Growth Lane

In this episode, I'm joined by Amanda, a unicorn from Ohio who spent decades stuck in the yo-yo diet cycle; Weight Watchers, 1200-calorie plans, losing weight and gaining it back. After some profound wake-up calls, she lost 60lbs and just recently, at 56, picked up a barbell for the very first time!!!

We talk about why she wanted to get strong rather than just smaller, the shift from chasing the scale to training for a long, capable life, and the surprises along the way: better boundaries, her mental health turning around, and finally learning to put herself first. If you've ever told yourself it's too late, Amanda's story will convince you that it isn't. 

Enjoy!
Xoxo,
Maurine
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When progress stalls, almost every woman's instinct is the same: eat less. But what if that's exactly what's keeping you stuck? In this episode I make the counterintuitive case for eating more - why under-eating stalls fat loss, burns your hard-earned muscle, and drives the 9pm cravings you blame on willpower. 

I also unpack the sneaky paradox of being under-eating on paper but over-eating in reality, why aggressive targets make us cheat ourselves, and how to finally make your numbers real. If you've been doing everything "right" and nothing's changing, this one's for you.
PS. Here's the link to my calorie calculator!

Xoxo,
Maurine
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What if some of the limits you treat as facts about yourself are actually just rules you made up? In this episode I unpack "invisible rules" - the arbitrary, self-imposed limits we follow so automatically we don't even notice them, from "if I can't do it fully it's not worth doing" to "I have to finish my plate" to "I can't wear that." I'll walk you through the most common ones (you'll recognise yourself in at least one), what they're quietly costing you, and a simple four-step way to spot and break them. 

Enjoy!
Xoxo,
Maurine
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Share it your Instagram story! 

Want to connect?

Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/fitness__unicorn/

Learn about Unicorn Nation:
https://www.unicorn-nation.com/

Questions answered in this episode:

How many calories should a 40's woman consume if you strength train (30–40min) 4 days a week? (sofipm_h)
How do you manage going back to training after an illness? (stacy.kotai)
What do you suggest when weight loss stalls after rapid loss? How to not throw it all in? (moniquesinton)
How to combat gym burnout? Going through the motions but not excited like I used to be (carly2458)
How do you motivate yourself to go to the gym on days when you have zero motivation? (zialxa)
Tips to motivate yourself when you've taken a few weeks off from the gym? (emo_sj10)
I've put on little weight the last 6 months — I want to run a deficit but can't get myself to start. Help please (alinaivanovaencheva)
If your goal is to build muscle while staying relatively lean, how do you know when to eat at maintenance vs a deficit or surplus? (natnat7390)
How do you accept that you can't do a heavy squat without hurting your knees? (shelbyheavnertattoos)
Cutting, bulking and how to do it effectively (kayleighrobo10)
Is strength training and hypertrophy training different — and if so, why? (frokenasp)
Is there a difference between strength training and bodybuilding? If so, what's the difference? (frokenasp)
Have you always been in shape? (scottie_1179)
And here's the link to my calorie calculator! 

Enjoy!
Xoxo,
Maurine
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Share it your Instagram story! 

Want to connect?

Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/fitness__unicorn/

Learn about Unicorn Nation:
https://www.unicorn-nation.com/

Ever taken a week or two off training and immediately panicked that you've undone everything?
Sick, injured, travelling, or life just got crazy; the fear is always the same: 'oh my god, have I lost all my progress?'
In this episode I walk you through what actually happens to your muscle when you take time off... and why it's nowhere near as dramatic as it feels.
We're talking the real number on how much you lose (spoiler: it's tiny), why you feel weaker than you actually are, and the difference between muscle and the water-and-glycogen 'sponge' that fills right back up.
Plus how to come back without beating yourself up, why maintaining is so much easier than gaining, and the one thing you absolutely should not do if you're stuck on the couch and can't move.
This is your permission slip and your reality check, all in one.
Give it a listen, and let me know which part hit home for you. 

Xoxo, 
Maurine
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Share it your Instagram story! 

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Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/fitness__unicorn/

Learn about Unicorn Nation:
https://www.unicorn-nation.com/