In today’s episode, Coach Brandy Schroeder from Team BFF joins us to share her journey from battling weight issues as a tween to becoming a seasoned health and fitness coach. Brandy opens up about struggles she faced, including the mental and physical toll of competitive bodybuilding and her fight to find a healthier relationship with food and her body. Brandy shares the harsh realities behind the seemingly glamorous world of fitness competitions and the importance of focusing on sustainable, long-term health.

"I wasn't happy—it was actually the worst time of my life. Being lean doesn't fix the broken pieces.”

- Coach Brandy Schroeder

“You have to understand that the journey you're on through your fat loss phase applies to your maintenance. It’s not just about losing weight; it’s about learning how to keep it off.”

- Coach Brandy Schroeder

This week on Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck:

• Brandy’s commitment to “never diet again”
• The journey from being the “fat kid on the playground” to competitive bodybuilding and how that shaped her and her coaching philosophy
• The dark side of competitive bodybuilding, including the unsustainable nature of extreme dieting
• How Brandy overcame her fear of gaining weight and learned to trust her body
• The importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with food, even when pursuing fitness goals
• Why maintenance is the ultimate goal, not just losing weight
• How genetic makeup plays a role in our body’s ability to change shape 
• The mental and emotional struggles that come with body issues and extreme dieting
• The need for honest conversations between coaches and clients about realistic fitness goals.

Connect with Coach B:

• Coach Brandy on Instagram
• Coach Brandy on Team BFF

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

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