Shownotes

Lesley Logan reconnects with fat loss and mindset coach Amy Ledin to talk about the habits that actually stick in midlife. Amy shares how she’s been navigating stage four cancer while still honoring her values, her energy, and the daily agreements that keep her grounded. Together, they revisit her 5 for 50 habit framework, explore the power of future self scripting, and break down why identity work—not willpower—is what creates change that lasts and helps you become the person who follows through.

If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co.

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In this episode you will learn about:

• How Amy returned to routines and promises after her cancer recurrence.
• Why she created 5 for 50 and how doing it as a family builds confidence.
• How choosing a “test habit” and adjusting early makes hard habits feel doable.
• Why creating a health character and using rehearsal scripts rewires old loops.
• How changing your environment reduces decision fatigue and supports long-term habits.

Episode References/Links:

• Amy Ledin’s Website – https://www.leanbodiesconsulting.com
• Amy Ledin’s Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/amy_ledin
• Lean Bodies Consulting’s – https://facebook.com/leanbodiesconsulting
• F* It Podcast – https://beitpod.com/fitpod
• Episode 5: Amy Ledin – https://beitpod.com/amyledin
• Atomic Habits by James Clear – https://a.co/d/874dad4
• Book: Your Big Leap Year by Gay Hendricks – https://a.co/d/ick374u
• Journey To The Heart by Melody Beattie – https://a.co/d/fT1sQ1c
• Willpower Doesn’t Work by Benjamin Hardy – https://a.co/d/f5KQW2v
• Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant – https://a.co/d/8jKmYAh
• Nicole Lepera – https://theholisticpsychologist.com

Transcript

Amy Ledin 0:00
My business character, I named her Amy Blakely. It’s after Sarah Blakely. I pretend that I try to show up as her because I’m not as outgoing and as creative and fun and bubbly as Sarah. But when I create that character, my current self doesn’t see it as a threat if I just say I’m just playing this role, you know. I’m coming on the podcast, playing a role that helps me show up as my best self. Like, I think a lot of us like forget that we have to, you know, we got to do it enough to become it.

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INTRODUCTION

Lesley Logan
Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I’m Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I’ve trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it’s the antidote to fear. Each week, my guests will bring Bold, Executable, Intrinsic and Targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It’s a practice, not a perfect. Let’s get started.

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Lesley Logan 1:13
Be It babe, holy moly, this episode is one for the books. I mean, her first one was one for the books. She’s fabulous and she’s amazing. We cover a lot of topics. You can insert whatever it is that you want to be until you see in for what we’re talking about in these ideas. Basically, I wanted to have Amy Ledin back, and she is back, and, like, top notch, better than ever. And the reason is, is because we are going to do a really fun series on habits, and Amy is the queen of how she gets people to create habits that are not torturous and also that allow them to really become the person they want to be. And I mean, every different example is a be it till you see it. So this week, it’ll be Amy Ledin plus a recap, and then next week I’ll kick off a series on how I help people with habits. There are two different ways, but you then can choose the adventure that works for you. And I’m really excited about it. I believe in what we just discussed in this episode so much, and I can’t wait to hear what’s coming. And then I want you to let us know, like, how are you doing? Are you able to make the habits to help you be it till you see it? So get ready, buckle up. We have a few weeks to talk about this topic. And first, it’s the one and only Amy Ledin.

Lesley Logan 2:24
Okay, Be It babe. Holy frickin moly. I can’t even believe it. I am so freaking excited to see the woman who’s on my screen right now. Like, I have saw it on my day. Like, this, is it two o’clock yet? Is it two o’clock yet? Amy Ledin is back. Episode Five. Can you (inaudible) I don’t know what number this is but it’s over 600.

Amy Ledin 2:44
Wow, that’s crazy.

Lesley Logan 2:47
I know. I know. And you, oh, I have to tell you this, Amy, my mom heard your episode when it came out. She literally still only talks about that one out of all the podcasts. She’s like, that woman with the cards, that woman, and then you had, like, the boss, the boss bitch, and like something else, and she’s still

Amy Ledin 3:06
Oh yeah, your inner bitch, inner boss.

Lesley Logan 3:07
Oh yes, she quotes you to this day. It’s been four years.

Amy Ledin 3:13
I love it. I love it.

Lesley Logan 3:15
So Amy, in case people are new to us, which there’s probably a lot of people. Can you remind them who you are and what you rock at?

Amy Ledin 3:22
Yes. Okay, so I’m Amy Ledin, as you know, and I am a fat loss and mindset coach, is what I would say. That’s my forte. But I’m a podcaster. I’m a mom of five kids, you know, I’m a wife, a homeschool mom, you know, all the things you know, I’m someone that has overcome, you know, I’ve lost 90 pounds. I am a stage four non small cell lung cancer, you know, fighter. I am now, right now, I’ve been in remission. I wouldn’t call real remission, but no evidence of active disease three times, and this fourth time that it’s come back, it’s spread to my brain. So I’m on all new medications. So I would say that’s the biggest update since the last time I’ve been on here. But I am, you know, I am a perimenopause, menopause, you know, menopause coach, and that’s because my audience is growing up with me. You know, I’m 47 so I’m in the thick of it as well. So I’d say that’s who I am.

Lesley Logan 4:18
Oh my gosh, Amy, I had no idea it had gone into the brain. That is because Brad and I were like, I wonder how she’s doing. I wonder if she’s back in remission. That has to be hard. Like, is it hard, I mean, or maybe you just don’t want to feel sorry, like, maybe it gets annoying to feel sorry for yourself, like, I just want to, like, do you mind if we chat about it a little bit?

Amy Ledin 4:34
It is annoying and no, and you know what? I love that you’re just like, you ask it, because people don’t. So it’s been almost a year since I found out that it had spread, and it was a shock. Like, I was really shocked. In fact, I was coming back to my podcast. I’d already recorded several episodes, and then I got that news, and I just, it really did knock me. I really got this, like, just attitude of just, I was really angry. Like, I’m like, I don’t get it. Like, what am I doing wrong, which is just the wrong attitude. But that took me a few months to kind of feel sorry for myself. And then it was like going back to all the things that you know I needed to do to, you know, all the things that I always did before. You know, my keeping my promises and having a routine and building these habits and really living in a future, you know, like living as if I am already there. And you know, that helped me kind of come back. But I will say, you know, it’s really only been a couple months of me really feeling like myself again, because I’ve just been battling a lot of that, you know, loops of just, you know, panic and fear, and am I going to be lucky this time? And you know, all of that, so, you know, it’s then I’ve really had to, honestly, just get into a high gear. And this is what I’m always good at, is when, you know, shit hits the fan. I am someone that does the opposite of what most do, and that is, they, they just crumble. Like I said, I had three, I say three months of, like, feeling sorry for myself. I was still operating at what would probably be someone else’s like, 85% I think where mine came in was when I don’t believe in myself, like, or if I’m having that fear, I can’t do, say, podcasting, because it was one of the areas that I have to be super authentic. So it’s the first thing that actually goes off the books, and it’s actually the thing that I used to love the most, because it was, like my therapy, so I almost have to be in full alignment for me to come back. So like, right now I’m getting ready to relaunch, and I’m actually excited for the first time, because I’m like, Okay, I’m living it. I can share because, you know, you know this yourself, like it’s an energy transfer that you’re doing right now with other people, and so it is all about having the right energy to really get into that person. And so that’s kind of, you know, where, it has been hard. But you know what, like, what makes me feel the best is showing up at a very super high level, levels that people would say, why are you even trying this? And that is just because I am proving that you can do so much.

Lesley Logan 7:04
Yeah, I love what you said, like, you know, living as if I’m there, because that’s the whole be it till you see it motto, right? Like, it’s just, like, we’re just getting there. And I just think, like, it’s, I feel you in that, like, when something doesn’t go my way, like, I am also very good at hitting, like, hitting the fifth gear. Like, when Covid happened, we were in the air coming back from Cambodia. I was like, okay, hold on, what don’t they have? They need this. Oh, I can do that. Okay, there’s that, right? And that’s how we bought this house. Recently, we had a situation, and we got the worst news in the entire world, and the first thing for me to shut down is like, I have to, we talked about this before we hit record, I have to add value. I have to be on integrity. I have to have integrity with my word like that is such a value of mine. So we’re going to even though we weren’t allowed, what happened is, we’re turning around the border with the right paperwork and the right permit, and they still wouldn’t let us in. I was like, we’re still going to do the event. We’re still going to operate integrity. They’re still getting everything that they wanted. They just don’t get to hug me in 3d but I’m still going to do it. But the thing that had to go away is I couldn’t show up on Instagram because I, like, all I wanted to do was, like, cry and go, like, this fucking sucks. But I’m not that person that I’m not the person who does that this fucking sucks. I’m the person who’s like, Okay, this is what I went through, and this is what I did, and this is what I’m doing, right? So not that, like, my situation is all brain cancer. I want to make sure the listeners here, I heard that. I can hear that, but like, I can understand, like having to let go of something you love or that you enjoy doing, or that as an outlet for people to get to know you until you’re in a place where you can go, okay, how am I going to operate in this way?

Amy Ledin 8:36
Well, and no one wants, I mean, I’m not saying it needs to be like this toxic positivity, but day in and day out of someone just like being boohoo is also not a place that’s really going to serve anyone, especially myself. I’m really not a big believer in sitting in it, so even when I’m in pain, my family knows I’m rarely going to tell you that I’m hurting or that I’m tired. Just know that’s pretty much always for me. But why would I verbalize things like, I mean, your body goes to the direction that you speak to it, and so I just don’t do that. So I’ll take on the makeup, and I will do my hair and those things, because I see my reflection all day long. I really believe that’s a big superpower that people don’t realize. Like, you want to see a reflection of what you want to be feeling like, I don’t feel that great. But when I see that other reflection of like, I’m like, oh, okay, yeah, versus man, if I didn’t do anything, I think it just make me start to go more downhill. And I mean, everybody’s different, but I’m a really big believer you got to show up as the person you want to be.

Lesley Logan 9:37
Yeah, I love that, and it’s true. Like, I not only do I it’s not about toxic positivity. We had a really great episode about, like, happiness, and I was, I interviewed her, like, when there was the fires in California, and I said, you know, like, there’s a bunch of people who like, why their houses are burning down. They’re like, this is gonna mean something. And I’m like, that’s not feeling your feelings. Like, yes, I do believe that everything does happen for a reason. I do believe that like, when doors close, it’s because another door is going to open. Like, of course, but in the moment, you are allowed to feel the feeling.

Amy Ledin 10:06
(inaudible) time.

Lesley Logan 10:07
Yeah, like, feel your feelings.

Amy Ledin 10:09
No one needs to tell me as I’m getting the news. Amy, this is because you know what, you can handle it. You know what I’m about ready to like, I’m, you know, that was the biggest thing that I really got tired of people like, oh my gosh, you’re so strong. Like, I’m actually tired of being strong. You know what I mean?

Lesley Logan 10:25
I do know what you mean. I’m going to say you’re so resilient. I don’t check on you. I’m like, I’m so tired of being resilient over it. But I do, I do think that, like, at what I also cannot handle is, like, why I can’t be the person who’s like, going to tell you what I’m going through in the process. I don’t want the apologies. I don’t want the I’m sorry for you. I don’t want any of that stuff, because now I have to respond to that, because now I have to say, thank you.

Amy Ledin 10:52
Well, I didn’t even actually, and, you know, trust me, I’m going through therapy for this exact thing is, I actually didn’t tell my family for a few months. I wanted to get like, several treatments, and my, not my, not my immediate family, like Mike’s, like my parents and stuff, because I didn’t want to go through that cycle right there. I wanted to already have an answer for, like, this is the diagnosis. This is what we’re doing. I’ve already been doing it, and I’ve even had XYZ because I didn’t, you know, you’ll not see anything online about it, you know. You know, in our own private, you know, we have a paid group of women, 550 women, that, obviously I did, because I’d lost a lot between one of our training blocks, and I knew they’d see it in the filming. I film every round, you know, videos, and so I was open with them. But otherwise, I’m not that way, because I don’t like the I don’t like, to go through the phase of, like, let me give you, you know, I’m, I don’t need that.

Lesley Logan 11:45
Yeah. Well, also, like, it’s, you know, you have to feel the feelings. You can grieve, the things that, like, were what you were expecting. And then it’s true, we have to go. So what can I do? Like, what are the actions that I can take? Like, what is gonna what if I’m in pain all day, like, what can I do to make myself feel good and like, I agree, like, my days are better when I, like, Get up and get dressed for the day and put things on and like, go, okay, whoa. You know, we nailed that.

Amy Ledin 12:11
Yeah. And I mean movement, like, I’ve had some really rough times over this last year where I’ve had to learn that if you get no mobility at all, it actually just increases that, the aches, the pains, you know, I had, I think it was like three days that I actually did not leave the house. And finally, like day three of my goal was just to get to the end of our driveway. And I just started to think, like, I mean, even if it’s small, that is so much better than and getting sunlight, and, you know, all the things that just, really, honestly, I think, help our body. We’re kind of like a plant that we need to, like, get out and, like, get in some soil, and, you know, so that’s something that, you know, really, I think, is important, you know, as well.

Lesley Logan 12:55
Yeah, I know, like, a body in motion, like, stays in motion, right? Like, it’s easier for me. Yeah, I came home from my tour, and my girlfriend saw me like that next morning at the gym. She’s like, wow, you’re so good at being consistent. I’m like, first of all, I do have a trainer that will not renew with me if I don’t check this off on the app. Second, I paid for it, so we’re gonna do it. Third, if I use the excuse, oh, I just got home or I have a trip, I will never have, oh, consistent workout, and then I’m always having to start again, and then that is just like, never gonna feel good.

Amy Ledin 13:30
And I say that to clients that I’m like, think about the person that’s traveling all the time, like you’re taking five days to land back into your life from a trip, and then like, five more days to get, like, recalibrated and like, that’s just, you know, wasted time, right? So, yeah, and, I mean, you know this yourself, like, having habits, having routine, having structure, is just one more thing that I think helps, like, even your body feel at peace. At least for me, like, that’s the last thing I need to be worrying about, is that. So it just feels good to get right back into like, I need to make sure I’m getting my walks in. I need to make sure I’m getting, like, my sleep routine, you know, like, that’s a skill in itself, right?

Lesley Logan 14:09
Yes. Well, that that is, I mean, like, everyone’s like, how’s it gonna be back? You must be tired. I’m like, oh no, well rested. Very behind on emails, because my sleep is going to come before my emails. But thank you so like, I’m well rested, all of my all of my Pilates, all of my weight training, all happened, not the emails, you know, you gotta have priorities.

Amy Ledin 14:30
(inaudible) with the self-care.

Lesley Logan 14:31
Yeah, so, okay, so you brought it up. So kicking off a habits block, because I hate the new year, new you stuff. It’s not my favorite thing. I know you like, I’ve heard you talk about, like, upgrades. Like, I think that each year is a time for us to reflect. And like, we can think about the change what I’m bringing into the new year, but like, you’re still you going into the new year with more experiences and and, and also smarter, because you’ve hopefully reflected on those and you’ve thought about these things, you experienced them. So I wanted to help people, like, understand how they can be it till they see it with their habits. And of course, you come to mind because people loved Episode Five. It’s probably one of the most cited episodes we’ve had. It’s come up many times. People still talk about it. But what are some of the tools that you use to to have habits? Because, my goodness, like, even with you’ve got five kids, you’ve got a business, you home school like you have to have habits or probably nothing gets done.

Amy Ledin 15:24
Totally and we actually do it as a family. So I’m a big believer, you know, habits are not sexy because they need to be forever. So I’m a big believer in that you’ve got to make your habits fun, and you got to get creative around gamifying things that help you, like, level up. So you have your like, daily habits that you want to eventually just become forever things like, for me, it’s like a daily walk, you know, three liters of water, like things that I just want to be background noise, but for a season, I mean, I may need to put them, like right front and center. And so we started creating something that we call 5 for 50 and it’s five habits for 50 days. And the reason we do this is you pick five habits. But the key is, it’s five that you need to do for the full 50 days, and four of them you have to intend to keep long term, like, don’t start something for 49 days or 50 days that you don’t really think maybe, you know, it might be a smaller version of that, but it’s daily things. And so we do it as a family, you know, sometimes twice a year, typically like when mom’s going through something hard, and I’m like, hey, you know what? Let’s do 5 for 50 as a family. Because I always know, then we push ourselves like we just, I mean, I just feel better about myself. And so. (inaudible)

Lesley Logan 16:35
And also it sounds like it gives you something else to focus on. You know.

Amy Ledin 16:38
It is and and it’s fun to see what the kids do like we so we did four that you wanted to do indefinitely, and the fifth one was some personal growth area where you want to dabble in it to see if it’s like something you like. So, like one of my son, my 26 year old, he did that he had to draw for 30 minutes every day for, you know, 50 days. You know, my other daughter did guitar. And it also taught them that, like, wow, when you do, you know the compounding effect of this habit over time. And so I like, you know what I like about a timeline on something again, is that habits aren’t sexy. They get boring for people. And so when you gamify, or when you do something where you’re like, okay, I have a block, I have a start and a finish, what you’re hoping at the finish is to drop those off of like you’re right in front of you, writing down, and they just have become part of, like, your identity. They’ve just they you’re now just pulled to do those things, because they’ve just become automatic. Now I test myself once I take them off, if I see that they’re not I might reintroduce that like on say, like my DAC cards that I talked about on Episode Five, where I then write them in a structure of, like, these are the things that I’m keeping promises to during the day, but the Five For HIT 50 is really it’s a habit one, there I tell my kids, I’m like, these are things that you know, maybe you’re even doing them, but now you want to do them with like perfection, because you know how you do anything is how you do everything. Like, I tell people, I anchor my morning with my bed making. And it’s funny, because when I make my bed, I literally take everything off. Like, Erik’s like, is it seriously that, you know, necessary, to do? I’m like, yes, because it is a metaphor for how I want my day to go and how I want to treat myself, and that I don’t cut corners. I don’t I treat it like it’s a hotel bed where I want the sheet sure. could I pull, like, we hardly move some nights where I literally could probably pull it back, but there’s probably some little scenes down in the bottom. And I do find this. I find that it takes I’ve set a timer once, it only takes me, like three minutes and like 32 seconds, and I’m like the whole time I say mantras to myself, but I say this is a metaphor for how I want to show up. So I tell my kids, maybe they’re habits you’re already doing. Maybe you’re brushing your teeth morning and night, but maybe it’s going to be morning and night for the full two minutes, you know, with intention or whatever it may be, right? And what the kids see is these little things that become measurable really build your confidence. They start to think outside of what those are. And they’re like, big fingers, you know, I find that my kids start coming up with ideas of, like, businesses, and that’s just because they’re believing in themselves. You know, like my daughter, she’s like, I’m gonna sign up for soccer. And I’m like, Oh, really. Because she’s like, going into high school and she’s never played, and this was Leilani this last year, and I’m like, I’m so proud of her.

Lesley Logan 19:21
She’s going to high school?

Amy Ledin 19:23
She’s grade nine. Can you believe that?

Lesley Logan 19:25
I can’t Amy because I thought I haven’t aged a bit.

Amy Ledin 19:30
Yeah. So she, and she decided that, you know, out of the blue, that she wanted to start that, and I knew a lot of it had to do with doing these types of personal development things, where, when you can start measuring these habits like it’s inevitable you’re going to feel better about yourself. I mean anything from like Atomic Habits that I learned was when you start to even if it’s two push ups a day, it’s measuring that and seeing that compound effect over time. And it’s not about the push ups. I tell people, it’s what it represents that you do what you say you’re going to do, and that you do it to the fullest. They’re not like, half assed, like, that’s why when I say what you write, you respect it, like, when you say you’re gonna make your bed every morning. Don’t just, like, throw it, because that’s really how you’re going to show up in all these other areas. Are you going to be the person that cuts the corner? Or are you the person that it’s like, when I say I’m doing it till 5:30 it’s till 5:30. Do you know what I mean, it’s not 5:28.

Lesley Logan 20:22
I actually really like the idea of like, one of them can be one, you just like, are testing out. Because I do think that when people are creating like habits that they want in their perfectionist tendencies, it’s like, it’s got to be all or nothing, and they’re not giving themselves this permission. It’s almost like, let me see like for right now. So I interviewed a girl who talked about tarot, and I said, I’ve always wanted to know about tarot because I was like, never allowed to play with tarot and and she’s like, she’s like, she’s like, yeah, tarot actually was in the church. It was a way for you to self-reflect. And I was like, oh, well, tell me more. She’s like, yeah, no, it was way to self-reflect, and you can actually use it as a tool to kind of figure out what’s going on in your heart and your mind. I was like, oh, what a cool way for me to journal. And I have ever since hearing from like, interviewing her. I’m like, maybe I so I was like, I want to learn this, but then when you go to learn something new, it’s like, it’s hard, it’s hard to take in the new stuff when you got the other stuff. And so I’ve, like, tried different books, and I was like, okay, here’s what I do. I’m going to take this app. I’m going to do it for 30 days, but now I’m going to just put as my five for 50, and I’m going to see if, after 50 days, do I still want to learn this. Because it’s also okay for me to say, you know, that was interesting and I didn’t do what I wanted to do, and that’s okay, you know, we can let things go, but we gave it our full effort.

Amy Ledin 21:38
And telling your brain you can stop it at 50. Some of these long term habits that, like, let’s say meditation, like, let’s say you’ve wanted to dabble in it, but you’re like, the idea of knowing it’s something you really should implement forever kind of just seems like daunting. I’ll be honest. Like, I’m like, oh crap, something I gotta do forever. Let’s just wait to do that. But if you tell me, hey, just dabble in it for 50 days, see how you feel now be 100% for those 50 days, because that’s the key. Like, it is crazy what happens when you go all in on anything, even if it’s five minutes, if you’re like, Hey, I’m going to just for five minutes a day, do this like our kids, because we let them choose the duration, and we did allow them within the first week of once we started it, you could change like, like, my one son, he was like, 30 minutes of drawing every day was just too much. I realized within the first few days that like sitting there with something that I’m not even, like, familiar with yet, because he’s, like, he’s 26 trying to get into it. So he and me, within the first week, we let them redefine the agreement you don’t want to wait too long, because sometimes that’s just your voice of compromise going, oh, so that’s why it’s like a seven day window. We say, okay, you’ve got seven days to come back to the drawing board. And I think he shortened his by 15 to 15 because he’s like, realistically, I’m gonna hate it if I tell myself this, whereas, like my other kid was like, I’m gonna bump mine to 20 minutes, because 10 is not long enough or, you know, but it was really good for them to see what they were doing. But the compounding effect, like, I think we had one kid that decided to do, like the tennis bound like every day, just practice the hand eye coordination, which honestly made me realize, gosh, I need to do this, because my hand eye is not that great. He did this for 50 days. You become like a Michael Jordan, like, it is the compounding effect that people do not realize. Like, all you got to do is do something consecutively and like, over and over to get good, but knowing there’s an end in sight, like, it helped me get back into journaling. Because I was like, okay, I just got to do it for 50 days. Let’s see if this really is, like, worth doing the rehearsal scripts. And at the 50 days, I was like, holy crap. Like, it’s actually making me feel better, you know, but I wouldn’t have given it a shot, because I’m like, I don’t want to add another thing into my life.

Lesley Logan 23:42
I love that you said that Amy, because I think you and I, one of the things that, like, we became fast friends, is like, we are committers. We say we’re if we say we’re gonna do something, we’re gonna do it. We show up for it. We have a lot of habits that we’re really good at. Some, because we’re humans, we like, go up. But I it’s also like, for me, I’m like, hold on before I say I’m gonna do that. Like, where is that going to end in my day? Because I don’t want to be like, I didn’t do that today, because I hate that feeling like, that is my worst feeling. So I too, am like, okay, hold on. But it’s like, oh, for 50 days. Well, then I can really see if I like it, and I can also see if I got good at it. I could also see, like, you know, it didn’t really change anything. So I can let it go.

Amy Ledin 24:21
Totally. And writing it in a scripting way, like I find, like, even with my DACs, one area that I’ve changed with myself is the way you say things to your brain really matters, and it really needs to be identity shifting, and that you’re like, I want to, I’m going to, you know, practice the guitar for 30 minutes every day for 50 days, because I want to show myself that committing to something that typically I resist because it’s hard and there’s a learning curve, like, go on with the details to yourself so that sticks more, because every day, like growth is hard, like I, I hate to break it to people. It’s the only place, I mean, like, hardness is where you actually grow. And, I mean, it freaking sucks, like, when this came back and people are like, Oh, you’ll grow. I’m like, you know, I don’t want to, but I actually can appreciate after the fact that I’m like, there’s another layer to me that I’m obviously, like, uncovering through this. I don’t want to be told that right in the moment. I don’t think anyone should, and I think that, you know, just and I really hate when people apologize and go, oh, but you have cancer. It is all relative to you. It’s like trauma to your body. It doesn’t matter if it’s like you tripped over a pebble or you got shot by a gun, it’s how your body reacted to that and how it sees it. So I never want to discount that, because I feel like my clients have just as big, they feel like just as big of problems in those moments, especially to their bodies, as it does to me. So it’s really like trying to be aware of that and seeing your habits, like, why are you making this a habit? You know, what’s the reason behind this? Like, I used to be one of those that like make especially when I, you know, probably around when I first met you, it was like making the list and doing the charts. I mean, I have like, seven different journals I was using and trying to, you know, color code. And it just was too much pause and go. I mean, why am I doing this? What is the long term gain of this habit right here? And really try to tie it to the identity that you’re chasing. Like, is it gonna help your health character and you becoming like your best self? Is it, you know, or is this just like an ego booster that you’re gonna post on Instagram, that you’re doing cold plunges? What’s the real reason behind it? Because I find that we are so, you know, geared to be like, now we’re doing colostrum, next we’re doing greens. And my habits to do 30 days of greens.

Lesley Logan 26:45
Oh my God, Amy, thank you so much. Everyone is like, on this colostrum kick. And I like, obviously, it’s not human colostrum, but like, my sensitivity chart came back, and she’s like, human colostrum. And I was like, that’s so fascinating. Like, I’m not having that. But I’m also like, I’m also like, not gonna like, now I’m like, I’m like, all there’s this. Everyone is like, and now we’re on to this now. And it’s so funny, because we have been on the on Instagram for work, and we see our friends, and it’s like, I do have a cold plunge. I love my cold plunge. I am not going for 15 minutes. I get in there, and the first thing in the morning it wakes me up. That is why I do it. So for habits, why it’s like I get it because I I have the hardest time remembering what day it is and why am I up in the morning. And I love the morning. So I get in and I read three books. They’re each daily message books, because I wanted to read them. Yeah, I read, Gay Hendrick says, Your Big Leap Year. So I read one page of that. I read, I think it’s Melody Beattie’s, like Journey to the Heart, and I read someone else’s and it’s like I read, and they’re often different messages, but I whatever one that sticks with me then I think about that as I go on my morning walk, and that’s how I do it. And I found that was taking me a long time to get out on the morning walk, so I have a cold plunge for that, but I find, to your point of the why, why are you doing this? Because it’s the end thing to do. It’s what they’re saying the next perimenopausal woman should be doing or shouldn’t be doing, because I have people like, you shouldn’t be cold plunging. I’m like, back off. It makes me feel good.

Amy Ledin 28:12
It’s a crazy world. I mean, I’m even in the industry, and I even say, wow, I feel for females these days. Because you know what? You get really bamboozled. I mean, people even, like they’re doing a real they’ll even show, over here, like a medical journal study, that they’ll pop up and go and according to this, you should, well, now, if you’re smart like me, and you want to be, you know, funny, you go check what that is. Well, it’ll be like a research study on like, 85 year olds. And I’m like, man, context, please. But because they’re like, a white coat doctor, and they’re coming, you know, like, and they have 100,000 followers. And trust me, I am guilty of it too. When I was looking for back help, I’m not a chiropractor, so, like, I’m at the mercy of what I find. It’s just like a person coming to the fat loss space, right? So I’m looking at, like, oh, they have a million followers. I mean, you see this in the Pilates space. Like, it’s really, really scary. I think we’re going to get back going full circle. It’ll start to be referral. People are only going to trust who has because now everyone’s been through something, and they’ve all had an experience. So now they’re like, tell me who you (inaudible).

Lesley Logan 29:18
I actually agree with you, because of all the AI stuff. Like, now I’m like, I actually go to Brad and go is this real? Do you think this is real before, like, I share it because, like, it’s so easy, and now there’s so much marketing that’s using chat bots and AI that I think people are gonna stop using the socials to find even though that’s where they it’s been going that way to start finding things. I think people are gonna stop because it’s gonna be referral. Because, like, you do. You know a real human who’s acting like a real human, and it’s but I agree. I mean, you’re in the fat loss space. I’m in the Pilates space. I have so many people going, well, this is Pilates, and I’m like, no, honey, it’s not, but no, I’m not going to go around telling people what is and isn’t, because I’m not here to be in a fight with people. I’m here to help people. So I’m not going to help with an imitation.

Amy Ledin 29:59
We’re the same. I don’t have enough time in my day to come hate on what you’re doing. You if you think what you’re doing is working for you, do it. I support you. And I think there’s more than one way. Now, I think Pilates and I think even strength training, there are certain biomechanical like things to it. But I am not going to be a person that’s a coach that sits and just like trashes everybody else you know, and does videos about them. I don’t think that that helps, you know, personally, I think, and maybe it does, but the energy that I would be working in in that space would never make me be a creator in the way that I want to be, because I think I’d just be, you know.

Lesley Logan 30:35
Oh, I just think in the industry you have, yeah, and I think so I feel like I love the honesty and like, it’s so I mean, like most of the people listening are women, it is so easy to be bamboozled, but what I love about you and your ideas here, it’s like, what do you want? Like, what do you want? And then why do you want it? Because I actually don’t think that your why has to be something stellar, but you do have to know why. Because I think, like, do you want to run a marathon because you want a habit of running? Well, then we can, we should probably don’t have to run a marathon. We can change the habit. Or are you wanting to run because you have a friend that you want to keep up? Or is it because you want to, like, what’s the why? So that you can, one, test the habit, and your Five for 50, or two, maybe it’s the wrong habit, like, maybe that’s not the thing that you should be doing. Once you figure out the why, there might be an easier or more accessible one to you.

Amy Ledin 31:29
And make the habit something that long term is going to give you the biggest bang for your buck. Maybe it’s not following a macro plan right away. Maybe it’s actually meal prepping, like I, you know, I tell people, do you have to earn the right to lose fat? So like my daughter Kamele, this last year wanted to go on like, her first diet, and she’s 22 and so I said, well, before I’m even going to give you a meal plan that has macros on it, you need to prove to me that you’re actually going to live the identity of the fit person. Fit people, they prep meals. Fit people have a fridge full of stuff. They don’t come home and have like, I mean, that’s just not how they live. They fuel themselves, right? So I said, what I want you to do is just set some meal times improve over the next few weeks that you’re going to pack meals. I don’t even care if it’s I don’t care what it is that you’re packing. It’s the habit of the identity of that person. And then I broke down the macros, and it’s great, because she doesn’t associate, like being a fit person, because she’s lost 20 pounds, because she just dialed in and titrated those meals. But it was all about the identity of that fit person and how now she’s like, I don’t associate it. She goes, it’s funny. In fact, everyone at my work, she works at Lulu, and they’re like, wow, Kamele, you started eating more, and now you’re like, 20 pounds lighter, because she was, like, packing her meals and being on a set, you know, routine with it, and fueling herself, right? And so, plus, it taught her too, this was it’s not about your macro breakdown, honey, because she even lost weight, even just packing the meals and, like, living that way. I said, it’s because you were intentional. You were prioritizing protein. You were eating on on a, on a, on a routine, like set times your leptin and ghrelin, like that, like, so find those five like in those habits. Maybe it’s something that’s going to get you the bigger you know, the lower hanging fruit. And honestly, to the brain, meal prep sounds a lot easier than follow my macros 100% for 50 days. That can seem really daunting to the person that’s like, struggled, maybe they’ve had food issues or binge issues and all that.

Lesley Logan 33:26
I think this is I will always highlight. I love when, like, all my friends who are coaches of this space, most people are just not eating enough, and they’re not eating intentionally. And so, like, I just, like, want to highlight, yes, well, you can often eat more and lose weight, if that’s the journey you want to go on, most people start eating enough or not eating the right things. But I love, you brought up, this a couple times, so let’s just break it down. Identity, like the identity of the person. So it’s like, it’s beyond the why. It’s like, who you want to be and what do they do, and then doing that now.

Amy Ledin 33:59
Yes, it’s totally around your Be It, it’s like you need to write. I mean, it’s like, we make our clients create a health character. What does she look like? What is she wearing? What does her daily routine look like? What’s her fridge look like? What’s her closet look like? What size is she wearing? Not that those matter, but they do to your brain to start to really see and paint the picture, because they’ve done too many studies in all these areas, whether it be, I mean, lottery winners, big, huge studies on why do almost 95% of them go bankrupt after we’re talking like tens of millions of dollars if they win. Because, you know what, their identity is, still of a poor person. Right? So fat loss, 95% of people that lose it actually regain, it’s already hard enough to lose it, so you work so hard to get there. So I don’t, it’s why that’s such a big part of the component for our clients is the last thing I want to do is see you in two years from now, because you just got really good at disciplining yourself for a season. I want this to be who you are, and you got to commit to who that person is, and what does that look like for that person. You know what I mean?

Lesley Logan 35:02
Yeah, yeah. So I think that’s, it is totally Be It. It’s just like, it’s like, I want to start a business. Like, well, what does that person do with okay, the business is working. It’s rolling. It’s all the things you thought it would be like, how do they get up? What do they wear? What is their schedule like? What is that happening? And then, because you start to do the things or thinking like that. It makes it so much easier to step up the next thing, yeah, no, the macros thing like.

Amy Ledin 35:25
It’s not a threat. And look at it from a brain standpoint, your brain does not see it as a threat. It comes back to like, it’s like the Sasha Fierce with Beyonce, like that was a create a character she created. My business character, I named her Amy Blakely. It’s after Sarah Blakely. I pretend that I try to show up as her because I’m not as outgoing and as creative and fun and bubbly as Sarah. But when I create that character, my current self doesn’t see it as a threat. If I just say I’m just playing this role, you know, I’m coming on the podcast, playing a role that helps me show up as my best self. Like I think a lot of us, like, forget that we have to, you know, we got to do it enough to become it, right?

Lesley Logan 36:05
Yes, yes. Well, I think, like, so many people go, oh, this is like, I don’t want to fake it till I make it. You’re not because, like, I have found, you know, like, you have a bad, let’s just say you have a bad night’s sleep, but you have a presentation that day. You don’t go and go, guys, I’m so tired, and give you a presentation. No, you step up to the person who could be the person who believes that does a presentation nine times out of 10. You actually feel better when the presentation is over, because you you are acting as if you’re the person who was doing a great presentation and became that person. That is what’s happening. Yes, yeah.

Amy Ledin 36:38
And epigenetics shows us like, you know, if you follow Nicole LePera, I’ve got to give her credit, she’s been doing these, what they call Future Self Journaling, where she believes that every day you should script out your day. We do a version of it in our community where I want them to even script out like their their day as a as their health character. And because of what we’ve seen in the brain is that the more that you wire that future of like it sure, it’s not who you are yet, but it’s who you want to be. Your brain actually doesn’t see the difference, and they’re now seeing that the brain wires that way. So if you’re in your 40s, 50s or older, I always say if you have struggled with fat loss, and you are already at this age, you have a rewiring issue that you need to address. Because if 95, 91% of your thoughts every day are the same, statistics will show me, you will continue to come back to this old person that you say you are and talk about and believe in. So if you’re trying to become like a business owner and become like owning a Pilates studio or whatever it may be, you have to start scripting. And the older you get, and I just say it’s (inaudible).

Lesley Logan 37:40
So like, do you just like script out like, 5 a.m. 6 a.m. or do you like go, I am so and so doing this, like, what does it look like?

Amy Ledin 37:46
It’s doing this, it’s more of a behavior like you’ll have an outline of, like, I, you know, as I wake up today, I effortlesly, you know, keep my small promises in the morning. And you might at first detail them out, because the whole point is to this doesn’t change very often, your script stays the same because you’re trying to work on an area of your life, like in therapy. It’s like, if you’re an overreactor, if you’re struggling with worthiness, it’s it’s a daily thing, because you’re trying to show that you can change who you are, and now epigenetics is proving it, which is positive. Because here’s the thing, you may have been born into someone because now they’re showing with epigenetics, like it’s connected even in the womb. So that really was hard for me, because when I got pregnant with Leilani, I was in a really, you know, I it was broke up my family, you know, I’d had an affair. So my pregnancy came in a place where it was a very unwanted pregnancy, and I talked, probably very negatively to myself. Well, this next book that Nicola is coming out with talks all about how they’re showing and so those children can actually already be born anxious and have like attachment styles based on just the way that you have talked. So at first I was like, man, what a depressing thing to hear. But her whole point is to teach us like we’re all broken humans, like we’ve all come from some sort of crap. And so the power of this book was to teach us that our brain is actually the neuroplasticity and our ability to change. If you’re an introvert, you can become an extrovert. If like you are, you know, you say you’re one way, you really can actually change. And it’s doesn’t take long, you know, it’s 50. It’s kind of similar to habits. It’s about that 60 day mark we’re we’ve tested it out with clients. I’ve done beta testing, and now we make it a part of our program where for 60 days, I have to do this journaling, because I’m so tired of women grunting their way to reaching their goals. I want it to pull you. I want your identity to pull you to become that. And a lot of them are starting to go why is it suddenly feeling easier to meal prep stuff that I like my lazy self, you know, is always fighting. I’m like, because you’re scripting about a new person, and your brain is just seeing that is the place I need to go. It’s like, it doesn’t even know the difference. It just thinks it needs to do it. So less resistance. So same thing with these habits. Try to find, you know, some connection to that identity, the way you write it because you want to have less resistance. You don’t want to be like you know, otherwise you will try to use motivation to do it and it never is lasting.

Lesley Logan 40:09
Motivation is this interesting thing that everyone thinks they need. Once I’m motivated, and it’s like you just, and we’ll talk about this in the habit series I’ve got coming out. Like motivation is one of the worst things you can it will help with something really hard. Like, if you have to do something that’s really difficult, motivation is very helpful to, like, it’s like the starter in the car. It only works to start the car, right? This is as far as my car metaphor is gonna go, because that’s all I know about cars. And then it’s like all the others. It’s the gasoline. It’s you putting the gas, putting your foot on the pedal, all that stuff. So but people think it’s gonna, it’s gonna show up every day. I cannot wait to be motivated to do anything. I would get nothing done. Nothing would none of the things I built would have have been built because of motivation.

Amy Ledin 40:51
Yep, yep. And it’s kind of aligned with willpower. I will say a book, I don’t know if you’ve read it, but you would love it, and he’d be a great person to have on because I think he’s a small author. It’s called Willpower Doesn’t Work, and it is a whole book on he’s got studies in there, charts that show essentially that it is all about your environment. Like that is the key that most people it’s it’s everything, whether it be friendships, it be your actual physical environment, that that is way better than because willpower is finite, and like, you can’t count on that. It’s why, in the morning the cupcake is less tempting than, say, like, at night. So like, instead of, like, having the willpower of having that cupcake here all day, why is it at night? I want it. You need to see that your environment is more powerful. Hey, decision fatigue at the end of the night, I don’t need to have things out that I’m already weak to or, anyways, you would just love it, because it’s just made me stop shaming myself for stuff that I’m like, seriously, I need to change the environment. You know, I’ve even said to clients, the best time to really change a big habit, like a bad habit, like, I had a client, she’s like, every night we sit on the couch, we eat a snack. I said, Hey, when’s your next time you’re out of town? Because having a break from your environment and then coming back into it is the best time to shift into a new habit. Now for the next several days, don’t even sit on the couch like let your brain completely because it is all about connection and loops, you know, for most of us at this age.

Lesley Logan 42:16
It’s true. It’s true. This year that I’m doing we talk about how to unravel a habit you don’t like, and it’s one of the things, and I’ll dive deeper in the episode, but it’s like, how what is the prompt that starts the sitting down on the couch? There is something that starts that, and if you don’t know what that something is, you can get rid of your couch, and you’re still gonna find something to sit on, because there’s a prompt there.

Amy Ledin 42:39
It’s true. And yes, because it’s it started earlier. I have a client right now that we’ve realized her overwhelm with work makes her go to any like, highly palette. It doesn’t have to be chocolate chips. At first, she’s like, it’s the chocolate chips. I’m like, girl, no, tomorrow will be something different, but it’s not about the pantry. I’m like, it starts earlier. And that you start to see failure in your day and overwhelm, and that loop is when I’m failing okay, this is kind of like my coping mechanism, you know, so much, and so it’s interesting. I’m like, man, I feel like we’re therapy one on one. But even in, you know, someone that wants to have a business, they’re all parallel, all of it, because it’s a personal development journey.

Lesley Logan 43:18
Everything, whatever it is, like, that’s why I like that identity and like you can see yourself in like different things. Anything that you want to do, and how it’s like it, it we, it works the same. You, it’s you have to prepare the environment. You have to know why you want to do it, and then you have to tell you have to believe that you can. And I think like because like you, you cannot shame yourself into something you want. It will not work. And you talk about, like, the clients, like, grit themselves to getting there, and then they’re just be back in two years, because nothing changed, and they didn’t become who they wanted to be on that journey. Oh my gosh. Okay. I mean, I, obviously, I could talk to you forever about this, because, like, this is just something I like to nerd about. But I just love that we think the same way on this, because it’s really, it’s really easy, I think, for people to, like, want to start 17 new things at the same time, or like, they, you know, and like, it’s an I have to do it for an hour, and it’s like, hold on, like, let’s, you know, we got to adjust the timeline of what it is. And I really think, you know, making sure you know why you want to do it. The script thing is a really cool thing to add to it. I have to say, like, I kind of like the idea of like writing yourself a script for the day and how it’s gonna go, that’s a be it till you see it, and also, like a manifestation and a drawing in, I think that’s really beautiful, Amy. Well, we’re gonna take a quick break, and we’re gonna find out where people can find you, follow you, work with you, and then we’re gonna do your Be It Action Items.

Amy Ledin 44:36
Okay.

Lesley Logan 44:37
All right, Amy, where do you hang out? Where can they stalk you in the best way?

Amy Ledin 44:42
I am, I’m on Instagram, you know, under amy_ledin if you are, like, still a Facebook person, though, I will say that is, like, where our business really lands. So it’s under Lean Bodies Consulting. I post daily there, and then, you know, by the time this episode’s out, my podcast, you know, which is called F* It! so you can find me there.

Lesley Logan 45:00
I love your podcast. It’s so great. I also want to say, like, I admire that you take pauses when you need to with it, because I think you are so good at podcasting. You’re so wonderful at it. All of your episodes I’ve ever listened to are so good. And you’re also allowed to be a human and take time for yourself. You have given us so much already, but you know how the show goes, we need Be It Action Items, bold, executable, intrinsic or target steps people can take to be it till they see it. I mean, the whole episode kind of was one, but anything you want to add or remind us.

Amy Ledin 45:29
Well, you know what? I actually tied it to your acronym, to the DACs, and it’s like, bold, one agreement that matters, like, pick one, like, maybe you need to start just with one. Executable is your E, you know, like, write it in real words, not vague. So be specific on what you’re really shooting for. The intrinsic is link it to how you want to feel, not just like, how much you want to weigh, how much money. Like, how do you really want to feel there? What’s the money? What’s the scale going to give you? And then targeted, today, not someday. Like, be very specific.

Lesley Logan 46:01
Oh, my God, that’s brilliant. You’re so good. I love it so much, you guys. I can’t even wait to hear how this episode goes. It’s just so fun to have you back and see what you’re up to, and also just be reminded of, like, how powerful we all really are. Our minds are really powerful. And I love the science behind that. That book sounds amazing. I can’t wait to read it. I’ll have to have it on. You know what, before I go. And I’m gonna say this, because, in case anyone knows this person, I’m trying to get hold of them, there’s a book called Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It. And I’m gonna, I’m gonna do a little series on, like a self like, a week long series on self-love. Because everybody who talks about, I burnt out, I’m this. And the book the author, he says, You’ll never burn out if you actually love yourself. Because if you truly loved yourself, you wouldn’t say yes, when you mean no, you would actually, like take time for yourself. And that’s so like, I think those two books sound like a nice little bookend, but also, like everything we’re talking about here today, it’s, it’s all part of it, you know, it’s all like holistic it’s, we’re not little compartments. So thank you for being you, Amy. You guys, make sure you check out her Instagram, her podcast, her Facebook. Tell her what your favorite takeaways are. You can tell me, I love it, but also tell her these words of affirmation are our love language also lets us know what your favorite parts are. Share this with a friend who needs to hear it. You know, it’s actually kind of difficult to go through all these like 5 for 50 alone. Sometimes it’s kind of nice to have some friends to do it with, or your kiddos to do it with. And until next time, Be It Till You See It.

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Lesley Logan
That’s all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the @be_it_pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others BE IT TILL YOU SEE IT. Have an awesome day!

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Lesley Logan
‘Be It Till You See It’ is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @be_it_pod.

Brad Crowell
It’s written, filmed and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan and me, Brad Crowell.

Lesley Logan
It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.

Brad Crowell
Our theme music is by Ali at APEX Production Music and our branding by designer and artist Gianfranco Cioffi.

Lesley Logan
Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.

Brad Crowell
Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.