition & Tracking

• Savoury breakfast ideas beyond eggs, bacon, and avocado on toast
• Supplement recommendations beyond creatine and protein
• Are electrolytes actually needed?
• Why does MyFitnessPal give different calories than the ones stated on a recipe?

Mindset, Motivation & Consistency

• Best tips for getting back into routine after a heatwave
• The one habit that gives people the biggest results

Progress & Results

• Is there a realistic number of inches to expect to lose per week/month?
• How much should weight increase from muscle gain — and why does the scale creep up even when staying consistent?

Just for Fun

• Favourite meal of the day
• The most ridiculous wellness trend fallen for — and the most unhinged one that actually worked

This week on The Thrive Coaching Podcast, Tara and the Thrive Coaches are back for another packed Q&A episode.

Then we get into your questions, and this week's lineup is a good one. We're covering training around your cycle and managing appetite swings from hormones, how to know what's normal for weekly weight loss and handling a stall, plus keeping consistency solid over the weekends. We also get into travel — one of you is taking a 12-hour ferry trip to Ireland this weekend and wanted our take on staying on track without scales.

If you've been wondering whether your period should change your training, why the scale hasn't moved even though you're doing everything right, or how to survive a long-haul travel day without losing your mind about tracking — we've got you this week. Questions are open every Monday inside the Trainerize app — drop yours in and we might answer it on the next episode!

📲 Follow us:
Instagram — @taragfit
Instagram — @thrive.onlinecoaching
TikTok — @taragfitt
YouTube — @taragfit

💬 Work with us:
👉 Apply for 1-1 Coaching: https://thrivebytg.com/online-enquiry/
👉 Join the Thrive Method Waitlist: https://the-thrive-method.com

Questions Answered This Episode:

Hormones & Cycle

• Should I be changing my food/workouts around the time of my period, or do I just drive on?
• How do you manage appetite fluctuations from hormone changes while in a fat loss?

Training & Technique

• If your body is sore, should you take a recovery day or continue with a planned session?
• Does it make a difference to the workout if you can't superset each exercise?
• One piece of advice for a long (16-week) Hyrox training block?
• Should I be lifting heavier for upper body if I want my arms to look smaller?

Programme Structure

• What's a normal amount of weight to lose every week in a deficit?
• Is it common for weight to stay the same for a while even when in a deficit?
• Can we continue after the 8-week challenge into maintenance or a further fat loss phase?

Nutrition & Tracking

• What are your most preferred protein powders?
• How can sleep affect weight loss?
• How do I bulk out meals when moving from fat loss to maintenance calories?
• Do you need digital scales, or is analogue fine?
• Is there such a thing as drinking too much water?

Mindset/Motivation/Consistency

• How do you cope with feeling insecure about not being as skinny as you'd like?
• How do you make sure weekends don't pull you back into bad habits?

Travel/Holidays & Social Events

• Top tips for a 12-hour travel day (steps, nutrition, tracking without scales) — plus should you bring a tape measure on holiday?

If you've been wondering whether you're overthinking your protein, your steps, or your rest days — we've got you this week.

📲 Follow us:
Instagram — @taragfit Instagram — @thrive.onlinecoaching TikTok — @taragfitt YouTube — @taragfit

💬 Work with us:
👉 Apply for 1-1 Coaching: https://thrivebytg.com/online-enquiry/
👉 Join the Thrive Method Waitlist: https://the-thrive-method.com

Questions Answered This Episode:

Steps, Recovery & Sleep

• Best tips for hitting 12k steps as an office worker

• Best way to deal with DOMS
• How many hours of sleep should you aim for each night?

Nutrition & Tracking

• Tips for eating before an early gym session when breakfast comes later — is it okay to calorie bank and skip a "double breakfast"?
• Can protein be banked across the week like calories?
• Should fruit and veg be tracked, or is it okay to skip logging them?
• Best way to track intake when someone else is cooking for you
• Does it matter if you go over protein by 10-20g while staying within calories — how much protein is too much?

Training & Technique

• How to train to failure without risking injury
• Any tips for hybrid training in a calorie deficit
• Creatine in protein powder — fine, or better separate?
• Advice for improving grip strength when hands hurt holding heavier weights
• Does spacing workouts across the week vs. clustering them affect progress?

Mindset, Life & Consistency

• Staying on track after 2 weeks away and a week off routine
• Stopping food being used as an emotional outlet

• Handling comments on your food/eating habits at work
• Managing calorie intake on high-activity, ravenous days

Other

• Favourite podcasts to listen to on walks

#ThriveCoachingPodcast #FatLossForWomen #StepCount #NutritionQandA #MacroTracking #ProteinTracking #GymMotivation #ConsistencyOverPerfection #EmotionalEating #BreakupRecovery #CreatineForWomen #GripStrength #WomenInFitness #TheThriveMethod #OnlineCoaching

We're covering everything from nutrition and tracking — how to portion cooked vs. uncooked carbs, whether it's ok to be under calories but over protein, and eating the same meals on repeat — through to navigating holidays, weddings and family visits without falling off track. We also get into the mindset side of things: how to stay consistent when motivation dips a few weeks in, and why your emotional side sometimes takes the wheel on your goals.

If you've been wondering whether you should "bank" calories before a big night out, how your cycle affects your training, or what actually counts as a step during a run — we've got you this week.

📲 Follow us:
Instagram — @taragfit
Instagram — @thrive.onlinecoaching
TikTok — @taragfitt
YouTube — @taragfit

💬 Work with us:
👉 Apply for 1-1 Coaching: https://thrivebytg.com/online-enquiry/

Questions Answered This Episode:

Nutrition & Tracking

• When a recipe lists a carb source like rice or pasta, how do I know whether the weight given is for the cooked or uncooked amount?
• When cooking rice or pasta for multiple servings weighed uncooked before the pot, how do I work out the correct portion size per serving?
• Should I aim to hit my full calorie target even when I'm not hungry enough, or is it enough to hit protein without going over calories?
• What's the best way to track calories for individual meals when batch cooking?
• Is it okay to eat the same meals every day, or should I be adding more variety?
• Is it okay if I'm under my calorie target but over my protein target?

Travel, Holidays & Social Events

• Any tips for managing a holiday while in a fat loss phase?
• I'm visiting family in Ireland after a long time away and want to enjoy drinks and traditional foods — how do I approach this while staying in a deficit?
• I'll be travelling for the first couple of weeks, which will make it harder to hit my step count. How should I manage this?
• I have a weekend event where I'll be out most of the day eating and drinking. Should I be banking calories in advance?
• I have a holiday at the start of the plan followed by a wedding, with limited gym access and a delayed start. How can I stay on track?

Mindset, Motivation & Consistency

• How can I find the motivation to go to the gym after sitting at a desk all day?
• What's the biggest mindset difference between clients who succeed and those who don't?
• Any book recommendations to help build confidence through the challenge?
• What's your biggest tip for success in health and fitness?
• What mantras or quotes do you use to stay motivated?
• What's the psychology behind snacking, and why does the brain seek comfort in chocolate and sweets?
• What music do you listen to when working out?
• What's the biggest challenge in staying consistent while still enjoying a social life?
• I tend to lose motivation a few weeks in once things get hard. How can I stay consistent for the full 8 weeks?
• How do I stop my emotional side from taking control of my goals?

Training & Technique

• What's a good snack to eat before an early morning gym session?
• What snacks should I eat to have enough energy for activities like running?
• Any tips for actually enjoying my time in the gym?
• For plank up-downs, what counts as one rep? Is doing them from my knees just as effective?
• What are your thoughts on taking creatine while trying to lose weight?
• When tracking steps, does a run count toward my daily total, or should I track it separately?

Hormones & Cycle

• How do you stay consistent while on your period?
• Does the menstrual cycle significantly impact the ability to exercise and train?

Programme Structure

• What's the biggest fitness myth you wish people would stop believing?
• What's the maximum amount of time someone should stay in a fat loss phase?
• #ThriveCoachingPodcast #FatLossForWomen #NutritionQandA #MacroTracking #HolidayNutrition #FatLossMindset #ConsistencyOverPerfection #CalorieDeficit #WomenInFitness #GymMotivation #CreatineForWomen #StepCount #MenstrualCycleTraining #OnlineCoaching #TheThriveMethod

Questions are open every Monday inside the Trainerize app — drop yours in and we might answer it on the next episode!

📲 Follow us:

⁠⁠Instagram — @taragfit⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram — @thrive.onlinecoaching

⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok — @taragfitt

⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube — @taragfit⁠⁠

💬 Work with us:👉 Apply for 1-1 Coaching:

https://thrivebytg.com/online-enquiry/

👉 Join the Thrive Method (29th June start):

thrivemethod-spacesopen.com

Questions Answered This Episode:

1. Is there anything you do that puts you in an instant good mood or that you do to shake out of the lows and get going?
2. I work as a clinical rep and don’t get a set lunch break every day. I usually have snacks in my bag that I can eat quickly between surgical cases or clinics. What snacks would you recommend to keep within calories? Thank yo
3. I play camogie and Gaelic football- 4 days training/ matches per week. I’m wondering how I can fit my gym work into this
4. How do you get past that motivational block when you’re tired or in a bad mood? I give in to a rest day too easily
5. Any tips for being in a fat loss phase while prepping for big activities? I have a plan to track calories as normal during the week of the activity but then carb loading the day before the big hike (6-8hrs). For the hike, I will just be getting all the calories I can but wondering what I should do leading up to and then after (to recover)? Should I even be in a deficit the week of the activity? What do people typically do for races and other things like this
6. To make the gym work for me I have to get up at 5:30am. What are your top tips for getting up and out of the house quickly
7. How do you balance hitting all your goals but also making sure you get enough sleep ?