In today’s episode, I’m joined by the incredible Holly Bertone — a former FBI Chief of Staff turned certified holistic health coach — who now helps midlife women break free from emotional eating and step into their power.

Holly shares her deeply personal journey, from leading high-stakes intelligence operations to uncovering the root causes of her own struggles with food. With a unique blend of counterintelligence tactics and brain science, she teaches how to identify emotional triggers, interrupt destructive patterns, and rewire your brain for long-term freedom — all without relying on willpower or restrictive diets.

Together, we dive into the lies we’ve been told by the diet industry, why food feels so emotionally loaded (hello, childhood conditioning and clean plate club!), and how to create lasting change through awareness, forgiveness, and self-compassion.

Holly also walks us through her signature 3-step process — See It, Stop It, Shift It — and shares a powerful tool to help you reclaim your relationship with food.

Whether emotional eating has been a quiet companion or a daily struggle, this episode will help you feel seen, understood, and empowered with tools that truly work.

🎁 PLUS: Don’t miss Holly’s free Emotional Eating Tactical Blueprint — available exclusively to our listeners!

00:13 – Meet Holly: From FBI to holistic health coach
02:00 – Her personal journey and struggles with food
12:57 – Exposing the lies of the diet industry
18:48 – Why we turn to food for comfort
23:56 – Food, emotions, and celebrations
26:18 – The Clean Plate Club and early conditioning
27:08 – Holly’s 3-step process: See It, Stop It, Shift It
36:48 – The power of rewriting your food story
42:23 – How to get Holly’s Emotional Eating Blueprint

Ready to feel more in control and at peace with food? Let’s crack the code together.

Join the Real Life Runners Team today!

https://www.realliferunners.com/team

Join the Team! --> https://www.realliferunners.com/team

Thanks for Listening!!

Be sure to hit FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player

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Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

Let’s set the record straight: pain and injury are not just things runners have to live with. In this episode of the Real Life Runners podcast, we’re taking on one of the most damaging myths in the running world — the belief that hurting is normal, expected, or even necessary if you want to improve.

Spoiler alert: it’s not.

Yes, injuries are common — but that doesn’t make them inevitable. And accepting them as “part of the process” only keeps runners stuck in a frustrating cycle of pain, inconsistency, and burnout. We’re here to break that cycle.

We’ll share real-life stories from our own journey and from runners we’ve coached — and we’ll unpack some of the most common injury drivers, including muscle imbalances, overtraining, poor recovery habits, underfueling, and chronic stress.

More importantly, we’ll give you practical tools to run strong and stay healthy:
✅ Why strength training is non-negotiable
✅ How to personalize your plan to fit your life and body
✅ What proper recovery really looks like
✅ Why underfueling is sabotaging your progress (and how to fix it)
✅ How to stop outsourcing your intuition to your watch
✅ And the mindset shift that will help you run for the long haul, not just the next race

Running shouldn’t hurt. And it’s time we stop normalizing it. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been running for decades, this episode will challenge how you think about pain, progress, and what’s actually possible for you.

00:43 The Trigger: Challenging Common Narratives

02:02 Understanding Pain vs. Discomfort

04:31 The Harmful Impact of Some Medical Advice

05:32 Rant: Misguided Medical Opinions

08:56 Reframing Pain and Injury in Running

10:38 The Elite Athlete Dilemma

19:22 Consistency Over Intensity

22:45 5 Common Causes of Running Injuries

39:41 5 Ways To Avoid Injuries

Join the Real Life Runners Team today!

https://www.realliferunners.com/team

Join the Team! --> https://www.realliferunners.com/team

Thanks for Listening!!

Be sure to hit FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one!

Come find us on Instagram and say hi!

Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

What would it look like to pay yourself first when it comes to your health?

In this episode, we explore how the Profit First principle—typically used in business—can be a powerful tool to help you shift how you think about your time, energy, and well-being. Instead of letting health be what’s leftover, we talk about putting it first—so you can show up stronger in all areas of life.

We share personal insights, practical examples, and actionable strategies to help you prioritize what matters most—sleep, training, nutrition, and recovery—even in a busy life full of obligations. From blocking off time in your calendar to conducting a “time profit audit,” you’ll walk away with tools to create more balance, consistency, and sustainability in your health journey.

We also dive into:

• Why so many of us struggle to prioritize ourselves—and how to change that
• The importance of boundaries, saying no, and asking for help
• How consistency beats intensity for long-term health and performance
• Ways to build a support system that lifts you up
• Why recovery isn’t a luxury—it’s essential

This is your reminder that your health isn’t selfish—it’s foundational. And it doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Let’s reframe the way we show up for ourselves—one small choice at a time!

00:10 Profit First: Applying Business Concepts to Health

01:40 The Fence Metaphor: DIY Projects and Running

03:27 Prioritizing Health: A Common Struggle

04:51 The Profit First Equation: Flipping the Script

10:26 Real-Life Application: Prioritizing Sleep and Training

16:00 Balancing Obligations: Work, Family, and Health

20:30 The Importance of a Support System

24:04 Recovery Time: The Overlooked Priority

27:43 The Importance of Saying No and Setting Boundaries

29:53 Prioritizing Nutrition for Health and Performance

32:52 The Power of Consistency in Health Habits

37:10 Practical Tips for Scheduling and Meal Planning

44:43 The Importance of Boundaries and Self-Care

49:27 Join the Real Life Runners Team

Join the Real Life Runners Team today!

https://www.realliferunners.com/team

Join the Team! --> https://www.realliferunners.com/team

Thanks for Listening!!

Be sure to hit FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one!

Come find us on Instagram and say hi!

Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.