%202.png)
Hacking Your Health
Hacking Your Health Podcast with Ben Canning and Dave Kennedy - Two guys setting out to hack body, mind, business and beyond. We are here to provide a single source, bullshit free guide to understanding your body and how you can live better, for longer.
Hacking Your Health
I PUT MYSELF FIRST and it changed everything for the better // Jen - Digital Interactions 014
Jen’s journey of self-discovery takes center stage as she recounts her emotional shift from self-doubt to empowerment. This episode captures a pivotal moment when a photoshoot transformed her self-perception, shedding light on her newfound confidence. Listen to how embracing change and stepping outside her comfort zone brought unexpected rewards, shifting her focus from weight loss to strength and performance goals. Jen’s story is a testament to the power of community support and the mental transitions required to redefine personal success.
Unpacking the role of community and support, we explore the camaraderie within what Jen humorously dubs a “cult-like” fitness circle. This episode is a reminder of how transformative it can be to surround oneself with a supportive network. As Jen shares the benefits of engaging with this community, including the benefits of family health and setting an inspiring example for children, listeners will learn the true value of going all-in and being present. This isn’t just about weight loss; it’s about building lasting connections that empower and inspire.
Check out Overclock and Protein Protocol here
Want to know more about coaching? Book a call with Ben here
Where to find us
We Hack Health: Twitter
We Hack Health: Instagram
We Hack Health: Discord
Cheers All right Cheers.
Speaker 1:Good. Welcome back to the podcast. We're in Vegas and I thought it'd be cool because there's quite a lot of us here to do something in person. So we're with Jen. Thanks for joining us. Anybody who's listening will know that I do come at these with some sort of structure, but because we're just sitting and having a conversation, I don't have my laptop in front of me. We don't have any structure, so we're just going to wing it. I guess the best place to start is we're about 74 weeks in, 75 weeks in.
Speaker 2:Yeah, one of those. Did you do your check-in? No, I did not. Okay, good, all right, it's probably the first one I've missed. Yeah, that's true. Well didn't I. Nope Right so you 75 weeks ago. Discuss.
Speaker 1:Me 75 weeks ago.
Speaker 2:Before the call where were you at?
Speaker 2:I'm definitely like fed up with myself, fed up with all the excuses and the way I felt, the way I looked, like everything, um, and, if I'm being honest, I think I'd hit my wall probably a few months before I signed up, um, but I was that person that's like, oh, I'll do it in January, like we'll get past the holidays and I'll start January 1st, which, to be fair, I did.
Speaker 2:I did. But then I knew that we had a trip coming up and I was like, I don't know if I want to like fully commit and sign up with you, and I was just kind of bidding my time to see how I went with Tom, um, but I I was trying to do it on my own and I did lose like a couple pounds on my own, but, um, when I started seeing like Tom's like progress and how much he was eating and just the structure of it all, that's when I was like, okay, I'd like should really do that, especially because I knew that eventually he was gonna look really, really good, and I was like, wait a minute, I'm not gonna be the person that's being left behind here. So yeah, okay, cool.
Speaker 1:Um, so for context, because we'll record tom's after, so, if you're listening, tune in next week for Tom. Tom started May, 3-ish months, two months before.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he started like mid-December, because I remember we were on the Disney cruise.
Speaker 1:Okay, yes, that was he just started that week before and he said I'm going on a cruise.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Okay, cool.
Speaker 1:Right. So he started mid-December. You started seeing his progress, I would say, and anybody who knows the both of you and sees you about the events like, you two are a couple of goals within everything, doing everything together and making sure that you support each other. So him, let's talk about him starting and the journey between him starting and then you setting up. What was that like, seeing the change in him?
Speaker 2:I mean it was nice to see him putting in the effort. So before, whenever we would try and lose weight, we would never be like on the same page. Whenever I was ready, he wasn't ready, and back and forth, and at this point in time he was more ready than I was. But it's always been one of those like I'm waiting for you, I'm waiting for you, and I felt like too much pressure for me where I was like don't count on me, like I need you, just do this for yourself. So that was that time in between where you know he was actually doing it for himself and it made me go okay, like maybe I, maybe I also really want to do this for myself.
Speaker 1:so, um, yeah okay, and how has been having that support and being on the same journey?
Speaker 2:um well, it definitely makes it easier when, like you, can count on all the meals being pretty much the same and just not having to change much for anyone else, or like whenever we weren't on the same page if I wanted to go out for pizza or Chipotle or whatever, and he didn't want to kind of like so it made everything a lot easier.
Speaker 1:I feel like yeah okay and I think we could see if the setup of you have quite an active social life. Yeah, how has it changed and how has it been sort of managing that together as well?
Speaker 2:Honestly, though, I feel like our social life didn't change all that much. That very first year, I feel like we were still going out pretty much every weekend, if not every other weekend, because we'd moved from Southern Maryland to where we are now and we had like two groups of friends and it was just kind of like going back and forth with all of them. So I'm actually pretty not shocked weight or not put forth the effort and we did, and even though we went out every weekend, we just made sure that we had like the calories banked and all that stuff. So you can still have social life and reach your goals and all that stuff. So you can still have social life and reach your goals.
Speaker 2:Um, and then later on, though, like as as you move forward and you have more progress and you don't necessarily want to like drink all the time or have like 10 drinks in one night and just cut it in half, or something like you have more like limits where you still want to go out with your friends, you still want to have fun, but I won't be the same the same Jenny that I was before, and I found that recently, the last like few months, I'll have to say, hey, this is where I'm at right now, these are my goals, like it probably won't be that fun, or I won't be as fun as you want me to be. I don't know, I don't know how to. I always like give a warning, like, hey, don't expect this from me this time.
Speaker 1:So managing the people around you's expectations.
Speaker 1:Yes definitely that's an important one. I'll relate it back to. Whenever I started and I've said this time and time again I was like pretty much a functional alcoholic at one point and I think as I transitioned into training, more and more. It wasn't the case if I just started training and stopped drinking, but it was like it was less and less and less and to your point it's almost like the, the more you see you getting results with what you're doing. You know, then if you do a little bit more, then the more results will come. But I think, having those conversations with the people around you because they have that expectation of, I imagine thomas and jen will go out and they'll have a lot of fun they'll get fucked up with everybody and that's what their expectations are of you, and then, as that switch has changed, like what the fuck's going on?
Speaker 1:so having those expectations is important. Um, so, having a structure to your week and knowing, okay, right, these are the events that we have coming up and this is what we need to do this week so we can manage the weekend is essentially how we've been able to make progress definitely okay, so talk to me. You mentioned jenny back then. Talk to me about that, versus now, different versions of jenny definitely definitely different versions of Jenny.
Speaker 2:Definitely definitely different versions of Jenny. Yeah, I just I just I feel like I was living for the weekends.
Speaker 1:Okay, how dare you?
Speaker 2:No, just like having fun and trying to I don't want to say escape mom duties, but just sort of it was my it's the weekend and I can just be as close to me as possible and I can go have fun with my friends and, um, yeah, I don't know, like just I just didn't have any real goals other than to be a good mom, right, um, but there was nothing there for me okay and is it safe to say that of the times that you said that you would do it before you prioritized other people, ie your family over you, and the goals and the stuff that you wanted to do.
Speaker 1:Definitely, so what changed?
Speaker 2:I decided to pick me first.
Speaker 1:Okay, which?
Speaker 2:I mean, felt a little selfish and there's still times that it feels a little selfish a little selfish and there's still times that it feels a little selfish. But I feel like now people get a more genuine version of me or I don't know better and yeah, just a more real me okay, so they get.
Speaker 1:So by being selfish, they get a better version of you. Yes, okay. And talk then about the people around you and how that has changed, like how you've been able to sort of inspire, or like what has changed in terms of your dynamic relationship with kids and stuff like that like with my friends or just people in general. Both you tell me.
Speaker 2:I guess there's a lot more people watching than I thought and I get a lot of, like, messages of encouragement or messages of like you inspired me, you know you worked out, you made me want to go work out and all that stuff, um, and I think at first some of my friends were maybe hesitant.
Speaker 2:um, I think some of them were maybe hesitant because they've seen me try before and then you know, here we go again, that's yeah and then there's the friends that met me at the height of like going out and drinking and just having fun every single weekend and, um, I think that was different for some of them, because when I like pulled up, pulled off a bit, um, they were like, oh, like does she not like us anymore? Or like what's happening? But I think, I do think that eventually they were like, okay, these are just the new goals, and like we can still be friends, we just don't have to like drink every single weekend. So it has changed, like my relationships with people, whereas we're not like brunching every other weekend and stuff. But yeah, I would say mainly everyone's still been super supportive and they'll just be like are you drinking today or are we doing something else? Like my relationships have definitely changed, yeah.
Speaker 1:How does it feel as someone like I think back whenever we were in, you guys had left in Orlando and somebody had mentioned the Manitou Incline and I put the Colorado After Movie on and Phil was there and Dress and somebody else and they couldn't believe that that was you in the After Movie. So talk to me about somebody who has been through that struggle to then now being someone who is inspiring people to, like you said, people are watching to inspire people to go and motivate it. What's that feel like?
Speaker 2:It feels good. It feels good, but at the same time it feels like disbelief, like wait me, because sometimes I feel like I'm still going going through it. I'm still not at that goal, even though I am, but I don't know, sometimes it just doesn't feel like I'm there yet because it always shifts, you'll never get there yeah, yeah, yeah so it's good to be able to inspire, motivate, motivate other people um.
Speaker 1:Can we talk about? We can yeah, okay, so, uh, I don't even know if we're talking about the same thing. So was it last month?
Speaker 2:uh, yeah okay.
Speaker 1:So you messaged me saying I have, I've done this thing. It's going to be at the end of August, what do you think?
Speaker 2:discuss in typical Jenny fashion, I was very impulsive and I signed up to do a uh, we do our photo shoot. Um, it was like an opportunity with someone that I had met recently and she had posted that she needed a model and it would all be free, and I'd always wanted to do something like that. But again, like previous version of me was not feeling confident at all, would never, ever want to do something like that, or like wanted to, but would not feel good or comfortable doing anything like that, um, and so I was like, why not, let's do it, fuck it. Like maybe it won't, maybe it won't get picked, um, and then I signed up and then, like later that day, or maybe it was the next day, she messaged and she was like, okay, you're in. And I was like, okay, you're in. And I was like, oh fuck, I remember my stomach felt like I didn't even talk to Thomas. I was like, oh crap, now I have to go tell him what happened, done, um. But yeah, I was like, whatever I'm going to do it Like it's.
Speaker 2:I keep saying it, but it's been a year, a year and a half, of me pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I'm just really fricking hard but why not? So, um, I I wasn't going to tell you. I know, sorry, I wasn't going to tell you. I know Sorry, I wasn't going to tell anybody honestly.
Speaker 2:But then I remember hearing Sarah talk about her photo shoot and all that stuff and I was like maybe I should mention this Because I think at that time we were moving forth with going on more calories and preparing for September going on like more calories and preparing for September and I was like I don't know how I'm gonna feel. We're like having all these extra like calories and stuff and then going on this photo shoot. I might not feel like my best or the greatest, like yeah, I know this is way different than what I used to look like before, but I think when you go on a deficit for so long and when you've started at a certain amount and then you're losing it, it's difficult mentally to like go back up and cut calories and everything. So I was like, oh, this is going to be quite the mental challenge and I think I should let Ben know.
Speaker 1:So I did, yeah, but then I think you had. We had a conversation, a little bit of back and forward, and it was due to be the end of this month, august, right? Yeah yeah, and we had a bit of a conversation back and forward about like if she said you have to go tomorrow, you would still do it yes and then she was like we need to do it sooner rather than later.
Speaker 1:And you went for it, yeah you and again we've talked about this and you mentioned something similar last night. You have said that you are the person that, whenever you look at a photo of yourself, you'll always focus on the negative bits and, like, start to pick yourself apart. Yeah, how did it feel whenever you saw those photos oh, so good, like really.
Speaker 2:Oh, I'm gonna cry. No, it's fine. I wanted to make through it, make it through this without crying. Get sunglasses yes, I forgot them, um, no it.
Speaker 2:It felt really good, um, especially because she showed me some like unedited, like just on the camera as we were going, which actually really helped, because it is really freaking awkward, um, sitting there and like lingerie, basically in like weird poses, and you're like oh god, like please don't look at me. But then she showed me the pictures. I was like, oh, I look half decent, I look pretty good, I like it. And then I get the rest of the folder, like later that evening. So she hadn't really like retouched anything and I was like I don't really have much of anything to like pick apart anything that I focused on that I was like, oh, I don't like, it wasn't anything about me or my body, um, which was such a refreshing feeling because, again, I don't think that's ever happened like even 16, 17 year old Jenny, who weighed much less than I weigh now, like I still would have found something I did not like.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, it was very empowering. Okay, and then even last night, they'll be showing some photos. I like how you look at this.
Speaker 2:Oh, the photos. Yeah, I don't remember.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that did happen to them. I'm sure it did. I can't remember. That's okay.
Speaker 1:Okay, cool, so an important feeling and I think the thing about it is like it's. I mean, I haven't been. I've been in a similar situation, but not like that. But it is a case of like, what the fuck am I doing? Like what the fuck do I think I am type situation?
Speaker 2:but.
Speaker 1:I think the biggest thing about it is like you talked about comfort zone and you talked about, you know, challenging yourself and I will give you the absolute, 100% credit in this. Like anything, and I will push you and I know that I will feel the wrath of it at some point. But to challenge you a little bit more and there's no. You never say no to things. Do you know what I mean? Like you're willing to, like fucking, I do not want to be even right now the and I'll say this like it's.
Speaker 1:It's almost like just having an understanding of your ability to do difficult things by doing difficult things and just continue continuing to do it. And whether it's a conversation that we're having on the call with kira or we're in person and you know we're doing the conversation cards, or whether it is the shoot or whatever, like you're always willing to just fucking do it anyway, regardless of what your emotions are towards that thing, and I think that will just continue to compound over time and you know you have that ability to do those things. Let's go back to Colorado, and so it was the first event you guys went to. What changed being at that event?
Speaker 2:I think everything clicked more for me, not just the the gym aspect of everything.
Speaker 2:Um, I mean that majorly, I feel like that made me feel um, less of oh yeah, I'm just working out and kind of just being like, oh, I could probably just have done this on the tonal and more like, oh no, this is more like personalized, this is more I can ask the questions and I can get the tips and all that stuff. But it drove like into me the whole community aspect and how everybody was there to help you. And I think I had it in my head that everyone would be like super soul gym bros and I wasn't going to have any fun. And I was nervous, not necessarily that I wasn't going to have any fun, and I was nervous, not necessarily that I wasn't going to have any fun, but just I didn't know what I was getting myself into. And then when we were there, it was like, oh, I like this is awesome, I really liked it. So things just really really clicked, um, and I actually like enjoyed my time in the gym.
Speaker 2:Um, and then we did the clinic with Adam and showed us the deadlift and I remember turning to you and being like I want those. I want those in my program. You're like okay, and I was like yes, and I think from then on it was like okay, it's on, like I really like this, like it was on calories wise and like losing the weight, but like gym, that was that was it for me.
Speaker 1:That's the turning point okay, and in the you mentioned something I think in the Orlando video about like what you in terms of like people complimenting you and what you would have ordered them to say. Like before versus now. Like, how has what you want from this changed?
Speaker 2:like as in when I said that I would, I used to want to look or be complimented and told that I look skinny. Yeah, that was definitely a major goal, um, not just like a year and a half ago, but like forever. I feel like it's very driven to you as a woman, as a woman, that you, you want to be slender, thin, skinny, big boobs and big butt, and not everyone's built that way. So, yeah, I just that was my goal, I just wanted to be skinny. And then, as the gym went on and as figuring out how strong I am and the things that I like, the things that I enjoy, that gave me more confidence. And so then I was like, okay, I don't think I'd like to be called skinny. I feel like now that would be a bit of an insult to me to just be seen as someone that's skinny, because I want to be seen as someone who works out, who puts forth the effort in the gym. Um, so I like being strong yeah, you can start go.
Speaker 1:I did go for Danny's this morning. I'm talking about after Phoenix. You were like, well, I saw Jen, she was a badass. I want to lift all the weights that I own, so it's good. I mean, I obviously have seen a change in and how it's focused and also you know we're at the point now where that is the main focus. So you mentioned like being on the journey and being a deficit for so long and having the focus on, you know, weight loss and fat loss and that always haven't been the focus mentally. How has it been in that shift in terms of like? You know, we are actively moving into a phase now where you're going to eat more calories with the goal of performance and strength and having an understanding that you know we a metrics might go up, which is literally what you've been battling against for so long.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's such a mental like fuck, like it's really hard, really good days and I have bad days, but I think the difference now is knowing that I have guidance and support and that I'm not the first one who's done it and that you will listen. So if I ever did get like too uncomfortable, you would walk me through that. But also just like feeling the difference from like the amount of calories we were at before to where I'm at now and seeing my strength, like coming back and just um well, even just like taking the metrics right, like taping every week and all that stuff. That's been really helpful because when there's days where I don't feel good and I don't know it's Thursday and I take the tape out and I'm like, oh okay, like I've had all these things to eat and like calories or whatever, but I'm still like making progress and like a positive way.
Speaker 1:So, even though it's really hard, I also know that it's working, we're fine, like it's okay, I'll be okay but I, uh, I was in, obviously atlanta with tom two weeks ago, three weeks ago, and you obviously text him back and forth and says jen struggled the minute is she struggling to get her calories in yeah, so like, if you think about again previous versions of you, you know, trying to make this journey or trying to make the change, like, did you ever think that one of the things that you would struggle with?
Speaker 2:no, to eat enough food no, not at all, like I actually did. I remember texting him and like I had the milkshake in my hand. I'm like I can't believe that I'm having a milkshake to reach my calories and my macros, like if it perfectly. But I remember that day being like I'm so full, I don't want to eat anything and I'm just like huh, weird.
Speaker 1:It's good, I think it's good to have those like reminders. Do you know what I mean? That perspective of like, okay, right, this is a struggle right now, but like, if I think about me two years ago or whatever, like shut the fuck up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, definitely. But also it makes me think of, like how much was I eating before to like have gained?
Speaker 1:the amount of weight that I did gain, like holy moly, like that was a lot. Okay, let's talk on that. So food wise day to day.
Speaker 2:Say two years ago, for example, versus now um, well, it's no secret, I don't like to cook, so, uh, we'd also. No, I guess we'd been in the new house for like two years, but at that point we'd moved from a place that barely had like anything around. It was very isolated, um. And when we moved up north, we're like, oh my god, all options, like all the food that we missed, and I think, because of the pandemic and everything, everything just became so easily accessible that that's like what we were doing. We were door dashing.
Speaker 1:Because America yeah.
Speaker 2:So we ever won something it was like, ok, cool, door dash it. Oh, the kids won this today, door dash it. So we were eating out a lot. Even if I were to cook dinner, like, we would probably door dash lunch and stuff like that, and then top it off with the weekends with friends out drinking and whatever. So it was out of hand for sure, like crazy out of hand.
Speaker 1:And now.
Speaker 2:Way, way, way less. Now, when we do have plans to go out, like if go out to a concert, we tell the kids like, ok, tonight we're door dashing for you guys. And they'll be like, are we door dashing, what can we have? And then they'll have this whole discussion about what meal they are going to agree on, like that's such a stark difference from before to now. To them now it's like oh my God, it's a treat. No, chicken and veggies tonight, which I don't always just got chicken and veggies.
Speaker 1:There's different variations, thank you so let's talk about the kids, because there's some times that you said that they've wanted them and they showed an interest in terms of of training and stuff. So how does that feel to be able to give them that guidance?
Speaker 2:really, really good. I mean that was definitely. That was one of the goals on my like. My list of whys was showing them like guidance of like I think as a kid, it doesn't matter how much you're told something, you learn more by seeing. I feel like like those are the lessons that you really take with you. And I did not grow up like that at all. There was no working out. We didn't necessarily eat like crap, but we weren't watching as like I don't want to say sloppy, but just unhealthy people just eating whatever they wanted and then going out drinking every single weekend, like I didn't want that to be the example that they took forth in their lives. Um, especially cause I we've had friends that were on the way healthier side and I always admired their I don't want to say resilience, but just discipline, I guess and I was like well, I want that for the kids. I mean, it doesn't necessarily have to be so strict like some other people, but something more than door dashing, lunch and dinner you know and exercising.
Speaker 2:And then my daughter's always been one that, um, she likes like physical, like things, she likes going out and playing sports and going in the park and running, and she would come in and be like I ran a mile under blah, blah, blah today, and so I was like, well, I want to like feed that, I want that to be, um, what they take from us. So it's been really nice when they show the the interest and she's a lot like me, like she loves to deadlift and she loves to like try and lift as heavy as she can, which sometimes I'm like, oh God, please, well, don don't do it without me or your dad. But yeah, it's really nice. And it's just like my son likes to play soccer and so he was like, okay, I need to train my legs for soccer, and so I love hearing that, I love them having the goals to do that instead of just not having anything at all.
Speaker 1:And you've done it by both of you actually just doing it yourselves, not like you have to do this.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, and I don't think that that works. Telling, I mean, obviously within limits, right, sometimes you have to tell them what to do, but I feel like telling them you have to exercise or you have to go running or you have to eat this. That would not work, that would. I was the kind of kid where, like my mom, would not have chips or snacks or anything remotely yummy um, because she had her own. You know things going on, um, which rubbed off on me and my sister and I feel like when I had the freedom to go out and eat whatever I wanted, I was like, oh, all the things, and no one's here telling me I'm going to get fat, like, yes, so I didn't. So I didn't want that for them. I didn't want them to, like, leave the house one day and then not know what to do in terms of food, not have that education food-wise.
Speaker 1:I think it's a difficult balance because you want to, obviously you want to move towards your goals and I think about this quite a lot, like, I would say, generationally the generation before before us. They didn't really have the knowledge and it was like a case of if you're doing this thing, you're fucking miserable and you have to literally only eat this thing. You can't eat all of these things, but it's like you said, has rubbed off on you and then, whenever you, no one was watching it was like fucking party time, I'll do whatever I want. So it's like being able to make the progress that you have over the past you know 70 some weeks and show that you can still have. You know whether it's store dash or go out or, you know, go and socialize or eat a fucking pizza or whatever it might be like, you can still do all those things.
Speaker 2:It makes it more.
Speaker 1:I want to say normal, but it sort of shows that you can do it all essentially yes, definitely.
Speaker 2:I think it just takes a little, a little bit of discipline and a little bit of truly wanting it for yourself. And you can't make someone want that, no matter how much you try and like guide or give advice or anything, if they're not truly, truly doing it for themselves. And at that point where, like, they will put forth the effort because they are done or ready, like you, I don't know I feel like you just have to let them be until they're ready.
Speaker 1:So, over the past 70 odd weeks, what is the most unexpected thing that you've gained?
Speaker 2:Unexpected. I don't know that it's unexpected. I mean, I feel like also one of my goals on there was confidence, um, so it's not unexpected, but I feel like that's the main thing that I've gained is more confidence in myself, um, which again, is still a struggle sometimes, um, but I would say that's the like, what I'm, the main main lesson or thing that I've learned, that's what I'm taking.
Speaker 1:What does confidence mean to you? What does? Confidence mean to me this is Dara the CEO of CoreTool. What does confidence mean?
Speaker 2:to you. I feel like I'm in a session with a cure right now. I would say. Confidence to me means freedom to be myself, and just not necessarily care what people are going to think of me or the things that I like, or yeah, just sort of like, take it or leave it. Yeah, just sort of like, take it or leave it. Um, I'd rather you be friends with me because you like the authentic me instead of the me that put up a front and was fake just to have your, your love or like.
Speaker 1:For me, though, okay for the weekly calls and showing up for them. How have they been beneficial to you?
Speaker 2:on this I mean a lot. I don't miss them. I think if I miss them I probably schedule something there for the kids. But especially in the beginning, just feeling like I had that community with me was very, very, very, very helpful. And now I think it's part of like a routine where it feels um, like a mental reset, especially because they're on mondays for us. I just feel like, okay, cool, this is the start of my week and I'm starting it with like like monday people and this is what we're talking about, and just I feel like it helps put me in a mental frame even if I call you out on something even when you call me out on something you said something recently and I think this is an important share because I have felt it too along the way like it's almost like you sometimes see yourself as an old j Jenny is what you said.
Speaker 2:How do you deal with that? Oof, how do I deal with that? I don't know. I don't know how I deal with that. I think I just push through Like I don't, which I mean Kira might tell me it's wrong. I don't know. I kind of just shove that aside and go on with my day sometimes, or I'll take the time and acknowledge the feeling and just kind of think and realize, okay, I put in all this hard work, the evidence is right here, even if I sometimes don't see it in the mirror, like it's on all 74 weeks of the check-in sheet. So I'll just like do like a mental checklist of the things that have been accomplished in the last year and a half and just go okay, here it is right there, like you're not the old Jenny, it's just a day or it's just a mental frame that you're in right now and it'll pass so you mentioned the having done the hard work.
Speaker 1:I'm always quite frank in terms of like it's not gonna be fucking easy, like there's no way um, in terms of like what your expectations were versus the reality of how hard it has been. How hard is it to make that change? Like to to fully and not just like lose weight, like to have a lifestyle change I think the lifestyle change was probably a bit harder.
Speaker 2:I think that's what's the hardest, because sometimes we don't want to stop doing the fun things and we don't want our friends to stop inviting us to things. So I would say that was probably the hardest part. I thought that just the losing the weight part was going to be the hardest part, which for me turned out to be the easiest part. Um, like I didn't think that I would be losing, however average I was losing every week. I thought it was going to be even less because, again, I'd struggled before. Um, so that part for me was so easy and I think having someone tell me exactly what I needed to do was what helped. And it's like the mental part of like, but I want to go out with my friends or I just want to have a whole pie pizza today, like. I think that was the hardest part okay, um worth it though, oh, 1000% worth it though.
Speaker 1:Oh, one thousand percent worth it. Just as long as um. What one thing do you wish you knew before you started, that you know now, or a younger version of?
Speaker 2:you um that I had it in me or that I have it in me. Like I think I questioned myself so much um and my abilities, um, and just didn't have the confidence. And I think it took me being so fed up with myself and and and the situation that I was in that I was like I have nothing left to lose, like it doesn't matter, so just do it, why not? And I wish that I'd known before um that I could.
Speaker 1:I feel like I would have tried harder do you think it took you getting to that place?
Speaker 2:I do. I do think so, and that's why I think you can't force anyone that's not fully ready yeah, for we hack health.
Speaker 1:How would you describe it to somebody?
Speaker 2:I was so afraid you'd ask me this question. I changed it every single time you don't feel like, you ask everyone no, I ask everybody, but I, if someone asked me, I don't fucking yeah, I actually had.
Speaker 2:Who was it? Um tom's friend, yesterday at the gym. She was like so like I'm, I'm a little nervous and like it's a little intense, are you sure it's not a cult? Like it's very culty. I legit I turned to her and I was like I mean, it's, it's a cult. It's not a cult like I'm not gonna, but it's a good one, it's a good cult. You gain lots of positive things in this cult. So, uh, yeah, I would describe it as a cult. It's a cult um and family um, randy and I were talking the other day and we were talking about belfast, um, and how that was a turning point for both. Him and I were like that's when it really felt like I'd felt friendship before and like we're all rolling this together. But that was more of like oh, these are, these are my people, even though I know nothing about cyber thank you for having fucking cyber security causes like I need to know more.
Speaker 2:I have no fucking clue what is going on in this conversation. Taylor and I last night sat just to be like. I know I would describe it as a community of people who have pretty much the same goals. Whether you're starting with wanting to lose weight or just wanting to gain muscle, like at the end of the day, you have common goals to reach and everyone has everyone's back. Yeah, I don't, I don't. I feel like it's one of those things you just can't really explain, because I feel like you just have to join the fun and go live it.
Speaker 1:I feel like you just have to join the fun and come live it. I think it's. Yeah, I see, I personally see the difference of the people who go all in, in terms of whether it's the calls or showing up or whatever it is, or going to the events like they're. 100 is a difference in that and it's not something that you know. It's not something that, like physically being here doesn't necessarily help in terms of your goal in fact, the fact that I have a margarita in front of me probably says it all. But the you know it's not something that specifically helps in terms of your goals, but it's the, the connections that you make with people. And you know randy as an example, like he is someone who will fucking move mountains to make sure that you have everything you need. Like it's people who actually give a fuck about you, yeah, and your progress.
Speaker 1:I think that's a difficult thing to find in general, I agree and so having that and sort of knowing you have those people around you, and I think that that that's the and I say this all the time like you know that what the community and the people provide is not something that I can provide by myself, and I think that that's such a big part of why people have the success that they do yeah, yeah I agree, and I'm okay with being a cult.
Speaker 2:I don't see what the fucking negative Exactly we're a good cult.
Speaker 1:Yeah, exactly, well, thanks. Was it as bad as you thought having a conversation with me, with Dil here?
Speaker 2:No, no, not that bad.
Speaker 1:But no, genuinely thanks for doing this, Thanks for being such a huge part of the cult and thanks for going and thanks for showing up on the calls and just thanks, like I said, for being a part of it. Like I can't, I know the and I know that you do see it, but you probably don't see it to the extent that I do the the motivation you provide for others and the inspiration you provide for others in terms of like them actually getting shit done, and I hear it and I see it, um, so that obviously is good, for it's good to show that you can be a part of that in terms of benefiting people that way, um, just by doing this fucking shit for yourself definitely like follow.
Speaker 1:Subscribe for more you.