This is the accidentally intentional podcast. I'm your host Joe. I hate small talk, and I'm ready to have meaningful conversations that build us. Let's go. Welcome back to the accidentally intentional Podcast. I'm excited guys, I brought my friend who I also considered to be my personal trainer onto the podcast today. Her name is Deanna de sesor. She is a group fitness instructor who is really in the thick of the Pittsburgh fitness scene, you can catch her at a rapid rise class if you live near the Swingley area in Pittsburgh. And she also has started her own online fitness platform and program called empowered which I've actually been part of all of 2021 So far, let me tell you, it's incredible. It hurts so good. And I just think Deanna is so incredible, and you're gonna see why for yourself here real soon. Today, we're discussing how to not let physical limitations hold you back. Now, I was specifically interested in this because this is something I've been battling mentally ever since I got an injury as a stunt performer five years ago, but let me tell you, whether you are a new mom, an injured athlete, someone who maybe has a physical handicap of sorts, or maybe you just haven't made physical health and fitness a priority recently, I honestly believe today's episode is for everyone, because maybe it's not physical limitations that hold some of us back. But boy, we can say that the mental limits do hold us back all the time. And we're unpacking all of it in today's episode. You know what, I'm gonna stop talking? I want to jump right into it. Let's go. Here's my conversation on how to not let physical limitations hold you back with my friend. And my personal trainer Dan antecessor. What's up guys, welcome to another accidentally intentional episode. Deanna Distressor and the house we need a lot of drinks. I need like a soundboard. Yeah. So can we get the sound? There's nobody else in here. So just post Yes. So So Deanna, I brought you on today, because you are someone that has always inspired me. And I just told people that you're my trainer. So you want my into gear? All the time getting them Gainesville, USA because of you. You know what to do? We need to chill out. We're already being too. But so. But so basically. So if you're watching this on YouTube, you can see what makes DNS special. If you can't, Deana I want to first start by having you share your story as to what it is on your body that makes you special because today we're talking about how to not let physical limitations stop you and you have embodied that to every degree in your life so far. Thanks. Yeah, so hi, guys. And I was born with a, I don't even know what you would call not disability. I don't call it disability. But I mean, you can. It's called amniotic band syndrome. And it is just little fibers in your the amniotic sac while I was growing, that attach, they could do attach to Fingers, toes, legs, anything. And so it attached to right below my elbow, and caused my arm to stop growing. So I full full movement, my arm, but I just don't have all the way to my forearm and into my hand. And so that was something I dealt with my whole childhood and I'm still dealing with, but it's come to a point where a lot of my friends family, everybody kind of forgets, which is funny. But that is something I attribute to my family and my especially my parents, because I have an older sister. So she's three years older than me, they already had a kid under their belt, and they let me just go. They didn't Oh, you can't do that. Oh, you know, how are you going to do that? It was just go and do it. And if you get hurt or whatever, I have so many scars from my knees, from like riding bikes and stuff like that, and falling and getting back up and truly just acknowledging that no matter what your journey looks like that it's gonna look different than someone else's. But you can do the same thing as someone else. It just might look different in your life. So yeah, I mean, it has rolled into my passion with fitness and helped me not to have an excuse for everything or at least lessen my excuses and really prove to myself so it's like that, that wrestling of like, proving to myself proving to other people that I can do it. And now I'm like, realizing that's kind of unhealthy. So it's like rebuilding kind of what I know or what I've known my whole life. So. So that's really interesting, because you said that your parents kind of left you go where I can see. I mean, I picture myself as a parent. And I would have the complete opposite mindset of like, oh, no, I have to protect them. But it's that worked in your favor? Yeah. Because you almost had this, I have no limits mentality. So I want to talk about how that plays into your life today. And you as a personal trainer, watch people hit their mental limits? Yeah. All the time. Yeah. What is that like for you to experience? Because you don't have those same mental limits, whereas other people would perceive that you have them? Yeah. Whereas you're trying to push people who don't have physical limitations, like break that wall? Yeah. That's, that's, that's something I actually journal about very often, because I almost get mad sometimes in class, when I'm teaching in person. If someone's giving up, and I'm like, oh, no, you got it. But it has made me very confident to go over to them. And whether it's, you know, hold them up in the position that we're doing, in the move that we're doing, or just champion them through it. And so it's like, Yes, I'm, I'm pushing you to get into a lunge. But I'm also like, making a big picture of it. So you know, I'm getting you into the move as well as motivating at the same time. So it has helped just put that into a bigger picture of, you know, you, you got this not just empty filling, like filling the empty space. No, you do have this, I will do it next to you, I will do it with you. Just because your mind is telling you, you can't but your body is still doing it, you know, we start to lose form, you start to lose, you know, little things like that. But it has really challenged me as an instructor as a person to not get mad at that person, but have more empathy of where they're at. Like they've never maybe they've never had had first with a battle that they've had to this is the first time they're getting challenged, or the first time that they feel that they want to show up in the best way possible. And it's almost like an honor to be their instructor because it's like, I'm pushing you out of your comfort zone, I can actually see people leaving their comfort zone and going Holy crap, I can't believe I just did that. And not that I looked for that every class, but you can see it even if someone doesn't say it, you can see just the appreciation of of an instructor or the appreciation or the surprise that they give themselves. Because they're like, whoa, I've never done that the fitness world, we sometimes keep our clients in that comfort zone, because they keep coming back. They keep coming back. And, and I've talked with my boss about this, and it's like, I don't want to be the hardest instructor. That's not what I'm going for. But I want to challenge our clients, if you don't want to come to my class, like if you don't want to work, people won't come to my class. And I know that Yeah, but my overall description, or I guess, the way that I describe myself as an instructor is to see where you're at, and believe that there is something more for your life, whether it's mental, whether it's physical, like, all of my classes have a mental mindset, whether I'm talking whether it's the song, whether it's whatever, component, and because your mind, body and soul, like That's so cliche, but it is so true. It's all together, and you can't leave one out, you can't be all about your mindset and then let your body go. It's all together. Well, no, that's awesome. And I can say like, from doing your empowered program that I've had some of those moments where I was just like, wait, I literally didn't know I could do that. And it's really, it's really rewarding when you hit that moment. So I want to talk about kind of getting in someone else's mind. And it can even be my mind because you know where I'm at and where I put barriers in my head. But it's this whole thing if you don't know what you don't know. So some people get afraid of that. But I want to ask you, what do you think is making people stop short and put limits on themselves physically? I think it goes back to what I said about never coming like head on with a big challenge. And that can be lost. That can be grief, that can be anything emotional as well. If you've never experienced something that has challenged who you are as a person on this earth, or you know your purpose in life, it's very hard to see the other side So same as a physical limitation or you know, a mindset, whether it's a hurt shoulder, whether it's a hurt hamstring, anything. I mean, I listened to so many podcasts and I forget which one it was on. But it's like an injury and ACL injury can go from a few months, it can go from a year, it can go to never, you never recover. And it's mindset. Well, and so I think that we, it's a lot of things environmental, it's family, its friends, whatever. If we're constantly being coddled with our mindset with our, with our community, then we can't see oh, yeah, I can't do that. But you watch videos, you see other people doing that thing? And you're like, Oh, I wish I could do that. We we kind of lack that bridge between bits between seeing someone else doing it, and what are the steps to get there? So we think it's a huge leap. And sometimes it's, it's, it's a baby step, or it's okay, I can't do a push up. But maybe I can do it on my knees. And it's a little bit or, you know, yeah, I can't do a jumping, clapping, you know, whatever, or I can't do a burpee, but you could do a plank, and start there. And so it's breaking down, whether it's in a workout, whether it's in a journal prompt, whether it's whatever, breaking it down into smaller pieces, to see that your journey might take longer to get to that end goal. But you're doing the necessary things to get there. Even if it's small, and you are getting there. Okay, yeah. And riaan reaffirming that, like, believe it, believe it, that's something I say all the time. When I teach, it's like, believe that you're there. Even if you even if you're not there, even if you're not remotely close there, you're you're believing that you're there because you can envision your how your life is going to be. And in the video I recorded today, it's like, don't be so futuristic, like be present, but also believe that your circumstances right now or not where you're standing. So just doing the daily little things to get to that piece. So that's an interesting piece you bring up because I want to know how you toe the line when it comes to envisioning versus body jealousy. So like, you see someone on Instagram, you're like, so jacked. I want to look like that. You know, like, if that's what it is for somebody, and what's a healthy thing of like, Man, I want to work my butt off. Yeah. And get that versus this is not healthy. This is my obsession. Who the I do teeter the line The line. Because right now I look the best physically and feel the best overall than I have my whole entire life. And I've been an athlete, I ran track, I played soccer, and been through the hardest of training. Yeah, and now that I love myself, which is very, very important. But I used to I mean, I used to hide my arm I used to be, I wanted to look like everybody else. And until I realized that one, God made me exactly the way that I am. And to being unique is awesome. Whether it's your personality, whether it's something physical, whether it's your job, whatever makes you unique, like everybody has something that makes them unique. And I definitely wanted to look like certain people. And you know, you want like a good good legs and flat belly, blah, blah, blah. I switched my mindset to fill the people, I was listening to the podcast, I was listening to the people I was following that focused on being healthy and feeling good and your body and your training follows. So it's like you have to feel yourself, feel your body and you'll train, you'll train better, you'll you'll feel more energized. And that took a long time because I always compared myself to my friends or I always compared myself to people like what it was like Why Why don't I have another arm? Why can I lift this way? Or why can I use a barbell? You know, my training had to be so different because I had a prosthetic and I had to use dumbbells and I had to do all these things. And so I had to just switch that little switch in my head, which was very gradual, it was not instant. And it probably took three ish years, maybe four and finding who I was in the gym finding who I was as a A, an instructor and having the confidence to step out and not let fear hold me back. Because it did for years. Yeah. You know, it makes me think of Zac Efron after he did Baywatch. And so many interviews afterwards, he was like, I will never do that again. Because he was like, holy cow. This is the most shredded human being ever. And he was like, it was unsustainable. I was in the gym six hours a day. And it's like, we don't think about that. When I see photos of like, Man, if I have this body, what? So very interesting. Yeah, it's, it's not attainable. I mean, even bodybuilders, you cannot, I won't say cannot. But it's very, very hard, especially for women that go through that process to keep that low body percentage fat. Like, it's, it's very, very hard and your eating has to be so restricted. And there's just so many components that it especially on Instagram, you know, the highlight reel thing, that it's so true, because you don't see the mental battle people have you don't see the, you know, body dysmorphia, a lot of people in the fitness world have that it's like, you know, they either they have a great story, and they've transformed their body completely, or they don't see even the picture that they post the same that we would Yeah. So let's say that someone's at this point right now. And they're just like, Okay, well, now I feel like kind of convicted, I've been that way. And that's probably not realistic, what's a first step they can take to get a more healthy mindset about it, I would, I mean, feel free to reach out to me, but I would find people on Instagram you truly, like, they look healthy. They're posting healthy stuff, whether it's quotes, mindset, whatever, and it feels genuine, because that will help. Because we're always on our phone. So it's, it's always the content you're seeing. As well as start so small, like, at one of my clients, she had, she was very nervous starting power 90, she was very nervous. And she's, she had no idea what her body could do, like zero, she's like, I'm gonna do the first workout. I don't even know if I'm gonna make it. And I said, make it five minutes. See how you feel in five minutes. That's it. I mean, the first five minutes is probably me talking but and start there and in it, and it challenges when we break it up, it challenges your mind to just do it, whether it's a minute, okay, let's see if I can do it for a minute. Let's see if I can do something, find a five minute 10 minute YouTube, video, whatever, and start there. And also reach out if you see people that are in the fitness world, and they're your friends or whatever. And you trust them reach out for help, because that is the best. I'm constantly learning and constantly talking to different instructors and people of all walks of life, because you don't know everybody processes things different. So you don't know what works best for you. Because it's gonna be different than someone else. But you can take little nuggets from different people that you talk to, and start small. Do you think goals are an important piece of that? Or can that very often derail people? So my thing is, I love weekly goals. And I love one or two, okay? And it can be something as small as I want to make sure I eat breakfast every day. And that sounds like oh, yeah, I already do that. But some people are in, we put ourselves into these cycles where we don't do that, or coffees or breakfast or whatever. And then we notice certain things later in the day, well, I'm snacking more or I don't, you know, I have a huge dinner because I'm starving by that time. And so little things like that, you know, that's an example but little, little goals. And being okay with, with with setting a limit on it like, this is one week. Let's see if I can do it for one week. And that's it. Not saying like, Oh, I want to do this for seven months, or I want to do this for 75 days or you know, 100 days or whatever. That is very overwhelming, especially now. I mean, we have so many things overwhelming us. Yeah, you know, keeping keeping it small and doing one goal. Yeah, cool. You know, it's interesting because I set two goals and like stipulation for for what fitness would look like for me last year, and I read this book called Finish by Jon Acuff and it talks about how to actually finish your goals. And one of the tactics he talks about in the book is literally cut your goal in half. So whatever you wanted to do, cut it in half, because guess what, one you're going to achieve it, and then you're going to feel like an overachiever. Yep. Because you're going to surpass it. Yeah. And so I made my goal. Last year. I wanted to do like 300 workouts because I was like, Oh, man. And I was like, why don't we do 150 You know, then the pandemic happens. And I hit like, 180. So thank God, I got it. And this year, I'm like, let's ratchet it up. Let's do 200. And I'm already at 80 today, at the time of recording, thank you. Thank you. And then I sent a stipulation of like, I need to burn because I'm married to my Apple watch, because it makes you just feel so I just got mine. Like, yes. But I said like the stipulations like I have to burn 150 calories for it to count is a workout which to some people may sound ridiculous, but then I have friends like my kick my friend as a kickboxing what I can't talk kickboxing instructor, and she was like, Oh, girl, like you'll easily burn like 480 shoe my classes. And I said, Well, I'm not gonna need your boss every day. Okay, so and but you know, it's, it's worked. And it's been interesting, because it's like, almost that bite size thing. Am I moving my body? Am I feeling good when I'm doing it? And am I seeing over the long haul? I am actually moving crawl or crawling closer to that goal every day? Yeah. No. Do you feel like you surprise yourself? In a sense? Like, how do you feel when you hit your goal? Like, personally? I'm so pumped. Yeah. Yeah. And I think that's the thing too, is it's different than a to do list. It's achievement list at that point for me, because I mean, especially, I've got all these mirrors here, if you can see, sometimes I'm like, Oh, my God, look at you. We're gonna try so well, we do we do so much glooty cheeks workouts as you call them, that I was just surprised at what has happened in the back here. So I kind of want you to challenge me right now, because I just want to be be 100. With you, Deanna, you know that I've kind of have not a limiting view 100% of myself ever since I injured my shoulders doing stunts. Almost five years ago now. And I haven't done things the same. And you've challenged me in that arena. And I am someone who I still think I'm 18. Like, I still think my body should work like an 18 year old. And I'm not I'm 29 on my way to 30. And this weekend, I was playing spike ball with my siblings. And literally my knee got so swollen spastic that I literally was like, I cannot play spike ball anymore. I actually we played canjam After and I was like, I can't play canjam anymore. It was just like, I literally started crying. I was so frustrated with myself. And I was like you aren't supposed to be doing this. I'm not at so what would you say to people who get injuries, period. And they're so scared to keep moving forward, because they're like, I always hurt myself, I always do this, blah, blah, blah, just go for it. I would first thing is add more recovery, and take back your workouts and add more stretching, whether it's daily, whether it's three times four times a week. And I mean, that's you person free personal one. But yeah, I believe that less is more, especially with working out and you can achieve so much with a walk outside. I mean, especially in Mount Washington, hills everywhere, and adding more stretching, because when our body feels it's on the brink of an injury or we tense up immediately. And so it seems like it's worse. And it seems like it's worse. And then our mental our mindset goes, well, I have hurt my shoulder before. And I felt something similar. So I'm done. And that's where that limit, you know, you're I mean, it was probably good that you stopped. But it's it's adding that that thing daily, or we you know, every a few times a week to add to it as well as be proud because you're feeling how you're in your body. A lot of people get hurt or have been hurt for months and don't know until they go to the doctor. What how does that happen? So I would be I would be excited that your pain response and that mind body connection is there. That body awareness is there. Yeah. And that is that is something so important. It's like okay, I know I'm raising my hand right now like Add body awareness and doing that. But are you actually feeling like my shoulder? Oh, my shoulder feels a little tight. Oh, you know, I can do that. But it doesn't feel you know, the greatest Well, what can I do? I know it's not supposed to feel like that. Can I add mobility? Can I add stretching? Can I add isolation movements? What can I do? Or you know, a lot of people don't want to go that extra step, but being peeling it back and just being proud of your body for that connection. So, if someone has this fear, because they've gotten injured before, what would you say when you're in that moment when you you've want to get back into it? But you're but your mind is like both? What if you get hurt? How do you help people navigate that mindset? Whew, that's a, it's very, that is a very big idea. Because everybody's one pain response is different. Everybody's pain tolerance is different. But going in with, I'm going to do the best that I can in this moment. And whether I feel a little bit of pain, I know how I'm going to recover after. And also an injury is not the end of the world, you know, as much and again, as much as we are, we will we want to be perfect. We know that our body can do this, we know that, you know, I know that I can do a push up, I know that I can do a plank, I know that a bla bla bla, and we want to be there and we get so stuck on our past, we get so stuck on our ability that we don't fall in love with where we're at now. And when I mean, when you get to be 4050 Yes, you can still work out for sure you can be in better shape, when you're 4050 than you are now. And so that I think it's just the processes and the different seasons your body goes through and your mind as well. And so jumping into it saying, I'm going to give it 10 minutes of all our effort. However, I feel after we'll deal with later and not pushing off like I don't, I don't care about it. But But getting that break in your mindset of, well, if I go 15 minutes, I'm gonna, I'm gonna hurt, I'm going to feel very hurt. You have no idea? Yes, you have no clue. And so pulling it back, I'm going to do 10 minutes all out. If I'm sore, and I can't work out for the rest of the week, I'm still gonna go on a walk or whatever, you know, still keeping that being aware of how your body feels. But also, is it your mind? Or is it your actual body? Because our, our mind can make us feel like we're hurt and we're not to? And, you know, your food has a lot to do with it. And oh, you know, whole health side of that. Yeah, but But yeah, your mind your mindset, it's, it's, I I've noticed myself that when I break things down, I've started to do if I know that I should do laundry, I hate doing laundry and I'll be like, 54321 Go do it. I don't like if I do not do it. If I do not do it in that moment. I don't ever get done. And so committing that even to fitness. You know, I'm gonna go on a walk. Oh, it's like not I mean, it's beautiful today, but oh, it's not nice outside. While you're gonna let that excuse stop you from that little goal that you have. Yeah, those those little things that break it down for your mindset to believe in your head that you can and your body follows or vice versa. That's really good. And I mean, I'm clearly in that space. Like right now. Like, I'm just like, well, I can't do all the jumping today because my friggin knee. But I'm gonna go for a walk after this. Because of the Thank you. Yeah, and modifications. We think modifications are weaknesses. And that can I mean, modifications physically, emotionally, whatever, like, tie to therapy. We think therapy is a weakness. Because it's, you know, not everybody does it. Yeah. Or whatever, like, Oh, I'm different because I go to therapy, or physically, you know, oh, well, I have to wear a prosthetic sometimes. That doesn't make me any weaker than anybody else. It just is different. It's a different approach. Everybody's approach is different to your path in life and being okay with that. Yeah, yeah. Now, another interesting on like, myths, misnomers or misconceptions that people have. For sure. Modifications has that stigma. What about people who were just like, if I'm not sweating? It doesn't count. Me like I'm kicking the camera set up. Newsflash, you don't have to sweat. I can count on one hand in the past two months, how many times I've sweat really? gland problem. But it's I'm not trying to achieve that. I know my heart works. I know. I know that works. Yes. But when you're adding strength components when you're going on a walk, okay. Let me take that back. When you're outside, and it's hot as he double hockey sticks. You're gonna sweat. Yeah, that's different. Yeah. But if you're indoors, and you're at a gym, and you're lifting weights, and whatever, like, your goal should not be to completely sweat. You know, if you're, if you're high, high, high cardio, like, yeah, you're gonna sweat more. But I, I like breaking things down. I like isolating. I'm very much in like, swell, slow twitch muscle, as well as fast. So like going back and forth. And with slow twitch, like, you might have three drops of sweat. Yeah, because you're isolating, you're taking things slower. You're using sliders or gliders on your carpet, or, you know, if you're with me in person, you're using a machine. But it's a whole different way to train. And it challenges your mindset even more, because you're holding a position for two minutes, rather than busting out 100 lunges. Yeah. And so you if your body feels strong, and if your body feels great, like your mindset is gonna feel great, even if you do a five minute workout. And because you're taking your mind off of your to do list in your world and putting it on. How do I feel right now? In this moment? Yeah. How do I feel? Do I feel upset? Do I feel sad? Do I feel happy? Do I feel joyful? You you, you can have that little conversation with yourself. And sometimes people like lose themselves in a workout and they just, you know, you need the music, you want to listen to the music and sing and whatever. But that music is a correlation with your emotion to like, if it's a pumped up, you know, whatever, you're going to feel like a boss. And so it's a it's a whole thing altogether working. Mind Body Soul connection. Yeah. Yeah, that's awesome. So by the way, Dan is shredded. So. So you don't need to sweat your way to looking like your best self, you know. And I want to know, most people would think I should ask this at the beginning. But I don't want to because I want to know. Now, after hearing all this, how you even became interested in fitness and how that's become your passion in life? Yeah. There's a whole long big story that I'm going to try and keep short. But so I mean, I was in, I was an athlete in high school, I ran track and played soccer. When I got into college, I was a double major. And I was like, No way can I do anything but school. And so I I'll still play soccer here and there. Newsflash, I wasn't that great. I would not say that back then. But now I will. Say, we've came a long way. And so I was like, I don't want to gain the freshman 15. That was like, my whole my one goal. And I started with a nutrition company. And I was doing like a little challenge with them. That actually led into me going to church and going going to amplify. And so it was literally a whole thing. I had to say no to drinking on, like the weekends and stuff, because I couldn't drink on this challenge. And so it was it was just really cool, how it all flowed together. It was like yes, I want to be healthy. Yes, I have to be healthy because I committed to this challenge. And also, you know, I can I'm not clouding my brain by drinking and partying and stuff. So I really honed in on that. From there. I was on campus those two years so I couldn't really do much besides workout in the gym there. And then once I moved off campus, I started working at this little tiny Gym, in Scottsdale Township, where like two people came to my certain classes. And, and I got out of my comfort zone because I realized that I was intimidated to go into the gym with all the guys and the weight room and everything like I would literally stay away. I would be like, I'm gonna take my dumbbells in the corner, and I'm just gonna do my work. going. And then, you know, as I got more confident, I was like, I'm gonna watch 900 YouTube videos on how to use the Smith Machine. And I'm going to start, you know, using a squat, well, like it was all about more, I love information. So it was a lot of, I want to know how to do this, make sure I'm doing it correctly, and go from there. And so that led to me being more comfortable just moving my body in general, but also wearing tank tops, not caring wearing shorts, whatever. And that hat that gave me the confidence to then try out or audition at steel revolution. And I just a spin studio. And I taught there for about little over a year. And during that, it was that was like a real deal. Not like the little studio. But it was, you know, you had a bunch of people in class who had 20, some bikes, and just it just feeding off the energy in there, as well as having community really helped. And to acknowledge that like, even if I do mess up, it's not because of my arm, like that was a lie that I believed for so long. It's like, oh, if I mess up, people are gonna say I'm inadequate, or people are gonna think I'm inadequate. And I think that's like, whether it's your weight, whether it's your mindset that you think you want to change, whether it is your job, whatever, like, we we equate our mistakes, with, like our inadequacy. And we believe like, we believe the lie that will, I'm not good enough, if I do this, or if they see me be vulnerable, you know, I'm this, we just, we constantly have that cycle. And that's what at least what I had. So that becoming an instructor through there, it's like 20, people are looking at you for direction. They're looking at you, you can't hide behind the curtain. And that stepped me into the instructor I am now and I had the confidence to reach out to ramp and rise and apply. And literally in the interview, I'm like, I have no idea how I'm going to show these moves. Like any planks, like what am I like, what am I going to do? And she's like, we'll figure it out. She's like, don't worry about it, we need to stop there. Because this is the theme throughout your whole life. As you have found a workaround, like you're literally at the gym, I would have never thought to look up YouTube, how to use this machine. Like this is what's so impressive about you is that you have gotten where you are. I mean, now you like this is literally how you make a living is by doing this. It's because you found a workaround in every sphere to be like, That's not stopping me. I don't care. Here's what we're gonna keep going. Okay, keep going. Yeah, and, and even just, there's, there's two sides to that. There's that side of like, yes, not having an excuse and figuring it all out and then also wanting to be so good at something. So if I do mess up, people don't look at me for my arm. That was like, a lot of it. Like I love information. And I love being right. But, but also acknowledging that it's okay. Like, people are not going to say like, Oh, she can't do that because of her arm. Like no, that was something that I was like, that's what they're gonna think that's what people see when they first see me. Of course, that's what they're gonna say. And so a lot of it was having great people surrounding me pushing me out of my comfort zone as well. Well, it's like, no, we let your personality is awesome. We do not care what it takes for you to be an Instructure instructor. Yeah, but we're going to make it happen. And I will forever be thankful for joy for that. Because I had so many people in the fitness world, like, oh, like they're from, you know, all the stigma like, like, I don't know if you should go teach there. And if I were to listen to them, I would not be where I am right now. Come on, at all. Yes. And so really believing that I didn't want to be like everybody else. I love being unique now and I I mean, I'm the you know, one of the only ones out in this area that goes all the way to swiftly to teach Yeah, and not that I'm being prideful about that but it's I saw the value in it and that's something to that's really me is being Deanna finding the value in the people even if they don't know it themselves, love as well love that and everything you're doing you're doing it afraid and yet that's up to you. Like I mean what a crazy thing to be like I went to this audition literally having no idea how am I actually going to do this? Yep, but you still left. Yep. And look how it literally changed your life literally. And same as same as empowered like i The week before launch I had no idea what I was gonna do. I was just, I was just it's such a beautiful picture because it's so inspiring. You literally said imposter syndrome. I'll punch you right in the face. Like, I don't care if I'm not prepared. I'm going to do it anyways. But you need to tell people what empowered is. Yes. So it is an online platform. That is pretty much all we're talking about. It's daily journal prompts, daily workouts and check ins with me, one on one, and really just the overall Mind, Body Soul. And just being proud of yourself, being excited to do something out of your comfort zone, do something different, and keep it fun. And have a community Yes, and I don't know where it's gonna go. But I'm just thankful that the people that entrusted me to be their coach, and our people that love me as well. So it's like, oh, if I screw up, it's like, not some random person from like Kansas. It's like, My people that believe in me. And so just being through, you know, power 30 Now power 90 and learning the kinks. What works, what doesn't what is like, holy crap, I'm never doing that again, or and what was valuable? Yeah. And being okay with being real. Like I've had to be real so many times during this whole power 90 journey journey, because things come up, you have no idea. Sometimes something doesn't get uploaded, sometimes, like, YouTube hates me. And very much. So. Copyright. And copyright. This episode would be like, No, it's her face, Dianna, get out of here. And so yeah, just learning through the challenges there. Yeah. And being okay with it not being perfect. Because it's probably going to be, you know, maybe two more years or a year until it's perfect. Or it's just running. Yeah. And so, it maybe maybe something else different happens with it, I don't know. But being open to kind of any possible way, you know, having an idea but also going with the flow. Love it. No, this is a really important concept you're talking about right now. And this is something I try and push in every possible episode where I talked about it because I learned this concept by Pastor Craig Groeschel, and it's called Get Mo, good enough to move on. And in my current job, in the past 12 months, I created 300 pieces of video content. That's insane, insane by all metrics. And the only reason I did it is because I wasn't afraid of being unpolished. because how else are you going to learn? If you you can only learn so much by staring at a screen and reading a book? Yeah, the most knowledge comes from actually doing it right. And so I was just like, I mean, it literally just the compound interest of how much I learned by doing it and you doing the same thing? Because you're like, Yeah, I did it. Now. I learned so much more. And I'm going at such a faster rate than I would have just sitting back strategizing. Here's my business plan, A to Z. Okay, now, it's all figured out. I know where we're going and big. That's yeah, it's never going to happen that way anyways, and people always have something to say yes to Yes. Whether it's out of you never know people's intention. Right? Attention, right. But whether it's jealousy, whether it's, you know, oh, like, why did they choose to? Why did they do that? Yes. Or, you know, you were you. And your videos are quirky. But you like you're portraying you. Yes. Because it's real. Yeah. And you're not following a script. You're not looking at? Oh, wait, what was this person say? Right. And, and just like you said, it's so unpolished. And that's when people really feel connected to you. I mean, same thing here. We don't We I live it as like, here's the title. Okay. Turn the camera on. Yep. And I talk, I could talk forever. didn't really take much to get data talking here today. But yeah, so so if you're, whether it's working out whether it's some something you've been sitting on in life, just freakin start. Yeah, just start just find the first step you need to take and take and tell people that you trust what you're thinking of, maybe it's like two people. And this is something that I think I sent today in power 90, like, get the people and be real with some of your people that you trust because like God is God is blessing them or even speaking to them and you don't even realize it. And they're like waiting. You know, whether they know it or not. They're waiting to help you financially. They're waiting to give you that wisdom that you needed. And all of those little things. It's Like you, you have to trust others. Yeah, people were imperfect and make mistakes and everything, but getting out outside of just you and holding everything and strangling it. And really just letting things beautifully come together. Yeah, I mean, I want to shut up because it'll be out by the time this airs is my episode of Kansas Collins, where we talked about how to support friends who you're competing against, because it's all in the same sphere and how, really, if you leave something in your head, it's it's not going anywhere. Yeah. And I have found 100% of the time, once I have shared a dream, or desire was somebody else. People start figuring out how what they're doing in life can help. Yep, yep. And it's, it's amazing. Like that. That was never the the goal or intention. It's just people want to help people. There's an intrinsic desire we have. Yeah, there's also that's a sense of maturity to because when you don't see someone else, even if they're very close in what you're doing as a threat, and you're like, Oh, well, I can utilize them or anytime someone's like, Oh, I'm looking for a new job. And I like to do this. And it's like, Oh, I know, like three people I can message. Yes, you know, we think like that. It's constantly bettering your community, it's bettering your friend group, and you're gonna essentially be I hate that, like, be better, but you're gonna naturally elevate a little bit more, because you're equipping everybody around you as well. Yes. And you're constantly sharing ideas and sharing things and to do and what your next steps are. I would like to do this. I would like to do that, like constantly dreaming constantly thinking of ideas. Yes. No, I love that so much. I could talk about this subject all day because it's because it's all you mentioned. There's people that are gonna say stuff. Those people don't need to hold the mic in your life. You can be like, Thank you pull the plug. Okay, does it because they can have a different opinion? Fine, but it doesn't need to impact what you're doing. Because it's your decision and it's your life and it's your dream said oh yeah, no, but Deanna I love this conversation and I love supporting you because you inspire me. Especially cuz you out here. Um, you know, struggling do a push up. She's doing a one arm push up. She's like, not ever not a problem today. Maybe? I'm gonna be back tomorrow, but at least I'm doing it. Yes. So where can people find you? On Instagram, Dianna underscore disposer I think all right, I'll put I'll put it in the show notes. And you're gonna be another power 90 and powered round, I would say most likely going to be a power 30 Okay, coming up for the fall, we know which is essentially because I don't know if you've mentioned it I haven't talked about so it's video workouts. So you said something you said it helps people get out of the comfort zone. Here's what I'd say. I think this is should be the tagline get out of your comfort zone in your comfort zone. Because you don't need to go to the gym. You can do a right here in your house right here. And you just need some some little baby weights which by the way are on sale once again. You can find them in Marshalls that's where I got my. And, and yeah, it's awesome. It's 30 days. 30 days daily journal half hour workouts. Yep. And then and then stretching twice a week, which Lord knows I need because I never stretch. Yeah, so the workouts change every day. They're the same same schedule. So every week two days implemented one mobility one stretch Yeah, to make that more important in the videos you can always go back and do a different one or you know if you need more stretching you can do something different but the cool thing is Deanna makes them so ever since she's constructing the full workout so she knows everything and and then she checks in on you too. So she's it's an accountability thing, which you don't get at a regular gym. So that's what I love about it. Yep. And then there's sometimes special guests too. Yes, we have special guests, including Shiloh well so people need to follow you at the alanine to see when there's updates on that next Yeah, because it will definitely be on my personal before anything so I usually pre lewd and then send it to him powered. I love it. Yeah, well this has been a rewarding conversation. It's been great. I love you. And I can't wait to sweat with you later today on camera. Bye bye. Let's hit some takeaways which I feel like are all just one liners that were dropped during this episode. I just loved Anna's mind so much. Number one how she talked about love yourself right where you are right now because being unique is actually awesome. Number two, the focus should always be on being healthy and feeling good. Not a numerical goal on a scale. Number three less is more with a workout that hit me because I've always been in the camp of thinking that if I'm not so Reading, it doesn't count. But she changed my mind today. Don't worry. Number four, I loved this perspective flip that she had when she said, if your body starts to feel pain, you should actually start to be grateful that you have the mind body awareness to recognize it as pain, instead of overdoing it and causing further injury, which leads us to take away number five, when you have the thought, but what if I get hurt, focus on doing the best that you can in that exact moment. Because an injury is not the end of the world. Number six, sometimes your mind has to decide what's going to happen first, and then your body will follow. And I love that point that she brought up because it made me think, Hey, you will be strong enough today. If you're believing in up here. Will I be strong today? Yeah, I think you are in fact, there's a Bible verse that can back that up. It's Deuteronomy 3325, which says as your days are, so shall your strength be Whoa, okay. Modifications are not a weakness. And just this theme of do it anyways, that happened really, throughout the conversation be okay with something not being perfect. Just do it anyways, and I'll put the links to Diana's Instagram and her empowered fitness program down below so you can catch her in both of those. We have more fun conversations in the pipeline, including the next one, which is how to become more disciplined. Oh, boy, don't we all need more of that? Was there someone that came to mind as you were listening to this episode? Because if so, please share it with them. We're so passionate about this message, and we want to give value to the people that would benefit from it. We drop a new episode every other Thursday, so be sure to subscribe to get the latest conversations. Oh, and one more thing. If you enjoy this episode, and this podcast, I would be so honored. If you would leave a review. It helps us to better connect with the intended audience of this podcast by doing so. And I truly am so grateful for any amount of time that you choose to spend with me because trust me, I know how many options are out there and I do not take it for granted. Seriously, I just wow I just really appreciate you and take I may not know your name yet, but let's change that connect with me on Instagram at XO Asher, or on Twitter at combos with xo. But hey, even if I don't know your name yet, what I do know for certain is that you're amazing. I love you. You have something that the world needs and you are always more than enough. So hey, we'll see you next time on The accidentally intentional podcast.