Welcome back to another inspiring episode of the spotlight on good people where we celebrate people making a positive impact in the world today I'm thrilled to have Lara McKeever join us. She's a passionate advocate for well-being and fitness. She's incredibly disciplined and very fit She's an awesome coach and especially around this time of year.
There's some great tips in here, it's holiday time We're eating more drinking more and then the New Year's right there And, we usually make those resolutions about this time which for a lot of us don't last past the month of January but you can get some really good ideas out of this that would be very helpful for you to get through the holidays and to get Started on whatever regiment it is that you need right now. So whether you're a beginner or Somebody who's a an expert in the area of nutrition health and well-being You're gonna get a lot from this. So grab your water bottle and let's dive into this empowering conversation. Thanks for joining us
And I wanted here because you made a big difference in my life and you made a big difference for me and people in my life and
I'm always grateful for
The people who make a difference in my life and make a difference for me I think it has such a ripple effect when my life gets better and I know this. Because I'm. So I was I was married in my earlier life and got divorced and, didn't think I would ever be married again.
Or have a reason to be married again and then I met Michelle at the gym our gym, which I'm so grateful for and
You know, she just was somebody who I
Was enamored with and in love with from the moment I met her But I never thought I was thought it was so far out of her league that there's no way I'd have a chance of
You know dating her let alone marrying her so it's like the craziest thing furthest thing from my mind could be possible she I Corted her in a way that I didn't know I was courting her out I was I was very lucky and blessed that she was she was. Yeah we just we would have these endless conversations after a workout at the gym and have.
And, I'd leave there my heart would be beating like crazy and I'd be so happy that I got to spend that much time with her and then and Then it and then I was blessed enough to have come on in so this is that's the thing about this is like an active Conversation in this one. So we have the active activity going on here. You're next over here. Oh, yeah Yeah, you are beautiful. The braid master I'm girl. Nice. We're talking about how she's so good at braiding. Yeah. Yeah, that's yeah That's a rare talent day in age. No, a lot of people do that took me 33 years I would just get so frustrated and then my shoulders would cramp and I'm just like forget this ponytail day
But then I got it and I it was like the best yeah, it's so easy
Yeah, well they're coming out of school A lot of them don't want to do it or can't do it or they don't have the ability to do it But it's natural for her. So she's She likes it too. So very talented She's one of the rising stars in there. Oh, yeah on her wet.
Well in her way so I was I was saying that How so Michelle came into my life and radically altered my life a lot of people said what happened to you like what what? what got into you and In a way that I didn't I didn't know what love was or unconditional love was when I met her family And, that was what I was really exposed to that had never been Experienced before was unconditional love and just how much my life could be impacted or how I felt like I was Okay with who I am not who I thought everybody thought I should be or who I should be I was okay just being me Accepted myself because she accepted me just the way I was she just loved me for who I was and not who she wanted me to be so I saw how much that I Mean that really her whole family affected my life in such a huge way and I'm forever grateful for that And I live it every single day and I'm much more aware of
The impact that others have on me and people who we were talking about the bliss list and, people who bring me bliss or definitely add to my bliss list and that's kind of what how this sort of podcast evolved was Why don't we spot like people who do that for others who bring bliss to others? And I think that just sort of came to as we were having this conversation today that oh You're one of those people who brings bliss and you do that naturally for other people. Well, thank you, it's. So do you do that for me, it's just throughout this process I was actually thinking about it on the way here.
Like we've been We've been coaching now for about a year already, I actually hit. Yeah Yeah, it's been a hit a year And you've brought that back to me and we've tried different things that different challenges.
Like one of my favorite stories of all time You know what? I'll just go right into it how, we hit a little bit of a plateau right around It was the summertime you were like, I really need to hit this goal and I'm like, okay. Well, what can we do? Can we do some kind of bet?
And it was a wager and wagers do work
And you were a perfect example of how that worked out for us, but it was two months we had right? Yeah, and you bet you had to pay
$5,000 towards the Biden Otherwise, you know if you didn't lose 3.5% body fat And you did it and I had the check written out you had the I had the contract and the check that you wrote on My fridge and I would look at it every single day. It's before I start my day and I'm like, hey How are we doing because I'm sweating over here oh my god, the Biden campaign. That'd be the worst I would never be able to live that down. I'm like we can't It's like this was way too stressful My god rather stick my arm in a meat grinder
People too because other people were definitely motivated to keep me away from food and to keep me on track with everything It was great. People were like you're not getting any we'll have to lock you in a room for a week I'm doing my god, of course cash that check one way to motivate, right? And sure enough you killed it and you hit different heights, and it started off and then you lost more body fat So it was just a really good kickstart to knowing that you could do it Yeah, and for me that I gotta have that negative motivation. I know some people say well, oh I got to eat Banana split when I'm about something positive doesn't work for me.
I need to have that negative It did work But more than anything it was like you gave me a great structure to work around to and the other thing that I thought Was really great about that
Was you give me you give grace for humanity like for being human? Oh, it wasn't like oh you missed this day or you missed this time There was you recognize that you're dealing with human beings and there's, there's there's not this like perfect Disciplined exact way to do it. Okay, you get these cravings at night. So here's what I recommend you do, structuring so you're eating before seven and then try the protein powder with, some berries and to curb the appetite and you always had this sort of positive solution for whatever I was dealing with and that's kind of that works for me. Because.
You know, I think it's all or nothing if I didn't do it exactly Perfect every single week and every single day that I've just failed but you would have good course correction Thank you for those., I like to live by the 90-10 rule, A lot of people will say Oh 80-20 But I really think that we should try to go for that 90-10 But, live strictly but then also be able to live a little and if you want that burger or you want, your cheat meal. Yeah, you have to have that's life. Otherwise you will fail So it's have, this past Sunday my dad's in town I'm like I'm gonna have an ice cream Sunday with them like hmm.
It's worth it, So being able to still leave room for that like you're human Yeah, but you are killing it on a daily basis every single time I see you're Crushing it in the gym and you're following the guidelines and it's and it's working for you But the main priority is always once we got down the protein with you I think everything started to change, as as soon as you started to get 170 grams of protein in a day with your activity level your composition just started to change Which was really I know when I just surrender to the coaching and just what you have to say and then then that's what works So when I deviate from that, that's what, that's where I run into trouble Yeah, you mentioned your dad and I we didn't even talk about talking about this But I saw when I met him when you had him in the gym that day How you were beaming with pride and love and you have a special relationship with your dad I can do
Tell me about your relationship yeah, cuz I like all choked up because right before this he just drove me absolutely nuts so
But I do love my dad very much. I love both my parents. They're like my best friends, they really are
So
Really good job your parents did a really good job on you.
So I want to know a little bit about your Relationship with him like it was yeah, especially I could see that I mean growing up So my dad was a pro boxer and my mom was also very into health and fitness She she was a model at the time and so when I was growing up when I was a baby, I would always see them at the gym and I remember when I was about I had to be like four or five years Old they were doing like headstand competitions next to each other and just talking trash And learning from that they're actually they're no longer together, but they're best friends, which is very funny But like they're actually hanging out right now by the pool, but, it's just I don't know It's just things are in black and white sometimes but there they are my best friends both of them So I'm watching I'm so proud of them and my dad and I think that's where I get my competitive edge from is my dad he Growing up we would always play Like race each other and everything like that.
So we had a bet I was in college and I was training for a marathon and He said, I'm I may be getting up there and age but I will be you in any race, It just name it and I said name the time and the day old man. We got it. We got a deal I'm like in I thought I was like in peak shape. I was so excited I had a graduation party that night and I was out until 4 o'clock in the morning. I Did a keg stand that night? I'm just And he knew he heard about it and in he came at 8 o'clock in the morning it was in 95 degree day and He was like today's the day and I was dying and we I was like fine. We're going so it was like a six-mile run and He got he beat me.
He got me on one hill and my brother was like, I'm gonna put money that Lara wins So it was like $10 bill or something like that.
It's still in a frame in our house Yeah, my family and the trash talk it's like a New York thing where you just yeah grew up like that in the Bronx, New York and, it was always about just kind of like fun competitions like that Yeah, and my mom just being like you guys are absolutely nuts I don't, I'm just gonna do my yoga and that kind of thing but my mom's always been like super into health and fitness too and, I definitely got her like There's a bit of like the, there's the nurturing side of things that I definitely Feel like she's inspired me a lot in those ways.
Yeah huge animal lover, so that's always like Resonated with me new, so you had it from both sides with different ways Yeah, it's more of the outgoing side for my mom for sure. I'd say anyway Yeah, I could see the Competitiveness coming out as you guys want to add together. Oh, yeah, I could see that I it took me 33 years to get my dad to come to CrossFit with me though Well, actually I guess I've done CrossFit now for like 15 So but like come to the gym with me and work out with me We would always work go to the gym, but he's like, I'm not doing that, it's just I think he didn't want me to beat him in a workout
You had to stay in his lane of running yeah beating me but yeah, but he's he's just been athletic always been an athlete Yeah, yeah, like both your parents. Yep. So he was always, training for for something up until I think it was when I was like around Seven he stopped Competing, fighting he stopped fighting was he was like, I want to be able to see my kids grow up my brother and I and, He was seeing a lot of people with their head trauma a lot of the fighters and he didn't want to go through that.
Well, so Wow decided to turn the page with it I always told him you should be a coach but he's like no No, I don't want to like I think it was something like if he's in the ring. He wanted to be the fighter. But yeah, yeah, well you have that.
Yeah, I was thinking about this last night what it was it was
Unique about you and it was that You Have that competitive nature extremely competitive nature because even in my little challenge with myself you took it on as if This is the super Yeah
Competitive spirit and being a fight to be a winner Always and you fight for your clients and as if, this is a Super Bowl every one of these things matter so of course when did that when did this expression of yourself Start to brew inside you like you being this coach for other people. Where did that come from? How did that evolve for you? I actually before So I was actually in politics at a certain point.
I'll get to that but I worked at Louis Vuitton For five years in New York City and I started a running club for 30 People 30 of my teammates in the store And so we would do that and compete and we were training for a five-mile run around Central Park and I Loved being their coach It was so much fun and we would have a lot of fun banter in the store about it Like and people would come up to me and say Larry did 20 20 push-ups on broken today I've never been able to do that and seeing how proud they were of themselves Like I got so I was just filled with pride and I don't have kids So I feel like in a way This is how I am filled with pride because I just like I love to see their the looks on their face when they Are able to accomplish something that they never did before, but I did get my certification when I was Well, we were all locked up in 2020 and I just said, might as well I've always loved this fitness has always been such a huge passion of mine.
So that was when I decided to get Certified and then I was like well nutrition is something that is never really looked at, Especially now everybody's like sitting on the couch and they're not they're not getting out and then they're getting vaccinated And that's also weakening their immune system and I was like, let's so I also decided to get certified in the nutrition as well Wow. Yeah, and those are kind of two of the biggest factors in the obesity problem The food intake and the and the sedentary lifestyle So those are the two Things that are so critical for people.
So it started at Louie in this Louis Vuitton circle was where it was It was that was the first time where it really ignited that passion when I was like, wow, I could really do that And so I did it part-time for a while while I was in fashion And then, I went down to open a store For Tiffany and company. I was a manager there and then that was when Trump was elected and It was just a crazy time in DC and, I that's where you were you were in DC Okay.
Yeah, and I that was where it ignited my passion Like I always was very passionate about, our rights as as Americans, I'm a big passionate Second Amendment rights kind of person I own many guns and I feel like it's just Not like I want to use them But if I do have to I know how, so it was a big passion of mine and, I always would tune into all of it because it was like right outside of my store and people would be coming in with impeach 45 t-shirts on and all that stuff and I was like Ah, this is this is something, I mean we can all have different opinions, but it was just very heightened at that time And I was like, I think I it's a calling to just get into it Which is when I decided to join a Republican lobbying firm Just so that was it while you're in DC.
That's where that started. Okay. Yeah, okay and that was just true networking and all that stuff in this in the city and that became a Career for you that because you were you left retail or you left. Yeah fashion world for that and then how did you?
Meet Byron and how did that all start because it wasn't part of it, too. Yeah, so what covet it's like every I feel Everybody went through this it was just your whole life shifted and mine. Thank God was for the best It was definitely a different path. So my mom lives down in Naples And I was we were all locked up in there in DC and it was just even more so in DC Oh, yeah, and you're like I went out for a run one day and I was getting yelled at for being double mass For not being double mass. I wasn't wearing a mask at all. I was like, no, I'm why would I cut off my heart?
Yeah, and I was like I called my mom I'm like I gotta get out of here for a bit and I was working remote at the time so for the firm and Then she's just said why don't you to come down?
You're just working remote You might as well just check it out and I remember driving down and I walked into see to table and I was like I'm home Because I just loved it I saw the Fourth Amendment rights on the board and, Just kind of saying no you don't need to be mass here and I loved Alfie's approach with just saying like we are not doing this Yeah, and just spearheading that in this area and so many other business owners like yourself Which you weren't gonna tolerate that yeah, and even the gym, It was minimal that it was closed down for our real fitness, right? How long was it was like two months?
I think yeah, 50 56 days was our was our mandated closure and I remember on May 8th When governor DeSantis announced that we could open back up again in three days. It was like the greatest moment Such a scary time and he said that it was like the floodgates. Thank you. God. He always looks out Yeah, yeah, he's the man But that's why I was just thinking in myself, if I am gonna live in a place I'll never do it and I'll never live in another state that is going to, control me I, there's hard enough things going on in life that I don't ever want that to be Another thing again, so that's why I think Florida will always be my home.
Yeah Yeah, I just I just love it down there It's it's a place of its own where you just don't have to worry about it as a small business, governor DeSantis, thank God for him because he looks out for us. So Yeah, so then that was why I when I moved when I just like was moving here for a month I just after that point. I remember just saying I gotta figure out how to do this and I saw an ad for Congressman Byron Donalds. He was actually a candidate at the time. So it was a fundraiser
Local meet-and-greet. He hadn't been elected.
Yeah Yeah, so I went to that night and I just introduced myself and I said, I do run fundraisers This is what I do for the lobbying firm I would love to bring that here and, interviewed and then four years later yeah, I was in I was working for him for about four years and doing his fundraising and But I was always coaching nutrition and The personal training was also on the side But then as the campaigning and everything else got bigger and bigger I kind of put it on the backburner But it was just always a thing to me, I just always loved to help people and, with politics in this Today's climate, nothing against the congressman.
He's awesome But it's just very difficult because there's a lot of political moves that you can't really help all the American people So I love to help people and that's why I decided to jump back into coaching. Yeah and really back in May So it's been what about six months? But it was a crazy decision because I'm sure you felt this way when you first started your business It's like you jumping off a building and you feel like you just realized you can't fly. You know what I mean? You're like, oh my god.
This is like a terrifying feeling like I'm really doing this, but it was like the best feeling ever, and thank God for the community too because it was just I really felt like God was forming a path for me, it was just like putting the right people in place like you and people that really supported me like an and Alex and Amy and Chandler and Solana. I mean I can go on with the list of our community. Yeah Gosh, they're all amazing. Yeah. Yeah, and they really have been so helpful with this business and now, I have about 40 clients. So it's been really busy. Yeah. Well, it's such it's such a natural thing Yeah, such a natural expression for you.
It's not it's like You got to be more of you. It wasn't like oh, I'm just gonna go do this thing. That's gonna pay the bills for me No, you just get to be you. Yeah on Fully and not have to go do something right is the full expression of you all the way. So true That is actually it and I feel so beyond lucky.
Yeah, I remember when you Were sharing with me you had made this decision to make the leap and the jump from, which which is a lot for for anybody in any world when you're the sole one responsible for all of it There's some a lot of anxiety and fear and worry and a lot that goes on behind that so it takes a lot to have that leap of take that leap of faith and to make that jump and I remember when you did that but you had already built up such a
Such a network or it's such a bond with that community of people. It was very easy I remember you going through it because it was very easy for I had no doubts I had no doubts. Because it was it was something that I didn't even know How you balanced it whatever you did because it always seemed like you were doing this fully anyway because you were. So engaged in it so yeah, I.
It was a given for me that, it would go the way it goes and especially when it's so
I It's just a natural passion for you I guess that's what I get and that's why I understand about it because it's not like, I was talking to Stefan on the last podcast and what he does is Like I didn't even know what he did. We had met. So many times, but I knew he just was out for other people he was always out for the good of other people just always where his heart was and That's the whole nature of this whole converse conversation. I want to keep going. It's like. Yeah Alright, there's these people in this community that.
Help others be more of who they are and grow in ways that creates that ripple effect that you affect me I think, I started talking about how Michelle affects me and has altered my life and made me a better human, I've been allowed to be who I am and be a better person better version of myself that you day in and day out and that's that's Every conversation you're having is giving somebody that giving somebody what it is that they Is gonna have their life go better and be better. So I loved seeing your you grow and seeing this all come out of you and happen that way Thank you so much.
I'm beyond thankful for it, and I just I now I mean towards the end of politics It was very draining from for my energy and I feel like a lot of people get stuck in that. Because they're like Okay, this is the nine to five.
This is the, my benefits are here everything else and then they get Depressed and they feel like they're on this rat race where that's all they can do and then they just live for the weekend And then Sunday scaries hit and you just get super depressed and I mean, I'm just talking about myself like that would be how I was starting to feel and Now I like jump out of bed in the morning And I'm just like I love what I'm doing and I love I'm hanging out with my friends all day Oh my god, I just get to hang out with Robert I get to talk to him for an hour about his nutrition and how he's doing and how Michelle's doing and it's.
Yeah I mean, yeah, it's just beyond What I thought it was going to be, and it was very scary at first, I had 13 clients when I decided to move. Yeah, make my move and I was like, okay I got enough saved I'm gonna do it and I'm all in, you have to I was watching a thing on actually Arnold Schwarzenegger. Because he he is Obviously a machine and he inspires me and he's like you just have to go all in whatever your decision is You can't just have like a shoe in, you have to like really jump make you jump and that was It was an inspiration for me I was like you're right.
Because if you're halfway in anything in a relationship in your nutrition program in a workout routine Regiment, you got to just say I'm committing to this. This is gonna be part of my identity now. Yeah, I see what I see that a lot in the industry that comment in the world of beauty and fashion hair with a lot of the stylists because society has.
Been programmed that they youth needs to be on this one pathway and it's to go to college And there's so many Talented people who love to do hair but in the day and it's evolving now it's changing. But it used to always be, parents would save money for their kids to go to college and get a degree. Because That was where people just were what people were supposed to do No matter what their passion was and, They'd sell a hairstylist as if you can't if you're just like fail out of school and you can't make it in anything else Go be a hairstylist and really One of the things I love about it and I see is that people get to.
You know the people who had to go on that pathway to get the finance degree Or the accounting degree and because their parents wanted them to do that and then they end up in those jobs that have a certain level Of security. They got a 401k. They got a health plan. They got nine to five They got the 40 hours, but Sunday's become treacherous for them.
They're terrified They're horrified because at 12 noon on Sunday They know that Monday morning I had to go back to this place that I got to do time and they end up doing time for most of their life that they don't love and they're not passionate about it and To be I get to see it in this Industry because a lot of them had to fight their parents to go to hair school and they had to like go against the grain to become a stylist and When they get to express themselves and be a stylist fully and see what a great career it is that they can't wait to get out I mean I love seeing that about this industry and seeing the people in our family and the other people in this industry who get to Fully express their creativity every day.
They get to be with their friends They get to alter lives by making people look good and feel good and feel beautiful I mean you guys literally do that you change somebody you help them with their identity Yeah, and make them feel beautiful and it's yeah, it's so much more than just hair dressing.
It's styling, it's completely styling and transforming, and I got my hair done by Kenzie, yeah, it was I mean I just felt like a million bucks and that was like I was going through a really rough breakup and I was really sad and I came in and I just I went out and I was beaming after and it literally made my month, I was I just woke up every day and I was like, oh my god, my hair looks amazing Hey, it's it just makes a difference and it's the same thing like it's with health health and wellness You know when you have more energy you feel more strong you feel stronger, more
Fit and everything else. Yeah, it's just it's same thing with with beauty. It all goes hand-in-hand No, absolutely. I'm like that song greedy from Greece. I feel like that just totally ruined with the beauty school dropout Yeah, I'm like, why did we have to make that stupid song because it's so not true It's like you should just be like no, I'm an artist actually. It's not just a hair stylist. Yeah No, I am a I am a really I am a real beautiful dropout though. I actually did It's a hundred percent real
Really? No kidding. Yep. Yeah, where was it? So I went I went to school for computers many years ago and I was working
For ITT by the Space Center Cape Canaveral and when the space shuttle blew up Challenger blew up in 86 I was laid off that whole area got real depressed and I got laid off my father forever had Been inviting me to come be in the business he had the business and wanted me to be in this business and I had never wanted anything to do with it. Because Hey, I didn't have the natural talent for it wasn't something I was interested in at all. But I didn't have a job at the time and, just to get him off my back to say dad Look, I'll show you how it's not for me. I'll come back and I'll do this for you.
And I came back and worked for him for a little while and at the time
He had a program that it was a it was a Associate or assistant program where he developed the stylist from hair school into it was like a it was like a apprenticeship program Is what it was and he did not pay the apprentices This was before the laws that have to pay people that work there, but he didn't pay there they worked only for tips and He tried to woo me back and I thought he would pay me at least be in pay me anything I had to work only for tips.
And started school Music school at Lorenzo there you had to get a shampoo license first which took two weeks to be able to shampoo and then strictly working for tips to
Learn the business at the time and I was in hair school for a couple of months and it was funny because he had a great reputation he was a phenomenal Haircutter phenomenal hair designer. He loved haircutting was passionate about it was so good at it He could look at a woman and know exactly what she needed if she asked for something else He'd give them what he thought they needed not what they wanted like he would say this is that's not for you This is what's in this is what's for you. You need this and, sometimes they didn't they were mad at him But it was ultimately the right thing But going to school I went in and they thought That I would be this prodigy.
I would be this great second generation. I was him, you know when I went there It was a joke because, I couldn't hold the scissors like I was so in coordinate. I was so bad It was really so bad and they had this expectation like that, what's you should be great, you're his son. You're what's wrong with you? And I remember it was perm rods. We were doing at the time and
Pink perm rods were the real small ones and you had to wrap up this entire head Most people had it done within an hour I was on the third rod on an hour like took me that long and I knew like at that point it was like This is I'm never gonna be able to do this. This is not for me. And. So I dropped out of beauty school, Literally dropped out and continued to shampoo and learn the business and, worked for him in other ways.
To get to know the business and I shampooed and did head neck and shoulder massages for a long time is that until he I could prove my worth until he could pay me something. Because he could afford to pay me and then started to.
Give him more time to do what he loved which was hair cutting and he could spend less time in the business I started picks pick up some of the things in the back of the house To support him and then he was able to do that and we complimented each other well in that regard because he could Focus on what he loved and then I can pick up some of the things in the back of the house and sure I remember Thinking that the business need to be computerized.
It was like 1987 and they were like my mother had this appointment book It was like paper and, 20 columns long and would sit across the whole desk and she was absolutely against Computerizing anything because it was they knew that way they knew it was just all, like paper and they went on vacation For a week and while they were away on vacation Bought a computer and installed a computer and computerized the business.
My mom hated me she was so mad at me when she got back that because You know that she just couldn't figure it out like how the computers worked at the time and later they ended up thanking me but converting, things like that to kind of bring it Put some systems in place and help them, Grow the business in different ways and those were some of the things that happened and so what year was that like around? when I put the computer in there it was 1987 oh, yeah, that was They were like what the hell is this? Yeah, it was very unusual to have a 45 minutes to turn it on. Yes Businessman right there. Yeah. Well, it was, I probably
Had a lot of what's Dave Ramsey calls it a stupid tax I know I made a lot of big mistakes that I learned from anyway throughout the process of it, that's what also makes you such an incredibly humble man, that's one of the things that I always admire about you as a businessman you just you're you always stay humble, but you're You're human and you have such a big heart and you're kind first before anything else That's why everybody out there loves you and they have such a passion They come in the door and they're like I want to be the best for for Robert to, Not only just for themselves very very kind. I'm blessed. I'm blessed.
I'm surrounded by some of the most amazing people. I'm very very Honored and appreciative that I get to Be with a group of people that I get to be with. I mean, it's just, they're part of my bliss list, yeah, that's that vibe. I can tell you walk in you feel that energy And I love that picture of your dad right at the front door. That is just so cool the honor and what yeah Yeah, yeah, he, that's one of my favorites too. And it's so cool. What happened was he he Passed in 2015. So he's in heaven looking down on us, but what sure is what would happen?
He was sick in his last few years and He was at home and he had been retired for a while But what he would do is we'd still have these great conversations about business and about life and he would send me a text and it was a text emoji of a coffee cup and it was it was his.
Message to me to come have espresso with him Oh on his back deck and we would he would just send me that little emoji and then I would go over there and we'd have our espresso on the back deck. So was we'd always do things over espresso and After he died the year after he died They had these machines these great espresso machines that we were able to put in all the salons In honor of him. So that we didn't have espresso cappuccino and all the rest of those so every time I'm here. I have my Love espresso and always do my favorite. Oh, that's the best. That is. So awesome What a great way to honor him and also yes, Bresson is just better than coffee Yeah, it's my love.
It's also just, It's important to be able to unplug for a second and have that for your staff, not just be like, you go out and get it yourself keep grinding, Like most owners business owners probably do And then for you're like no I'm gonna have everybody treat themselves to that.
It's got the Starbucks cup and it's got the little bit more I'd much rather that yeah. Yeah. I gotta work on that. any time so I You know that it's perfect He told me how you got to be who you are because I didn't know that where the where you Like how this all came out of you like where it came from and I could now see it after meeting your dad Just one time I see him that way. Yeah, but you When you're when you're not being because I always see you when I see you at the gym It's like I just like why don't you work out?
I see you Perform basically when you're doing your own workouts, there's just a level of perfection there which there's a huge gap to try to catch When you're not so what is your like?
Comfort food indulgence you mentioned ice cream with your dad. Oh, what's your go-to when you're gonna like go off the wagon and indulge
Honestly ice cream like I do love ice cream. I love, it's funny now. I don't like when I do have a craving It's usually for meat and it's just like a big steak and a glass of wine. Maybe a scotch like that's kind of my my jam But it's kind of fewer and further in between yeah, I think we were mentioning it a little bit earlier It's like I want to say 70% of my friends now don't drink and from that I'm like, I actually am NOT really going, I'm not really in the mood for it's less and less unless it's like with a nice steak.
Yeah or something like that Yeah, well, I guess that really helps to the supporting what you're committed to too when you're not Oh, yeah a group of people who are, just yeah all about that or even if they're not all about if they're indulging in It, once a week or whatever it is, but it's I mean, I do get the day off here and there I mean, I don't feel like it's it's work anymore. I really don't with with what I'm doing now So I am coaching sometimes seven days a week And the last thing I want to do is be, breathing on somebody while they're working out smelling like I could see how that could be an issue. Yeah, it's like stale tequila.
Like that's just not it's not the lifestyle It doesn't fit in now, but I mean I do love dark chocolate to it. It's one of my To have any
Riboflavinoids and the antioxidants that are in them. It's it's really good releases serotonin in your brain and so I always just like to think of your body as like a It's literally a machine and you got to put something in it And that's why actually my brand is called challenger fit. Because I love muscle cars American muscle cars are my favorite and it's like if you put crappy fuel in them They're not gonna perform properly Named after my grandmother.
Because she's my hero, so, This is what I am so passionate about and it's like if you put that fuel into your body and it's it's Gonna make you perform
Improperly, you know whether it's like any of your goals your energy levels. You're not gonna be as strong You're gonna be really fatigued in the gym, even when it comes to fertility, A lot of my clients right now are focused on that at this stage in their life and they're looking Into that and it's just like you have to put the right nutrients in and it's not just it's more than just eating healthy It's like really going into having more beats, Having more deep leafy greens making sure your iron levels look good. You're not stressed, so it's it's a whole 360 approach. Yeah, what could? somebody who.
You know is ready they're thinking about it, but they just haven't taken that jump They haven't done anything but they know it's what they need to do. It's the right thing to do They know they need to take care of themselves, but they just don't know where to begin.
What would you say to somebody who?
You know is watching this right now, but like what could they do tonight and tomorrow? Yeah to begin this journey, I actually had a conversation just before this with my my new client because He was having trouble with just getting started, And the first thing I told him I'm like, let's get a step Goal in place, I want you to do 10,000 steps a day I want you to go out and go for a walk a that's gonna clear your brain, completely and I also told them starting every morning with affirmations writing them down because When you write I don't really want them to type it. There's something about writing it on a pen and paper Also, I have like white boards all over my house.
Like I think it's like a beautiful mind the movie, you just write everything out because it's just having those affirmations in your mind of Even if it hasn't happened yet Getting it down of like what your goal is and just writing I am first I think that's literally the first step to any program that I always like to get my clients in and also Going with protein protein is another huge thing. Like, before we even go into the workouts
Necessarily like I mean, yes, you can do so much with dumbbells and kettlebells There's like hundreds of different movements, but, really prioritizing your protein getting your steps in every single day then naturally you're gonna go for Less of the junky food that you would usually.
Be craving because you're already satiated, and I mean for the most part calorie deficit is Important so I don't really like to focus so much on counting calories, I don't want people to have a bad relationship with food And I think sometimes that's a setup for some of my clients that I've noticed. But if you are in a calorie deficit, typically you will start to lose weight It just depends on what the goal is. Mmm, so.
It's not necessarily about I mean it could be about starving yourself But if you're altering the food that you're eating First step so you're eating So you're satiated feel okay, but if you're eating the right stuff, so yeah tomorrow what would a Sample day for the average Joe look like tomorrow on day one without getting, Without sending them into some type of shock to their system that they're not used to definitely I mean, I am a big fan of eggs. I think, having that in the morning Either that or starting with a protein shake. I love bone broth or collagen protein is my favorite right now But I also love there's a grass-fed whey protein.
I've told you about naked if you have that Yeah, and like I make cold brew at home. I'll do that with half of a frozen organic banana Going organic that's always my my thing because I noticed a huge difference for myself as long as it's certified organic so that would be one, or gluten-free oats with berries or eggs With some sort of green in there whether, you want a spinach peppers avocado That would be like the perfect breakfast options to choose from I also love the egg life wraps that I've told you about. Oh, they're awesome.
Yeah, turkey mustard on there or a salad a nice salad with, some sort of protein like a salmon like the salmon would be great or a grilled chicken I do think that animal protein is the way to go. I know some people really do love the vegan Diet, but and I understand for animal purposes. I'm a huge animal lover myself, but there's ways of sourcing healthy
You know resourceful ways of protein Not not Like, you know where the meat is coming from and it's not stressed. so I would recommend that and dinner would just be some sort of green and You know if you worked out that day you had your walk you could have a little bit of rice and fish or chicken And you can have I still say red meat is completely fine but it depends on the goal if they're looking to lose a lot of weight maybe cutting it back to like two days a week Guacamole is another great thing like top that on there if you're still feeling hungry It's a great filler and it's good fats good fat. Okay Versus yeah ice cream. Yeah, exactly. I know.
Oh and also I mean carrots grabbing carrot like something that's really still rich in nutrients like carrots are one of my favorites carrots and hummus or celery or I love shishito peppers. Those are one of my new favorite things. What is a shisha?
I think about those Spicy, okay, they're little peppers and, you can be No, no, oh no like mildly spicy and I'll just throw it on a pan with ghee or, coconut oil or a little olive Olive oil and then just put timelian salt It takes you put it on like 350 for about 15 minutes and you have like a nice Tray, I like will literally eat the whole entire thing and it's so rich with vitamin c Great for this time of year when everybody's starting to get sick and it's just a good filler Like I'll have that instead of reaching for chips But yeah, so that's a good easy cheap meal that you could have with like some protein on the side Okay, and that was it's three dollars for a bag.
Oh, wow. Okay
Kurt, you were talking to me about this too because there's nighttime cravings. Oh, yeah Curbing that you're talking to me about tea. Oh, yeah, definitely because heat expands your stomach So it kind of tricks your your brain to saying that you're full so that was always a big go-to of mine.
Actually it started in college I was like, you know when everybody was starting to have the hungry horrors I was like I'm just gonna go for a nice seasonal tea or a sleepy time tea and it knocks you out and You feel I feel satiated after I have a nice cup of tea as long as I had enough of my Micro and macronutrients for the day, I just have that at night instead And it's just it's a mindset thing, as soon as you start having that you get used to it after a while and you do start to change I mean it takes 30 days to cut it some some people say 21 days I'd say it's more on 30 days to really start seeing your whole body your your body and your mind alter with a habit.
Yeah Okay, that's great. So some somebody could start tonight. Oh, yeah this this minute that's a great step That's the best and, another tip is what we talked about too. It's just cutting meals off by, 7 30. Yeah Ideally because you want three hours before bedtime because then your body your metabolism tends to slow down while you're sleeping So it really helps so you're resting with your yeah Sleep is another Have some nice ginger tea that helps with digestion and you bought the sleepy time tea. Yep, and I love that stuff It's amazing. Yeah, I don't know if it's psychologically or what it is with that whenever I know right I feel like I'm getting It's working.
It's amazing. I love that stuff. Yeah. Yeah yeah, so you one of the other things that you're involved with or that's has a place in your heart is veterans or military those in the military? I know that you did an event recently that was A like a boot camp on the beach is what it was. Yeah for take a soldier fishing. Yeah. yeah that was Oh my gosh, that was amazing. I'm planning to do it every single year with collier county sheriff's office, chief hampden and Mo deli they were absolutely incredible. oh and joe fernanda's, rich. Yeah Oh, he's a man. that was one of the most moving things I've ever witnessed.
I think I cried like Every day because it was just, you see all these veterans They're coming in from all well, actually they were active military and veterans came but it was actually for active military that event Now they come in from all over where they're stationed and, a lot of them have ptsd And this is their way this non-profit.
It's their way of just giving back to these Active military, all of our troops, to just be treated at the napells grand this beautiful five-star resort Which I love their whole team there and it's so beautiful So you see them and this was the first time I got choked up the first day when everybody was signing up You see these veterans and excuse me the military troops. They come they're coming in and they're just like
Like they haven't they've been
Stationed, sleeping in a sleeping bag Hearing shots being fired, like and really in the trenches there And then they're in this beautiful resort for, four days long and they have All their food all their drinks. Everything is treated the rooms. Everything's paid for there's a beautiful, banquet You know that they have had there in honor and it was just I mean there were awards that were being given out to these soldiers that were just absolute studs and. So I had the honor of running their boot camp in the morning and some of them decided they were going to go golfing Whatever, but so they had golf as an option and fishing was the following day, which was.
So cool And to start we ran from the Naples grand.
Holding American flags along the boardwalk up to the beach And then we had a huge American flag flyover with the Collier County Sheriff's office That did that it was so cute too. It was like a kettlebell was attaching the flag to the helicopter. It was awesome And, then we had them break out into stations and we did a lot of sandbag, I tried to replicate hell week For the military as much as possible. so really I gave them a good run for their money. I think, I think everybody had fun and then we did a couple competition workouts and followed by ice Ice barrels, so Ice barrels. Yeah, we had ice barrel plunges. Oh after because it was so hot that day.
So, we had power, power drinks and
Just like electrolyte recovery drinks there actually mo had some mimosas out too And, it was and cavern
Kevin was wonderful too He's he is with hidden summit and he helped me so much with that event as well, so we partnered up to run the whole event and we did like a fight gone bad style And it was it was really cool. I mean honestly that is what this eagle.
Is on my shirt. It's like an eagle holding a barbell. I am I love this country There's pretty much nothing more that I love like my family and my country that is, My those are my passions in life and that's why I just always want to symbolize that in my my business I get it, and I think we're doing we're going to be doing one. I just haven't picked the date yet But it's going to be for our veterans Hopefully around veterans day is going to be a boot camp on the beach too. It's going to be open to the public So it was really fun and everybody can come, It's the weights you can do no weights. You can sit out.
You can have a mimosa It's just going to be open to the public and it's going to be a blast. Yeah, great. I love that you do that I love thank you.
It's Well, you're such a patriot, but also I just I love our country the same way and I really I have such a respect and love and honor for our military and those that you know that we just kind of take that for granted like that they put their lives on the line for us always and, I wake up and complain that my mouse is slow and, they're they're in Dodging bullets and right and at any moment could be their life is at risk in flight or flight like constantly Yeah, I mean, yeah, and you just you don't realize it until you're like in this And you just see all of them and they're so grateful for this weekend and they're giving their lives on the line every single day And they honestly don't get enough credit.
They never do, and, I saw it firsthand so many stories working in congress of veterans Calling us, and thank thank god for Some of my team there steph newrock. She is a veteran herself So she gets it and she would she would literally go to their homes and, Help them if they needed to be baker acted or something like that, like they're they've really gone through a lot And, it's they they deserve everything. So that's why anytime I can do a fundraiser for our veterans and our military I'm all in on that. Yeah, it's a beautiful thing. I love that. Yeah, and, we don't if it's If there's not some presence of it in our lives, it kind of just gets pushed aside.
I don't think about it actively Yeah, it's like something that keeps that alive and keeps it To continually honor them and who they are, we did an event here a few years back where Karen Vaughn who's the mother of erin vaughan who was killed in
Afghanistan in a helicopter
And he was from florida and karen lives in the other coast and she was doing an event for gold star wives honoring the wives of those who've lost a loved one in the Military honoring the families of and we had.
I maybe 10 Or 15 of the gold star wives come in they came to this coast for the day and Actually several days and they were honored and loved and appreciated and they came in for a makeover in the salon Oh my gosh, that's. So cool. And it was the most moving.
Experience of my life right to these women who have sacrificed their loved one. They've given their loved one Yeah, some of them had little babies that they never met their dad and never will. But heartbreaking they were the most grateful appreciative loving-kind Souls who had literally for our country given up their of course their their partner and their partners, In heaven good doing, looking down on us and right and they're here And have to go through life now that way without that person. Because that's the ultimate sacrifice And it's so true it's like everybody involved all, for families as well Yeah, that is so cool that you did that.
Yeah It was a few years back we had Karen put it together and she's very very involved with.
With taking care of, those in the military. She's very active losing her son and She put the whole thing together and a lot of people in the community lowest bullet a lot of people in our community. commissioner Oh lowest mom. Yeah, I know her she's involved in that and a lot of people that Did great things for for that and we were just honored to have them to be able to have them here and To just appreciate them just the same way I am about veterans and first responders and, All the people who do so much for us in the background. So I love that you do that and we're here to support you Whenever that happens again.
Yes Absolutely, be a part of it as soon as I lock in a date with, the sheriff's office I'll definitely let,. Yeah, whatever it is gonna be great and zach you have some video of that too, right? Oh, yeah, so if you could put in the video, oh for sure in here too So people can take a look at yeah, definitely Say a helicopter right now. Oh, it was so much fun. Yeah. Yeah doing thunderstruck to burpees. Everybody's like how many times? Yeah on the song yeah It was it was great got really sandy and sweaty Yeah, I was trying to do more.
I remember that you I remember seeing a little clip of the video Well, it was hard because we did it on a friday because that was when the schedule worked for the troops. Yeah, but Next time it when it's on a saturday, I think we'll get a way bigger turnout Well, actually there were still 73 people that showed that was
We're gonna need a bigger boat, like over the next one. We're excited. Thank you Zach do you have the philly? words
So I'll tell you what this is this is a segment that we do This is oh, I love this already for people who are from the philadelphia area
There's these communities in the philadelphia and surrounding area suburbs that are named these very awkward odd words And anybody who sees them from another area and like they just don't sound like they look how to word them. So for fun for those that it's on philly.
We are going to show you the words and have you read them out loud. Oh lord, okay Bring it to embarrass you everybody sees the same with this. Okay. So here's your first one. This is so hilarious
Kan shohokan pretty pretty good pretty good pretty good. Oh, man. Concha hawken is concha hawken. Okay Are you serious? Yeah, you did good concha hawken These are real places in the area Yeah Many young wow, he nailed that one really nice my grandfather was from there. I think it's also maybe my new york accent like Yeah, that flowed real big
Ballas sinwood
Kinwood is pinwood. Okay, but that's usually what people go with. Yeah. All right. Now. Here's the big one. Oh god You
Shill kill So oh my god, it was so off I know it looks like that's right. That's how you should say it. But it's not always scoocle scoocle. Yeah. Love it Yeah, yeah, that's a river. So these are all oh the river. That's a river the other ones are areas So the river and the yeah, that is awesome. I love it. So philly people will get a kiddo pride. Yeah And the charade
It's so fun I
We did so much and covered so much it went way Oh, yeah more beautiful than I ever imagined. So thank you for sharing your soul. I'm so honored I just love hanging with you any day. So yeah, I really appreciate you. It's like I just got lost in our world I know right. So I just felt like we were back in the gym. Yeah, just chatting as usual with our heart to heart Yeah, yeah day. So thank you so much. Yeah, thank you for everything seriously. No, my pleasure one of the people that really have like Awakened my soul with coaching and how much I love it, You and I'm just really lucky that you've been put into my life. So thank you for everything.
Just, just more I want to I want to keep Doing whatever I can to support you because you're making the lives better the people around you and around me So it makes my life better when those people are better too. So thank you. Thanks for being here And your hair looks amazing. Oh my god