Leah Unplugged: Finding Strength, Family Balance, and a Tonal Community

In this episode, I sit down with Leah, personal trainer, Tonal powerhouse, and globe-trotting mom who shares how she balances a life on the move with her passion for strength training. We dive into her journey as a coach, what it’s really like training while traveling with family, and how Tonal has transformed the way she trains and connects with others. From programming her own class on the platform to joining the Tonal Training Lab in NYC, Leah’s story is filled with heart, hustle, and true strength. Whether you’re a busy mom, fitness lover, or part of the Tonal fam this conversation will leave you inspired.

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Transcript

Katie: 0:00

I am beyond excited to welcome someone who wears so many hats and somehow still manages to crush every single one of them. She's a personal trainer, she's a tonal superhero, and a proud member of the Traveling Family Tribe. And one of the most inspiring women I have had the pleasure of knowing you may have seen her light up on the tonal community, not just through her own journey, but also by programming an actual class on the platform and taking part in an incredible tonal training lab in New York. She's proof that you can train anywhere, anytime, and still lead with heart purpose and strength. So please help me welcome one of my amazing, amazing friends, the unstoppable. Leah. Hey Leah. Thank you so much for having me today, Katie. This is so fun. So I, I've just been wanting to get you on the podcast because I know we've been talking about a lot with, like, we did the tonal, um, meetup the first time, the first time go around when we first met in person. And then we did the tonal training lab, and there's been so much that you've been a part of, of tonal, so I'm excited to get into that kind of chitchat. But first we'll do some little sprinkle to kind of break the ice kind of questions. So we're, we'll do five of them. We'll do five of'em. So, all right, let's go. All right, so if your tonal could talk, what do you think it would say to you after you do a workout? Depends which day, because on a booty day would look at me like, what just happened? Let, let's go with a booty day because that's your favorite day. So what would tonal say to you after an epic booty day? It would tell me that I need two days off after that. Okay. I'm exhausted. That's funny. That's funny. That's great. That's my high volume day. I love it. I love it. So I've always wondered this because I'm very, I'm a Taurus, so I love Music Chorus, Emily. Yes. So what song during, let's Go With Leg Day. Let's Stick With Leg Day. Instantly gets you to like lift that pr or literally like. Hip thrust to the clouds per se. Hip thrust. I mean, I am a classic rock girl all the way, so I can't use any of my own music in my classes, which is annoying. But I, I'd have to say like Freebird, have you hip thrust to Freebird? No. No. Do it. I dunno. That song wakes me up. I'm like, let's go. That's so great. That's like me and that Celine Dion song When I do the X-Men, it's, it's kind of like that. I, I, I, I'll I did that for you the one time. I'm like, I'm gonna try this out. Just embrace it Bryce. I will, I will try, I will try the uh, free bird.'cause Joe Joe's a big, huge free bird fan, so that's usually good taste. Good taste. Yeah. So free bird on a hip thrust. All right, everybody note that down. Don't knock it. I want everyone reporting back and be like, yeah, please. It's coming from the glute queen. So we gotta make that noted that we all try hip thrusting to free bird when they get into that guitar in the chorus. Just like, just go with it. It's beautiful. I love it. I only thought this because it came on the other day when I was doing it. Oh my gosh, you're so funny. You're so funny. I, I already know this answer to this question. Would you rather have, oh, you know what? I'm gonna switch it up. I'm gonna switch it up because I already know the answer, but I'm gonna make it tough on you. Oh, boy. Okay. Would you rather have a heavy leg day or a heavy back day? Day? No. I actually hate leg day. So, because I'm obsessed with booties like everyone thinks. I love leg day, hate leg day. So when I program for myself, if it's gonna be a three week, like three a week, leg day, it's gonna be a quad heavy, hammy heavy, and then just glute, just straight up, isolate the glutes. That's the day I love. But other than that, back day, back day, best day. Back day, day. I mean, what is it about that good pull? Like I just like gimme rows all day anytime. You know, my, my upper body self loves to hear that, you know, that that is my number one. Like for my birthday, I think I made a back in booty day. I am like, what do I wanna do for my birthday back in Booty? And we just went back and forth and we just come. That's an interest. That's a very interesting combo back in booty. It's kind of brutal. Because it's all posterior, but like it's just for fun. Like it was just for fun. How well does your lats handle that? I mean, that's a lot. Well, so when I isolate my booty, I'm not using a lot. A lots, so I'm not doing T Oh, so you're just doing glute, so you're just doing glute focus? Yeah, like true. Isolate the glute. So it's actually very little lats, no quads, very little hammies kind of thing. Ah, because I was gonna be smart. When you wanna train like five days a week, you know you're gonna burn out. So. That's inter Yeah, because I can't, like on leg days, if I have a, like a heavy leg day heavy quad and I have to hit it back leg and back, I always give a rest day in between.'cause Yeah, you can't, it's brutal. Those lots are working on a good leg day. All right, so, well this is our last sprinkle question. I have many of these stories and I don't know if you do, but what is the weirdest or funniest thing that has happened while you were working out? So why I don't use the camera a lot. I'm worried they're spying on me, but oh my God, I'm clumsy and after I'm tired. So me getting out of the, the position that I'm in for a lot of these lifts, it's not graceful. So I just think like me ending any heavy lift move would probably be hilarious to anybody else in the room. Like, I've had so many of those oopsies like pulling my hair out by the rope or like, oh my God. Like every time, like I have to position it very carefully'cause I do that nonstop and then the rope almost pulling my pants off. You know, that kind of thing. Oh, it hasn't happened to me yet. But you know what the funny thing is is when I posted about that, like five or six people messaged me and they're like the rope of death. That is so funny. Yeah.'cause it gets me up top a lot, but Oh my God. And then when you're doing the crunch, the rope crunch every time, like, I'm just gonna lose some hairs. They're gonna be in there. It is. What? It's, I'm bald. It's pulled from back. No one's seeing it. It's fine. Oh my gosh. All right, so I, there's many things that I'm interested to hear about you, but you know, and I'm sure the listeners are gonna be interested to hear your story also. So I want you to kind of take this time to like introduce yourself. You know, talk about your fitness journey, talk about, you know, your, um, what inspired you to start being a personal trainer and, uh, just, you know, kind of go from there. So just kind of like, tell us about Leah. All right. So I actually, I love getting into this because I had everything. I won't curse on your podcast, but like, just you can, you can hold that. Can I ask backwards? Yeah, you're fine. Out. I had been working out consistently since high school through college, and I was just like, sorry, you're gonna, you're gonna cringe. I'm gonna say it. I was chasing, being thin and toned. I was that girl for a very long time, a decade or so before I learned the ways. But that's why like now, when I hear girls say that, like I know a lot of personal trainers, they're like so irked by that word toned. And it drives them crazy when they're like, I'm coming to be thin and I get it because I was that girl. So I'm never gonna judge you because you know what? Like most of us were that girl. We've learned and we've grown. But I was, I was that girl for a long time. I was a little heavier than I was now. I was fluffy and I just was very bothered by my appearance in the mirror. And I was obsessed for like a long time, like longer than I'd like to admit. And that was such a big part of my self-worth for so. Long and like I look back on that and that's what makes me cringe. Like not the word tone, not I wanna work out to be thin, but that that was me for such a long time and I let that, like my world revolve around that for such a long time. That number on the scale, that size on the pair of pants and just like the muffin top hanging over. And until I had kids, that was really me. I was doing all of the cardio. I didn't wanna lift heavy,'cause I didn't wanna get bulky. Just cr, it's fine. Cringe, right? And guess what? I spent about a decade working out like that and I looked exactly the same. So that's why I love being a trainer. That's why I became a trainer. I'm like. This isn't working. Let me actually learn what works. Let me understand the science behind all of this. So I started getting into that, like right when I was pregnant with my first son, and I had all this terrible back pain and I was achy and I was just really uncomfortable. So after I had him, Michael was just like, all of a sudden I didn't care about being thin anymore. I didn't care about my weight. It was, you know, like, you know what you look like after you have a baby? Yes. It's what it's. And all of a sudden I didn't care. It just, I had this big mental shift and I just, like, all I cared about was this little guy that I was holding, and I just wanted to be the best person for him. I didn't wanna be skinny. I wanted to be strong. I wanted to be able to hold him. I wanted to be able to play with him. I wanted to lift him up. I wanted to carry him around without my back being tired. So I, there was my shift. All of a sudden I was like, okay, I wanna be stronger. I need stronger legs. I need a stronger back so I can be a better mom. And that's when I got into strength training. And ironically, what happens when you consistently strength train? I started losing weight. Surprise, surprise. Oh, cardio. It was too much. I've always had a very busy life. I was a teacher before I was a trainer. I'm always on my feet running around, not enough sleep. And I was inflamed. And the cardio was only making it worse, is what I learned when I finally learned. So you were, you were a teacher before? I was. I was an art teacher for. Six years before I had Asher. I didn't know that. Okay. So, so, so Leo, like you can draw and paint. Not so well. It was more the photography. So I love, I did, I did love all those things too. Was I especially talented? No, and I think that's part of what made me a great art teacher because I was teaching these kids like, you don't have to have that natural skill. It's all about your creative, your interpretation to these different projects and elementary art. Like that was, I loved it until I became a mom, and then it was just like it was taking me away from my baby and I just. The drops at the daycare and the crying every day. Like I knew I couldn't do that anymore. Mm-hmm. And during all this time when I had him and I was starting to train more and I started looking into getting a certification,'cause I just was already learning all of this anyway for myself. And then that was great because then when I had my second, I could stay home and I could just be a trainer. So I was training, they were keeping, I was training when they were napping. My mom would help me once a week and I was able to. Private train and be there. So I took a long leave from work. I never went back. I love that. I, I mean, I'm a stay at home mom, so I, I know how it is, you know, it's like I didn't know, I didn't even want kids, so I didn't know how much I was gonna love them until I had them. You know, when you're at home, you never miss a beat. You never miss a moment. You're just like, you know, you, you can, you can still have you be your, you know, own, you know, go after your own personal goals mm-hmm. And stuff like that, but at the same time, you can be there for all those amazing moments. Yeah, I kind of had both experiences, so I went right back to work with my oldest. I know what that's like. And then I stayed home with my youngest, and I think that was a really good balance because staying home with Asher and missing him and just all that guilt like made me appreciate being home with Ethan. And so all those days, like, you know, it's not easy, especially when there's two of them and they're so close in age. Like that was a rough two years, but anytime I was like, I don't think I can do this anymore. I'm like, well, I could be at work, I could be missing it all. I remember what that was like. And then I just take a deep breath, go into the bathroom for a couple minutes, you know?'cause sometimes it gets wild and you just need to breathe. That's so true. And you know, once there's two you're outnumbered. Yeah. And like, you know, when they lose it, they usually both lose it at the same time. So that was fun. They both lose it, but it's just grateful to be there with them. And I know like, you know, those are moments I can never get back. So do you prefer,'cause uh, you train at a gym now, right? Do you prefer? Do you like when you were training like privately bef when you first started, did you enjoy doing that more or did you enjoy working in the gym more now? It's like, I just think everything in my life works out the way it's meant to because I love that at the time. Mm-hmm. But there's something like the energy of a group fitness class and just like having a blast with everyone. It's like I get to go to work every day and just hang out with my friends and laugh and party, and I get paid for it. Like it's, it's the best job. Like it's the highlight of my day is my classes. So I definitely prefer the classes over the private training now, but if you asked me before, I would've said the opposite. How long have you been at that gym? Five years and change five years and change Wow. A little baby from nothing to what it is now. That's crazy. So I, I know like with when you got your tonal, when did you decide to add that into your rotation? I was at that point where I was starting to outgrow just the dumbbells and I just, I didn't have the time to get to the gym. Forget like actually paying for a membership, but it was a big time issue for me. I had this very, very limited window. I'm always giving up sleep to work out,'cause like, especially with my kids younger than they are now, they're. Was no time for me in the day, and I know a lot of moms can relate to that. Not even moms, just working women. It is hard to find time for you. So I had to make it really early in the morning and the time it would've taken me to drive to the gym and back and get settled. I would have no time left to out. So I was looking for a cable machine for home, and I had never heard of tonal. Tonal. You guys, you got out the advertising. I don't know. Nobody knows what you are or that you exist. They do because AIA and I, but when I like, oh, this is interesting. This is actually cheaper than a full cable machine. Like, still very expensive, but I was like, I can do this over a couple of years. And I, I told my husband about it that he bought it. Oh my gosh, that's so funny. You know, speaking of your husband, I'm glad you brought up your husband because I had a story like, well yesterday I was out in public, my introvert itself went out in the wild and I was driving and I was going, going to park, and I look over to my left and there was a big, huge pickleball. And I was like, I immediately thought of your husband. I was like, because Aaron asked me all the time, she's like, what does Leah's husband do? I was like, well, he likes to do pickleball. Yeah. Even you like, that's all he does. I'm trying so hard now to make him,'cause he will only gimme two days. Under 30 minutes. That's what he has limited me to because he has just stopped strength training. And I'm like, bro, you're an injury waiting to happen. Like as your wife, this is physically painful to watch. I'm like, you have to strength train a little, a little. And he said, two days, 20 minutes. Like I cannot work with, that's time. So I'm still, I, I'm making him a little program called Pickle Power. There you go. You know, I'm surprised Tonal has does his bare minimum, like just to have some strength on his body. I'm surprised Tonal hasn't come out with a pickleball program. Maybe we need to make that note. Maybe. Maybe that's another thing that we could add to the list because they have golfing. Yeah, that's pickleball is just where out. Everyone is obsessed right now. Everybody loves pickleball. Yeah, so I'm trying,'cause like I know the way he moves as a pickleball player, I know where he needs the strength and really I'm just trying to build some muscle. So that he doesn't have hurt. There you go. No rolling ankles. We want strong ankles. Yeah. So I've been playing around with this one for a minute. It, it's, but that's what I love about programming'cause it's like this puzzle that I wanna solve. And I used to love that in math, in school. So, so that, so that they give you an objective and then I'm like, okay, we're gonna make this happen. We're gonna get to you there. We're definitely gonna get into your programming skills here in a moment because I, there was something big that happened on Tonal that you got to do. Um, but one thing I like as, as a personal trainer and somebody that may be like looking into tonal, what do you think is like one of the best advantages of tonal that you think people should be taken advantage of or do you think that they should know about? Honestly, as a personal trainer who trains people on the tonal occasionally, the rep counting and the tracking, the weights and the little intervals, like the way you're going up, and little like, that's a game changer as a personal trainer because number one, like. It's hard as you get stronger to make that five, 10 pound jump to the next set of dumbbells, or even on a traditional cable machine. And the fact that I can just like one pound this week, another pound next week, and then you know what? You don't even notice that it's heavier and it's such a safe way to get stronger. I love that. And then the counting the reps, because like when I'm training someone, I'm literally like, I have my hand by my side and I'm like talking to them. So I'm like this, I'm like, I'm just like trying to track the reps. I'm like, okay, you're good because like, that's not their problem. That's my problem. That's why I'm getting paid. Oh my gosh, that's so funny. I'm like, let's just hang. It's counting for me. So, so I got a question for you because it, it happens to me. Do you ever like. You're, you're counting in your head. Say you're facing away from tonal and you're counting in your head and you're, you know, doing whatever, and you're counting and you look over a tonal and they're like three or four shy of reps and you're like, you dunno how to count tonal. Yeah. I swear on those decline fives. Like, every time I'm like, bro, I did 10. Like, why are you not giving the ding. I'm just like, come on. I know that was, I do that all the time. And I'm like, I'm like, Katie, you don't know how to count so you, you're wrong. And I'm like, I know. I, I counted it. Yeah. I'm not exaggerating when I say that is the hardest part. The trainer is the. I don't know what I would do. I would be like, I'm a space cadet, so I I, I don't even, I would probably end up doing like a hundred reps by the time I finished because I'd be like, did I do that right? Did I do that? I used to, and I still do it when I'm lifting with the dumbbells and like, you know what? I'm at the point now where I'm like, whatever. If I did the reps, I didn't. I'm gonna go until I feel like I could only go one or two more depending on how I'm training in that phase, but I'm just like, that's the better way. Anyway, there you go. All right, so this is something I've been exec this gonna gonna get it, get it, get into some of our topics about your personal experiences that you've had with tonal. And the first one being you getting to write a, like a class, a chest, and back three way. Right? Class and Joe getting to do it, and you got to go to the tonal studio and this whole experience, how was it and how did it, how does it make you feel when you see a class that you programmed on tonal on a large prop platform like that? Man, that that month it came out. I think we face hurt. I did not stop smiling, but I'll never forget. I remember seeing that email when they're like, we're gonna have this contest. And all of us, like me and the kids and Elon, we were just sitting around in the living room and I show'em this. I'm like, I'm winning this. Like I told, like, you know, like programming is my heart and soul and like all they wanna, like when I do the. Programs with a coach. Like I'm just like, I want my programming, but I want them coaching me and like I've been dreaming about that since I got a tonal. So when I saw that contest, I was like. We're gonna make this happen. And the funny thing is the one that won, I didn't even write for the contest that was just part of a program I was doing at the time. So it was called Chest and Back three Ways and it was part of two chest and back workouts I had in a program where I was just like looking to really round out my chest and back'cause I'd been neglecting them. So I was doing that program for like three months, different rep schemes and it, like, I had gotten some good results from it, like I was really happy with my growth and I keep going back to it, like since I've repeated that program myself a couple times. So that's half of the chest and back day, but it's just, it's pretty solid. It's well-rounded, but not the one I expected to win. I was so like, I was so excited for you and that the fact that Joe got to do it, I was like chest and back, J Joe and Leo and then Joe. I mean Joe was my coach at the time, like my first year on tonal. I didn't take programs. I took like that Tony one just to start out'cause I liked him, but like, you know, I was very like doing my own thing. I'm very like anal when it comes to my training. But then Joe's programming was so similar to how I program, like Power Build is so similar to how I work out. So I'm like, okay, I'm gonna try this. I loved it. Loved it. Mm-hmm. So Power Build one, two, and then I went into HOV and that's just like, I'm like, okay, I'll give these coaches a chance. It was just like,'cause like when you posted that video of like you in the studio and then like Joe's there and you guys are doing pushups next to each other, I was just like, yeah, nothing's better than being so excited for your friend to do something so incredible that you know, that like, it's just like when you know when people work so hard for something and then something like really special happens for them, you're just like, the joy is just spilling. That's what I love about you because that's who you are to the community. Like I know like everybody's wins are Katie's wins. Like I've never met somebody who's like so dedicated to everyone else and like wants to see them shine. Like you are the ultimate cheerleader in that group and we all love you. Like, just so you know.'cause I think you know. In case you feelings mutual. Feelings mutual. But I had love you man, that you Well, you know, I love a, a chest day. I am chesty all day. Um, but we should do, maybe we should do a chest and back three-way, 2.0 and we can add some pushups in there. Oh, do I? Got you. See, that's the thing. It was a partner workout. So like that's one of two chest and back days. The other one's got your pushup. Okay, so, so yeah, like between the two. But that was the only thing that was funny about all this. It was like half of this puzzle and the two fit together. I love it. So maybe I got that other one. So if anybody needs it, so we need, we need to make a note to tonal that we need a 2.0. Yeah. They need a 2.0. And then it's just like the way these two workouts work together, it's just a beautiful thing. I gotta say it's some of my best work. So, so how, how long Total had. How long total have you been on Tonal? That is a mouthful. Four years. If only. We had gotten it before COVID. I wish. But like right after COVID, we got our tonal. That would've been great to have. So you've always been a part of the tonal community for the past like four years. Mostly, yes. That first year, not quite as much because I really just looked at it as a machine and I didn't understand the power of the community. I don't even know if I joined the OTC when I first got it. I just don't remember. But if I did, I wasn't in there. And I have to give you a lot of credit for why I started going in because it was you that I noticed. And just the way that you're lifting everybody up and you're supporting everyone. And I was like, this is really a great community. Like this is unlike anything else on Facebook. And now I'm gonna go back on Facebook just for this community. And you were a big part of that. So I'm gonna give credit where credit's due because, and I wanna be like Katie, I wanna make other people feel how she makes me feel. And you know what's so great? You know what's funny? So here's a story. Okay? So we did, we did the fast track. With to, with tonal. And we, you know, got an opportunity to go and I got to meet Leah for the first time in person. But how our whole friendship started was, um, we got, I got picked to go and I was like, I, I wanna meet people. Like I wanna know who's going so we can start chitchatting, so we can plan dinner, so we can plan all this stuff. And I was just like, so I'm asking everybody, are you going, are you going? Then somebody messaged me. And said, Hey, Leah's going. And I was like, oh. I'm like, okay, I'll find her on Instagram. We were already following each other, like before this ever came up. And I'm like, dude, we're already friends. Okay. So I was like, I messaged Leah and I was like, girl, we're both gonna be there. And then you said the lurker, you said? Yeah. That was funny. I didn't post, I just lurk. She's like, Katie, I've been lurking your page. You're so inspired. And I'm just like, dude, we're gonna be, we're just gonna be, we're gonna be best of friends. No, I have to say also like, that was a crazy day. I don't, what was it? Something happened that day and I was like, oh, I can't go. This is too much. And I was like, no, I gotta be Katie. That was, I'm like, Ilan, this is your problem. That was such an e, like as fast as it went by, like the ca, like it just went by too fast. But it was like, it was so it, it was a de like, I would say a picture perfect of like the tonal community and like the people were there, you know, like Tamika and Mo, and you know, our little group was formed. I know by that. It's so cool. And then like, yeah, the, we still talk every day now. Like I just love it. Like this community is everything. It's just so next level and it's just like that was the magic of the tonal lab. Like I loved every, that's why I kept going every weekend. I was like, I don't know how the heck I found the time reflecting on it. I'm like, how did I make it to the city? Like literally every weekend for like six weeks. But I did because I just wanted to meet everybody. I love that for you, that you got to, now we're gonna, we're you are like flowing right into this. We are going right into the tonal training lab talk and I'm excited to talk about it because I was there too. Oh my God. That was special times. So since you got to go to a lot more, uh, classes and a couple were different styles of what, you know, I pretty much took the same class four different times. I think pretty much same for me, but I went to like two of the special ones that were like the program. Cool. All right, so let's talk, let's talk about your, your experience at the Tonal Training Lab. My experience really was the community. Yes, it was incredible to meet the coaches in person, but I just feel like, I don't know, I maybe like being a trainer, being in that world. It's just like, I love coaches, but I love the people. Like that's what it's about for me. So like for me, I was just so excited to go and meet. Everybody and everybody was there a different week. And there were some people like, especially like just people you've been chatting with and supporting and like, you know, back and forth online for like a year, two, three years. And for us all to come together, it was just special. It was like nonstop smiles. It wasn't about the workouts.'cause you know me, I was doing my own thing. I was in there like lowering the dials.'cause I was like, can't do Le did that yesterday. Whatever. Yep. We were about the workout. I was there a hundred percent for the people. It was, it was so special. Like it just like. I don't know. It it, it just showed. Yes, you can see it on like the internet, but it's totally different when you're in the room with these people when you are, you know, getting to talk to them in person and hug them and squeeze them and, you know, chase around, burn your face off coffee and. Speed. Walking through New York, getting lost? No. Next time we gotta find you, I'm gonna research like I'm gonna find the hottest coffee in New York City. We're gonna get your face off. Don't understand New Yorkers and the coffee. I just don't like all of them at me. Like, like here. Just like everyone's like suing each other. So I think they're afraid if it's really hot and it actually burns your skin, it leaves a mark. You know? Like now your business is closing. I don't know. But I was just like, I'm like, this isn't even like lukewarm. Like, come on, like can we heat it up? And they look at me like, what? Just bring me steam water. Next time I'll bring like a flask of boiling water. There you go. So for all the tonal training lab classes that you were there, um, what was the most unforgettable like moment, um, you know, maybe a class or a coach said something to you? What is something that made you like, oh my gosh, I can't wait to do this again. It was like literally every workout in every class, like the trainers are just like the best people on the planet. Like this is a special crew that they found. And then just like every class, I got to meet someone different, but if I had to pick like one coach Akeem, if there's ever a tonal lab in the future, you all have to take his class like this. Man, I, I hope he had a nap after this class. So quick on everybody around this room. I have seen nothing like it. Like he motivated me as a trainer. I'm like, I just wanna be like you when I grow up. Like he was like hands on jumping, flying around this room, making everyone feel like they were the only ones there. And then I hit my, my 9 million with him there. So that was cool. So that was, that was so awesome. Every last class, but like, so happy that I, I squeezed one in with him because. He's just like next level, like you think he's got energy on the screen, you gotta see this minute person. Totally true. Like I. Definitely like this one coach I'm missing a picture with. Um, because, you know, when we were went the first time, it was so exciting that Yeah, you just forget. Like, you just forget. So it's just like, you know, and I didn't get to take a class with him when I went to the total training lab, but like hugging Akeem makes the world. Stop. Like it makes you just like, he's just one of those people that he hugs you and you're just like, you forget everything else around you, and you're just like, you're such, I love you. You know? He's, I mean, like, you can't not smile around him. No. Right, dude. Yeah. He is like, um, like I keep, you know, always leaving like tonal notes and stuff like that. Like I am like begging for like a muscle building program, kind of like, you know, power build. Yeah. You know, you know, uh, like a, in like, I mean, he's huge. He, he needs a muscle building program. Like now. Yes. That came from somewhere. Yes. And we know its the energy, like he has proven that. And then some lift. Let's go to those low wraps. Very, yes, low wraps. Plan program. Throw on a little hypertrophy. I'll take it. So in your whole, like let's say training journey on tonal, let's look at the whole big picture. What event? Do you think like, kind of like changed you as a trainer, changed you in your own, like personal training? Um, what is one thing that has like made something better or made you better? Um, with tonal. That's a good, like picking one thing I don't think I can do. I think it's just a lot of little nuggets are along the way. Even just like taking a class and a coach just says something in a way. I never thought of it and I was like, oh, that's really a good way to break down this move. Things like that. Like I think one of them, one thing I learned from one of the coaches was putting the back of your calves against the bench to help people with RDL. That helped me so much as a trainer. I didn't do that before and that unlocked R DLS for so many people I trained. So I just love all these little nuggets, like one little thing you didn't expect to get out of a class, but that's why I like the lives. And if I can get in one, it's cool because you never know what you're gonna learn. That is true. All right. This is probably one of my favorite parts because this is like, I, I absolutely live vicariously through you is when you are traveling with your family and you are, you are like, like a, like, you feel me on my anxiety because I know when we were going to New York, you had everything planned out for me and I was like, oh my gosh, everything's gonna be fine. She knows the restaurant, she knows this, she knows that everything's gonna be totally fine. So in your traveling with your family and you know, juggling, you know, your work life, your husband's work life, all this other stuff, how is it that, like you guys go to the most amazing places and we're also jealous of it? And also, what is your, what is the best place or favorite place that you've had, like a memorable family moment in your travels that you've guys done? We are definitely like, that's one thing we connected on. My husband and I, we love to travel, we love exploring. We like just filling our eyeballs with new places. I love anything nature, like hiking in the most remote whack. I don't care. I'm like, find a hike and we'll take it. But then like getting the kids on board has been really fun. But for us, like a big part of travel is the food and our kids are kind of stinkers when it comes to eating. So that was like the one negative, like we just said, taking them to Spain, which was. Amazing. But the food man, they're, they're tough. So I wouldn't say the food with'em, but, oh, let's see. We went, what was this place called? I think the El, the elephant thing was pretty cool. When you guys went to the Elephant sanctuary. Oh no. For me and my husband, that was the highlight, but we didn't take the kids, so we went to Thailand. That was just Oh, that's right. But otherwise, yes, for sure. I mean, that whole trip, that trip I had been planning for over a year. So our thing is my husband will find the flights. And the hotels and he just like, he'll tell me to start a credit card. He'll tell me what to charge on it. And I'm like,'cause I know it's gonna be a trip. There you go. There you go. I love it. You're able to save money for activities and food because we won't take a trip until we have the miles to like get the free flight and the free hotel. Which is a huge help'cause traveling is expensive. But uh, this last one we went to this place, I think it's called Serra. I'm probably saying it wrong. And the whole thing was like, it was this epic on top of a mountain. You're gonna take this hike and see just like the most amazing views we got there and it was fog. And I'm talking like you could not see four feet in front of you. And this is why I love my family.'cause like we had the one day there, right? And it was all about the views and we could see. Nothing. And I mean like literally nothing. So we're there for hours. We have nothing. We still did the hike, like that's like, I love them because we'll just whatever it is what it is, we'll make the most of it. We're like, maybe it'll clear when we get to the top. No, we walked up like an hour's worth of stairs straight up to the top of this mountain. We saw nothing, so we're just laughing. But when we got down like that last 30 minutes before we had to leave and head back. The clouds cleared. So we did get to see it for a little bit, not on top of the mountain, but just like that one day like Elon and I were reflecting and it's just like we did something right with these kids because it's like no matter what happens, no matter how backwards things go, like we just always have the best time together. And I think with traveling, you kind of have to be like, fly at the seat of your pants because nothing is ever gonna. Oh my God. Because yeah, when we took them the summer before, we went to Costa Rica, which was great, and it was an epic trip. And then we get to the airport and we have an overnight flight that never takes off for two days. So we at like three in the morning are in a swarm of people trying to get cars to the same hotel. We're waiting in this hotel for two hours to get a room, and we have to be back at the airport at six in the morning. So we had like two hours by the time we get checked in and our kids were just like. We'll sleep on the floor because we sussed out on the floor while we're waiting for a room. We throw one over the shoulder also while I work out.'cause this was like a year ago and they're heavy now and we just lop them in the bed like, but they just, they go with everything. They're just a pleasure to travel with. So. And boys are easy to travel. That's what I hear. I think boys are easier than girls. Yeah. They really like, they're just very adaptable and they're just like, I lose it before they do usually. So. Credit for that. All right, so I've got some, some good feel questions to kind of wrap this up. So I, this is, you know, let's get into some like how Leah would inspire, like some words of encouragement. What advice for women that you feel that you didn't get when you trained or when you started your journey that you would want other women to hear from you. A big thing when I'm training anyone new. Is asking them, what are your goals? And by that I mean not like I wanna grow this or I wanna do this like, like the why I guess is a big thing. So just understanding, like I want people to get to the root of the real reason why they want a certain goal. So if you're gonna tell me you want. For me, like let's be honest, it's a booty. Why? What is that gonna benefit you like? I like to go into like what this is going to bring to your life, I guess, and make it less about the physical. Like how is this going to give you better endurance? How is this gonna make you a better mom? How is this gonna make you a better wife? How is it going to make your life more enjoyable? I really like people to like connect with that. True. Why not just like that, why we throw out at the beginning of a program, but like really understand. Why is it that you wanna do this? Because if you have that strong why that'll carry you through on the days you don't feel like it. So not thinking of the aesthetic goals Yeah. To get away, like that's a big thing for me in general because that was something I did wrong for such a long time. So even now, like even thinking like I'm not, I try to stay away from size period being smaller or being bigger. Mm-hmm. I wanna be stronger. Right. Will that make the muscles bigger? Yes, but I don't want that to be the focus. I want you to focus on being able to push past something, getting that first pull up, getting that first pushup, then getting more. But just like what will that strength give you instead of the aesthetics? Right. Right. And I think that that's, like, that's one thing with me.'cause I give people a lot that talk about like my size and I said, you, you know, at the same time, yes, I have a bigger size, but I said there's also women that are stronger than me, that are a lot smaller than me. Um, you know, take Casey for example, she can pump out way more pull-ups than I ever could. Casey can, you know, she's. She's a batty and she, she's a runner. So that, that does, I'm, I'm primarily bo you know, strength building and muscle building, and she's a freaking strongest as shit, you know? So I said, it's just, you know, I think that's like sometimes when, you know, kind of goes back to that like, you know, I wanna be the smallest version of myself and like how you're talking about like, being looking at the strongest and like how we talk about like the functional strength part of it. Strength and mobility. Those are my big goals. And that's another thing too. Like we all have so many goals. Would I love to have great endurance and also be a yogi and do all these other things? Yes. But I have to understand like I only have so much time and there's only so much my body can take. So we have to train in those phases, right? And we need to kind of hyper focus in on a couple goals at a time. And that's kind of like how I look at, for me, I look at Akeem and Joe because of how mobile they are and the size. That they are and they still prioriti prioritize exactly what you're talking about. Yeah. And for me, that was the game. Because for me, like when I got to the root of what is my real why for myself, it's how I feel and what I can do. I wanna never say no to my kids. And even now, like they are my size and bigger and I still wanna do all the things with them. And I still wanna be able to, like, they wanna wrestle, I wanna be able to take'em down, right? They're never winning. But then I also wanna feel good. I don't wanna wake up in the morning and be like, Ugh. Like I don't wanna be achy. Now that I'm in my forties and I feel great, I feel better than I did in my twenties. And I know mobility takes credit for that. So I try to prioritize my mobility just as much as I do strength. And that means endurance has gotta take a backseat. That means flexibility has to take a bit of a backseat.'cause I can only do so much. Right. And I think that's, I think that's another kind of message with tonal that I think we both can agree on is that they don't push the all over place haywire, um, multi over training, you know, focusing on so many different things. Like tonal is very, you know, straight line. And I respect and appreciate that, like you can tell that a lot of thought and planning is putting into these programs. It's not just random moves thrown together. Like there is a goal and the work makes sense for the goal, right? Because it's all about, because I love, I mean, I know some people complain about not being able to join, you know, multi programs, but for me as somebody that had. Had a history with over training, feeling like I don't do enough. That is that for me, when I first started out, that was needed. That was like so needed because you could easily, easily. Overtrain and do way too much doing multiple programs because you wanna do this with your friend and you wanna do this with that friend and it easily could get you back into trouble. And that's one thing, as a beginner, as somebody that when I first started on tonal, I'm thankful for that. They have that. Oh, a hundred percent. Like anytime that question comes up, I'm. I love you all and I know like in your mind, like you think this is best, but that's just like one of those things like there's, there's a lot of right ways to do things. Okay. There's not just one and like whenever people, that's another like thing that irks me a bit is when people are like, not this, it has to be this or that moves not good, this moves better. I'm like, actually, they're all wonderful. There's a lot of different paths that will all lead you to the same goal, but over training isn't one of those. Yeah, that is, that is. Like, I mean, because you know that when we talked about you had came from, you know, feeling like that and nothing's worse than feeling like that I for a long time. Yeah. More is better. No, it's not. And I, and then I think that's what you and I can sit here today and kind of be a voice to other women that you don't need to do more. You don't need to break yourself. You know, there, I mean, Leah has had, I mean, how many, how much are you deadlifting now? How many are ups? No. I wanna know how much you lift. I wanna know, because I know you hit a pr. So I did, uh, uh, those versa grips changed my life. I finally like, came to the dark side, you know? All right, I, the grip is good. The forearms are good, but yes. It was time and then the PRS just kept coming with a dead low, as Katie knows,'cause I'm so excited every time I get one and I said her, but I couldn't. I got to 1 45. I cannot get one 50. I tried. That bar was not moving. Not with my shoulders be. I love it. I love it. And that that's, we're gonna get that one 50 though. Not yet, but it's coming. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Hands down. That's coming because it's just like as soon as for me, when I started using the Versa grips, it's like I was the same way. I kind of felt like, oh my gosh, I'm not gonna build my grip strength, but now I can hold 90 in both hands without the Versa grips. So my grip over time, naturally got stronger because you can't just let the Versa grip, like, I mean, you gotta grip it. 90 pounds. You gotta grip that. Yeah, I mean, at those kinda wheats, like, I'm not using the Versa grips for anything under a hundred. So it's like, you know, minimum, even if I'm gonna do it on a handle move, it's gonna be well over 50. So. Like some point, you know, we need a little help. Yeah. I had, uh, Amy, because we had bicep, we had, uh, bicep moves the other day and I was telling her, I was like, you're gonna hit failure on your biceps and then you're gonna have to do the chin up. I said, you're gonna need your Versa grips. I was like, because you're gonna, you're, these are gonna hit fatigue first. So I had her use the chin up. She's like, girl, that was like game changer. That's, I never use them for a pull down move. Like, I'm always okay. Maybe I haven't gotten. To my full potential there and that's why. But yeah, the lift, the pulling from the ground, ho ho there's mul. You know, there's just, I think it's just all depends on like what, like moves your fatiguing and then sometimes you're gonna need that extra help to make sure that you're able to burn out and get those extra reps that you need to. Because sometimes my forearms or my, my grip, my hands are sweaty and there's just no way that I can hold onto the weight. So I have to use the versa of grips'cause I'll use. Yeah, it'll depend what it's paired with, you know, because that other fatigue, like I tend to do like a push pull day for upper body. Mm-hmm. So it's not like I'm doing two pulling moves in a row and maybe that's letting the grip recover a little bit. Yeah, that sounds good. All right, so last, last question, and this is the, this is the good one. What message do you want to leave for, for women that are navigating. Family, motherhood, work, fitness, and finding themselves again, what is a message that you would want to give to them? One message that was very hard for me to learn, but very important is that you have to, and I'm gonna say this like to everyone, you have to pour your own cup first. You are no good to your family. If you're burned out, you're no good at work, if you're burned out. So. I know. I know, but you have to take care of yourself first. It will make everything else better. I'm not saying be selfish. I'm not saying neglect everything else, but you are a person and you need to prioritize yourself. Even if it's 20 minutes a day, you need some time each day for you and for me, that is working out. But also give yourself grace because life is crazy and nobody's perfect, and that's okay. We're all human. I love that. Pour into your cup and then give yourself grace, because not every day is perfect because it's very easy to, I mean, it's easy to lose yourself in either which way if you put too much of something into one thing. And I think that's what like Joe talks about a lot is that, you know, fitness is not his only thing is like, fitness is not your only thing and not my only thing. Um, it's a part of it, but it enables us to be able to do the other things that we would like to do. And I think that's, you know, with you and your traveling and you want, you know, I mean, you wanna travel forever. I mean, it's, it's hard on the body to travel, and that's what it is. You make your fitness fit your life, okay? You're not working out for anyone else but yourself. So like, what are your priorities? What does your life look like? That's how you're finished. Should look to support your life. Not fight with it. Not fight with it. No, not fight with it. It should compliment it. There you go. Well, Leah, I thank you so much for sitting down with me today and answering all these wonderful questions. I'm sure everybody is just gonna like, send you so much love after this, but where can people find you or, you know, maybe your gym, uh, your socials, where can they find you? You have to come spend some time with me at FedEx 50 in Linbrook, New York. I would love nothing more than to have anyone in this community in my classes. It would absolutely make my entire week so Linbrook, FedEx 50. If you're in New York, hit me up. Even if you're in the city, the train station's right there. Every time I go into the city, I park at the gym. I don't pay for marketing because it's right there. I swear, 40 minutes into the city. And then I am not a big social media person outside Instagram, but I'm on Instagram. It's my name Leah Tuko of S-T-U-K-O-V, because no one knows how to spell that. Oh my gosh. You're so funny. And I, I think we, I think we do need to gear up the recipes on the social again. I love it. That's fair. I have been slacking. I really have not been posting to the grid. I love, I love the the Leah recipes. And the protein tries and stuff like that. I love that stuff. Oh, there's been a lot of fails lately. I think that's, that's with everybody because social. Because social media now, everything is like protein this and protein this, and you wanna try it and you're just like, mm. Oh, I tried. Oh, I eat it. Otherwise I send you a picture. One I made last night, this like yogurt chi bowl kind of concoction, just to try to have a good protein breakfast. The chia and the yogurt. Don't do it. That that was a mistake. The way recording it was like, don't chia seeds, like expand in your stomach or something. Oh, I don't know. I mean, it's still, actually, the taste was decent, I have to say. But I just, I had some blueberries, like I made some blueberries into jam, and then I just mixed that in with the yogurt and the chia seeds and I'm like, all right, let's see what this looks like in the morning. Yeah, I, I've, I've get like with everything with cottage cheese nowadays, I'm just like, there, there like, there's some like cheese. It makes, you know, perfectly good reason to use it for like a pasta or something like this. But don't tell me brownies with cottage cheese. I want the real thing. You know what? I would try it. If you have that recipe, God, Leah. Like worst thing, it doesn't work out so funny. I'll try it. I I'll eat some gnarly things just'cause I hate wasting food, but I won't wake them again. That's so funny. That would be, that would be great. So we, we need to get like the, the protein trials going again and like sharing protein recipes again. Yeah. Maybe I should share that more.'cause I have been trying, I just haven't been succeeding. So no one wants to eat what I've been making lately, but if I stumble across anything Good, I'll share it. Yeah, definitely. So you guys, make sure you check out Leah on her Instagram and you know, if you're in the New York area, go see her at her gym. She would love to have you. And Leah, thank you. Thank you, thank you. Thank you again for sitting down with me today. This is strength and numbers and I'll see you guys next time.