The Truth About Fitness Over 40 (It’s Not Cardio) + The Mindset That Changes Everything | Lydia Magnoli

If you’ve ever felt like it’s “too late” to feel strong again this episode will change your perspective.

In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by Lydia Magnoli, founder of The Magnoli Method a movement helping women (especially 40+) reconnect with their bodies, rebuild strength, and rewrite the narrative that aging means decline.

Lydia’s story is real: she got sober at 24, walked away from a secure career as a school psychologist, and built her business rep by rep through consistency, boundaries, and deep self-trust. This isn’t just about workouts. It’s about the woman you become when you stop abandoning yourself and start showing up especially when life feels uncomfortable.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Lydia’s rock bottom and sobriety journey (and how it changed everything).
• Why fitness over 40 doesn’t need to be complicated and what actually works.
• The hidden reasons women hold onto weight (trauma, nervous system, fear of being seen).
• How to stop using food, over-exercising, or people-pleasing as coping mechanisms.
• The mindset shift that builds real strength: train your mind first, the body follows.
• Boundaries, self-worth, and why “no” is a complete sentence
  What rising really means after a breakup, grief, and reinvention
  Lydia’s upcoming book, live events, and how she’s becoming “hope in human form”.

If you’re in your 40s (or heading there) and you’ve been told “this is just what happens” more weight, less energy, more aches Lydia is here to remind you: that narrative is not the truth.

If this conversation landed for you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us because we rise together in community.

🎧 Connect with Lydia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lydia.magnoli/

https://www.instagram.com/themagnolimethod/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LydiaMagnoli

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LydiaMagnoli724 

Join the Youtube Sculpt Squad Here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Oqg5y5LBLLjpLZpmUt2qA/join

App: The Magnoli Method
Website: lydiamagnoli.com

If you felt something shift inside you today… hold that. Honor it.

This is how we rise — one choice, one voice, one brave breath at a time.

If you’re ready to go deeper, download your free ARISE Activation Workbook at www.arisewithanita.com

Email: Anita@arisewithanita.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arisewithanita/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anita.karadalian.7 

Linkldn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anita-karadalian-girgis-23362b335/f

And if this message landed in your soul, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a woman who’s done playing small.

Because we don’t just rise alone — we rise together.

I’ll see you in the next episode. 

Transcript

Meet Lydia Magnoli’s Mission

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Like the vibe, but it's not Valentine's Day.

SPEAKER_01 0:04

I was gonna bring you your gift. It's okay. I'll see you. I'll see you on Thursday. What does it get? Why am I getting a gift? Oh, it's part one of my gift. Oh. Thank you. So today on the Rise with Anita podcast, I'm sitting down with the kind of woman who leads with grace, grit, and grounded wisdom. A woman who knows that the real strength isn't about how much weight you lift. It's about the stories you lay down and the ones you decide to rise with. Meet Lydia Magnoly. She walked from a secure walked away from a secure career as a school psychologist, not because she was running from something, but because she was running towards something greater. After years of helping others navigate their mental and emotional landscapes, something was calling her to explore a different kind of transformation. The one that happens when women reconnect with their bodies, reclaim their strength, rediscover what they're truly capable of. What I love about Lydia's journey is that it isn't about perfection or some dramatic before and after. It's about the courage to listen to the voice inside that said, There's more for you. And she followed it. Into building the Magnoli method, a movement rooted in self-trust, body awareness, and feminine power. Her mission isn't just to sculpt bodies, it's to help women over 40 remind themselves that their best chapters aren't behind them. They're being written right now, rep by breath, breath by breath. Through her online studio, her signature app and now her live event and an upcoming book. Lydia invites women to come home to themselves, stronger, softer, and more alive than ever before. This isn't just about workouts or sculpted arms. It's about the woman you become when you know how to show up for yourself consistently, when you prove to yourself that you're worth the effort. When you realize your body isn't the enemy, it's your greatest ally. Because Lydia, for Lydia, fitness isn't just a goal, it's the gateway to remembering who you really are. So welcome to the show, Lydia.

SPEAKER_00 2:18

Wow. Oh my I have chills. That was amazing. Thank you. Wow. So grateful to be here. That was beautiful. Well, I'm so here. Your words just like touch my soul. That was beautiful. Thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 2:32

Well, firstly, I'm so grateful that you're here. As you know, we've really connected all over the place with just everything from talks about boundaries to weight loss. I feel like I've really resonated with your story, and I'm so excited to be able to just dive in with you. Awesome. So forth. I always start off the podcast with a simple question. What is currently bringing you joy in this season? Though I think I have the answers.

SPEAKER_00 2:58

Ooh, I love this question. Let's start with joy. Joy and gratitude are two very near and dear values in my life that I believe a successful life is finding pockets of joy daily. So my day-to-day is like I have joy throughout the day. So I'm not waiting for joy in like a far-off land, like, oh, next month, waiting for something to happen or

Joy, Gratitude, And Everyday Wins

SPEAKER_00 3:20

putting it off. Like I find joy in the current moment. And right now, joy is I'm getting to see a lot of people I love this week. I'm in New York doing amazing, you know, wonderful things like being here on this podcast. I just taught my first live in-person class at the Barishnikov Arts Center, which was like a dream come true. I spent time with my mom and my sister. I'm just getting to do a lot of wonderful things that are bringing me a lot of joy.

SPEAKER_01 3:45

Love it.

SPEAKER_00 3:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:47

And also the fact that we're doing this in New York. Yeah. Can you believe it? Yeah. I mean, we had talks about LA, but it didn't pan out. And I think it's so much better. Yeah. The energy is just a different vibe. So I want you to go ahead and take us back to the moment when you knew something had to change, which was kind of your rock bottom moment, or what was your awakening?

SPEAKER_00 4:11

Okay. And which awakening? Because I feel like, you know, I just turned 46 in July and I've had a string of different awakenings in different areas of my life. So I can talk about the one that my biggest bottom was when I was 24 and I stopped drinking. That was back in 2004. I had, I started drinking at 13, and right from the get-go, it was just like a trail of, you know, self-destruction, heartache, hospitalizations, chaos, just all sorts of trouble. And I tried to stop probably around 21 and realized that I couldn't. And then from 21 to 24, it just became like a deeper level of chaos and real, real trouble. Like I'm lucky I never got arrested. I was doing hanging out with people that are not good news. I was not good news at that moment, you know, and I was putting myself in very reckless situations, unhealthy for the body, the mind, all of it. So at 24, I believe it was divine intervention that was just like, no more. Like we can't do this anymore. If I if I was to continue, it was gonna be just an early death. And so there was some healthier part of me that wanted to start new, you know, start a new life. And so I stopped drinking February 29th, 2004. I'm coming up on 22 years in February. And I'm so proud of you. Thank you. And every day that, you know, in my sober, healthy life is a gift. Like you were saying, going back to the joy question, like waking up, I wake up joyful because I know what it's like to suffer and to not want to be here. I was suicidal for a good portion of my life. And so just the ability to wake up with soundness of body and mind to me is an ultimate gift. And I that just never lost on me. It's really never lost on me. So that was one of the bottoms, right? And so I had that as like the beginning of a new life. It set me on a different trajectory for a completely different life. So you mentioned I was a school psychologist. That would have never came to pass if I hadn't made that first decision. So all the choices that I've made, my journey was like just a stacking of healthier choices upon healthier choices. Like there was a fork in the road, and it was like, where are you gonna go? And I'm gonna choose that healthier version of me. So that was one of the bottoms.

Sobriety And The First Rebirth

SPEAKER_00 6:40

I don't know if that's where you wanted to go, but you can go through all of them.

SPEAKER_01 6:44

I mean, I want to take you back to I guess the rock bottom I was more so referring to is before you started your little empire. Okay. Not that it's little. It's still, let's just be honest. You're still in like the beginning phases. I've only been having my own.

SPEAKER_00 7:02

I've only had my own business for like five and a half years. And when you listen to the entrepreneurial journey, a lot of them die before that. Die before that. Or have like will grind for 10 years, even, right? And I'm willing at to actually do that because going back to the joy thing, I find joy in the day-to-day. Like I'm not grinding, grinding because like, oh, I want to make a million dollars and then I'm gonna stop. Like I have created something that a life that I love so dearly. It is so in alignment with who I am, and it helps women, it helps other people. So it's like a win-win on all, it checks all the boxes as far as like living per into my purpose. And it feels divinely inspired. I feel like I'm using my gifts to help others. And there's this great quote, I don't know who said it, but something along the lines of like true success, you'll find when you exploit, you exploit your own gifts in helping others, like you're you're using what is already innately in you, right? What brings you joy, and then using that to help others. So it's it's actually a very interesting story because I was a school psychologist for almost a decade. And, you know, that's a great job. It looks great on paper, right? You're going to work every day, you have consistency, you have a pension, I had insurance. It was like a nice cushy job, right? Nobody really leaves those jobs, to be honest. They stay and then they retire and then they get their pension. And so when I had this like inner knowing, this pull, this calling around year nine, eight, even a little bit before that, because I started teaching Zumba on the side. I was teaching fitness classes on the side. So I would go to work as a school psychologist all day, change in the bathroom, go teach a Zumba class, feel joy, and then go home, pass out, and then do it again the next day. And slowly fitness became the main thing. Like I wanted to do fitness all the time. And I saw that like I was becoming a jack of all trades, master of none, meaning like I wasn't giving full effort to one specific thing.

SPEAKER_01 9:08

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 9:09

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 9:09

I've been guilty there a few times myself.

SPEAKER_00 9:12

And I was gonna be mediocre at both, which to me was not in alignment with who I really want to be. I want to be excellent. Like I want to give my full energy and effort and dedication to the one thing that I'm here to do. And so I mean, I started teaching bar in 2015 and I went through a really intensive training actually in New York, got trained by some of the top instructors for like six weeks and fell in love with it. I was like, I just love I wanted to get better. I found myself just obsessed with improving. And the school year rolled around in 2016, and within a month of like doing the school psychologist thing, I was like, I can't, I can't do this. So I didn't even wait till the year ended. I remember being like, I'm gonna resign. And I I went and spoke with one of the union reps, and I and she looks at me like I'm crazy. Like I have three heads. She's like, You want to leave this job? She's like, nobody leaves these jobs. And I'm like, no, but I'm going to. And here's the here's the kicker. It's like, I had no plan. I had no like rich husband. I had no like trust fund. I had nothing. I'm like, You had nothing to fall back on. Nothing to fall back on. So when they say burn the boats, like, I did that. Now, was that the smartest decision now, knowing what I know now about running a business? Probably not. But I had this like inner trust. And I, it's when people ask me today, like, how did you know? I can't even really articulate it. It's just that God, my understanding of God, had shown up for me so many times throughout my journey that I was like, I know I'm not going to get dropped. I know that if I keep taking this step towards the thing that I feel in my heart is my calling, that the way will be made. And it has. Not easy, but it has. I'm here almost 10 years later,

Leaving A Safe Career For Purpose

SPEAKER_00 11:10

you know, founder of my own fitness app. Like all of these things have come into fruition because I was brave enough. This is what I believe, was brave and bold enough to take that initial step without seeing the whole staircase. So, what was step one looking like for you at that point? What was step one? Was resigning.

SPEAKER_01 11:29

No, after you resigned.

SPEAKER_00 11:30

Oh, after I resigned? Sorry, I should have clarified. No, it's fine. Resigning and then diving all the way into excelling in fitness. Because now I had the time. So now I had I didn't have the excuse of like, oh, I gotta go, uh, I can't be the best instructor at that gym because I have, you know, I'm a full-time school psychologist. I didn't have that anymore. So I was there. I was teaching 5:30 a.m. classes, 7 a.m. classes, 9 a.m. classes. I drive to a different gym, teach another class. I was putting in the reps to become one of the best. And guess what? I was teaching in the tri-state area. And at that time, I remember right before I left to move to California. I was like the top in the top three instructors in the tri-state for that particular corporate gym of, you know, class attendance. And I built a name for myself. And it was really because I put in the reps. So I always tell people when they're like, oh, should I quit my real job? It's like, you can do that, but make sure that you have that time for yourself where you're putting in the reps so you know that you're actually good at your craft of the thing you want to do. You have to get good at it. Otherwise, like, how do you know that you can actually make it work? Right. So that was that was my first step is like getting really, really good and just eating, living, and breathing it. That's all I did. I would watch other instructors on YouTube. Like I was constantly learning, taking classes. Like for years I did that. Oh wow.

SPEAKER_01 12:58

I love you so much.

SPEAKER_00 13:00

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 13:01

Um because you've literally hit what I wanted to get to, which was the reps.

SPEAKER_02 13:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:08

And not only just the reps, but you had something where it was like it was that consistency for showing up for yourself.

SPEAKER_02 13:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:16

And that is not just a theme in your business, but it's a theme in your life. Yes. And so it's just amazing to see how you literally are like mind, body, soul, spirit, yeah, all in. And when you're all in, you're all in. And I've only known you in a short period of time, but it's something that I quickly learned about you. And I was like, oh man. I love that she has her standards. I love that she has the way of like, you know what? I'm gonna honor my body. And that's not something that's commonly taught for women.

SPEAKER_00 13:51

Preach. Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 13:53

So I just I wanted technology. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 13:55

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01 13:57

I just I'm curious. Because you did go through your own fitness journey yourself before you started teaching others. Yeah. So what got you to that point where you were like, okay, I need to make this a priority. I need to start making me a priority.

SPEAKER_00 14:13

Oh, I got the chills as because this is like my probably my favorite topic because during that season of grind where I was teaching a bazillion classes, I didn't put my health as my priority. I was learning. So there's this delicate balance of like, you're not always gonna have like work-life balance. It's not always gonna be this like magical, beautiful thing, right? So like healing is not linear and it's not this always pretty. So in the beginning, it was a lot of, I wasn't sleeping enough. I was overtraining, I was doing all the things, I was putting in a lot of reps, but maybe I wasn't doing it the right way yet, right? But I learned. And so one of the things that I pride myself on is my self-awareness. So my ability to learn from my mistakes. I will, Tony Robbins calls it the ability to like recognize patterns. Like I can recognize patterns in myself. So when I go to sleep really late, I realized the next day I'm more irritable, I'm making worse decisions. When I'm drinking caffeine late at night, this happens. Like I started to pick up on the patterns first of myself, and then have the discipline and the self-respect to make those changes. Because ultimately, I it's a, it's a, I just sounds so cliche, but it's a journey of self-love, really. So instead of looking for people to approve of me, like, oh, you're good, you're doing a good job, it shifted to like I approve of me. I love that. It shifted. And so it became less about you liking me and more about me liking me. And when that shift happened, I started to really see a lot of growth in not only just my physique, but like just my ability to take care of myself. Like I'm willing to, my phone is gonna be off. You're not gonna reach me past 9 p.m. You know what I mean? Little things like that that are not that little, like setting boundaries, like all of that stuff.

SPEAKER_01 16:03

That's been a hot topic in our world.

SPEAKER_00 16:05

It's so because I feel like as women, we're not really given that. I had to really work on that. I always say I'm a recovering people pleaser. And it was really hard for me to say no to say I can't and not over-explain, and you know.

SPEAKER_01 16:19

Oh yeah. I just interestingly enough, on the flight here, I had to use the word sentence no is a complete sentence. Yeah. And I was like, oh, love theme.

SPEAKER_03 16:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:31

And it was just firstly, it felt very weird doing it. Because the first time you do it, you're like, wait, I don't have to explain myself. Yeah. My no is a no, and that's that. Yeah. But as a recovering people pleaser, it in your the back of your mind, you're like, well, I should no. Just no. Like, so for me, I had you in mind. Oh, it was that was like, yeah. We had that whole conversation when we met, um, what was it, like a month ago? Yeah. About boundaries and how you're now the queen of boundaries.

SPEAKER_00 17:03

The boundary boss.

SPEAKER_01 17:04

The boundary boss.

SPEAKER_00 17:08

Because I've learned to have boundaries with myself. So here's the thing like everything begins with a relationship with yourself.

SPEAKER_01 17:14

And then you can't.

SPEAKER_00 17:14

You cannot give away what you don't have. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:17

And you cannot pour from an empty cup, as I have recently relearned. Yes. Yes. And so it's just when I think about women and like just the journey of like getting to a physique standpoint. One conversation you and I were starting to have last month was how often they look at the end result of I want the specific body type or I want to lose X amount of pounds. And one thing you and I really resonated on was the fact that it's not just about how you look. In order to release the weight, you literally have to release what's inside of you that's kind of blocking you.

SPEAKER_02 17:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:56

And it chills again. I love you. Yeah. And so I was just wondering because you did mention part of your program goes into that. Yes. So, what is that that you find your women maybe most commonly struggle with? Or if you want to share light, what do you think is how did you get to the point where you realized that that's the core of what's actually making you hold on to the weight?

SPEAKER_00 18:26

I love this. I could go so many ways with it. Okay. So the first thing, and I share about this frequently in my in my content, is I I don't know the moment when I realized this, but I think it's just the

Reps, Mastery, And Consistency

SPEAKER_00 18:40

piece of wisdom that I've gained. When I look back at when I was heavier, a lot of the weight that I had was, I say, unprocessed trauma. And what I mean by that is I was trying to hide. Because in our culture, and we're in the United States, men, I'm just speaking very like stereotypical, like hetero kind of relationships, men and younger women, right? As a young woman and I was like a teenager, what in the 90s, let's say, I was prey. I was prey. So I was looked at, and part of me was very uncomfortable with that. So what I found subconsciously, I did not do it in with awareness. Looking back now, I can see when I was heavier, I became more invisible. Right.

SPEAKER_01 19:23

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 19:24

And it was a shield. It was a shield because I didn't know how to use my words. I didn't know how to say no, but I was so uncomfortable with the attention, with them looking at me with a catcalling with all of the things, right? That I just would put on weight. And I see it with so many women. It doesn't have to just be in that way. It can also be, you know, maybe sexual abuse. Maybe it was there's so there's so many reasons why women put all in. And it's not just I mean, uh, we can open it up to men do it too. Like you can see people that are struggling with their weight a lot of times. It's their eating, would say, Oh, I. My feelings. And I mean, it's a people will say it jokingly, but like it's a way that people escape.

SPEAKER_01 20:06

Absolutely. It's I was just having this conversation yesterday. It's everyone has their vice of what they go to when they're under an extreme stress or extreme chaos, as I would put it. And so it kind of becomes a flavor of that. The same way some people turn to alcohol, some people turn to marijuana, whatever that was. Yeah. For me, I was never a person who ate bad. Or no, let me scratch that. It's not, I was never a person who ate bad. I never ate consistently. But what I was eating wasn't always the healthiest choice.

SPEAKER_02 20:47

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 20:47

Because it would be quick or it would just be, you know, a lot of our foods would be homemade, but like back in the 90s, no one was paying attention to the rice and the oh, it was all like eat carbs.

SPEAKER_00 21:00

I was eating bag like large bagels. This is a funny story. I I thought bagels were healthy because it was like it was like no fat everything fat-free. So I'm eating like snack wall cookies and bagels. Like it was all carbs and sugar for years. That's all I ate. So anyway.

SPEAKER_01 21:14

Yeah. So I love that you went into the fear of being seen.

SPEAKER_00 21:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:18

So how did you get away from that mentality? Or what was your turning point? So I had to heal.

SPEAKER_00 21:26

Which is one of my pillars. I had to heal. I had to heal and I had to find other ways to self-soothe. So I don't go to food. I mean, I it doesn't even cross my mind. It's been completely removed for me. Like I can be under extreme amounts of stress, and I have been. And I have a host of other things that I do. Like it's not even, I'm not even. And people find it so I've had clients who are like, you don't even think about chocolate. I'm like, no, it's actually just not an issue for me. And so I you've rewired yourself. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:02

So what's your favorite way to soothe while you're stressed or I have so many.

SPEAKER_00 22:07

But my top two probably are yoga, restorative yoga, deep breathing. Once I discovered breath work and how my breath can just, yeah, can create calmness. I mean, I can do it anywhere, like turbulence on the plane, like I'm deep breathing. You know, like that's I've trained in my and I that's my default. Like I just go to that. The other thing, and I'm actually writing this in my book because I want to give tools for for women who struggle with this. I needed to understand how to soothe my nervous system. I was just listening to a podcast where they were saying, like, the ability to regulate your nervous system is the highest skill, is the most important skill that you can have in order to be a high-functioning, emotionally intelligent person, right? The ability to do that. And so what I learned from me is I'm very sensory. So I need things that just soothe me and bring me down. Like, and I used to over exercise, I used to use food as a sedative back in the day. Hot Epsom salt baths for me, nightly. I do them nightly, they do something to my nervous system. I discovered it in 2020. So I've been doing it for over five years now, and it completely changed my life. And it sounds so simple. It's like so inexpensive to do.

SPEAKER_01 23:25

Right. You know, and it changed my life. And I almost do it nightly when I'm home, especially for those of us who work out.

SPEAKER_00 23:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 23:36

Highly recommend because you have muscle soreness. Yes. It'll go away like that. Yeah. And so for me, I like to do it right before I'm about to go to bed. Yeah. Just so I can calm my nervous system. And then I'm like, oh, it's time to pass out. Let's go. Yeah. But I love that you brought that up. So what was your, I guess, as you started shifting your relationship with your body, what was your unhealthy coping mechanism at that point

Boundaries, Self-Approval, And Routine

SPEAKER_01 24:00

over working out?

SPEAKER_00 24:01

Um yeah. And saying yes when I meant no, like just denying my feelings. I was still, there were still remnants of people pleasing. There were still entertaining toxic situationships. I think there's something to be said with that. Like, you know, I was healthy in other areas of my life, but so I wasn't drinking. I wasn't smoking at this point. I was eating somewhat healthy. I mean, I wasn't eating like pizza and French fries and burgers every day, but I was eating like Subway sandwiches, like, you know, baked potato chips instead. It was still very like diet food, fake food, overeating. Over process. Yes. Eating rip for bed. Like I didn't have that nurturing bedtime routine that I have now, which it all flows together because if I can get to sleep and set myself up really well for deep sleep, my next day is so much better. Do you know what I'm saying? So it like it just one day flows into the other. So people are like, oh, morning routine, night routine, that's so basic. It's like, yeah, but that's your day. Your day is like a little life, right? It's like every day is a little life. So if you can set your day up for optimal energy, optimal focus to feel really good in your body, injury free, like what's better than that? Then you're gonna have really good days. And that's so that's how I do it. But that was probably my most unhealthy towards like before this last because I feel like I'm just constantly like elevating before I got into yoga, because I started teaching yoga in 2021. So it was like pre-pandemic. I was still over-exercising. I was teaching a bunch of class, I was overworking out. I was still like eating healthy food, but overeating. You know what I mean? I was still frantic. Yeah, still frantic and frenetic energy. I wasn't calm and centered as I am today. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:00

I love you. I love you. So switching a quick pivot back to your psychology background.

SPEAKER_02 26:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 26:08

When you decided to make that jump, what were some fears you had to heal through in order to actually fully go all in?

SPEAKER_00 26:19

I mean, I I still kind of learning, you know, how to run a business because I don't have that business degree or background, which I've listened to so many podcasts where there's so many people that are so successful and that they always say that's irrelevant. You don't need that. But I think for a long time I felt like, what did I do? I don't make good financial decisions. Like I had, I was feeling a lot of self-doubt, a lot of self-doubt. Like, can I really do this? And I hadn't started creating content to the level that I do now. So I didn't have that affirmation from the outside world of like women all over the world saying, Oh my God, your workouts are helping me. I didn't have that yet. So I was just going by like my inner knowing and like God, I'm trusting that this is gonna work out. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I didn't have so much because it's still business. Like I don't look for external validation, but if you're a business owner, you need to know that people want your product. Yeah. Yeah. I and and I separate, and this is an important distinction. It's like I don't my identity is not wrapped up in my business, meaning I still know I'm worthy, even if my business isn't doing well. Do you see what I'm saying? And I think that's really important to have. But as a business owner, I need to know that my product is worthy, like that people are interested in it, because otherwise I can't have a business. So, but the fears that I had were like, how it's still the fear of like, it's just fear of unknown. Like, how am I gonna do this? Like, I hadn't never had a photo shoot before. Like, this is when I was in the beginning stages of my business back in 2020, like, and I just had another photo shoot recently.

SPEAKER_01 27:57

Now she looks killer in those, by the way.

SPEAKER_00 28:00

But now it's just part of like the process. Like everything in the beginning is unfamiliar. And then, so of course you're gonna feel fear. And so I'm not this is such a gift, too. And I, if anybody follows me, my content or anything, I I really want to relay this message is like you're gonna feel fear. The fear is not the enemy, it's what you do when you feel fear. Like, that's what makes you, that's what makes your life. So for me, fear is a friend. I'm like, okay, we're feeling this, we're gonna breathe through it, we're gonna learn something. Maybe it's gonna suck. It'll be a story if it does, you know, and just having that positive spin on it has allowed me to make some pretty bold decisions, you know, without seeing the whole picture. So beautiful. Hope that answered your question.

SPEAKER_01 28:46

It did. And we just did a Tony Robbins UPW, which is one of my favorite programs. And to touch on what you were just saying, he always talks about the dance you need to do with fear. Because to your point, it never goes away. Right. And so for me, as I've been venturing into this like dual business, like we're going all in on two things and we're just seeing what really like imp I don't want to call it sticks, yeah. But it's like going all in on two things that are like so different, but so me. Yep. And so it's been like, of course, you have those days where you're like A, I don't know if I can do this. Yeah. B, holy shit, I'm actually doing this. Yeah. It's like this odd dance class can happen in like a two to three day period. And yes, you're sitting there going, I don't understand what's going on with me. And I just I really want to commend you because I see you. Like seeing how you went from, oh, I kind of want to do a live event to it is done.

SPEAKER_00 29:54

Yeah, it is done. And then you actually literally just did it two days ago.

SPEAKER_03 29:58

I did it two days ago. I did.

SPEAKER_00 30:00

And I was my first one. I was nervous. I didn't really sleep the night before. Again, fear. I felt fear, but I trusted, I trusted. I was just like, I've never done this before. This is outside of my comfort zone, but I'm just gonna show up, suit up and show up. That's my mantra. Like, and the rest is in the details, like, you know, and it and it went really well. Like it

Weight, Trauma, And Nervous System Care

SPEAKER_00 30:20

wasn't perfect, you know, but like what is perfect? Exactly. Perfect is a lie, it does not exist.

SPEAKER_01 30:25

Ah, I love this. I it is a lie. And then now the book. Yeah, I'm so excited. Yeah, and there's a lot of like, I don't know how this is gonna plan out. Yep, but you're just writing and you're pouring your soul into it. And I'm just incredibly proud and inspired. And I wanted to take a minute while we're having this conversation to acknowledge that because writing, especially when it's about you, yeah, is very it can feel like you're putting your life on the line, especially when it's what you're trying to do. The message of how do I come out from the way I have think about your book when I've thought about it is how do I get out of rock bottom into grace?

SPEAKER_03 31:10

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:12

Because I'm I'm I just wanted to acknowledge you. Thank you. You've come such a long way, and the fact that I'm gonna get emotional. I'm getting emotional. I yeah. The fact that there's a part of you that literally could have made the decision not to be here, not to produce that shows all the more reason why when you're in that dark, deep moment, there's still something that needs to pull you forward. And I think to an extent, it was your soul still guiding you because you've still had that impact to make.

SPEAKER_00 31:54

Yes. And that's, I mean, that's in my book. Like I had many moments where I almost died throughout my life. And so I have this kind of like a soul contract with I'm not religious or anything like that, but I know something has watched over me. And so part of the reason why I'm writing this book, and I've wanted to write this book for years. So whenever I hear somebody say, Oh, I really want to write a book, like I I feel that we're all here for a reason. And like I have listened to that little voice before, and it never leads me astray. So I turned up the volume this time on the voice that's like, write this book, because I feel like I'm in a place now where it's time. It's time to like really let's go. Yeah, let's go. Let's go. Because in the beginning, I feel like I was still in it and I was putting the patchwork, you know, quilt together. And now I feel like I can step back a little bit and be like, oh, I need to share this with people because somebody could be back on level one, and my level six is really gonna help them have the roadmap, right? Of healing, of just the little things that I shifted to create a completely different life. Completely different life. And I just have to share because you were saying about emotional, like my mom, who witnessed all of my suicide attempts, like my darkest, darkest moments. One birthday where I almost died, she was like everyone, I burned all the bridges, and she was like the only one there. And I flew her because she is my assistant in my business, and my little sister, I flew them up here to be a part of the event. My clients loved meeting them. And she looked at me. We were in the Barishnikov, and we were talking about old times and like how, you know, my dark days, and she almost had tears in her eyes. She's like, Look what you built, you know? And she's like, I'm so proud of you. Yeah. And it was just like this moment of like, because I caused her so much pain. I mean, there was a moment in my early 20s where I know she was waiting for the call, like, your daughter's dead. Like that's where I was at, just in real to be really like blunt. And so, again, every day alive is like a win for me, but to live this life of like health, strength, wisdom, like that's just like icing on the cake. Like, I really feel like I'm living a life beyond my wildest dreams. And so I want to share that. I really want to share that. Like, I feel would feel so selfish to like just keep it for me. Like I need to, I need people to know what's possible. It's not magical though. There's nothing magical about what I did or do. Like, it's really the grit, the grind and the grace, like are the things, and gratitude, like are the things that I have put into play. And, you know, and God. Like there's something about the four G.

SPEAKER_01 34:30

Yes. Grit grind, grace and grace and God, gratitude. Gratitude. You should trademark that. Okay. So I'm curious, what does it mean for you to truly embody strength at this point? Not just physically, but as a woman who chose her own path and continues to do so.

SPEAKER_00 34:54

I love this question so much because I just had a moment recently, and you you were already in my life when this happened, where in every area of my life, I was like, I had a close friend of mine say this. You're so fierce in every other area. And there's this one area that I was playing small, and I was not living, as we say in yoga, to my fullest expression. They say, like fullest expression of opposed. And I was minimizing my dreams and my all of it to kind of fit in a box in this certain relationship. And, you know, I don't like to see things fail. I have, you know, I was single for a very long time. So it was hard for me to like admit that I needed to walk away from this, right? But I truly believe that if you want to feel in alignment, which is where true strength comes from. For me, like my strength and my energy and my power come from the sunlight of the spirit, meaning like being in alignment with my true purpose and vision. And so if I'm at a job that's not in alignment, if I'm in a relationship that's not in alignment, if I'm doing projects that are not in alignment, right? Like as a creator, like if I'm, I don't know, promoting randomly like tacos just because they're paying me something. I mean, it's a ridiculous example, but like I don't need tacos. So it would be so out of alignment for me to do that, right? Incongruent. Incongruent. There you go. So anytime I'm living in that way, I'm chipping away at my core soul. And that to me today is unacceptable. I can't do that. I have to live in full alignment. And so the hard one of the hardest things that I've had to do in this season of my life is walk away from something that wasn't necessarily destructive, but just wasn't purely in alignment. And, you know, I'm a couple months out of it now and still, still going through my feelings and whatever, but so proud of the woman that I've become because I'm strong enough to do the hard thing, to say the hard thing, to walk away when it's not in alignment. Like all of those things that 10 years ago could never have done that. Could never have done that. I just would have had too much fear, just not enough character, not enough self-belief, you know? So yeah. Hope that answered your question. It did answer your.

SPEAKER_01 37:17

I was about to say it did answer your question, but it was my question. Firstly, I am so proud of you for that. Because you and I both actually met when we were kind of walking away from relationships that didn't serve us at the highest. Yeah. Which was a beautiful mirroring situation that we had going. And just seeing how you still have those bad days. And that's the beauty. And when you actually know the person, I still see those days where you might not talk about it because you're processing.

SPEAKER_02 37:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:51

And you have a beautiful way of like, I know how to rely on my tools to work on it, and I'm not gonna bring that energy out. But at the same time, to see you still like, I'm gonna progress and I'm still gonna find hope in life and grace in other areas of my life right now. That just because this one area kind of I don't want to call it failed, but just because it didn't pan out the way I hoped, doesn't mean that the rest has to be diminished. Yes. And I love that you don't have that because a lot of times what I've noticed is people will have one area go down and then all of a sudden it's like a spiral. Everything other area starts to go down. And so for you,

Fear, Business, And Being Seen

SPEAKER_01 38:40

you're like, no, we're gonna do the thing with the book, we're gonna do we're staying in momentum. This doesn't mean anything about me. And I love that one thing I have to acknowledge, you didn't make it anything about your worth. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 38:54

In fact, you did it because of your worth. Oh, chills. Say it louder, because that to me is so powerful. And if if any woman, I actually, this align from my book is like, but my book is for any woman that questions her worth. Because if you can get to the point where it's a non-negotiable, like I'm worthy regardless. You stay, you go, I'm worthy. So then I'm able to make decisions from an empowered place. Like, does this actually work for me? Am I happy? Is this in alignment instead of I need you to be here so that I'm okay? It's a very different approach. Yeah, 100%. And for a long time, my energy was I need you, I need this job, I need this person to be okay. But I'm okay without today. And that's like, yeah, and I'm so grateful for that because that's such a freeing, a freeing place. It's a really freeing place.

SPEAKER_01 39:47

So beautiful. So you left behind one identity. Or actually, I guess technically, you've left behind many identities, if we're being honest here. What would you say? Sorry. Don't say sorry. We're working on that.

SPEAKER_00 40:06

She is an overapologizer for years. She is my accountability buddy on that. I try to help women with that. I do my sister's the same way. I'm like, you only need to say it once and then just never again.

SPEAKER_01 40:17

Okay. So who did you have to become now to build the Magnoly method?

SPEAKER_00 40:21

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 40:22

And I'm just gonna go ahead and call it a movement while we're at.

SPEAKER_00 40:24

Thank you. I love it. I hope so. I hope so. You know so. Who do I who do I have to become? Mm-hmm. I had to become, you know, I loved what you said about shifting identities or sh- I like to say a shed, shedding identities, because I want to continue to grow. And so I don't want to stay stuck. Ed Milette actually talks about this. I love his podcast and I'll listen to it frequently. And he talks about like you shouldn't be the same person that you were when you were 32 or 22 or whatever. Like if you're on a growth path, like your identity will shift over the years. And so I you know, not to say that one is better than the other, but like I'm in a different season today. And I had to step into, I had to become a person that is willing to fail, is willing to grow, is willing to make mistakes, is willing to be seen, is willing to not be liked.

SPEAKER_01 41:21

Oof, that's a hard one.

SPEAKER_00 41:23

Yeah. I mean, being a content creator and having just one viral video, I've had multiple over the years on every platform. I mean, you will read the comments. Like that, if that doesn't like wake you up to have thick skin, nothing will. Like I've learned, I had to learn super quick. Like, number one, not to really read the comments on the viral ones because they get really mean. But this is not to just keep quoting people, but Gary V has like one of the best quotes where it's like, don't get inflated by the compliments and don't get deflated by the insults. It's like you, your my self-worth is again, it's at my core. So it's not gonna be, you know, ebbing and flowing based on someone.

SPEAKER_01 42:01

Based on that.

SPEAKER_00 42:02

Yeah. Because otherwise I'd be on one post. I can have this. I can have body goals. Oh my god, you're so shredded. You look emaciated, go to the hospital, like in the same picture. So it's like if I if I really listened to that, I would lose my mind, right?

SPEAKER_02 42:17

So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 42:18

So I had to become someone that who honors my truth and is not afraid to be not liked, you know?

SPEAKER_01 42:27

Beautiful. So, what shifts would you say you notice in the women that you work with as they become the versions of themselves that start to embody that new perspective, that new lifestyle, the new beliefs?

SPEAKER_00 42:40

Oh, I love this. And this is so fresh in my mind because I actually met one of them in person who found me on social and I had not met her in person yet. And she like had tears in her eyes. She's like, You've changed my life. And I was like, Oh my God, just hearing her say that and seeing her in real life and like And seeing her journey, I'm sure. Because she's in, she was in her mid-50s, and she thought, because she was listening to all the people around her that, like, oh, this is what happens, you just gain a lot of weight and whatever. And she wasn't feeling good in her body. And then she started working with me, and I started to inject that mindset of like, no, you can actually do this. Like, this is where strength is built in those moments of discomfort. She said, There's, she said, there's something you say in class that really helped me. Your body's gonna tell you to quit way before your, you know, your mind's gonna tell you to quit way before your body has to. And it's not my quote, it's like a common thing, but she had never heard that before. And for her, that was a light bulb moment where she realized she had been limiting what she was capable of because she was listening to the fear voice or the voice of like, oh, this is uncomfortable. I need to stop. And I talked back to that voice. I told her I was like, when I learned that, that like that voice is just there to try to keep me safe and I can actually push my body to build new strength and do things, you know, that's when everything opened up for me. And so I always say, like, I help women, you know, get sculpted at home and get stronger with mindset and workouts because really the strength comes from the mind. Yeah, from the mindset. You gotta train your mind first. Yes, the body will follow, but the mindset is is imperative.

SPEAKER_01 44:19

So beautiful. So actually, you brought me exactly where I wanted, did you? Because you focus on women over 40. And I've noticed I wanted to ask, what is it about that particular season of life that attracted you to wanting to work with them? But I think it comes back to most people here, oh, once you're at 40, 45, whatever, it's done.

SPEAKER_03 44:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:48

You forgot a good body. So what got you to the point where you were like, no, you can change it if you're not happy? Yeah. I love this.

SPEAKER_00 44:56

I don't know. For me, I've always had this, I think it's because I got sober so young. I've just had this different view on aging, and it's not popular, I guess, but I don't fear aging. And I I I think in American society especially, we we actually don't give the respect that, you know, people in the yeah, the respect to wisdom. Like in other traditions and other cultures, like people in their 80s and 90s are like the top of the, you know, coaching. Yeah, we're so respectful and we want to learn from them. And we didn't grow up in a culture like that. Like we worship youth. And for me, I would look at my youth and I'm like, I was a chain smoking drug addict in my 20s. I would never want to go back to that. I was suicidal. Like that to me is not. Thank God you don't want to go back to that. Exactly. So, like, in my mind, so it's my personal experience that like my life has gotten tremendously better as I age. And I started to see the changes in my physique, in how I was feeling, in my energy. And I it and I was looking out at

Worth, Alignment, And Walking Away

SPEAKER_00 46:00

other people who were similar in age, and I was like, but that's not my experience. I'm not feeling that. I feel awesome. I feel energetic. So I wanted to be that voice of like, no, don't listen to the people that are telling you that you're gonna feel tired and aches and pains. Like, there's a different way because I felt like we're getting fed this narrative. Yeah. I want to change the conversation about aging. Like, it just doesn't have to be that way. I've never felt better in my body. The leanest and the strongest that I've ever been at 46. And doing this photo shoot, and this is not to brag at all. This is just like the reality. I was doing this photo shoot, and I can do, you know, full wheel pose and back bends and put my leg up flexibility, mobility, like you have it all. I I've trained for it because for me, I love life and I feel like it's such a gift to have a body that I want to be a good steward, caretaker of it. Yeah. I see it as like this pre- I say it all the time, my content as like a precious gift, not a problem. And the only reason why people I think complain about aging is like they're not aging well. You have to take care of your body.

SPEAKER_01 47:09

Yes. It reminds me, I was before we left to New York, my mom and I were sitting together and I saw this clip of a 72-year-old on Instagram, and she was doing a bunch of weights and her activity and whatnot. Yeah. And I looked at my mom and I was like, that is my life goal. Yeah. And she goes, because the common conversation we have, and you know this, is she wants grandkids, which I'm not ready for, but anyways, and she goes, you know the secret to that? And I was like, what? And she goes, it was the fact that she had grandkids, so she was happy. And I was like, Oh my god, that was like now, mom, it was the fact that she learned how to eat right and work out early enough that she continues to do so because honestly, she was pretty badass. And I was just like, this is inspiring, and more women need to be like that. I love that. And so it reminds me of what you were saying. Like, it's never too late. You can retrain, you can work on your body. And the narrative is actually, I'm gonna say it, bullshit. It's my show. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 48:14

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 48:16

I'm so grateful for this conversation. I'm just grateful to be. It's giving me life. Yeah, you same, same. I love you so much. I love you. I'm for the in case you can't tell, I am her biggest hype person. Oh my god. I I'm just I'm so grateful. Like, since you've entered my life, I've been like, she is a solid person I can like turn to and ask for advice. And I'm just gonna say, you're kind of like the big sister that I wish I knew.

SPEAKER_00 48:47

Oh, that means so much to me. You have no idea. Because I love like the whole idea of like sisterhood is very important to me. Yeah. And that's what I want to be. I want to be helpful to other women. Like that's that's really like my goal with the book, with the with my content, with all of it. And I feel like I'm living my purpose when I do that.

SPEAKER_01 49:06

So, what does rising today mean to you after leaving psychology to build the Magdalie method?

SPEAKER_00 49:16

What is rising?

SPEAKER_01 49:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 49:18

What do you mean?

SPEAKER_01 49:19

So, like what is rising, like the next level look like?

SPEAKER_00 49:22

Oh, okay. It's a good question. I mean, for me, I writing the book right now is really where I'm focusing my energy because I want to encapsulate all the lessons that I've learned over the years, share, you know, pieces of my story, and then give the tools that have helped me tremendously so that it can be like a roadmap for women that, like I said before, are questioning their worth, you know, need that hope shot. Like I my my catchphrase is like, I want to be hope in human form. That like you can come from, yeah, you can come from nothing in deep despair to building a life that you love that actually serves others. Like there, to me, that's uh Brendan Bruchard talks about the golden ticket of life. Like for me, that's the golden ticket. Like to do what I love every single day and help people in the process, like that's a win. That's a win-win. Yeah. So writing my book and so eventually, you know, doing more podcasts and and speaking and sharing my message, especially with women, like yes, the in their 40s, but also the younger generation of like the 20s and 30s, because I feel like I have a lot to offer them. I remember being in my 30s, like you were talking about the grandkids thing, and feeling that pressure of like, you got to get married, you got to have kids. And I I bought into that. And I remember feeling very, what's the word? Like unworthy and just an outcast because I wasn't married and things weren't clicking. And now I see the universe was protecting me because now in my 40s, I decided I didn't want children at like when I turned 40. I started building my business, that became my baby. And I was like, I actually don't want kids. I had this like complete flip and so grateful that then my life just went in a different direction, you know? But it's so interesting because I feel like women in their 20s and 30s again are fed fed that narrative. Like, you need that. That's what women do. And I always want to be the voice, but like maybe that's not your path. Like maybe you'll actually be happier in a different path. You know, you don't know.

unknown 51:26

I love you.

SPEAKER_01 51:27

I just love you too. Um so how do you help women understand that rising is about remembering who they are beneath the expectations and exhaustion?

SPEAKER_00 51:40

I mean, you kind of touched on that, but furthermore, rising beneath the expectation just again, living it like in alignment with like my true purpose. So not running myself ragged doing things to please other people or what I think I should be doing. I I frequently like, and I share this in my content a lot, like energy is everything. It's my most valuable resource. So I'm not gonna say yes to things just because I think you should I should, or it's gonna be, you know, I don't know, that's gonna make that person happy. Like it really needs to give me energy or feel fulfilling on some level, or yeah.

SPEAKER_01 52:20

Yeah, there's a phrase that I heavily associate with you, and it's if it's not a hell yes, it's a hell no.

SPEAKER_00 52:25

Yeah, I love that.

SPEAKER_01 52:26

And it's just since I've known you in this short period, I'm like, yeah, for her, if it's not a hell yes, it's a hell no.

SPEAKER_00 52:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 52:32

And she's and she will stay on her now.

SPEAKER_00 52:35

I do. I Sam, I know. And and you know what? And and that's just who I am, and I'm okay with that. Like, I I, you know, I'll take chances on things. Like, I don't always know that something's gonna work out. So I do, you know, try things. I wouldn't say I'm closed-minded, but I also have deep self-awareness. So I know, like, for example, bungee jumping, skydiving, that kind of thing. Like, there is no part of me that wants any part of that. So no.

SPEAKER_01 53:03

Okay, I know not to invite you to. Yeah, it's a no for me.

SPEAKER_00 53:05

It's a no for me. Like no for me. Oh, maybe, like, it's just a no. But then there are other things that I'm like, I don't know. I don't know if I'd like that. You know, and so I I try to keep an open mind, but also honor my boundaries. It's a dance.

SPEAKER_01 53:18

It's a dance. You are

Redefining Aging And Strength After 40

SPEAKER_01 53:20

full of dances, it appears. So if a woman is now facing her rock bottom, what is something you would want them to know at this point?

SPEAKER_00 53:32

Just don't give up. Seriously, just don't give up because at any moment you can turn a corner. At any moment, things can shift, but be willing to ask for help. Like, if I had just stayed stuck in my self-pity, in my misery, in my darkness, I eventually would have died. Like that, that was the way it was gonna go for me. Like, it was. But I had enough, I had just had had enough. And I was like willing to to ask for help and to, you know, and then accept that help. Because it's one thing to be like, oh, I really need help, and then like just not follow through and go back to doing what I was doing. Like I had to stop drinking, that was the initial step, and then you know, three years later I stopped smoking. Like it was learning how to ask for help and follow through, but yeah, but just don't give up because if you give up, yeah, then there's no way out, you know? Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 54:33

Beautiful answer. So you mentioned the live event. Yeah. We mentioned the books. So what are the best places for people to kind of learn more about those? How do they connect with you more? Okay.

SPEAKER_00 54:48

Yes, you can find me on all social platforms. Um, Instagram is lydia.magnoli, Facebook, Lydia Magnoli. My YouTube channel has a lot of workouts, coaching videos, and things. It's just search my name, Lydia Magnoli. And my app is called the Magnoli Method. I also have a website where you can do the workouts there too. It's lydia magnoli.com. So just my name and yeah, get on my email list. Though the there's a link, you know, there to join and so that you can stay in the know with the next live event. I'm hoping to have another one in 2026, maybe in the southeast this time, and we'll see.

SPEAKER_01 55:23

Eventually we need you to come out west. Yes, yes. Maybe I'm biased. Yes, yes, yes, for sure. Okay, well, all the links will be down below. Now I'm you want to have some fun? Absolutely. Let's do it. Not that this hasn't been fun.

SPEAKER_00 55:36

I love fun. Let's do it.

SPEAKER_01 55:37

Okay. So this is our quick fire round.

SPEAKER_00 55:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 55:41

Just simple answers, whatever comes to mind. Okay. I know you read a lot, so what's your favorite, most recent book that's impacted you?

SPEAKER_00 55:49

Oh, this is so hard. It's so hard. Honestly, I well, because I was going through a breakup, so I gotta give Matthew Hussey a shout-out. His book, Love Life, Save My Soul. Like, I listened to it and it was so good. Something about his voice is very soothing too. But any woman that's going through that right now, like, go please listen to it. I listened to it. Probably took me like a week to listen to the whole thing, and it really, really helped me tremendously.

SPEAKER_01 56:15

Beautiful. What do you do when you need to reconnect with yourself? I mean, I feel like you've touched on this part.

SPEAKER_00 56:21

Yoga for sure. Yoga. And anything without my phone. So that's another really important piece.

SPEAKER_01 56:28

The myth about fitness over 40 you most want to bust.

SPEAKER_00 56:32

Oh, God, how much time do we have? It doesn't need to be complicated. That's I think that's the biggest one. I in and protect your joints. So it's gonna be like a two for one. So a lot of ladies will come to me because they're they've been running for years and years and years and doing like long distance running and things like that, or just cardio, incessant cardio on the treadmill for hours and hours. And unless you're training for like a marathon, triathlon, things like that, like you don't need long cardio in order to get super fit and feel functional and have healthy joints. And I think that's a lie that people have been fed, and it's just not accurate. It's not accurate. Yeah. Strength training is essential.

SPEAKER_01 57:15

Love it. One word that describes your current season, and I don't mean literally. So, like oh, I have one. Discomfort. Discomfort. Okay, I could knowing you personally, I I validate that.

SPEAKER_00 57:33

Discomfort. It's been a season of discomfort and grief, but growth, grief to growth. So, but that's like three words. So anyway. Grace. Grace.

SPEAKER_01 57:42

A daily non-negotiable that fuels your power.

SPEAKER_00 57:46

Movement for sure.

SPEAKER_01 57:48

Beautiful. I should have seen that coming up.

SPEAKER_00 57:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 57:51

Song that instantly lives your mood.

SPEAKER_00 57:54

You know what I've been I love Taylor Swift. I'm sorry. I'm a Swifty, but I would say. Have you heard from the album? Yeah, I just started listening to it, actually. It's pretty good. I only listened to a couple tracks. But I I like her stuff. When I was go when I was going through my breakup, I would listen to I Could Do It With a Broken Heart. Do you know that song? Yeah. It's just so good. It's so empowering.

SPEAKER_01 58:16

Yes. I've never actually been broken up with, but that is my jam.

SPEAKER_00 58:20

That is my gym. Where I forgot that you existed.

SPEAKER_01 58:23

I forgot that you existed. I love it. I above it for the win. Taylor Swift for the win. Taylor Swift from the win. Shout out to Taylor. Best advice you've ever received in a single sentence.

SPEAKER_00 58:38

I've had so many exceptional mentors throughout the years. So I'm going to say one, the first one that popped into my head. So I had a mentor who actually passed away in 2023, and I wouldn't be here where I am without his guidance. And he would always say things like, Don't let it go, Lydia, let it be. And yeah, it really helped me in so many situations because I would latch on to things and have, you know, deep attachment. And he learned he taught me how to like breathe and trust and allow and let it be. And that has helped me tremendously over the years.

SPEAKER_01 59:15

So beautiful. And we're coming to the last two questions. Okay. First one, I usually end my podcast with this, but for you, I have a special one after. Okay. Um you want women to stop apologizing for because you are the queen of stop apologizing.

SPEAKER_00 59:33

I love this. Oh, so many things. Just everything. I just want women to take up space. And, you know, you don't have to apologize. Like for even for being late or things like that, you can say, you know, I apologize, I was late, and then that's it. Like if you're gonna just because you were actually inconvenient, right? One time, one thing. But for asking for things. Like, I'm sorry to be annoying, but can I have

Sisterhood, Identity, And Growth

SPEAKER_00 1:00:00

Have a cup of water. Like, no, you don't need to say that. Can I have a cup of water? May I have a cup of water? You know, like that kind of thing. Like, don't apologize for your needs. They're valid. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:12

Oof, yes.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:12

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:13

And lastly, what is your message to a woman who might think it's too late?

SPEAKER_00 1:00:18

Never too late. It's only the beginning. It's only the beginning. I mean, if you would have told me 30 that I would be where I am today, I was just starting in my fitness career. It was like 60 pounds heavier. I was just starting to teach Zoom, but if you would have told me, like, Lydia, you're gonna at 46, you're gonna have your own fitness app, you're gonna be doing a podcast, you're gonna have an in-person event, you're gonna be doing all, you're gonna run your own business. I would have been like, What? Are you crazy? Like 46 is old. Like, no, I'm not. And yeah, I feel like I'm just beginning. Like, I can't, can't stop. Stop now.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:53

Well, I'm sad that this is over. And I just love you.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:56

I love you too.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:56

We'll do another one. Absolutely. So I just want to start off with start off. End off. See? Like we can't just keep going. I just want to sincerely thank you for sharing your wisdom and your journey so openly. Your story reminds us that transformation isn't about perfection. It's about permission. Not that you need permission from anyone else. Side note. Permission to want more. Start over. To believe our bodies are capable of incredible things. No matter what chapter we are in. So to everyone listening, your rock bottom doesn't define you, but your rise does. And it can start today. You can find all the links to connect with Lydia, learn about her upcoming book, and join her live events in the show notes.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:49

Thank you so much. This has been so beautiful, and I'm so grateful for you. I'm so grateful for you.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:54

I love you. I love you. We did it. We did it. We're done. Yeah, we're done. That was so fun. That was so fun.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:02

You're so good at this. We'll totally do another one. Yeah. I am so down.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:09

I'm so down.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:11

Do you feel in alignment when you do it? I felt like we were in such flow. Like I were in such flow. Like half cushions. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:18

Not uh on there. But I'm just like, let's go.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:23

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:24

I love like I'm so this was like an awesome experience.

SPEAKER_01 1:02:28

I love you so much.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:29

I love you.