WarriorBabe Interview – Valerie

TRANSCRIPT

– Hey, everyone. Welcome to our WarriorBabe interview with our WarriorBabe, Valerie. Valerie has been a WarriorBabe for 10 months now, starting back in the Blueprint in June of 2020. Valerie’s primary focus over the last 10 months of being a part of WarriorBabe has been fat loss and getting more toned, showing more leanness, and we’ll touch base on her amazing results within the interview today. And I am so stoked to have Valerie here that she can bring you insight and value today, as she has done such a great job, both mentally and physically, ’cause we all know it’s not easy and we wanna be where we wanna be faster. And I’ve watched you along your journey, and although you have made such amazing results, I know that you always wanna be better. And I’m really excited for you to share this insight, here on this interview, and your results in the time that you’ve been with WarriorBabe. So, everybody, let’s welcome Valerie here today. I am so excited to have you, babe.

– Hey, Nikkiey. Hey, community. How’s everybody doing? So happy to be here and have the opportunity for Nikkiey lettin’ me share my story.

– Yes, that’s exactly it, your story, and I cannot wait for you to share it. So, let’s get a little background on you first. How old are you, occupation, what’s your family lifestyle like, all that jazz?

– So I’m 49, I’m a banker. I have two adult kids, 24 and 27, married for 31 years. Fitness has always been a part of, well, I shouldn’t say always been a part of my life. I really started, like, around 2005. I’ve just kinda incorporated that into wanting my kids to be healthy as well.

– Awesome, awesome. So, let’s start from the beginning of your WarriorBabe journey. You said you started back beginning of 2020, near the beginning of 2020-

– 2005. 2005, sorry.

– 2005.

– 2005, my workout journey started, but WarriorBabe 2020.

– Gotcha, gotcha. So let’s start from the beginning of the WarriorBabe journey. Where were you before you found WarriorBabe? Like, what were you doing before WarriorBabe?

– You know, really, Nikkiey, I was following my girlfriend. Whatever she was doing, I was trying to do. She was a competitor, and she was dealing with her own nutritionist. She kinda just gave me what she was doing, and I was thinkin’, well, if it’s workin’ for her, it’s gonna work for me, and I couldn’t be more wrong. I wasn’t getting any results. She was, like, cuttin’, and I was gaining. Like, she’s losing five pounds, I’m gaining five pounds. It was just frustrating. I had the work out mentality, I was born with that, but my nutrition was just all over, you know? And I had talked to several people before in the past about, you know, different diets. You know, I see somebody doing something, I try to jump on that bandwagon ’cause I thought I’m gonna get results too. You know, I ran into a friend at the gym, she’s doing keto. I was like, “Oh!” She explained it to me, she gave me some information. Worst thing I ever did to myself. All I did was turn around, and you know, I lost a couple pounds, and I ended up gaining, like, double the weight back, and I was like a fluffy girl, you know? And I tried Weight Watchers, I tried Jenny Craig, I’ve tried… My husband and I try to do, like, V Shred, and that was horrible for us. It was just so many different programs out there that I tried, and it just, you know, I was gettin’ a quick result, and then I would end up doing more damage. Wasn’t really sustaining my lifestyle. I really wanted to get the the knowledge of how to do this myself and how to make it so that I could do this for the rest of my life and not rely on other people’s, you know, ins and outs. I wanna teach myself how to do it.

– Yeah, I love that. What struggles were you trying to solve?

– You know, I would say my struggles really were, you know, work. I did my workin’ out, you know, and I just, you know, I wasn’t getting results, and I just felt like I couldn’t even walk past a mirror and look at myself and be happy with my results. I had a lotta self-image issues, where I just thought that my husband would say, “Oh, you’re beautiful”. But when I walked past a mirror, I didn’t wanna look at that girl, and that, you know, it hurt. It hurt.

– Yeah, yeah, you’re not alone, babe. There’s a lot of women out there that have the self-sabotaging thought process of body image and looking in the mirror, and not wanting to look, trying so many things that only wreck the inside of the body that maybe get quick results, but don’t have the longevity of them. So, with being a part of WarriorBabe, let’s talk about the results, ’cause it’s been so cool to watch your journey from the start of the Blueprint to now. I mean, it’s had its ups and downs, and I would love you to shed light on that, but let’s talk. Yeah, let’s just talk about your journey here in the last 10 months. What results have you achieved?

– Oh, my God. First of all, foremost, I would say my mind. My mind is on a whole new level, and I thank you and your program for that, because, you know, I was really hard on myself, and I always let people get into my head and follow them. And now I’m like, “I’m the leader here “and I’m gonna lead my journey”. You know, my husband would get up and he would say, “Oh, I don’t feel like going to the gym today”. Well, he didn’t feel like going to the gym, I guess I don’t feel like going to the gym because I wanted to be around him. Now, if he says that, I’m like, “Deuces, I’ll see you when I get back”, you know? So I don’t let those things, you know, or if he wants to go and do something and go out, and it’s just not where I am that day, then all right. You know, I took some ownership of me. I’m a mom, you know. I was, you know, their needs first, you know, family needs first, and I just never really put my own needs ahead of every everybody else’s. And now, you know, I’m not saying that I’m completely selfish, but I’m taking control over my results and what I want.

– Yeah, I love that. That’s awesome. Deuces, I’m out, I’m goin’ to the gym. See ya later. I got my goals.

– I’ll be back in a bit.

– That’s awesome, babe. What’s the results that you’ve seen, in terms of weight and-

– Oh, yeah, oh, yeah. I started at about 164, and I’m weighin’ in about 138 now. So my pant sizes were like 10, 12, and I’m into like a four, so I’m really happy with it. You know, of course, my mind is always going, like, what’s my next thing? I still want to lose some more inches. I’m not really worried about the scale so much, I’m worried about those inches, and I’ve got a couple problem areas that I want to target. Of course, we know we can’t just target one area, but I know that if I keep on my journey and keep consistent and trusting this process, that it’s gonna happen. I have no doubt, I have no doubt.

– Yeah, yeah. The before and afters, I have to, like, get ’em in here and put ’em in and edit ’em in here, because holy moly!

– Yeah, I get sometimes, you know, and I think we had this on a talk one day on the call, and I was down on myself because I was like, “I’m not seein’ any results, you know? “I’m not moving.” And I realized I’m lookin’ at myself on a daily basis, and I think when I sent you a picture and you were like, “Really, really? “Do you not see the difference?” And I think, for me personally, I look at it from week to week, versus looking at it like what have I accomplished in this 10 months? That’s where I’m like, “Okay, fire, it’s fire,” you know? And I just recently started goin’ back to the gym and I got the best compliment the other day. Some of the people that were going to the gym prior to COVID, we were there together this past weekend, and they were like, “What in the hell are you doin’?” And I was like, “What do you mean?” And they’re like, “Man, your muscles are poppin’ out.” And you know, I’m just like, “They’ve been here.” It’s nice that hey saw the difference and they’re like, “Wow, you’re doin’ an amazing job.” And they’re like, “I didn’t wanna say anything.” I’m like .

– Yeah, what you’ve accomplished, Valerie, in 10 months is, like, what people try to accomplish, or like, think they’re gonna accomplish. First of all, people always want fast results, but you’ve stayed consistent, steady. You’ve had a little up, down, up, down, but majority of the time, you’re winning. You’re on point, you’re consistent, and that’s what’s gotten you to where you are now 10 months later, where typically, people go like this, and then five years, they may get where they want to be. But you just accomplished it in 10 months, and there’s still so much more to go. You’re on this journey, right?

– Yup, and it doesn’t help that, like, you know, good old doctor, you know, just confirmed that I’m going through menopause, and you know, you keep reminding me that it’s a good cycle, though, to go through, and you know, maybe I need to train a little different. And that has helped, to listen to my body, you know, listen to those body signals that you told us to recognize, and rest, recover and understand that, you know, you want your body to work for you, not against you, and follow me and do what I tell you to do, and it’s workin’!

– Yes, let’s talk about that! This is only recent, though, right? I know we were seeing good results, and then you started comin’ to the calls. Yeah, you came to the calls. You’re like, “Okay.” Again, big picture, there’s big results. But again, we tweak. You know, we went a couple months, and I’m just like, “Huh, okay. “What’s goin’ on?” And then you chime back in and you’re like, “Yeah, I’m goin’ through menopause right now.”

– Yeah., it’s definitely you gotat train different. And you know, again, I’ve been workin’ out for a long time, and it took a little bit off my pride that I had to change some things, you know? And then changin’ those things, the results started pickin’ back up. So, you know, it’s just hard to adapt at first but I have to realize that at this stage of my life, that it’s important to make those changes.

– You just nailed it. That’s gonna help so many women, Valerie. Your body adapts, right?

– It does.

– You gotta adapt with it and you did, and that’s where we noticed another shift. People try and fight through menopause, and it only just ends up with, you know, eatin’ 1,200 calories, and then six months later, you’re bashing into a wall. If you’re fighting through menopause, trying to go harder, thinking you’re working harder, you’re just making the whole thing harder. If you work with it and adapt to it, and you’re a prime example-

– Yeah., so true.

– It’ll start gettin’ back into the group.

– Yep, so true. Your body does adjust. You know, I didn’t think I was gonna be able to eat carbs ever again. And you know, till I got into this program, I was just like, “What if she’s gonna give me more now?” We’re gonna have more!

– Yes!

– We’re gonna get more! Keep ’em comin’.

– Yeah.

– ‘Cause a lot of women struggle with that. I’m glad you brought that up. They struggle with the mentality of eating more. How did you deal with, coming in from what you were doing, tryin’ a bunch of different things, to coming into WarriorBabe? And I’m like, eat, you know? Eat. How did you deal with that mental side of things to wanting to do the psychology of eating more and building more muscle ?

– You know, I started doin’ a happy dance, I’m not gonna lie. I didn’t have a problem eatin’ the food. I’d say now, my body, it gets mad at me, and I’m like, “Oh, hold out just a little bit longer.” You know, “It’s not time to eat yet.” But in the past, I guess, you know, mentally, I just kinda said, “I’m not allowed to have it.” And I kinda just dealt with it. Now I’m like, these are body signals, you need to listen to ’em. Maybe you need to make some type of adjustment. But yeah, I’ve always had an appetite, so yeah, it’s nice that I don’t have to seclude myself from, you know, functions or, you know, enjoying the foods that I kinda enjoy cooking, ’cause I enjoy cooking. I love baking and things like that, so I don’t have a problem gettin’ on MyFitnessPal, makin’ a recipe, and just sittin’ back and enjoyin’ it now. Before, I’d be like, “Oh no, that’s got flour in it. “Ooh, no, I can’t eat that many fruits!” You know, “I can’t have that.” I remember, one day, you told me, “Eat a Pop-Tart,” and I’m like, “For real? “For real?” I went out and bought a big box.

– That’s awesome.

– Yes!

– Good, I love that. You had no problem eating the food. It was just, I guess, understanding, like, where, maybe you can tell me that. Like, you have no problem eating it, but what can I eat? How much can I eat?

– Yes, exactly, and that’s where understanding the macros… The part that I needed was knowing what I was allowed to eat or how much I was allowed to eat. Once I found that part out, it was like, I felt golden. I felt like, you know, there’s no blockage now. You know, I figured out, hey, if I wanna eat this, I might have to give up somethin’ else to fit that in, but I’m willin’ to cut back on my rice a little bit just so I can eat that Pop-Tart, you know. That’s how I feel about it.

– Love it, I love it. Since there’s gonna be a lot of women listening to you , and this is so valuable and so much insight, and so many different areas for women, food to menopause, what would you tell somebody? What advice would you give somebody who’s just starting their fitness journey?

– I would say take your time, read everything, ’cause the first thing I did was once I signed up for the program, I listened to everything you said probably in three days, and I don’t think I retained any of it. I mean, I was probably staying up later than I needed to. I was listening to you on the way to work, I was listening to you, you know, after work, on my lunch break. So I was just kinda like, I wanted to know everything right away. But what happened was I had to go back and listen to everything just so I could actually retain it. But I would say take your time, stay consistent, trust the process, trust you. You know, don’t be afraid, and you know, enjoy the process, because it is a lot of fun. I struggled a little bit at the beginning with the MyFitnessPal, just kinda, like, puttin’ everything in. You know, do I scan it this way? Do I do it that? But I literally, I can get it done in five minutes now, if that. You know, I know what I like to eat. If I wanna cook somethin’, like change it up, I know how to kinda change it up immediately, so I’m not afraid of all those things. So again, enjoy the process, stay accountable, get on the Facebook group, talk to the other babes. You know, let them be your pat on the back. I know my husband is tired of hearin’ me talk sometimes about my journey, and it’s really nice that I have the babes in the community that are willing to listen, or need the encouragement, or whatever the case may be. I don’t mind if somebody private messages me, and I hope that no one private, I message them. You know, some of the babes, they’re going through things, and I’ll reach out to them just to check up on ’em, ’cause I feel like we’re a sisterhood. You know, we are miles away, but I feel like that’s what you brought to this, is not only fitness and nutrition, but you brought us all together from all types, parts of the world, so thank you.

– Yeah, it is pretty cool to see how our community is, and how we’re all growing, and how we’re all on the same journey together, and all achieving, going after the same goal. But the core root of everybody is this strong, go-getter mentality. And you can see the ones that, you know, have the excuses. You know, I pop into the community. “Aw, man, they’re not gonna last! They’re not gonna last!

– Not everybody will, right?

– Yup, exactly.

– Everybody has to do it on their own time, and you can’t force somebody to do somethin’, and that’s where the commitment takes place, and you know, the determination. And once you have that, you know, you’re writing your own pages there. This is your journey and you have to walk it, you have to live it, and that’s what makes the difference.

– Exactly, amen, amen. Where did you first hear about WarriorBabe?

– So I told you I tried all these programs, right? I was on Facebook and your ad popped up, and I’m like, I told myself I wasn’t doing anything else. I’m not joining any more programs. I’m not trying anything else. I’m just gonna keep doin’-

– Every woman’s thought process.

– Yeah. You know, you popped up, , I swiped you up. I was like, “I ain’t watchin’ this.” And then damn thing came back on my page again!

– You fell into my algorithm.

– I did! So I was like, “All right, let me watch it.” And then from there, that’s where I started losin’ my sleep because I was like, “Okay, let me watch it.” Then I ended up watching it, and I watched the whole thing. Then I was like, “Oh she told me “I was gettin’ something at the end.” Right? And I was like, “Okay.” I don’t know, I probably watched, like, three different ads, right? So next thing I know, it was like I couldn’t sleep. I was just like, “Oh, man, “this is exactly what I’m lookin’ for. “This program, she’s gonna teach me all this stuff. “She’s gonna give me some coaching. “Oh my God, this is everything I’m lookin’ for!” So I started gettin’ really excited. You know, my heart rate just start goin’. So next morning, I got up, and I just said, “I’m signin’ up.” I didn’t need anybody to talk to me or anything. I already knew I had my mind made up. I didn’t talk to my husband, I didn’t do anything. I just signed up. So I’m gonna say about a month later, I was in the program, and my husband’s like, “What are you doing? “Why are you going downstairs to get on some Zoom call? “Where you goin’?” And I was like, “Oh, yeah, by the way, I’m a WarriorBabe.” And he was like, “What, what? “You’re a what?” And I said, “I’m a WarriorBabe.” I said, “Yeah, I’m involved in this community “where there’s other women just like me, “and we’re on this journey.” And you know, I feel like I started becoming you on this commercial, right? I’m tellin’ him everything, and he’s like, “Okay.” And then, so he says, “Well, show me what you’re doin’.” And I showed him the program. His first response is, “Well, do they have a Warrior Dude?” And I’m like, “No, I’m sorry, don’t have Warrior Dude. “it’s just for babes.” And he was just like… I invited him to do my workouts with me, and he was just like, “Holy mackerel.” He didn’t say that, but… He was like, “What’d you do to me? I feel so sore!” He was like, “This hurts! “I’ve used muscles I didn’t know I had!”

– Oh, that’s hilarious!

– So, you know, yeah. So he didn’t have a clue what I was doin’ until, like, months later.

– That’s hilarious, that’s so funny, ’cause so many women are like, “I gotta talk to my husband. “I gotta see what,” right, right, right? And then you’re just like, “I want it, let’s go.”

– Yeah.

– They reap the rewards months later, right?

– He did.

– That’s so funny. So what piqued your interest the most? ‘Cause you’re like you couldn’t sleep. Next morning, you’re like, “I’m in.”

– Yeah, you know, it was just the knowledge that you was droppin’, and then the things that you were sayin’. I was like, “Okay, she’s gonna teach me about macros.” Now, I’ve heard that I can learn about macros, right? And that’s gonna make some differences in my diet and everything. And I’m like, “Okay, well, what do I do?” Before you, I was like, on Google search, looking for different macro tests, and find my body type, whatever. And I tell you what, I take the test seven times in 10 minutes, and I get different answers. I don’t know what to do, so it was frustrating. I was like, “Well, what do I follow?” You know? Then you say,” Oh, I’m gonna teach you this.” I’m like, “You’re gonna teach me? “Okay, you wanna teach me?” So I’m havin’ a conversation with you, and you don’t even know it!

– That’s hilarious.

– It’s true, though, it’s true, it’s honest-to-God true. This is how it went down in my head. And so we’re havin’ this conversation, and you’re like, “Yeah, I’m gonna teach you.” I’m like, “All right, I’m gonna give you a chance. “But if you don’t teach me, I’m outta here.”

– You’re so funny. Did I meet your expectations?

– You did! Over and beyond, you know? I’m tellin’ my girlfriends. I’m still tryin’ to get my girlfriend to do it, and she’s just like, “I am not counting my macros. “I am not trying .” Well, this is not for you.

– Well, the people that track macros get more results than the people that don’t.

– Yeah. She was like, “I’m not doin’ that. “I already know what I’m gonna eat.” I said, “Well, then, you know, “your program worked for you but it didn’t work for me. “I need something that’s gonna work for me.” And this is proven, you know? Through COVID, you have gotten me in the best shape I’ve been in since 2000-and-I-can’t-tell-you-when. 1999!

– All during COVID, you’ve had the best results you’d had.

– Oh, my gosh, yes! I’ve had the best results in my entire fitness journey. I started workin’ out in 2005. That’s when I really started working out and watching what I was doin’. Prior to that, you know, I’d go for a walk, and things like that. I had lost weight, but I wasn’t working out. My husband had scared me. When we first got married, he asked me to go to the gym with him. We were really young, I got married when I was 18 years old. And he took me to the gym with him and we did a leg workout. And the next day, I couldn’t walk, and I was afraid as hell. I was like, “If this is how it’s gonna feel, “I never want to feel this again.” And then 15 years later, I said, “All right, I’m ready to start working out,” no lie. And then, now, I’m in, well…

– Now you’re doing strength training, you know, four or five days a week.

– I’m a whole ‘nother woman now.

– That’s amazing. So describe what it means to be a WarriorBabe.

– Oh, my God. I would say that bein’ a WarriorBabe is… He said, “You must be the most focused person “I’ve ever known you to be right now.” So the focus of bein’ a WarriorBabe right now, has brought me to another level in my energy level, my spirit, just as a person. So that’s what WarriorBabe has done for me, and made me, made me a better person.

– That’s amazing.

– Yeah.

– That’s awesome. That’s so cool. That’s so cool to hear. Where do you feel like you got the most value from WarriorBabe? Like, what about the program gave you the most value?

– Definitely the mindset. And I would say, you know, definitely… I mean, it’s hard to say. Whole package, man. But definitely the mindset, the macros. Like, just givin’ myself the power to be able to enjoy things in life, food-wise, the coaching. You know, just you being there to support us. I’m so happy that I’m not on this journey by myself, where, you know, I don’t have someone to check in with. That, to me, is such a viable piece, and I hope it never goes away. You know, that’s what I like. I like that you’re there to help us be accountable. You’ve given us a community, everything! Nikkiey, I can’t say one thing over the other. I sleep more now because of you. I go to bed ’cause you’re like, “Oh, you need to get more sleep.” I’m like, “I need to watch this show on TV, though.” “No, put it back.” You know, it’s just different. Everything that you have preached to us, I take every bit, piece serious, so… Everything about this program, you know? The friendships that I’ve made outside of my own life, or where I am now, home in Maryland, the friendships that I’ve made through WarriorBabe. You know, I feel like some of these ladies, I know more about them than I do, you know, my friends here.

– That’s so cool.

– Yeah.

– That’s so cool.

– I can’t pinpoint one thing over the other. The whole process, the whole process.

– That’s awesome. That’s so cool. With the women that are listening right now, if you had to look at them in the eye and be like, “You need to become a WarriorBabe,” why should somebody listening right now take action?

– If you’re tired of bein’ where you are, and you’re ready to make that journey into a new you, I would say jump on it. Stop lookin’ back, move forward, put one foot in front of the other, and let the journey begin. Let the new you come out, let the new you start your life.

– Powerful, mic drop.

– It is.

– That is awesome, babe. This has been such a great interview. Your value, insight, everything you brought to the table, so good. So to close it off, what’s your favorite? ‘Cause everybody always loves and wants to see, like, meal or macro options. So what’s your favorite snack-slash-macro combo?

– This last month has been Eggo waffles, two Eggo waffles, and walnut butter. There’s this walnut butter, it’s called Oatmeal Cookie Dough. And I just put that on my warm waffles, let it melt. It’s like heaven. That’s my late-night snack.

– That is amazing. Oh, my God! May have to share with the community what this-

– I will.

– Yeah, what this is. And then what’s your favorite muscle group to be worked out?

– I would say shoulders and biceps.

– Nice, I think every-

– Need to be workin’ on my tush, but that’s not my favorite one right now.

– Which one, your tush?

– I said I need to be workin’ on them legs a little bit more, but…

– I think there’s one WarriorBabe that said that she enjoyed legs as her favorite workout.

– Now that the gym is open, I would say maybe it will transition, but workin’ out from home with the legs is not my favorite.

– Yeah. That’s awesome. Well, thank you, babe. This has been an awesome interview. I cannot wait. I’m hoping that tons of babes, they will get tons of value, tons of insight. And for those of you who want to learn more about the programs and about WarriorBabe, and what it offers you guys, and how to get started, you can go to WarriorBabe.com and become, like Valerie said, a part of thousands of women, strong women, a community of women. Even though there’s thousands of them, you make friends. Everybody knows what everybody’s doing, ’cause of our Q and As, they hear the on the Q and As. You can become a part of thousands of women who are getting toned and becoming stronger, more confident versions of themselves. Valerie, babe, thank you so much for being here today and sharing your journey, sharing your story, giving value and providing insight. It was awesome.

– Thanks, Nikkiey. Thank you for the opportunity.

– Yeah. All right, guys, see ya.