Latest / The Unsexy Businessmen / Why Working Harder Doesn’t Fix Health With Shalese King

Transcript

Why Working Harder Doesn’t Fix Health With Shalese King · The Unsexy Businessmen

• Alex: Welcome to another edition of the Unsexy Podcast where we talk about the unsexy side of everything. And today we have on with us Shalise King. Shalice and I go back a little over a year. And the reason that we wanted to bring her on the show today is in those conversations that her and I had, there was a lot of things regarding health, foods that we eat, things that we can't eat, right? Shalise, with the Shalese: Yeah, yeah. Alex: things that you have, dietary restrictions. And Shalese: Yeah. Alex: so thought it would be perfect to have Shalice on to go. over how she's gone about enriching her life through health related things. So I just want to open it up to you really quick, Shalise, like what led to you caring about your health? Shalese: Ooh, great question. first of all, I'm excited to be here. I feel super un underqualified to speak on like health and wellness, but I'm like, it's okay, great, good. As long as we're all in this together. Alex: Just like just like we are. Aaron: Yes. Shalese: yeah, I mean, gosh, where does it begin? growing up, I feel like I grew up in like your normal 90s household where like, you know, there's always ice cream in the freezer and soda in the pantry and But also mom did great at like providing well-rounded meals and lots of casseroles and I don't know, just a normal like ignorance is bliss. I feel like that era of you just didn't know like what food did what to your body. Something like gluten intolerance was like not heard of. just a normal growing up and I just kind of felt sick all the time. I had strep throat like multiple times a year, every year, and I always looked pregnant even as like a teenager, just like bloated and uncomfy. But I'm like, this is this is it. This is childhood. This is this this is the good life, you know. Alex: Ha ha ha. Shalese: and but I was always like active. I played sports not well. I was the best bench warmer that my seventh grade basketball team had to offer. I took that role very seriously and quit after that. played Aaron: Yeah. Shalese: soccer, ran around thinking I was like a cross between like Pocanus and a pioneer. Just very active and always what I like to call like fluffy, puffy. Just didn't understand why I always weighed like and it at that stage in the game in seventh grade it really matters if you weigh like five pounds more than your peers. and so I don't know, I feel like it was probably in seventh, eighth grade that I became aware of like health and like, okay, I'm really gonna do this. So like I had a best friend that we would like go sprint a mile and do like a hundred sit ups and like That was let's see, hopefully that doesn't keep dinging. If it does, I can mess with it. But that was my like big workout routine and I just couldn't figure out why it that didn't work and like maybe eating like one piece of pizza a day and like you know couldn't figure Aaron: Yes. Shalese: out why the six pack wasn't there. but I think that's where I first became like aware of health. and then when I was eighteen I went to a witch doctor is what my pharmacist father calls her, but she was Unfortunately, she was right about everything. Like we went in, it was my mom and I, and we like held these vials. This is maybe like an unsexy, like right, held these vials and your arm in the air and we're doing muscle Aaron: Yes. Alex: This is the first Shalese: testing and I'm like looking at my mom, like, are we doing it right? And like we told we came out and we told my dad, Hey, bad news, we're allergic to gluten. I was allergic to dairy at the time and almonds, which I thought was ironic because I'm not a picky eater, but my mom was like always pushing like almonds are good for you. And I'm like, I don't for some reason I don't like I'm allergic to So if that makes more sense. it was I know, it was it was dark days back then. Alex: killing me. Aaron: I thought I thought you were gonna make bad news dad. Turns out I'm a witch. Alex: Ha ha ha. Shalese: I'm a witch. Well, I mean I am now, but like that's a that's another podcast. No, just kidding. Aaron: Ha ha. Shalese: but yeah, so unfortunately she was right. She was spot on. And so I went off gluten and dairy and almonds immediately and thought I was gonna starve to death, but like lost, you know, five pounds overnight basically. I think probably in inflammation and swelling. Felt immediately better. and it was rough. It this was back when it was like not cool. To be allergic to gluten. It's kind of like trended and people are like, it's I'm allergic, you know. And I'm like, I love that because it's made like the world like evolve and like more more products, more options. Like it's it's easy. Yeah, Aaron: Accepting. Yeah. Yeah. Alex: Yeah, they add gluten free options on the menus. Shalese: yeah, it's easy now, but then it was not cool. So I just about starved to death. The first cake I ever had was garbanzo bean flour. Do not recommend, you know, just just stuff like that. The garbage of like I served a mission in the MTC, they called me. Basura, which in Spanish means garbage, 'cause my food looked so bad. They're like, It looks like garbage food. They just called me like surah for short. Like that's kind of like Aaron: Yeah. Shalese: the that Alex: Wait. Shalese: was my journey of like becoming gluten free and just like, no, I'm a garbage now. It's cool, but I feel better. Aaron: That's your hazing Alex: I thought it was hard in seventh and eighth grade. Geez, the MTC coming for ya. Aaron: story. Your hazing story from the MTC. Yeah. Shalese: Yeah. Yeah. So it's I mean, it's a miracle. I've never had like an eating disorder or anything, with all of my fun food journeys, but and it's evolved. So I feel like that was kind of the rough start of it. Aaron: Cad can I ask you a question real quick? Did she did your witch doctor like how did she figure out you were allergic to anything? Shalese: so it's literally like it's muscle testing. So you hold like a vial of wheat. You ready? And you're like laying on your back and your arm is straight in the air. She's like, hold your arm strong. And like she'd push on it, and depending on your allergies, like your arm would either like give out or not. I know, I know it sounds crazy. There's a reason my dad is like, This is this is bullshit. Aaron: Did she did she also show you how to find water using a dividing rod? Alex: Ha ha. Shalese: She may have, and I just like forgot that part of it. She might have. But like after that I was like Yeah. Aaron: That's that's just that's interesting. Alex: W actually was she right about everything though? Like there wasn't like a thing she Shalese: Like she was spot on. And like I had been to traditional doctors and they're like, I don't know, maybe you have IBS, try an antacid. Maybe you have like this, try and like they were all wrong. And I was always just like sick. And then like one lady for like an obscene amount of money was like, Hey, let me touch your arm for a little bit. I think you're allergic to some shit. And I was like, yeah. Aaron: Interesting. Shalese: So and she was she was spot on, like spot, spot on. And every like I'd feel like once a year in the beginning, I'd like see like maybe she was wrong. Like maybe I'll just like have a cinnamon roll and like, you know, find out if I'm still allergic. Aaron: Yeah. Test it. Yeah. Shalese: No, but she was right. The projectile vomit. Alex: I know that I know that you've moved. Like, do you visit her anymore? Like do you like or or do you visit any witch doctors? Shalese: No, no. I like I should write her a thank you note and just say, like, hey, you changed my life. It's been quite a few years. But I have been I have been to a few other witch doctors since then. And they've all been right. I hate that, but they're always right. Aaron: Ha ha ha. Alex: Yeah. Shalese: But I think too, like, I think it's a balance. Like my growing up in a household like where my dad was a pharmacist and my mom became like more of this like natural path. I do feel like I have this like blend of like I remember and with all the love in my heart, 'cause maybe my mom will listen to this and tell me I'm cool. but she I remember like she was like, Maybe like maybe you should just like rub some oregano on your feet instead of getting your tonsils out. Like I was having like major, major problems with my tonsils and I'm like, No, I think this is like where like surgery comes in, like we just need to get those out of here. And same with gallbladder had issues with that and I was like, maybe you could do this or dietary or whatever. I'm like, I think this is where the surgeon yeets those out of my body and like we're just be done with it. So I am I feel like balanced. Like I'm not afraid of like prescription meds and modern medicine and blood work. But I'm also like, all right, touch my arm a bit and like see what comes from, you know, like I don't know. So yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. Aaron: You're open minded. Yeah. Yeah. Alex: Yeah. Yeah, like let's remove the black bile, yellow bile, blood, let's make sure those are all balanced too. Well well that's wild. So but so you figure Aaron: Yeah. Alex: that out when you're eighteen. Shalese: Yeah. Alex: so but then your mission people are calling you trash, in Spanish. So it's nicer. It's just like when they call you gordito. Shalese: Yeah, yeah. Uhhuh. Yeah. Aaron: Where did you serve? So is a Spanish Yeah. Shalese: Yeah ex they called me that too. I served in Spain and so they they called me Gordita, which I thought was nice because at least I wasn't like the full like La Gorda. There was one of those too. She was like quite a bit bigger than me. I was just gordita. Just like the little fat girl. So it was it was nice. So but yeah, I mean, I think you just kind of throw health and wellness out the window, on your mission and you just stress. That was Aaron: Yes. Shalese: my methodology to the mission. you know, you have a hard day, you come home just Alex: Especially in Spain. Shalese: Like eat a full thing of brownie batter, just you know. Aaron: How did you how did you handle that though? Like being like are do you have celiacs or are you just gluten intolerant? Shalese: It's somewhere in between. I think as I've gotten older, it's gotten a little I've gotten more sensitive. But I'm not also like there are people out there that like if your partner eats gluten and then you kiss them, you're like laid out. I'm not that girl. Aaron: Yeah. Yeah. Shalese: I do like a grandmother have like a little little thing of pills in my purse, like gluten enzyme that I'll take when I go, you know, out to eat or whatever just for funsies. Aaron: Yeah. Yeah. Shalese: but actually it was easier in Spain. I feel like Europe in general is easier to do things like gluten. It is a genetic disease, condition, whatever. and so it started in European countries. And so I feel like they're a bit ahead of the times when it comes to gluten. And I think their food has modified less than American food as well. And so I remember in the MTC actually had major, major issues with it. I was so sick and went to the doctor a bunch of times. and he was like, Well, I don't know, maybe we're gonna need to like change your calling to somewhere stateside until we can figure this out. You better believe I was cured overnight. I like, I'm never coming back here. I'm not going to like Montana. Yeah. Yeah. Like I feel much better, in fact. I'm I'm Alex: I'm fine. Aaron: We got a great North Salt Lake mission that just opened up. We should get you over there. Alex: Hate. Shalese: leaving now. I'm going. and I was I'm glad that I did. Like I kind of figured it out in the MTC. But once I got over to Spain, it was like they had way more options as far as like gluten free brands and they just eat a better diet, I think, than Americans as far as like fresh fruits, vegetables, meats. Yes, I managed still to obtain parasites in Spain, but I think that was from the African household that I ate. Like Yeah. You can't not Aaron: It's also part of the journey. Everyone does. Like when you go to the yeah, when you're not on st not stateside, but like if you did you even serve a mission if it if you didn't get some sort of parasite? No. No, you didn't. Yeah. Shalese: Right. If you didn't come home with a rash, missing some appendage and Alex: Yeah. Shalese: to Paris, I like, were you even having a good time? Probably not. So but yeah, so that was kind Alex: so so that Shalese: of the mission journey, but easier out there. For sure, easier. I remember when I came home and a couple of years after I'd been home, one of the European brands like of bread, I saw it in a store. I literally cried. I was so excited. I was like, Great, my life is not over. So But these days it's evolved so much, like there's so many options, so it's not even a big deal. Alex: Yeah, do what what do you you don't have to give like take us through like your seven day what you eat or everything like that, but Shalese: Great. Alex: for all of our gluten intolerant or celiacs listeners, there's at least one Shalese: Yeah. Alex: of them. I guarantee our numbers are growing. There has to be percentage wise at least it's gonna be Shalice. Shalese: It's gotta be Aaron: Well, we have a we have a cousin. Well, we have a cousin that has celiac disease. And so she struggled kind of similar with you, but like nowadays. She like brought this like gluten free cake that she made. It was really good. Like you could make really good food now. I maybe you always could, but it's yeah, she's she's kind of mastered it. Shalese: Yeah. Yeah. No, you couldn't. There was a time when it was like it was known for being like grainy and gross and like the texture was off and but yeah, and I feel like some people yeah, Aaron: Yes. Mm-hmm. Alex: Asura. Shalese: but I know these days I feel like it's evolved a ton. yeah, I mean gosh, in regards to like food I'm like, what is my normal diet? Protein. I am not allergic to dairy. Apparently, if you strengthen your gut, all of a sudden you're able to eat more things. And so like dairy and I are fine. and so like I'll still, I don't know, protein shake in the morning. I do like I I was thinking about this actually and coming onto this podcast because I think one of the things that is important is like moderation. Whether you have like celiac or you're trying to do like an anti-inflammatory diet or whatever, I think moderation is so like I'll go through phases like clean simple eats. I don't know if you guys are familiar with those cookbooks, but that was a super helpful resource in kind of figuring out like what does a plate look like? Like a healthy, proportioned plate as far as your carbs, your proteins, all of those. So I don't think there's any food group other than gluten that I've like and almonds, those are dangerous too, that I've like fully eliminated. and so it it varies. Like sometimes I feel like I do need more carbs, sometimes I do Hit a little harder on like protein. but I still love a sweet treat too. Like, I don't know, that doesn't answer your question very well. Alex: So well yeah, but so I guess my qu follow up to that would be do you track Shalese: Yeah. Alex: like do you are you tracking your macros? Are you tracking your calorie intake or have you gotten to the I feel it? You just made Aaron very, very upset. Shalese: No, not at all. Yeah, so great, great question too, because I think so Aaron: Yeah. Shalese: I feel like I used to be way, way, way more dialed in. as I've evolved like, you know, mission and now fast forward 1500 years is what it feels like. I probably just Aaron: Yeah. Shalese: with some mic, I have discovered the joy of GLPs, right? GLP ones. And so that has helped a ton. But I think that going through that period of my life where I was super dialed in, way aware of like my macros and my protein intake and all of all of that has helped me with like this version of me that's way more just like loosey-goosey and just kind of like knows what a plate should look like. There's so much more of just like gentle moderation and less stress now in my life because my insulin levels are regulated. And so I don't anymore. But I have gone through periods where I was super dialed in, whether it like paleo or macros and just been kind of a a crazy about it. But I don't know that that's sustainable either. Aaron: Yeah. So you you mentioned yes, you mentioned GLP Alex: And then you also just mentioned GLP once? sorry. Aaron: ones. I have the same question. When did you when and it's fine, like Alex Shalese: Yeah, yeah. Wait, wait a minute. Alex: Yeah. I had no idea. Aaron: and I have the same opinion on it. It's like Shalese: Mm. Aaron: whatever tools you need to use, as long as you're using those tools correctly. When did you get started on GLP ones? Shalese: Yes, so I started gosh probably two two-ish, two and a half years ago, maybe. Aaron: Okay. Shalese: I so I'm a collector of like the autoimmune things. I just think it's really neat and cool. So I like to just have as many as possible. So I'm allergic to gluten. I also have thyroid problems, that's a fun genetic one as well. And then I also have PCOS, which is polycystic ovarian syndrome. they've recently added an to it. I need to do some more research, but they added metabolic to it because they're realizing it's not a gylenic well, gynecological issue. Say that fast, you'll win. and so they're realizing it has more to do with like your insulin and metabolics, et cetera. So my doctor, I go to a like fairly, she's not full witch, right? She's functional. So she'll shall dabble in both, she'll dabble in vitamins. Alex: Sh Shalese: But she'll also dabble in like prescribed. Yeah. Exactly. Alex: half she's a half blood. She's Hermoyney Granger. Aaron: In in crystals. Shalese: She's muggle? Is that no, that's not right with half blood. Yeah, there Alex: I don't know what they call the ha I just I know they call them half breeds in Harry Potter. Shalese: you go. She's a half sea. but so she we tried, you know, a bunch of stuff, whether it was like diet exercise, different supplements, et cetera, to kind of manage PCOS, blood sugar, all of it, and a little progress, not a lotta. And finally she's like, I really think that you just need to try a GLP one. And I'm like, No. No, no, no, absolutely not. I'm not cheating. I'm really I'm a stubborn personality. I'm competitive only against myself. I'm like, no, I like I will outsmart this, I will outwork this, I will out hustle, but no, I'm not cheating, I'm not doing the skinny shot, is kind of just what I had in my brain when it came to to you know, semaglutide, a zympic, whatever. I'm not doing it. So she Aaron: Yeah. Yeah. Shalese: probably bugged me for about a year to do it. And finally I went through a divorce, I tore my Achilles. just life kinda shit hit the fan, like all of it, like together. Aaron: Yeah. Yeah. Shalese: And I couldn't do a lot of what I used to do, which was like outrun my emotions, go on a trail run or go to the gym and just like, you know, fight the demons. And I just had like I think tearing the Achilles, I really had to sit with everything, my emotions and and I gained a bunch of weight. Shocker. and so I feel like between like the weight gain, the inflammation, the depression, like all of it I was like, you know what? I don't, I literally don't care. I have no more pride left in my whole body. Give me the skinny shot, you know, whatever. And so I started semaglutide and realized quickly that it wasn't for me at least. Yes, I lost weight, but the benefits of with my PCOS specifically, massive. Like ovulation for me, like we're getting now we're getting into the weeds of it, but like ovulation was way more painful than like a period ever was because of these ovarian cysts. And the GLP one tackled that pain like the best that anything had ever done. And so cause most like doctors were like, here, try some birth control or try metformin or try this. And like, no, like there's so many issues with all of those. So that was kind of like the reason that I started it was, hey, I need to lose weight and also I've got this PCOS problem and I didn't understand like my insulin, et cetera. And she knew, she was like, We ran the blood work. She's like, You're insulin resistant. I'm like, I don't know what that means, but Great. So that's when and why I started. And I think I started it with like the anticipation or the like thought process, like I'm gonna use this for a minute, I'm gonna lose weight, and then I'm gonna get off of it because I'm better than that. And now I'm again pride out the window. You go through adult life and you're like, I don't care, and I'll be on it for life happily. So Aaron: Is is semiglutide like Alex: W just the pain alone. Aaron: is semi glutide like is one of the side effects the PCOS like taking care of that? Is that like a known thing or like an accidental Shalese: Yeah. I Aaron: great, it does this Alex: Yeah. Aaron: too. Shalese: It's more it's more known these days. I don't know then if it was known. And I'm I've transitioned. Aaron: Mm-hmm. Shalese: I've done semaglutide, I've done trusepatite, I've done REDA actually, and I'm back to trusetide, so I can kind of speak to all of them. Semaglutide had the most side effects hands down, like the nausea, constipation, all of that. Like that was pretty miserable kind of working with some of those. but I do feel like it was super, super effective for PCOS. And then transition to trisepatide, side effects almost non-existent, I would say. not quite as effective with PCOS pain, but still like worth it enough that I'm like, no, this is better. RETTA, which I feel like on paper, I don't know if you guys how much you know about RETA or talked about it, but Aaron: Yes. Yes. Shalese: on paper it makes the most sense as far as retaining muscle and like it should have the least amount of side effects, do maximum amount of benefits. I feel like in my case. I had a little more nausea and it didn't help with the PCOS as much, surprisingly. So Aaron: Interesting. I wonder too, like so Eli Lilly, who is the creator of Reta hasn't actually released it yet. It's all gray market stuff. Shalese: yeah. Aaron: I'm curious if once they actually release like the pure REDA, how much more effective it would be than Shalese: Yeah. Aaron: everything that we're all getting from China. All peptides come from China. Shalese: Yeah, I know. You mean my my twenty five year old dealer from the gym, like what he's able to obtain. Virginia. Yeah. yeah. yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Aaron: Yeah. That it that I'm sure he has all the COAs and everything making sure that it's all clean. Yeah. Yeah. Alex: Laced with a little fentanyl. Shalese: Yeah. Yeah. For sure. No, he's he's a solid dude. But I I wonder that too, as far as like yeah, no, I also I'll send you I'll send you his info after. Yeah. No, he's awesome. Alex: how is What's his name? No skidding. For anyone who's looking. Well how how has Aaron: Yeah. If anyone's looking Alex: like Aaron: there's literally thousands of websites you could you can go to do research and find stuff. They're all being sued by Eli Lilly, by the Shalese: I Yeah. Uh-huh. Yeah. But I I wondered Alex: Yeah. How's eating has it has it been easy to eat like cause I hear that's a common side effect where it's like hard to get 'cause you're you're very protein, sometimes carb conscious. Like, do you find hitting the well, I guess you're not hitting macros right now. Do you find it hard to like Shalese: yeah. I yeah. Alex: consume the right amount of food? Shalese: I think that I think that with anything, literally anything in life, you can go to those extremes. And I think like moderation, whether it's peptides or GLPs or, you know, tracking stuff, like you can I've seen plenty of really, really health healthy people. I'm like, you have an eating disorder. That's just a new age eating disorder. Or, you know, a lot of women will get on a GLP one and they're like, I look so skinny, I look so healthy. I'm like, you had a diet coke today. That's it. You're gonna die. Osteoporos that Alex: Yeah. Shalese: hip. Break is coming for you, probably in your forties, not your eighties. Aaron: Look at all the celebrities. All these celebrities that like look like they're on death's door but think they look great. Shalese: Yeah. Aaron: Like I think there's a reason there's it's called Osempic face for a reason because that's you Shalese: Yeah. Aaron: look like gaunt and unhealthy. So yeah, Shalese: Yeah. Aaron: I totally you're absolutely right. People can take things way to the extreme Shalese: Yeah. Aaron: and just because you got a a prescription for it doesn't make it less dangerous. Shalese: No, no. And it drives me nuts. Like I think that people are like, you know, whether they're going and finding it on their own or they're going to a doctor, but they're just not getting the education behind like like I saw this one girl like weeping on the internet and she's like, I didn't know that you could get osteoporosis from a Zempic. And I'm like, you can't. Aaron: Yeah. Alex: shit. Shalese: You can get osteoporosis from starvation, like concentration camp, also not good for your bones. Like it's that is not a like that's not how that works in gospel according to Aaron: Yes, right. Right. Yes. Yes. Yeah. It's pretty well established. Alex: Ha ha ha. Ha. Shalese: Yeah. So like I don't know. That that drives me nuts. So I think it's a balance of like getting the education, like and I think being so dialed in with like, hey, this is what a plate should look like. Like don't starve yourself. And just like knowing what that should look like. but then also like the right dosage. Like you can overdose on that and literally not eat at all and you're like, I'm fine. I don't know. I have like a twitch and like I have no cognitive function left, you Aaron: Yeah. Yeah. Shalese: know, like that's too much. But I think because I've been on it for so long, I found a sweet spot where I'm like, no, this is right, where like my PCOS is settled. And also I'm still hungry. And so like I still eat, like I'm hungry every day. I just don't have like that food noise. I can have a cookie, but not all the cookies. Aaron: Yes. Shalese: so I think yeah, finding like dosage and also like knowing visually what your plate should kind of look like. I think those have been helpful, helpful tools. Aaron: Yeah. And tracking everything. Shalese: Yeah. Track everything. Alex: Ha ha ha. Shalese: Yeah, I'm definitely I'm not a tracker. I'll go through like phases of like I don't know, like okay, this is like my fun protein I like getting in that's easy, but then I'll like rotate through stuff like Aaron: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Shalese: so I don't know if that answers that, but Alex: Yeah. What Aaron: It is Alex: what are some of like all of these decisions that you're making? Like what are some of your goals? I mean, I I think we've heard some of them, like the p PCOS, is that what it's called? Like the the limiting that amount of pain. Like what are some of like the yeah. What are like some of the goals that you're hoping to achieve Shalese: Yeah. Yeah. Not not be in pain. Yeah, not be in pain is one Alex: with everything? Shalese: honestly, I think just feeling good. Like I think, you know, pregnancy, man, that that'll do a number on you and just like the postpartum, like whether it's like weight or where you are, like mentally, emotionally, confidence, all of that plays a part, like woof. and so I think like at this point in my life I don't like somebody like the most flattering compliment I've ever heard was, Are you training for something? Like you you look like you're training for something, like And I was like, just the game of life. Like, you know, I've like I am training. I'm training Aaron: Think yes. Alex: Yes. Shalese: just to keep up with my children. I think that's what it is. Like, I want to live like a long, healthy, confident life. I wanna be able like I've just started, don't don't tell them, but the Vasa people, I've just started sneaking in my 10 year old. She's almost as tall as me. So I'm like, no, she can fast for twelve. So like she'll come to like dance fitness classes with me. but I wanna do stuff like that for like my whole life. I wanna be that. weird mom that's like still running, you know, the triathlon with her kids and like I can still go to Costco and carry the shit in the house and like I just want to like be able to like really live life and be really confident. I am like a single mom. So like I I had a I did a tummy tuck like a year and a half ago and my mom's like I and I don't know if you really like need to do that. Like you you're still fit. Like in clothes you look you look great and I'm like out her trying to seduce a man mom. Like, and so you know, like Aaron: Ha ha. Alex: Ha ha ha. Shalese: I can't, I can't just be in clothes all the time. So I think, you know, like being confident, like whether I was, you know, in a relationship or not, like I think it's important to like feel your best, be your best. Like, so I think just that's what I'm training for. That's what I'm doing. It's just like the game of life. But yeah, there's no like I I I'll do things for fun. Like, I want to run the w the women's epic. So I'll like train for that. But I don't think there's there's like, okay, when I I think it's dangerous to get into the like, okay, when I weigh this much, I'll be happy. Or when I can like bench this much, I'll be happy, or when I complete this triathlon and then I'll know I've made it. I'm like, nah, like life evolves and like weight fluctuates and you know, sometimes you tear an Achilles and get a divorce and it's like, how can we just like live life in a sustainable, healthy way that like there is no like I'll be happy when 'cause Yeah, Aaron: End goal. Yeah. Shalese: you're in constant pursuit. You never Aaron: Yes. Shalese: Can be happy yet versus just like Aaron: Yes. I mean you can be happy in the journey. I but I I totally agree. Alex and I talked about this on our last our last podcast. Like, yeah, like you get to a you're you get to that goal weight and then if you d have nothing else, you know, what's what are you gonna do? You're just gonna stop because you got to your goal weight. but Shalese: Right. Yeah. Aaron: it does it does bring me back. Like, so what is your training look like? Like what is your, you know, what do you do? Shalese: Yeah. it's evolved a lot over the years. I did burn boot camp for a number of years and really loved it just because it was community, it was structured. I didn't have to like come up with anything. I could just go in as a tired mom and they're like, Hey, pick this up, do this. And I was like, Okay, great, I can just exist. so I loved that for for years and I do feel like with PCOS it was very much like a hit workout. So it was like, Okay, pick this really heavy thing up as fast as you can. And I would come out just feeling like, whoa, I am really depleted and really exhausted. So after a few years, I kind of strayed away from that. blood work, et cetera, was helpful in seeing, like, hey, your adrenals are shot to shit. What are you doing? I'm like, sprinting every morning. And she's like, Yeah, let's avoid like fight or flight. so these days it's just kind of I I hate that my mom was right that like slow and steady wins the race and like gentle consistency like actually matters. So these days it's just like go into Vasa every morning. There's nothing like glamorous about it and just Aaron: Do you have like a plan? Like like is it like all right, today's I'm working my arms out? Or so is it like just resistance training that you're doing most more than anything now? Shalese: Yeah, it's it's mostly like weights. I don't do a ton of like sprinting or you know, box jumps or burpees or things like that anymore. and so it's I will say with like the GLP ones, like you do you lose your ass like she gone. And so I feel Aaron: Ha ha ha. Shalese: like that's unfortunately true. Like my goal is like never have like, you know, the Ozempic face or whatever and I, you know, I wanna eat enough for that. But like the dump truck we're working on her. And so like my Aaron: The Shalese: My split right now, I guess if you will, is like Monday, Wednesday, Friday is lower body, Tuesday, Thursday. Aaron: Hip thrusts every day. Shalese: Every day I go in there and what do we gotta do? Kickbacks, you know? So I would say like three days a week I'm doing lower body, two days a week I'm doing upper body, and then I kind of mix core in there, just but it's all like I call it intuitive, right? Like Vasa's busy and so like I've released the like idea like today is hip thrust. And how doctor is it like I've released that and it's like what machine is available, you know, and what Aaron: It's free. Yeah, no joke. Shalese: body part doesn't hurt? Like I'm big into like, hey, my lower back hurts today. Maybe I'm not gonna do that, but I'll like like do this instead. So Aaron: Yeah, yeah, s that's smart. Yes. Shalese: I feel like that's what it looks like. Three lower body, two upper. Saturday is usually when I'm sneaking children into dance fitness classes. Sunday is like a hike or a trail run. and then walking. I've been Not great at it recently, but I love walking. Mom was right about that too. She's like, you don't have to sprint, just go for a walk. I'm like, that doesn't feel hard enough. That's not gonna do anything. She's right. A walk Aaron: Yeah. yeah. Shalese: is like super beneficial. I've done 75 hard a couple of times, and that was always like the second 45 minute workout was a walk and that really will like clean you out and good for the soul. So that's kind of what I that's what I do these days, but it varies. Aaron: That's smart. Yeah. Yeah. Fuck you, Vasa, for like having way too many people at your stupid gym. I went, I was like, Shalese: Yeah. Yeah. Aaron: I I've bitched Alex about this. I went to the one in Lehigh a few months ago. It was like 10 o'clock in the morning. It was completely like completely packed. Does nobody have jobs? There's no yeah, it was like a it was like a th Wednesday. I was like, no at work. What are you guys all I Shalese: Yeah. Yeah. What are you guys doing for income? Alex: On a weekday. Aaron: Everyone's retired. They're all like this they're all like thirties and forties. They're no one's working. I mean, I was there, so I mean I guess I can't bitch too much, but I was on vacation. what are all these people doing? that's that's sorry, my my little rant about Vasa that I ever anytime anyone brings it up, I want to bring it Shalese: No, it Aaron: up too. Shalese: I don't know that it matters what time of day you go 'cause like I've gone through periods of time where like I'll wake up at four AM and be there, you know, by like five, five thirty and it's still bumping. I'm like, What time are you guys going to bed? Like, she's like, but it's Aaron: Yeah. I know. I know. Shalese: same at eight, nine, ten. It's I don't know, there's gotta be a sweet spot. But I know. I'm like, is it health driven or vanity? does it matter? You know, as long as you get Alex: Utons, we care about how we look. Maybe that's what it is. We need more gyms. Both. Yeah. Aaron: Yes. Yes. Yes. The answer is yes. Shalese: But yeah. Alex: Cool. so whenever we come come up on the end of the conversations, we like to open it up for advice that you want to give to our audience so that they can go and try out whatever it is and I'll just open the stage to you. Shalese: Yeah. couple of thoughts. moderation. Whatever you do, make sure you're having a good time with it, that it's sustainable. If you realize you're doing a workout that you're like dreading every morning, don't do that one anymore. Find a different one. same with food. If you're finding that you're like so dialed in that you hate food and you dread it. find a different program, do something different. so moderation, make sure it's sustainable, make sure you're still having a good time, 'cause if you're not, what's the point? You know, we only have this one life. Aaron: It's not sustainable, right? Shalese: Yeah. So have a good time, have a sweet treat, but also, you know, be intentional with with your life. I think also like find a good doctor, get your blood work done, figure out, you know, if you are insulin resistant, if you do need thyroid meds, like all of that has been such a game changer. Like there was no amount of like stubbornness or grit or like stick to itiveness that would have helped me get to where I am. Like I needed modern medicine as well as the vitamins and the witch doctors and you know, it's it takes a village. So I think just like be open minded to things, like maybe things that you haven't done before and give it a try. Fuck around and find out, you know, I don't know. That's my methodology. Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. No, no, no. Heavens no. Aaron: In a good way. In a good way. Alex: Not in the seductress thing that you're talking about with your mom. Fuck around and find out. Aaron: Or picking fights with people. Shalese: Yeah. my god. Yeah. Alex: Awesome. Well, thank you so much, Shalise, for for joining the the podcast today. everyone have a wonderful week. Go be unsexy, and we will chat with you all next week.