This Fitness Instructor Can Tell in 60 Seconds If You're Going to Quit

What's up you guys? Famous Ashley Grant here.

Welcome to the third and final episode of our

Podcast Thon series right here on More Movement

Please. More Movement Please is so proud to be

a part of the fourth edition of Podcast Thon,

a global event where thousands of podcasters

all in the same week use their platforms to shine

a light on a charity that matters to them. The

charity I've had the pleasure of highlighting

this week is the Humane Society Animal League

for Life of Madison County, Kentucky. And the

links to both the organization and Podcast Thon

itself are in the show notes of this episode.

If you haven't clicked those links yet, I'd love

for you to do it after today's episode. And if

you feel moved to make a donation to the Humane

Society Animal League for Life, their donation

link is there too. Now, if you're just joining

us, first of all, hi and welcome. Please go back

and listen to episodes one and two because they

are so good. But here's the quick version of

why Rhonda Good is my guest this week. She's

my fitness instructor at the Telford YMCA in

Richmond, Kentucky. And, well, I adore her. When

I was choosing a charity for Podcast Thon, I

asked my community for recommendations, and Rhonda

is actually the one who put forward the Humane

Society Animal League for Life of Madison County.

I threw all the nominations into a random number

generator, and hers won. The universe, as far

as I'm concerned, made this call. I just showed

up with a microphone. And now for the final time

this week, Rhonda Good. In this episode, we go

deep on what it actually takes to set a brand

new student up for long -term success. After

14 years of teaching, Rhonda can read a room

in about 60 seconds. She knows almost immediately

whether someone walking through the door is going

to commit or they'll be gone by next week. She

talks about how she approaches brand new people,

what she says to them, and then, most importantly,

what she would say right now to the person who

is sitting at that crossroads. Maybe it's you.

The one who knows something that has to change

but hasn't quite made the move yet. It's direct

and it's real. Nothing less than what I would

expect from Rhonda Good. And it might be exactly

what you need to hear today. Let's get into it.

Well, I'm going to transition again. And all

right. So last time we covered plateaus, the

21 day habit rule, the three do's and don'ts

for beginners. And that episode that you call

the preachy episode, it was actually really good.

But I want to go even deeper on those patterns,

because in 14 years, you've seen the same stories

play out over and over again. And I want to know.

Well, what you know. So when someone first walks

in your class and you said you can tell pretty

quickly who's going to stick with it and who

isn't, what are the signs, the things that people

don't even realize that they're broadcasting

that tell you whether or not they're going to

be in it for the long haul? Well, usually when

you're talking to them, like if I go introduce

myself and say, you know, hey, have you ever

done whatever the format is and yes or no? And

then, OK, well, and I'll say, well, my class

is more whatever, whatever the class is. And

then and then I'll say, do what you can, you

know, and I'll say I'm wild. And I'll say, so,

you know, do what you can. Don't feel bad that

you can't keep up because, you know, some of

them have been with me for years and they can't

keep up, you know, sort of thing. But some of

them just like they'll look down at the floor

or they look away like, oh, I'm not really going

to be here very long. You know, so it's usually

that or then the people that, you know, once

class starts. They just stop and stare at you.

And it's not that they're lost. They literally

just stop like, oh, I can't. I didn't sign up

for this, you know. So, yeah, it's usually those

folks. OK. All right. Well, one of your students

sent me the most thoughtful message before this

interview, and I want to read part of it to you

because I think it deserves a real answer. She

wrote about watching your regulars, people who

have been with you for years and how they know

your routines. They know you, they trust you.

And then a brand new person comes in and they

see all of that from the outside. Do you think

it intimidates the new people when they walk

in the room? I don't think so, just because most

of my folks are pretty welcoming. I mean, new

people in a gym are going to be intimidated in

general. That's part of the whole thing about

gyms. But when you've got people in class that

are every body shape, every age, every color,

I don't think that people are necessarily intimidated.

And new people tend to go to the back anyway

where they feel safer. And so not at our place.

I mean, there are gyms that are definitely because.

There are classes because, I mean, when I was

a student even, you know, you're walking in classes,

got your little cliques in the corner, this little

group and that little group, and they don't say

anything to the people. And there's always somebody,

whether it's just because they're nosy or because

they're nice or a combination of both, that's

going to always say something to new folks. Yeah.

So not at the Y. Okay. All right. Just curious.

All right. Well, you've seen people hit their

goals, completely transform their lives. I know

definitely transformed mine. You've seen them

get off medications. You've watched people come

back year after year after having the same conversations

and some of them make zero progress. What separates

the two groups, the ones that actually make the

big change versus the ones that, well, are stagnant?

The ones that are stagnant refuse to make any

little changes. Whatever that is. So, you know,

whether that's doing a different class or changing

their diet just a little bit, they just refuse

to do anything different at all. And so those

are the ones that, well, if nothing changes,

if nothing changes. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. We talk

a lot about people, what they should do at the

gym, but I want to ask what happens outside of

it, because I think that's where most people

actually fall apart. What are the lifestyle habits

that are not just workout habits that you see

that derail people the most? And I know most

of it's diet, but I'm curious about all the things.

Oh, yeah, most of it's definitely diet, but it's

also just sitting. I mean, so, you know, for

the for typical people, my people are different.

So when they come to the gym, they're usually

going to work out at least an hour and a half

or two hours a day. Most people aren't going

to do that. Most people are there for maybe an

hour. So, you know, you can't erase. an entire

week of a desk job, especially if you have genetics

that make you prone to being overweight and all

the other things. So you can't have a desk job

and come work out three hours a week and lose

weight. I mean, it's not going to work. So you're

going to have to go to the gym more. I mean,

that's why when I was a student, when I started,

I started going like 12 hours a week and then

14 and 16. That's how often I was at the gym

before I taught anything. So to me, when I went

into teaching, it wasn't necessarily that big

of a deal as it grew. But, you know, you just

can't erase a week of inactivity. You can't erase

eating whatever you want every day, all day,

with three hours at the gym. So you've got to,

whatever that is, take the stairs. Do the extra

things. You know, walk the dog. I was going to

say get a dog. Walk the dog. Well, just like,

you know, when you have people with overweight

dogs, I'm like, well, do you walk them? Well,

we've got a backyard with a fence. Well, so do

I. Yeah. Do you walk them? Yeah. Well, guess

what? That's why it's fat. Yeah. You know, I

mean. And so are you. No, I'm just kidding. You

wouldn't say that to them. So, yeah. I mean,

you have to do some extra things. And obviously.

And I don't hate them. I mean, there are obviously

people that are just genetically inclined to

be thin and, you know, and people joke and say,

I hate them, whatever. Those people tend to be

the kind of people that wish that they had more

shape, you know, so they wish they had more of

a butt or they wish they had more of this or

more of that. And they can't get it. Yeah. No

matter what they do. So, you know, I don't look

at those people like, you know, because I've

got a handful of them and don't. They could never

be overweight, no matter how much they try. They

couldn't be overweight. But I've also got a couple

people that have pretty small frames that have

lost 30 or 40 pounds. And on them, that's an

enormous amount on them. So, but, you know, the

biggest mistake people make is just, like I tell

everybody, I mean, sure, I can eat what I want.

Yeah. Because of the amount of time I work out

and all the other activity that I do. But I still

try to sort of behave. And I always, always like,

what else can I do to be active today? It's always

in my mind. So when people are like, you don't

rest. I don't rest well. No, I mean, I rest when

my body says, you're dead. That's it. You have

to. You have no choice. Yeah. But otherwise,

I'm always looking for something to do. To keep

moving. Not cleaning. Rhonda doesn't clean. But

outside, I'm always looking. Like, you know,

I've already mowed the lawn last weekend. I'm

always like, let's do something. You know, whatever

that is. And I really enjoy the outside work.

But whether that's going to the park and walking

or doing something, I would rather be moving.

So most people, all the mistakes are made with

eating too much stuff and then just that whole

Netflix and binge thing, which I've never done

in my life, but sitting and just... Stuffing

your face. Well, or even just laying around all

day watching whatever. I mean, unless you're

sick, that's not necessary. Yeah. Get a treadmill.

Well, there's a lot of noise out there about

nutrition, macros, intermittent fasting, cutting

carbs, not cutting carbs, blah, blah, blah. And

the thing that I recently complained about is

all these influencers pushing this protein powder

crap at you. So what I want to know is what you

think about this. Is it true or is it false?

Can you outwork a bad diet? Depends on how bad

your diet is and depends on how much you're willing

to work. Okay. Okay. So. The typical thing that

they say is like for what a woman you're supposed

to have 2000 calories or whatever it is a day.

So how do you combat that and still lose weight?

Well, I mean, because you're 2000 calories. You

know, if you're eating like me, a king size dark

chocolate Kit Kat at 450 calories or whatever.

And, you know, that's a quarter of your calories

a day. And of course, I don't drink coffees and

Starbucks and all that kind of stuff. But, you

know, if you're consuming in liquid form half

or more of your calories in a day, then that

doesn't leave you with much. And so, you know,

nutrient denseness does matter. And it also matters

in how you feel. I mean, if you eat fast food

and eat out, you don't. Well, if you're in a

pattern of it, your body doesn't know any different.

So you're sluggish and you're tired and you don't

feel like going to the gym and you don't feel

like moving because you're eating junk every

day. Once you get out of that mode and then you

do it, you know, your body tells you, oh, that

was a little much, you know, and you're not going

to feel well and you're going to feel tired and

sluggish. Then I don't care who you are, you're

going to. So, you know, can you eat junk every

day, all day and lose weight? No. Can you eat

junk and lose weight if you're willing to work?

Sure. Yeah. But you're going to have to be willing

to go to the gym five, six days a week and make

the commitment to do it. And some people would

rather do that because they like to eat. Yeah.

And so, I mean, and that's sort of my philosophy

is the reason I don't partake in any of that

foolishness with excluding anything is that I'm

going to work out. But I'm also going to do other

things. I mean, I'm not just working out. I'm

going to look for ways to move. And if you do

that, then you can eat more junk. All right.

You heard it here first. You can eat more junk

if you just move more. All right. I want to ask

you something a little more personal. When someone

who has been in your class for a long time and

they finally have that breakthrough moment, they

hit a goal they've been working toward for months

or they come in and they tell you they got off

on medication or whatever it is. How does that

feel for you? Like, how does it really feel?

Oh, it's definitely a boost because I get tired

of this, too. It's a job for me. I get tired.

I get tired physically. I get tired mentally.

I get tired of y 'all. I get tired. I mean, clearly.

But then I'll get a message from somebody. Just

got one this week. Someone's on vacay. They're

hiking. They sent me a picture of the top of

the mountain and said, Rhonda, because of your

classes, this hike was easy for me. It's an immediate

boost. And every time it happens, I'm like, this

is why I always show up, even when I don't feel

like it. Because that's what matters. People

can take care of themselves and can do the things

that they want to do without limitations. Yeah,

that's why the girls wanted me to send you the

picture. We did a crafter noon. And when I was

lifting the 50 pound bags of cement, they're

like, you gotta send that to Rhonda. Okay, so

if someone's listening to this right now, and

they're exactly where you were before that photo

at the family reunion that we talked about all

that, oh, all those four months ago, I was thinking

it was longer, but it was only four months ago.

And they know something needs to change, but

they haven't made the move yet. What do you want

to say to that person right now? Not the polished

version. Just get real with them. Always the

same. Look at your future 15 to 20 years from

now. If you stay in the exact same shape you're

now, which is going to get worse because that's

how it works. What does your future look like?

And if you have kids, what does their future

look like? What are you leaving them with? That's

good. Always the same. Look at your future 15

to 20 years from now. What does it look like?

That's Rhonda Goode. And she's been saying that

same thing for 14 years because it is always,

always true. This wraps up our Podcast Thon series,

and it has genuinely been one of my favorite

things I've ever done on this podcast. If you

enjoyed these episodes, I want to encourage you

to head over to podcastthon .org. You'll find

so many other charities that are being highlighted

by incredible podcasters from all over the world

this week. It's a beautiful initiative, and I'm

honored to have been a part of it. Please also

take a moment to visit the show notes for the

link to the Humane Society Animal League for

Life of Madison County, Kentucky. Share this

episode link. Donate if you can. Tell someone

about it. Awareness is everything. And you listening

and sharing this episode is already making a

difference. If you want to leave a voice note

for this podcast and possibly be featured on

a future episode, I would love to hear from you.

Head over to FamousAshleyGrant .com backslash

fitness and you'll see two links. One's for industry

pros and one is for listeners that have their

own story that they would like to share. I love

hearing from you guys. Thank you so much for

listening to these episodes from the bottom of

my heart and for being part of this little movement

of movement. Onwards and upwards, my friends.

Have you worked out today?