Unfiltered Strength

Today I’m going to talk a little bit about easy ways to meal prep and portion control. It’s so much easier to stay on track when you have food waiting for you in your refrigerator. Today I’m going to talk about eating a balanced meal with protein carbohydrates and fat, and also portions. And if you have any questions at all I would love to help you I can be found on Instagram at @conniebegonnie and my website https://thefitfarmingfoodmom.issacertifiedtrainer.com I absolutely love helping people reach their goals and I’m a great problem solver! Do you have an issue or want to find ways to make better choices? I can help!

In today’s episode we talk all about sugar! It’s effects on the liver, insulin, the gut microbiome and so much more! Today’s Guest Dr. Robert Pastore Ph.D completed his graduate education at Eastern Michigan University, majoring in human nutrition with extensive study of biochemistry and genomics, and received the outstanding graduate student award for academic excellence.

He holds a PhD from Rutgers University, School of Health Professions in biomedical informatics, nanomedicine and clinical informatics, and received the award of excellence for his outstanding academic performance.

He is a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Society for Nutrition, the American College of Nutrition, the Honor Society Phi Kappa Phi, and Alpha Chi Chapter of Alpha Epsilon Lambda at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. Dr. Pastore is also on the Rutgers University School of Health Professions Alumni Association Executive Board.

Dr. Pastore has had the distinction of counseling some of the world’s greatest professional athletes and sports teams from the MLB, NFL, NHL and the world of endurance sports. Dr. Pastore consults for professional sports and health care companies. He can be found at www.drrobertpastore.com and on Instagram @drrobertpastore and as always I can be found on Instagram @conniebegonnie and my website https://thefitfarmingfoodmom.issacertifiedtrainer.com

In this episode I talk a little bit about things to avoid when making a New Year’s resolution, and how to set yourself up for success with the goals that you make. I touch on MLM schemes and some different diets and also gym intimidation. I can be found in Instagram @conniebegonnie and my website https://thefitfarmingfoodmom.issacertifiedtrainer.com

Today I’m excited to bring on the show Chet and Natalie Nichols and they are here to talk with me today about red flags and things to consider when hiring a contest prep coach.

Chet is an IFBB Pro, Physique Coach, Prep Coach, NASM Fitness Nutrition Specialist and NPC Regional Judge. Natalie is an IFBB Pro, Physique Coach, Prep Coach, NASM Certified Personal Trainer, and NPC Regional Judge. Both specialize in personalized Online Training with Physique Competitors, Powerlifters and General Fitness Enthusiast. Services include Workout Programming, Nutrition Plans, Contest Prep, Offseason Improvement, Posing, Competition Critique, Weight Loss, Muscle gain, Body Recomposition, etc. All programs are customized and clients are monitored on a weekly and daily basis. Chet and Natalie live in Meridian, ID and trains at The Mecca Gym

Twitter: @usaphysique

FB: @usaphysique

IG: @usaphysique

Competitor Guidance FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/teamusaphysique/?ref=share

Website: www.teamusaphysique.com

Boone was just a normal high school athlete playing a regular football game when his life changed in the blink of an eye. He was 16 years old and a junior in high school and while playing football he broke c4 and c5 vertebrae in his neck which resulted in a spinal cord injury and left him paralyzed from the neck down. His injury has not stopped Boone from setting goals for himself. He recently just graduated from Boise State, and is improving himself for the better daily. It’s clear, while talking to Boone that his attitude towards life,his positive mindset and his great sense of humor is going to be taking him places! I so enjoyed my talk today on the podcast and I’m sure you will too! If you wanna share in his journey find him on Instagram @boone_bartlome and on Facebook at Boone Bartlome and as always I can be found on Instagram @conniebegonnie enjoy the show!

AMY Y. IS A WOMAN WHO TRULY WALKS HER TALK. AS A MOTHER OF A CHILD WITH AUTISM, SHE HAS EXPERIENCED LIVING A LIFE IN CRISIS AND WORKING HER WAY THROUGH THAT TO LOVING AND THRIVING IN LIFE.

She has helped hundreds of parents through similar challenges and struggles and she has an innate ability to teach and share her expertise in both new and traditional therapeutic modalities. Amy’s quest to understanding her son’s core issues has been one filled with tears of sorrow and tears of joy. Through this, she has created her own community of support and learning – not just for her child but for herself. Amy’s passion is helping people understand the importance of a balanced body and a balanced life and bringing them ideas on how to make that happen. Amy has guest blogged for The Thinking Mom’s Revolution and Fearless Parent and she has authored a chapter in TMR’s soon to be released book on Autism and Puberty. Today Amy talks a little bit about her journey with Spencer her autistic son. The show talks about The gaps diet, the learning curve that came with that and being a parent of an autistic child and what we can do to make small changes in our life that will ultimately lead to better health and well-being. Amy can be found at www.navigateyourhealing.com and on Facebook at navigate your healing. As always I can be found on Instagram @conniebegonnie

Today I’m going to have on the show Kara Kilian Lazauskas. Currently known for her appearance on the Titan games and being an elite athlete with one lung. However that’s not where I know her from. I know of her because of her story, and her openness to share it , good times and bad. This is an awesome story of her journey to self acceptance. She also talks about other current things going on in her life and her research she is doing that is going to be a huge benefit to the fitness industry. Kara is a coach and can be found on IG @kilerk0 and her website is www.karakilian.com she can also be found on Facebook at Kara Kilian Lazauskas

If you could change something in your life that would lower your risk of chronic disease, help you lose weight, and make you feel happier and more energized, would you do it?

What were about to talk about today is your DIGESTION.

Today I am inviting on the show, Kerri Danielson She is a functional Nutritional Therapy practitioner and a restorative wellness solutions GI practitioner with a passion for helping people restore their gut health. She talks about how our digestion is a north to south process and how it all starts with stress and our eating habits. I am so excited to Have Kerri on the show and I can’t wait to share with you how your digestion can either trigger or Prevent inflammation. We also discuss the topic of leaky gut and ways to mitigate it and start your healing journey. Today we learned about stomach acid do you have enough? Poor nutrition? Stress? We’re going to dive in to all of these topics that affect our digestion! If you like this episode please don’t forget to share it and leave a review! Sharing is caring! Kerrie’s Instagram is @luv2lift7 and her Email is [email protected] and as always I can be found on Instagram @conniebegonnie

Alyssa believes, Love can be to anyone and everyone, including yourself. Myself. Self love. Are we more prone to giving love to another or ourself?

For me, my goal is to shower others in love, to help them feel needed and important. To show them Gods love.

But when did we forget to remember our own souls? Our own bodies?

Alyssa’s story, Three years ago I lost a tremendous amount of weight- granted my body adjusted to my activity level of intense running. It was all new.

At first I didn’t notice how much of a transformation had been made until I weighed myself on the scale: an unhealthy 104lbs.

I had the body I dreamed of. To be “skinny” and to fit into any piece of cute clothing or swimsuit I wanted to. I knew I couldn’t lose anymore weight, so I made sure to replenish myself right after each hard workout with a protein bar and believed this was enough. I even thought sometimes it was “too much “.

I let this take over me mentally. It was acceptable. It was the “runner’s” body. I was supposed to look like this. This was the image everyone expected. I even expected it. I began to run faster, run more, becoming obsessed with fast paces, more mileage, and not being mindful of my teammates. But, I began to win, I began to lead my team for every race my junior XC season. This was what I wanted. Fast forward to the present, As a female distance runner it is the “norm” to lose your menstrual cycle. I experienced this for the 3 1/2 years I was a collegiate distance runner. I was aware it wasn’t right, but again I had learned it was common and it was “okay”.

To me I didn’t care, I was fine not dealing with Mother Nature every month.

Little did I realize that highly restrictive eating, binge eating, pounding my body with miles upon miles, and the loss of a cycle would spiral into the repercussions I now face.

I have found I have low levels of SHBG, (sex hormone binding Globulin) a protein whose job is to bind androgen and estrogen together. Because my levels are low, the free testosterone in my body increases: a hormonal imbalance. A reason for levels being low may be due to insulin resistance which is also linked to PCOS(polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Symptoms I am experiencing are related to these issues I have developed.

Insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes.

I have been undergoing blood tests recently and have more to come in the near future.

I have had 3 stress fractures including the one I am in the process of healing now in my L5 vertebrae and sacrum.

I am only recently accepting these facts about myself. I used to turn my family and friends down each time they mentioned my weight in a negative demeanor. I argued with them and shut down. Unknowingly hurting myself, all because I wanted to look a certain way. I obsessed and became addicted to how I ate and looked. I vividly remember multiple instances where I was alone craving junk food. I ate and ate, felt like shit after, said I’d never do it again because I would gain “30lbs”. I’d do any exercise I could right after to “burn off” any calories I could. But repeatedly it happened. I remember even a few times gagging myself to throw up after eating. I was miserable. This is not how I want to live.

I am aware now.

I am alive.

I am surviving.

I have fallen apart at times before, and it is hard not to now.

I am overcoming.

Eating disorders are REAL. And I am still not finished with this journey.

God wants us to be happy in our bodies. They were made in His image. We are on Earth to do His works. We are enough for God our Father. He is guiding me. He can guide you. Find her on Instagram @lyssa.ann and her whole story at https://aharmonblog.wordpress.com/2018/03/01/love/ she is an incredible individual and I’m so excited to have her on the show. Please as always if you like this episode share it with your friends and give it a rating on iTunes! I can be found on Instagram as well @conniebegonnie

Totally impromptu episode this morning, as I had my headphones on and I was getting after it in the gym I had some pretty deep thoughts about myself and how I identify as an athlete. Thoughts about how I had gone through such a dark time after the last bodybuilding show I competed in, and how because I was patient with myself things have completely started to turn around. I thought it was pretty deep that we identify ourselves with a stinking trophy, and how are momentarily when I decided I may not get on stage again I felt like everything had been stripped from me, when that was not even close to true! Also how as moms we tend to lose ourselves a little while taking care of everybody else and so we all need to find that release somewhere that can help us be who we really are. Also lots of thoughts about how nothing is permanent! We sometimes tend to get stuck on the small things that drag us into this slump when in reality it’s just a temporary thing that’s going to go away eventually. So we can choose to wallow in self pity... or we can choose to change our attitude about things and tell ourselves nothing is permanent it will change and to keep working towards our goals and our dreams. If I hadn’t of been patient all this time I totally could’ve just stayed in this dark place instead I have encouraged myself every step of the way telling myself things will change by spring I’m going to be a whole different person and etc. and now all of that is starting to manifest! When I look at myself in the mirror I can see how much of a metamorphosis I have gone through mentally and physically and it makes me happy that I stuck with it, even on the really hard days. I hope you enjoy my ramblings on as it is legitimately post workout ramblings... I would love it if you would reach out to me on Instagram with your thoughts @conniebegonnie also please please share my information with all your friends I would love to get it out there that we’re all human and we all have struggles and life is just not perfect and we have to use those imperfections to help ourselves grow. Enjoy the episode.