Building Habits That Last Through Individualized Fitness | Food for Thought #29

In this new episode of Greenfork’s Food for Thought podcast, host Stephen Zabala chats with fitness and nutrition coach Naiya Grec as she shares her unique journey from circus arts and dance to becoming a personalized lifestyle coach, emphasizing sustainable habits, listening to your body, and avoiding quick-fix myths. She and Stephen discuss strength training, running, goal setting, and the power of individualized nutrition over trendy diets.Find Naiya online at zestfitnessandnutrition.com or on Instagram at @live_with_zest.0:00 Intro & Welcome to Naiya Grec0:36 Naiya’s background: soccer, dance, circus, aerial fabrics & rock climbing2:23 The circus story and falling in love with alternative movement4:07 Favorite part of coaching: connecting and individualizing plans5:50 Coaching systems: starting where the client is, building sustainable habits7:26 Goal setting, discipline vs. motivation, and evolving goals10:01 Shifting personal fitness preferences as we age12:34 Naiya’s favorite exercise: higher-intensity strength training13:34 Completing 75 Hard and discovering her “running girl era”15:28 Keeping movement fresh and the downsides of single-sport focus17:04 Training for longevity and functional ability in old age18:19 Past injuries and how strength training healed old issues21:49 New role as an Orangetheory Fitness coach23:37 Building community and bringing personality to group classes31:12 Naiya’s dietary journey: from vegetarian/vegan experiments to whole-food focus34:44 Developing awareness and palate changes over time38:01 Mindset shifts and celebrating small wins with clients40:06 Last meal on death row: apple crisp, chicken pot pie & comfort foods41:47 Cooking habits, batch cooking, and feeding a big family45:24 Busting the myth that healthy food has to taste bad48:40 Biggest fitness/nutrition myths: quick fixes and one-diet-fits-all50:27 Frustrations with the supplement industry and trend chasing53:34 Closing thanks and how to connect with Naiya