Not Just Gym Girls

In this episode, we're discussing how years of dieting and restriction can impact your relationship with food. We chat about why increasing your calories through a reverse diet can help you challenge restrictive beliefs, rebuild trust with your body, and develop a healthier relationship with food. We hope this episode gives you a better understanding of reverse dieting and its many benefits.STRIVE FOR STRONG WEBSITE: https://www.striveforstrong.com/MARISA IG: https://instagram.com/msilvafitness_?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=MARISA COACHING LINK:https://msilvafitness.typeform.com/to/ptaEKYD8VANESSA IG: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasilvafitt/VANESSA COACHING LINK:https://form.typeform.com/to/hec1uTP0

In this episode of Not Just Gym Girls, we're discussing fitness advice we completely agree with, even if it challenges what we've been taught about health and fitness. From why a smaller body doesn't always mean a healthier one to recognizing that the body you want might require a lifestyle you don't enjoy, we're diving into some important conversations. We also discuss why being disciplined with food doesn't always mean having a healthy relationship with it. We hope this episode gives you some valuable takeaways and a different perspective.STRIVE FOR STRONG WEBSITE: https://www.striveforstrong.com/MARISA IG: https://instagram.com/msilvafitness_?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=MARISA COACHING LINK:https://msilvafitness.typeform.com/to/ptaEKYD8VANESSA IG: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasilvafitt/VANESSA COACHING LINK:https://form.typeform.com/to/hec1uTP0

In this episode, we’re breaking down some of the most common pieces of fitness advice we completely disagree with and why they might be doing more harm than good. From the idea that you need to eat less and move more to constantly choosing the “healthier” option and believing you’ll finally be happy once you reach your goals, we’re sharing how our perspectives have changed throughout our coaching careers. We also discuss why these messages can make it harder for women to build a healthy relationship with food, exercise, and their bodies. STRIVE FOR STRONG WEBSITE: https://www.striveforstrong.com/MARISA IG: https://instagram.com/msilvafitness_?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=MARISA COACHING LINK:https://msilvafitness.typeform.com/to/ptaEKYD8VANESSA IG: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasilvafitt/VANESSA COACHING LINK:https://form.typeform.com/to/hec1uTP0

In this episode, we're breaking down the fine line between working toward body composition goals and letting those goals take over your life. We discuss the importance of understanding your why, recognizing when discipline turns into restriction, and what it actually looks like to pursue fat loss or muscle growth without sacrificing your relationship with food. We also dive into why having physique goals isn't inherently unhealthy, but the behaviors, mindset, and expectations behind them matter. Because at the end of the day, your goals should add to your life, not require you to put your entire life on hold to achieve them.STRIVE FOR STRONG WEBSITE: https://www.striveforstrong.com/MARISA IG: https://instagram.com/msilvafitness_?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=MARISA COACHING LINK:https://msilvafitness.typeform.com/to/ptaEKYD8VANESSA IG: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasilvafitt/VANESSA COACHING LINK:https://form.typeform.com/to/hec1uTP0

In this episode, we’re breaking down why 1,200 calories has become such a normalized target for women and why eating as little as possible isn’t the goal, even if it leads to weight loss in the short term. We talk about signs you may not be fueling enough, the restrict-overeat cycle, and why constantly cutting calories can make sustainable progress harder. Plus, we discuss what to focus on instead if you want to reach your goals without spending your entire life dieting. Because the goal isn’t just to lose weight, it’s to build habits and results you can actually maintain.STRIVE FOR STRONG WEBSITE: https://www.striveforstrong.com/MARISA IG: https://instagram.com/msilvafitness_?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=MARISA COACHING LINK:https://msilvafitness.typeform.com/to/ptaEKYD8VANESSA IG: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasilvafitt/VANESSA COACHING LINK:https://form.typeform.com/to/hec1uTP0

If you’re putting in the work at the gym but feel like you’re not seeing the results you should be, it may be how you’re approaching your workouts. In this episode, we’re breaking down the difference between simply exercising and actually training with intention. We cover progressive overload, training intensity, program hopping, recovery, nutrition, and why burning more calories isn’t always the answer. Before you assume you need to work harder or do more, this episode will help you take a closer look at whether your training actually aligns with your goals.STRIVE FOR STRONG WEBSITE: https://www.striveforstrong.com/MARISA IG: https://instagram.com/msilvafitness_?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=MARISA COACHING LINK:https://msilvafitness.typeform.com/to/ptaEKYD8VANESSA IG: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasilvafitt/VANESSA COACHING LINK:https://form.typeform.com/to/hec1uTP0

Going out to dinner, celebrating birthdays, traveling, and sharing meals with the people you love is a part of a healthy lifestyle. In this episode, we’re talking about how to navigate social eating without guilt, restriction, or feeling like you need to “make up for it” afterward. We break down the difference between structure and restriction, why compensating before or after a meal can keep you stuck in an all-or-nothing cycle, and what normal changes in bloating and scale weight actually mean. We also talk about giving yourself permission to make choices based on both your goals and the experience you want to have. Because the goal isn’t to get really good at avoiding social situations, it’s to build a relationship with food that allows you to confidently navigate them. STRIVE FOR STRONG WEBSITE: https://www.striveforstrong.com/MARISA IG: https://instagram.com/msilvafitness_?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=MARISA COACHING LINK:https://msilvafitness.typeform.com/to/ptaEKYD8VANESSA IG: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasilvafitt/VANESSA COACHING LINK:https://form.typeform.com/to/hec1uTP0

The fitness industry has a way of making health feel a lot more complicated than it needs to be. In this episode, we’re talking about why your smallest body isn’t necessarily your healthiest, why the basics will usually take you further than the latest trend, and why good coaching should make you less reliant on support over time. We also get into the constant pressure to optimize, do more, and look for the next thing when what actually works is often much simpler. Sometimes the most effective approach isn’t the most exciting or marketable, and that’s exactly the point.STRIVE FOR STRONG WEBSITE: https://www.striveforstrong.com/MARISA IG: https://instagram.com/msilvafitness_?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=MARISA COACHING LINK:https://msilvafitness.typeform.com/to/ptaEKYD8VANESSA IG: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasilvafitt/VANESSA COACHING LINK:https://form.typeform.com/to/hec1uTP0

In this episode, we’re joined by AJ Myles, a women’s health coach, pro bikini bodybuilder, and qualifying registered psychotherapist, to talk all things food, fitness, body image, and the rules we may not even realize we’re following. We dive into how perfectionism, all-or-nothing thinking, and social media can shape the way we view our bodies and what we believe it means to be “healthy.” AJ shares her perspective on how we can start making choices that actually align with our values rather than constantly trying to control ourselves. We also talk about how you can still have goals with your nutrition, fitness, or performance without allowing those goals to determine your self-worth.AJ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajmyles.fit/Body By You Coaching Website: https://www.bodybyyoucoaching.com/Body By You Coaching Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybyyoucoaching

For so many, dieting starts as something you do, but over time, it can quietly become part of who you are. In this episode, we’re talking about the identity shift that can happen when you’re no longer chasing fat loss, tracking every macro, or constantly working toward changing your body, and why simply maintaining can feel harder than you expect. We share our own experiences with separating our identities from our bodies, redefining what progress looks like, and finding fulfillment in the parts of life that have nothing to do with fitness. Because health and fitness can still be a huge part of your life without becoming your entire life.STRIVE FOR STRONG WEBSITE: https://www.striveforstrong.com/MARISA IG: https://instagram.com/msilvafitness_?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=MARISA COACHING LINK:https://msilvafitness.typeform.com/to/ptaEKYD8VANESSA IG: https://www.instagram.com/vanessasilvafitt/VANESSA COACHING LINK:https://form.typeform.com/to/hec1uTP0