Advertise on podcast: Results Not Typical

Do you wonder where your family's traits and medical history came from? Are you looking for insight on your chronic illness and where it might have stemmed from? In this episode, Nikki chats with professional genealogist and storyteller Joanna Tiger to explore the fascinating intersection of family history, DNA, and personal health.   Topics covered   How paper trails and DNA tests work together to uncover hidden family narratives The connection between ancestral trauma, genetics, and modern physical and mental health challenges Why knowing your family's history can help you better self advocate in medical settings   Connect with Joanna Tiger Instagram: @ourchives.co Website: https://www.ourchives.co/ Connect with Nikki Naab-Levy Instagram: @naablevyfitness Website: naablevy.com Get your FREE personalized strength plan! Naablevynaablevy.com/free-strength-plan Get your free macros and calories calculator + guide: NaablevyMacros Made Simple - NaabLevy Episode timestamps   00:00 | Paper Trails and DNA: How to to build and understand your family tree 06:12 | Connecting chronic illnesses to ancestral roots 13:08 | Intergenerational trauma and your DNA 18:59 | How newspaper archives can give you insight on your family's medical and mental health 27:14 | Preparing yourself for family stories that may not match the narrative you were told 33:59 | Using family history to advocate for your health

Traditional physical therapy often doesn't work as well for common hypermobility challenges and comorbidities, such as POTS / dysautonomia, chronic fatigue, pain, and joint instability. However, physical therapy is important for symptom management and improving quality of life.   In this episode, Nikki is joined by physical therapist Dr. Morgan who specializes in a whole-body approach for treating hypermobility related challenges and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Topics covered:   What is POTS and how it relates to symptomatic hypermobility and hEDS. Different physical therapy interventions for POTS and dysautonomia. How the thoracic spine and rib cage connect to the autonomic nervous system and may influence POTS symptoms. Why standard physical therapy protocols sometimes fail POTS patients and alternative approaches if these protocols don't work well for you.   Connect with Morgan Groover Instagram: @morgan.groover.dpt Website: https://app.movement-x.com/physical-therapists/morgan-groover Connect with Nikki Instagram: @naablevyfitness Website: naablevy.com Get your FREE personalized strength plan! Naablevynaablevy.com/free-strength-plan Get your free macros and calories calculator + guide: NaablevyMacros Made Simple - NaabLevy   00:00 Introduction and defining POTS and dysautonomia   15:07 | Why traditional physical therapy may not work as well for people with symptomatic hypermobility and hEDS   19:15 | The relationship between the thoracic spine (mid and upper back), nervous system, and POTS or dysautonomia symptoms   28:49 | Navigating the mental and physical challenges that come with flare-ups 39:35 | Why we need to focus on more than the rib flare if we're having pain or symptoms 43:10 | The vestibular system and how it relates to dizziness and migraines  50:34 | Customizing recovery protocols Like CHOP

In this episode, Nikki is joined by financial therapist and yoga teacher Tammy Shweiger to talk about why money is so emotional and the surprising overlap between improving your relationship with money, movement, and behavior change. Topics covered: Why struggling with money doesn't mean you're bad at math or lack discipline How small steps and self-compassion can make your finances feel less overwhelming. How slowing down before an impulse purchase and paying attention to your values can help you make more supportive financial decisions.  How our early experiences, relationships, comparison and the financial rules we've internalized may influence how we spend or save money without us realizing it. Why the numbers only tell part of the story and how understanding the emotions behind your financial choices can help you change your behavior with less shame and rigidity. Connect with Tammy Shweiger Instagram: @moneycoachtammy Website: tammyshweiger.com Connect with Nikki Instagram: @naablevyfitness Website: naablevy.com Get your FREE personalized strength plan! naablevy.com/free-strength-plan Get your free macros and calories calculator + guide: naablevy.com/macro-guide Episode Timestamps: 03:16 | Why we avoid looking at our finances and how to make getting started less overwhelming. 06:37 | How to manage impulse spending without cutting out everything you enjoy. 09:46 | Why changing your financial habits takes time and what to do when you have a setback. 16:46 | Why your budget needs to reflect your priorities, values and life. 22:15 | Why changing your money habits can feel uncomfortable, even when the change is good for you. 25:42 | How comparison and the money beliefs you learned growing up can influence your spending in the present.  32:24 | How your partner, family and friends can influence the way you spend money. 34:38 | Why understanding your finances requires looking at more than just the numbers.

In this episode, Nikki is joined by Nutrition & Behavior Change Coach Greg Sutton to talk about discipline, why the fitness industry's "no excuses" version of it can backfire, and the psychological skills that actually help us reach our long term goals.  Topics covered: Why discipline isn't a well-defined construct in psychology and why this matters when we apply it to our own lives. Why pushing through pain, injury, burnout or flare-ups isn't actually discipline, even when fitness culture tells us it is. How all-or-nothing thinking can lead to overdoing it, pain, injury and burn out. Why self-regulation matters if you want to make progress while dealing with injuries, chronic illness, pain or a body that doesn't always cooperate. The role of acceptance in making progress and why acceptance isn't the same thing as giving up.  Connect with Greg Sutton Greg's Instagram: @coach.greg.sutton Evolve to Excel Instagram: @evolvetoexcel Website: evolvetoexcel.com Connect with Nikki Instagram: @naablevyfitness Website: naablevy.com Get your FREE personalized strength plan! Naablevynaablevy.com/free-strength-plan Get your free macros and calories calculator + guide: NaablevyMacros Made Simple - NaabLevy Episode Timestamps: 02:00 | What does discipline actually mean? 05:34 | Why the "all gas, no brakes" approach isn't discipline. 09:20 | When pushing through leads to injury, burnout and worse long-term outcomes. 15:42 | The role of cognitive flexibility in being disciplined.  17:30 | Doing less when you're dealing with chronic illness, pain or flare-ups. 18:40 | How all-or-nothing thinking and rigidity affect our approach to fitness. 25:26 | Why adapting, resting and accepting where you are can move you toward your goals.

In this episode, Nikki is joined by nutrition and fitness coach Carissa Stewart to talk about why exercising consistently is hard, especially when you're hypermobile, chronically ill or have a complicated body.     Topics covered: Why motivation matters, how chronic pain can reinforce the tendency to avoid exercise, and what you can do about it. Why treating exercise like a habit can set us up to struggle MORE with consistency and what to do instead. How flare plans and exercise substitutions help you continue to move forward if you experience body challenges.  How to adapt your workout with less mind drama when you experience pain, injury, or flare-ups. How to measure progress if you're hypermobile or chronically ill beyond weight lifted, sets, and reps.    Connect with Carissa Stewart Instagram: @carissaleighcoaching Connect with Nikki Naab-Levy Instagram: @naablevyfitness Website: naablevy.com Get your FREE personalized strength plan: https://naablevy.com/find-your-perfect-strength-plan-quiz/ Get your free macros and calories calculator + guide: https://naablevy.com/macro-guide/ Episode Timestamps: 03:26 | Extrinsic vs. intrinsic motivation and why "you just need discipline" is wrong 06:02 | Why motivation more complicated when exercise causes pain and symptoms 12:56 | Why exercise isn't a habit (and what it actually is) 15:01 | Why exercise may take additional mental effort if you're neurodivergent 17:08 | Using backup plans and exercise substitutions, so a flare-up doesn't derail your workout 24:52 | How to adapt your workout when your body isn't cooperating without the mental spiral 32:20 | How to measure progress when you have a complicated body 44:04 | How to ask for help after bad experiences and set expectations with friends and family

Ever been told that reformer footwork is the equivalent of a barbell squat? Or that adding a dumbbell to your Pilates workout counts as strength training?  In this episode, Nikki is joined by mechanical engineer and Pilates teacher Kaleen Canevari to discuss the physics of Pilates spring resistance and the potential applications of Pilates and strength training through the lens of exercise science.  Topics covered: Why springs get heavier the longer they're stretched and how that resistance will change based on the height of your client and the exercise being performed. The math behind a reformer spring vs a free weight (e.g. a dumbbell or barbell) and how that influences the amount of weight that you're moving during an exercise. The difference between progressing movement complexity and progressing in how much weight you can move during an exercise.  Why new movers often make strength gains early in their Pilates practice and how this may change as they become more advanced. Why standing on a reformer with a dumbbell is not a good replacement for strength training if your goals are to increase bone density, strength, or muscle mass. Why it's difficult to track Pilates based metrics and what that might look like in the future. Connect with Kaleen Canevari Instagram:@kaleenc_ Website: Pilatesphysics.com Connect with Nikki Instagram: @naablevyfitness Website: naablevy.com Get your FREE personalized strength plan! Naablevynaablevy.com/free-strength-plan Get your free macros and calories calculator + guide: NaablevyMacros Made Simple - NaabLevy

In this episode, Nikki is joined by PA and nutrition coach Stormy Weather to talk what it's like to be a hypermobile competitive athlete and navigating the medical system with hypermobility, POTS, and MCAS. Topics covered: Why being high-functioning and athletic often works against you when you're trying to get support from medical providers. The mindset shifts required to train at a high level while also accommodating the symptoms and limitations that hypermobility presents with. Why it's so difficult to get treatment and care within the medical system when you have symptomatic hypermobility. Connect with Stormy Weather Stormy's Instagram: @stormywtr Show Your Work Nutrition Instagram: @showyourworknutrition Website: https://www.showyourwork.net/ Connect with Nikki Naab-Levy Instagram: @naablevyfitness Website: naablevy.com Get your FREE personalized strength plan! Naablevynaablevy.com/free-strength-plan Get your free macros and calories calculator + guide: NaablevyMacros Made Simple - NaabLevy Episode Timestamps: 00:00 | Stormy's background: PA, nutrition coach, and competitive masters athlete  05:38 | Modifying your training goals as a competitive athlete with symptomatic hypermobility and long Covid  08:39 | The boom-bust training cycle: managing flares without losing your fitness  16:17 | Experiences with MCAS, dysautonomia, and potential medication options for hypermobility comorbidities  30:34 | Low dose naltrexone: How it works and why it's gaining traction for hypermobility  38:07 | Getting care on the fringes when the standard system has nothing for you  40:08 | Navigating the medical system with hypermobility  53:35 | Options to managing rib subluxations

In this episode, Nikki is joined by a roundtable of coaches and movement teachers to unpack the America's Next Top Model documentary and how it applies to the fitness industry.  They discuss:  The impact of America's Next Top Model on body image and beauty standards How harmful industry norms are justified and perpetuated under the guise of "that's just how it is" Parallels between reality TV and the fitness industry, including transformation culture and exploitative marketing The influence of early 2000s media vs modern social media on shaping our beliefs around our bodies, food, and "success" Why as fitness professionals we should challenge misinformation and create better standards for marketing Connect with Adrienne Johnson Instagram: @thelionesstouch Website: https://www.thelionesstouch.com/ Connect with Steph Gaudreau Instagram: @steph_gaudreau Website: https://www.stephgaudreau.com/ Connect with Greg Sutton & Vanessa Zingaro Instagram: @evolvetoexcel Website: https://evolvetoexcel.com/ Connect with Nikki Naab-Levy Instagram: @naablevyfitness Website: naablevy.com Get your FREE personalized strength plan: Naablevynaablevy.com/free-strength-plan Get your free macros and calories calculator + guide: NaablevyMacros Made Simple - NaabLevy #ResultsNotTypical, #FitnessMyths, #ANTM, #BodyImageIssues, #HealthAndFitnessIndustry, #ToxicBeautyStandards, #Hypermobility, #FitnessPodcast, #RealityTVCritique, #StrengthTrainingForWomen

What if the advice you've been getting on Instagram about body neutrality, body positivity, and "just love yourself" is making it harder to foster positive body image? In this episode, Nikki is joined by behavior change and nutrition coach Sarah Tierney to unpack what body image actually is from an evidence based standpoint, why the pop culture version of it often misses the mark, and how to foster positive body image - even if it feels inaccessible to you right now Topics covered:   What body image is from an evidence based perspective Body neutrality vs positive body image and why it's important to understand the difference Why positive body image doesn't mean loving yourself 24/7 How to handle body image disruptions without spiraling into unhelpful eating behaviors What autonomous weight loss actually looks like How to build body appreciation when chronic illness makes "appreciate what your body can do" feels patronizing or not possible Connect with Sarah Tierney   Instagram: @sarahmichelletierney Website: https://hardhousenutrition.com/   Connect with Nikki   Instagram: @naablevyfitness Website: naablevy.com Get your FREE personalized strength plan: Naablevynaablevy.com/free-strength-plan FREE Macros Guide: https://naablevy.com/macro-guide/

Tired of feeling like a failure because you can't stick to your macros? What if the problem isn't your willpower, but the shit advice you've been given? In this episode, Nikki is joined by strength and nutrition coach Natalie Guevara to talk about why rigid tracking and "bounce back" culture often backfires for busy parents.  Topics covered: Navigating mom guilt and unrealistic expectations about who we're "supposed" to be. Why flexible dieting and macro tracking often miss the point if you're struggling with exhaustion, emotional eating, or burn out.  How living in flight or fight affects our decision making and impacts our ability to change our behaviors PCOS, infertility, and the medical system's long history of dismissing women's health concerns Connect with Natalie Guevara Instagram: @nataliebrookeguevara Connect with Nikki Sign up for the FREE 5 day nutrition challenge: naablevy.com/free-nutrition-challenge Instagram: @naablevyfitness Episode Timestamps: 00:00 | Intro and why rigid fitness plans fail busy moms 06:54 | Debunking "bounce back" culture 10:20 | The impact of the invisible load of motherhood 12:08 | The role of your nervous system in nutrition choices 15:31 | Why macro tracking may not be the best solution for health or fat loss goals 25:07 | How to move through perfectionism and all or nothing thinking 47:22 | How to balance fitness and nutrition goals with being a parent

Are you worried that your diet is harming your mental health or have you been told that cutting out gluten will cure your depression or ADHD?   In this episode, Nikki welcomes Nicole Lippman-Barile, Ph.D, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in OCD, anxiety, and depression to talk about what the current research suggests about the role of nutrition in mental health.   They discuss:   How unscientific nutrition claims are spread and monetized on social media. What the current literature can tell us about the impact of dietary interventions on depression and anxiety. Myths surrounding sugar, gluten, gut health, and ADHD. Why elimination diets may be harmful to mental health if not approached thoughtfully.   Connect with Nicole Lippman-Barile, Ph.D. Instagram: @feedyourmental Website: feedyourmental.com Webinar: Diet and Mental Health: Evidence, Implications, and Clinical Applications   Connect with Nikki Instagram: @naablevyfitness Website: naablevy.com Get your FREE personalized strength plan! https://naablevy.com/free-strength-plan

Have you been told you shouldn't lift weights because of your hypermobility or EDS? Are exhausted by all the conflicting information about what's safe for your joints and what isn't? In this episode, Nikki chats with Dr. Taylor Goldberg, a chiropractor turned virtual hypermobility coach who specializes in working with people with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD). Together they dig into how to build strength, manage flares, and move with less fear. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the advice to "avoid heavy weights" often makes hypermobility symptoms worse How to use flare tracking to identify triggers and warning signs When manual therapy helps vs. when it may create more instability Why hEDS is not a progressive disorder and why that's important to know. How to start strength training if you have symptomatic hypermobility and are concerned about pain and injury. Pilates vs strength training and why understanding the differences matters. How to find a tolerable entry point for exercise. Episode timestamps: 00:00: Intro to Dr. Taylor Goldberg and episode overview 05:13: Considerations for hypermobility, manual therapy, and neck adjustments 10:53: Best practices for navigating tightness and flare-ups 26:16: Hypermobility fitness myths & Pilates vs strength training 34:12: How to start strength training safely when you're concerned about pain and injury 48:21: Resources, building a care team, how to connect with Taylor Connect with Dr. Taylor Goldberg: Instagram: @thehypermobilechiro Website: https://thehypermobilechiro.com Hypermobility Clinician Course: https://thehypermobilechiro.com/clinicians/ Connect with Nikki: Instagram: @naablevyfitness Website: naablevy.com Take this quick quiz to get your FREE personalized strength plan: https://naablevy.com/find-your-perfect-strength-plan-quiz/ Get your free macros and calories calculator + guide: https://naablevy.com/macro-guide/

In this episode, Nikki chats with nutrition, exercise, and behavior change coach Sarah Grajeda about the intersection of food, politics, and body image and how the online culture of food wars and nutrition misinformation have made it harder to take care of ourselves.    They discuss:   What you should know about processed foods when it comes to your health. Why the social determinants of health matter more than food dyes.  The predatory nature of influencer marketing and supplement sales. Why nutrition can often feel so overwhelming and complicated. Perimenopause, brain fog, and why habits matter. Skinnytok and the influence of social media on how we view ourselves.   Connect with Sarah Instagram: @sarah.grajeda_ Website: https://sarahgrajedafitness.com/ Connect with Nikki Instagram: @naablevyfitness Website: naablevy.com Learn more about nutrition coaching and save $300 + get your early action bonus! https://naablevy.com/nutrition-coaching-black-friday/

Are you constantly being told to fix your posture, but still dealing with chronic pain?   Do traditional physical therapy exercises feel ineffective or even make your hypermobile joints feel worse?   What if joint instability was only part of the story, and your nervous system was the key to finding pain relief?   If so, that's exactly what we get into in this episode where strength and nutrition coach Nikki Naab-Levy chats with Kate Bacigalupo, a physical therapist who specializes in hypermobility and scoliosis and co-founder of the Elements Collective about navigating pain with hypermobility and scoliosis.   Topics covered: Why the "traditional" physical therapy model is often poorly suited for individuals with complex chronic pain and hypermobility. The role of proprioceptive feedback, closed-chain exercises, and strength work in creating a sense of safety and stability in hypermobile bodies. The difference between a hypermobile joint and an unstable joint, and why treating hypermobility as solely instability often fails patients. The correlation between hypermobility and scoliosis and what we currently know. Why pain management with scoliosis is more than trying to achieve "perfect" posture. How central sensitization and medical trauma contribute to the chronic pain experience and strategies to support your body if you have chronic pain. Connect with Kate Instagram: @thehyperphysio_kate Website: https://www.elementscollectiveny.com/ Connect with Nikki & Resources Mentioned Instagram: @naablevyfitness Website: naablevy.com Take the 1 minute quiz to get your free personalized strength workouts Get your free macros and calories calculator + guide

Are you worried about ruining your progress during the holidays? Do you get stuck in the cycle of starting over every January? Want to enjoy holiday treats without feeling out of control? If so, then this episode is for you. In this episode, Nikki chats with fitness and nutrition coach Brooks Hurbis about different ways to approach fitness, nutrition, and fat loss over the holidays without falling into the common traps of over restriction, over indulgence, or feeling like you have to start over in January. They discuss: How to recognize the most common all or nothing holiday mindset traps of giving up until January vs. white knuckling abstinence and what to do instead. Strategies to enjoy Christmas cookies and holiday treats without feeling like you've been bad or are "off plan." Why moments of "failure" are opportunities to learn and make more supportive choices in the future. The importance of eating for real life versus having a dieting mentality even when you have a fat loss goal, especially during the holidays. The benefits of eating at maintenance during the holidays and alternatives to tracking for making goal and health supportive choices. The role of your environment on nutrition choices and ways to manage your surroundings so follow through feels easier. Connect with Brooks Follow Brooks on Instagram: @sweat.simple Visit Brooks's website: sweatsimpleco.com  Connect with Nikki Grab your free personalized macros calculator & guide! Take the 1 minute quiz to get your free strength plan based on your results. Follow Nikki on Instagram: @naablevyfitness Visit Nikki's website: naablevy.com   Links mentioned Listen to the Biggest Loser Podcast episode