Tough Cookie Talks

By Jenna Jozefowski

Tough Cookie Talks is a podcast we'll explore the intersection of fitness & anti-diet culture and all the gray areas in between. We'll let go of "shoulds" and judgment and dig into tough conversat... more

· Health & Fitness

4.9

4646 ratings

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FAQs about Tough Cookie Talks:

How many episodes does Tough Cookie Talks have?

The podcast currently has 144 episodes available.

Tough Cookie Talks episodes:

May 17, 2022Confessions Of a Former MLM "Coach" With Jen Borruso
Today's guest is one that I've been wanting to share for a LONG time. My friend and fellow anti-diet culture personal trainer Jen Borruso is sharing all the dirt on what it was actually like for her to be involved in a very diet culture-y MLM (hint, it rhymes with peach hotty ;). At the time, Jen lost a TON of weight and showcased that online in an attempt to sell shakes and workouts and recruit people to join her "team". What was going on behind the scenes was actually much darker and more disordered than you might expect. Proving once again that social media is nothing more than a highlight reel, and that what people often aren't showing is what happens after the "after" photo is taken. One of the things I respect most about Jen is her openness in sharing about her experience, to admit that she was wrong, and then continue to grow and learn to do better as a fitness professional. If you're not familiar with the term "MLM" that's short for multi-level marketing. Direct sales companies where individuals sell products and recruit people under them to sell those products. It usually shows up as a DM from an old friend who asks you to catch up and the next thing you know they're trying to get you to host a party to sell protein powder or lip gloss. These companies claim not to be a pyramid scheme but if hey, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck. . .I'll let you decide for yourself.
Jen Borruso is a non-diet, size inclusive certified personal trainer, corrective exercise & women's coaching specialist. She is the owner of Jen B. Coaching and founder of Anchor Fit Club; an online strength training community that values compassion, empathy, autonomy and there is no end destination when it comes to fitness.
On this episode we talk about:
The truth about MLM's--what they are, how they show up in your life, and how they're not always what they seem.

Why people get sucked in to MLM's and why it doesn't work out for most of them, despite what is shown on the internet. .

What Jen was actually doing behind the scenes when she was posting about putting veggies in tiny color coded tupperwares and before/after photos.

Red flags to look out for when it comes to a company/product/service you're using for health & fitness related stuff.

The importance of scope of practice and them problem with people calling themselves things like "coach" or "nutritionist" when they have no qualifications to be doing so.

What it was like for Jen to leave her MLM, why it's so hard but so important to evolve and do better when you know better.

The behind the scenes backstory about how Jen came to be doing the work she does today.
CW: Disordered eating. Some weights and numbers mentioned.
Follow Jen on Instagram
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1h 5min
May 10, 2022When "Joyful Movement" Feels Unrealistic--Can We Make "Rageful Movement" A Thing??
I've been wanting to record an episode on "joyful movement" for awhile now, and I decided that this week would be a good week to share my unconventional ideas about it. Are you surprised I have those? LOL. Full disclaimer, I say the "F" word a LOT on this one. In fact, I go off the rails a bit about my very pro-choice views on abortion rights. Sorry not sorry. The recent Supreme Court leak filled me with rage and inspired a much needed angry lifting session last Tuesday. It reminded me that sometimes you need to use your workout to work through other feelings before you can even think about accessing anything remotely resembling joy.
On this episode we talk about:
How "joyful movement" is usually interpreted vs. what it actually is (hint: there's no wrong answer)

Why I really want to make #ragefulmovement a thing, and how it's ok to use movement to move through a variety of emotions.

Some helpful questions to ask yourself to know if what you're doing actually qualifies as "joyful movement", or at the very least not "disordered".

Why it's ok (and sometimes unrealistic) to expect movement to feel joyful for you.

Why it's ok to love whatever kind of movement you love AND also sometimes do movement you don't love because it helps you do the things that you DO love better.
Side note--since recording this episode last week I've learned some new things about how to more effectively take action to protect abortion rights and how I might speak about these things differently moving forward and/or pass the mic to someone else. The link below will give you some ideas and resources. Likewise, if you or someone you know is a longstanding activist in this area and would be interested in coming to talk about it on the podcast, please email me [email protected].
Take Action For Abortion Rights
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Get on my email list
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...more
37min
May 03, 2022Everything You Think You Know About Pain & Injuries Is Wrong. The Tea On PT With Dr. Melissa Cioffi
Today's episode is a guest interview with my good friend and physical therapist, Dr. Melissa Cioffi! Truthfully, people like Dr. Mel, as I call her, are half the reason I decided to start a podcast. I wanted to share the expertise of providers like her who do things that are not in my own scope of practice as a personal trainer, but still very much relate to what we do in the gym. Dr. Mel is the person I call whenever my clients ask me questions about pain and injuries that I can't answer and she's helped me learn a LOT over the years. Today I'm excited to share her knowledge with you!
Dr. Melissa Cioffi is a physical therapist and owner of New Quest Physical Therapy. As a pelvic floor PT, Melissa is passionate about helping women discover the power they hold within their bodies that they never realized existed. Using a mix of movement and no-nonsense education, she helps women learn how to finally use their body instead of being afraid of it.
On this episode we talk about:
Some common red flags to look out for when it comes to finding a provider to help you deal with an injury or pain.

The truth about your weight and joint health.

Why you went to physical therapy in the past but it didn't help you get better.

The surprising reason why so many physical therapists are going out of network with your health insurance and how to figure out if it's worth hiring them anyway.

Why we hate fear mongering and disempowering language from medical providers and how it might actually be keeping you in pain.

The truth about manual therapy modalities like ice, heat, stim, and massage.

How diet culture keeps us from truly understanding our bodies.
And lots of other fuckery that happens in the world of physical therapy!
Follow Dr. Mel on Instagram
Learn how to work with Dr. Mel
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...more
1h 9min
April 26, 2022When You're On the Verge Of Burnout. Pause. Listen To This.
Oooof. This episode was inspired by the way I think a LOT of us are feeling lately. On the verge of burnout. Literally everyone I talk to lately seems to be overworked, overstressed, tired, unmotivated, and uninspired. Last week I was feeling overwhelmed and took a moment to pause by cancelling all of my in-person clients in favor of taking the morning to sit at a coffee shop alone. On of my clients actually THANKED me because she was also feeling the same. I think we all need permission to pause a bit more often.
On this episode we talk about:
How so many of us are struggling with our mental health right now and how we make choices to change that trajectory.

Why it's important to build in moments of rest and space into our lives to evaluate what we're doing and why.

Why there's no point in accomplishing anything big if it's not making you feel the way you want to feel once you get there.

How the 3 minutes of rest in between lifting sets is important and also a metaphor for the way we live our lives.

Why I care about my clients' WHOLE health and how it affects the way we show up in our training.

How giving ourselves permission to take time off, to question the way we're doing things, or to alter the game plan can also give others around is permission to do the same. Especially when you're in a position of leadership.

How a little bit of rest now can lead to accomplishing bigger and more meaningful things down the road.
Work with me
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...more
25min
April 19, 2022You Are Your Own Biggest Problem AND Your Own Biggest Solution: Conversations On Coaching With Christina Montalvo
If you like my podcast, you can thank today's guest: Christina Montalvo! She was truly a big influence in encouraging me to get it off the ground. Christina is a strength and conditioning coach liberating active women from diets, ellipticals, and rigid fitness rules. In addition to being a peer and good friend of mine in the fitness industry, she also happens to be my business coach. I wanted to bring her on because of our unique relationship and also because I wanted to let you in on some of the good stuff from our very unfiltered conversations.
On this episode we talk about:
The difference between teaching/consulting & coaching.

How to make the most of your experience working with a coach of any kind.

How we used to breed codependence in our clients and how we're doing things differently now.

The problem with DIY fitness programs.

Why it's ok to hire your peers.

Fixed vs. growth mindset and why it might just be the most important thing when you're working with a coach.

How you might be your own biggest problem but you're also your biggest solution.
Work with me
Follow & tag me on Instagram
Connect With Christina:
www.christinamontalvo.com
@christina_montalvo
...more
52min
April 12, 2022Is Body Positive/Weight Inclusive/Anti-Diet Fitness Too Easy?
Short answer: No.
Long answer: When it comes to fitness, an "anti-diet" or "weight neutral" or "body positive" approach does not necessarily mean "too easy". But I get how you might get that impression.
On this podcast we're gonna talk about:
Why I don't fully identify with any of these labels as a personal trainer.

The reason why you DO see a lot of body positive/weight inclusive/anti-diet personal trainers promoting the idea of rest and "easier" exercise variations.

The importance of inclusivity and meeting people where they are, and how that looks a little different for everyone.

How diet culture keeps us stuck in all-or-nothing thinking when it comes to our fitness.

Why doing hard things in the gym is not inherently diet culture.

Why I don't coach intentional fat loss AND also why I don't blame people who want that.

Why a personal trainer who is doing the work to divest from diet culture might actually be able to challenge you MORE than someone with a more conventional approach.
Work with me
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Check out the IG post that inspired this episode
...more
40min
April 05, 2022How To Stop Wasting $$$ On Online Fitness Programs You Don't Use
When an online fitness program isn’t a good fit for you, it’s no fun for anyone. You’re not gonna get anywhere as a client, and your coach will probably be equally frustrated worrying that you’re not enjoying it either. There are A LOT of online fitness programs to choose from. And it can be easy to latch on to the first one you see because it seems like it might be good enough.
But the last thing you want to do is waste your time and money. So how to you know if this is going to be the case for you when you join a new program? How do you know it’s not just gonna be another thing you sign up for that sits in your inbox, unopened? Wanna know what you should be asking before you enter your credit card info and add another online program to your collection? Listen to this!
On this episode we talk about the most important questions to ask about any fitness program before you sign up. Plus things like:
How there are way too many great online fitness programs out there to be settling for garbage.

The difference between a templated vs. a custom program.

Why things like learning style and accountability needs matter.

How you can actually pay too much OR too little for a program.

The ridiculous number of online fitness "coaches" working out of their scope of practice.

Plus all sorts of other things you may not have considered.
Use this episode as a filter to run things through before you spend money on more fitness shit you're not gonna use.
Tough Love Strength Club-FAQ & application
Tough Love Strength Club-get on the waitlist
Follow & tag me on Instagram
Read the blog post that inspired this episode
...more
40min
March 31, 2022What Breaking Arbitrary Rules, Strength Training Programs, & Spring Break Have In Common
We spend far too much time following arbitrary rules that don't apply to our lives and goals. Many of us do this with fitness. And I have definitely been doing this as an online business owner. Another flavor of the same shit sandwich, as I would say. So I decided not to release this week's episode on Tuesday like I usually do on purpose. To prove a point: that sometimes we can break the rules and nothing bad happens. Plus I was too busy trying to enjoy my spring break. Truthfully, this episode was supposed to be all about the benefits of following a strength training program. But I didn't feel like talking about that today. I mean, I guess I touch on it a little. But this episode is probably the most authentic and unscripted one I've recorded so far.
On this episode we talk about:
A behind the scenes look at what it's really like to run an online coaching business (aka not all that glamorous) and how I decided I didn't want to follow some of the rules/best practices when it comes to creating content to support your services.

The parallels between the way I'm trying to do things as an online business owner and the way I coach my clients to approach their workouts.

Some of the differences between "movement", "exercise", and "training", and why those words might matter to you if you're even kind of into fitness.

Why some of the rules around fitness might be helpful for you, and also why you don't have to follow them perfectly.

Why I support my clients who miss workouts when they're doing the things that matter to them. #reasonswhyilift

The fact that Tough Love Strength Club is opening for enrollment right now.

I also mention tacos and margaritas a lot.
Tough Love Strength Club-FAQ & application
Tough Love Strength Club-get on the waitlist
Follow & tag me on Instagram
...more
42min
March 22, 2022Badassery As A Core Value--A Conversation With My Longtime Client Steph
Today is my first EVER guest interview on the podcast! And who better to bring on but one of my first ever personal training clients--or at least one of the first people who ever decided they wanted to work with me specifically because of my unconventional approach to fitness. Grab a cup of coffee (and your headphones LOL) and join Steph and I we reminisce about our journey working together on a more personal level. My hope is that you'll see yourself reflected in Steph's story, feel a little less alone, and excited for what could be possible for you too!
On this episode we talk about:
The story of how Steph and I met and how we were actually BOTH a little intimidated to work together at first.

How Steph went from being a self-proclaimed chronic dieting and body hater, to giving up exercise altogether, to rebuilding her relationship with movement into something super badass.

Some of the surprising ways strength training changed her life for the better.

How lifting weights has helped Steph be a more confident hiker.

Some of the toughest pills to swallow when it comes to improving your relationship with exercise.

The evolution of Tough Love Strength Club and how clients like Steph have helped shape that growth.

The power of mindset coaching in addition to personal training.

Why Steph has gone from working with me 1:1, to Tough Love Strength Club, to not working together at all, and then decided to come back!

And lots of other random fun stuff!
Connect with me:
Tough Love Strength Club-FAQ & application
Tough Love Strength Club-get on the waitlist
Follow & tag me on Instagram
...more
59min
March 15, 2022How To Measure Your Fitness Progress Without Using Your Weight/Measurements/Progress Photos
Giving up the pursuit of shrinking yourself does NOT mean letting yourself go. It does mean letting go of some habits that weren’t as healthy as you might have thought. So how the heck do you measure your progress if you're not using things like your weight, measurements, or before/after photos? Or maybe the more important question: Do you even need to be tracking your fitness progress at all? I'm covering this from both angles today!
On this episode we talk about:
The pendulum swing that so many of us go through when it comes to changing our relationship with exercise and how not all tracking is necessarily a bad thing.

Some important questions to ask yourself to know if you're in a good mental space to be tracking fitness related stuff.

8+ things than you can use to measure your progress that aren't that based in arbitrary numbers or obsessing over how your look if you DO decide that tracking is for you.
Connect with me:
Work with me
Get on the waitlist for Tough Love Strength Club
Follow & tag me on Instagram
Read the blog posts that inspired this episode:
"Should You Be Tracking Your Fitness Progress?"
"8 Ways To Measure Your Fitness Progress That Have Nothing To Do With Weight"
...more
38min

FAQs about Tough Cookie Talks:

How many episodes does Tough Cookie Talks have?

The podcast currently has 144 episodes available.

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