02: Squats, Surnames, and Side Effects

Take a Break with Nick and Megan

In this episode of Take a Break, Megan and Nick dive into a week filled with personal highs, lows, and major life decisions. Nick discusses his fitness journey, including breaking through a mental barrier in his squats as he nears the end of his training program. Meanwhile, he also opens up about the emotional challenge of changing his last name ahead of his wedding and the impact it had on his relationship with his family.

On the other side, Megan reflects on her experiences with starting anti-anxiety medication, detailing the unexpected side effects and the rollercoaster of emotions that came with it. Despite the challenges, she hit a few personal records in the gym, proving that progress comes in many forms.

Join Megan and Nick as they share their peaks and valleys of the week, diving into deep conversations about fitness, family, mental health, and everything in between.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Breaking through mental barriers – Nick’s fitness achievements, including a new personal record for squats and how mental blocks can affect physical performance.

• The emotional weight of a name change – Nick shares his decision to change his last name before his wedding and the tough conversation with his family.

• Navigating the side effects of medication – Megan opens up about starting anti-anxiety medication and how the side effects impacted her fitness and daily life.

• Finding strength in PRs – Megan celebrates hitting new personal records in the gym, despite the challenges she's been facing.

Key Moments:

• [00:03] Introduction – Megan and Nick kick off the episode with their usual banter.

• [04:50] Nick's fitness peak – Breaking past the mental hurdle of squatting over 405 lbs.

• [09:30] Changing last names – Nick discusses the emotional and family dynamics of changing his surname before his wedding.

• [13:00] Megan’s side effects – Dealing with the side effects of new anti-anxiety medication and its impact on her week.

• [16:30] Hitting PRs – Megan celebrates her fitness wins, including a new personal best on the hack squat.

• [22:12] Rollercoaster reflections – The challenges of balancing mental health, fitness, and life decisions.

Follow Us:

Stay connected with us for more behind-the-scenes moments and updates on future episodes:

• Instagram: @fitdegree

• Website: fitdegree.com

Join the Conversation:

Do you have a major life decision you’re navigating, or have you recently broken through a mental barrier in your fitness journey? Let us know by tagging us on Instagram @fitdegree or using the hashtag #TakeABreakPodcast.

Thanks for Listening!

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with friends who love personal stories about life, fitness, and everything in between. Stay tuned for more episodes with Megan and Nick as they continue to take a break and dive into the realities of life!