#247. If you Eat Clean and Exercise but Can't LOSE WEIGHT...watch this.

In this powerful episode, Bridget shares her inspiring health journey—moving from frustration with weight gain, over-exercising, and gut health struggles to finding balance through faith and wellness. We dive deep into why midlife health feels so challenging, how over-exercising can actually harm progress, and the surprising truths about protein intake and inflammation.

Bridget opens up about how the Fast to Faith program transformed her mindset and health, emphasizing the importance of nourishing the body, listening to God’s guidance, and embracing rest without guilt. If you're feeling stuck in your health journey or seeking clarity on how to balance fitness, faith, and nutrition, this conversation offers encouragement, insight, and actionable tips.

If you liked this episode, watch it on youtube! 👉🏻 https://youtu.be/KU8oxEExC_g

0:00 - Bridget's Midlife Health Struggles and Breakthrough Moments
 3:02 - Listening to Your Body's Signals for Change
 6:34 - The Hidden Dangers of Over-Exercising and Protein Myths
 10:17 - Nourishing the Body Through Faith-Based Fasting
 14:07 - Trusting God's Timing in Your Health Journey
 25:16 - Why Self-Care is the Best Gift for Your Family
 30:10 - The Power of Community: Join the Fast to Faith Sisterhood

If this episode inspired you, share it with someone who needs hope and encouragement in their health journey!

Ready to stop trying harder and start healing smarter? Start with the $5 Faith Reset Challenge — your first step to regulating your nervous system, stabilizing your metabolism, and reconnecting with your identity in Christ through simple, faith-centered rhythms. This is where most women begin. 

👉 Start the $5 Challenge here: https://ftf.fasttofaith.com/empoweredbyfaithlive

Supplements mentioned in this episode — support your healing with tools designed to work alongside your reset: 🛒 Shop here: https://shop.fasttofaith.com — use code PODCAST for 20% off

Learn more + success stories: https://fasttofaith.com https://fasttofaith.com/testimonials-2/

Follow Dr. Tabatha: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrTabatha 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gutsydrtabatha

Transcript

If You Eat Clean and Exercise but Can’t LOSE WEIGHT… Watch This.

(00:00)
Dr. Tabatha: We just want to look healthy and be healthy. At this point, it's more about function—being able to keep up with our kids and do all the things we’ve always wanted to do.
Dr. Tabatha: Welcome, Bridget, to the Fast of Faith podcast!
Bridget: Thank you, Dr. T! I’m so grateful to be here and excited to share my story—and hopefully reach women who feel like they’re flailing and searching for answers.

(00:39)
 Dr. Tabatha: You’ve got a super common scenario—even though you’re amazing and special! You were doing all the right things: eating clean, exercising, but it just wasn’t working anymore.
Bridget: Correct. It felt like everything had stopped working.

(01:13)
 Dr. Tabatha: Women think health coaches or doctors are somehow set apart—but we’re just ordinary women who chose to heal ourselves and help others. Let’s start at the beginning—where most women are.

(01:43)
 Dr. Tabatha: A lot of women eat clean, work out, and still gain weight. So what was that “something different” you were searching for?
Bridget: I had terrible night sweats. My doctor suggested birth control and antidepressants. That didn’t feel right to me. Then, I had bilateral Achilles tendinitis, and my practitioner told me to stretch more… but I was teaching yoga six days a week! I didn’t need more stretching—I was inflamed.

(02:50)
 Bridget: I gained 12 pounds out of nowhere. I was crying, anxious, tired, and in pain. When you asked about stress, I said it was fine—but I was internalizing everything. My body was screaming, but I didn’t know how to listen.

(03:25)
 Dr. Tabatha: That’s such an important piece—your body holds onto trauma and stress. Your voice is even quivering a bit now as you relive it. Our body keeps the score. You didn’t let it define you, though. You kept seeking answers.

(03:58)
 Dr. Tabatha: You searched and searched—and you found me without knowing you were looking for me.
Bridget: Yes. God brought me here.

(04:28)
 Dr. Tabatha: Your body was inflamed, and it was trying to tell you. What were the biggest ahas—why were you inflamed?
Bridget: I thought I was healthy. But I was eating Frankenfoods, preservatives, sugar, gluten, drinking 1–3 glasses of wine each night. I’d work out hard in the morning, then lay around and binge Netflix with junk food. I thought that was balance.

(05:36)
 Dr. Tabatha: Let’s talk overexercising—what did that look like for you, and how did you shift it?
Bridget: I was punishing myself with 2-hour workouts. I felt like if I didn’t sweat and suffer, it didn’t count. I was chasing transformation. But I needed balance. Now, I move daily—about an hour. It’s mental too—I want to be strong and mobile, not skinny.

(06:41)
 Dr. Tabatha: Sometimes, we’re addicted to the chemicals exercise produces—the adrenaline, the runner’s high. It becomes a coping mechanism. Especially when we’re bored or anxious.

(07:13)
 Dr. Tabatha: You were puffy, inflamed, your hormones were tanking, your gut was wrecked. It was a vicious cycle.
Bridget: It’s been about a year and a half since Healthy Her. The biggest shift was learning to nourish my body—sustainably. Not starving or bingeing. I learned to manage emotional eating and appreciate the food I was eating.

(08:25)
 Bridget: I wasn’t deprived. I looked forward to feast days. I started focusing on what I could eat instead of what I couldn’t. It became joyful.

(08:58)
 Dr. Tabatha: You reframed fasting beautifully. People think it’s deprivation, but you focused on nourishment.
Bridget: Morgan’s recipes helped so much. They’re simple. Nothing took more than 40 minutes. It made healthy eating feel accessible.

(09:31)
 Dr. Tabatha: That was the goal—fast, simple recipes. No boxed meals or long prep. Just real food in 20 minutes or less.

(10:05)
 Dr. Tabatha: When you went through Healthy Her, all the puzzle pieces came together. What made you step into becoming a certified Fast to Faith coach?

(10:38)
 Bridget: My youngest had gone off to college. I’d taught yoga, had an organizing business, modeled for 13 years. I never had a 9-to-5. I wanted something meaningful. I asked Ashley, “What does it take to be a coach?” And she said, “You could just be one.” I needed that seat of authority.

(11:43)
 Bridget: I was out on a walk listening to your podcast when you announced the coaching program. I literally looked up at the sky and said, “Yes, God.”
Dr. Tabatha: Oh my gosh—I’m tearing up. So powerful!

(12:20)
 Dr. Tabatha: God was laying this out for you. You’ve always loved health, beauty, and fitness. You’re equipped. Now it’s time to lead.

(14:08)
 Bridget: I had all this knowledge, but no one took me seriously. “You’ve just listened to podcasts and read books,” they’d say. But I had so much inside me. I just wanted to share it. I talk about this stuff all day—I love it.

(15:13)
 Dr. Tabatha: That’s exactly it. Women already have the answers—they just need guidance. God told me: “You’re not the Savior. Just show them how their body works.” That’s what this coaching program is about.

(16:24)
 Dr. Tabatha: And now women look at you and say, “I want what Bridget has.” You’ve stepped into full authority.

(17:27)
 Bridget: I went on a yoga retreat and met a woman. She called me after and said, “I thought you’d be pushy, but you just listened.” She lost 18 pounds in five weeks. All from learning how to balance her life differently.

(18:29)
 Dr. Tabatha: That’s fire. You helped someone release deep-rooted weight—and the emotional weight behind it. That’s coaching. Meeting women where they are.

(19:41)
 Bridget: We care. This isn’t about macros and money—it’s about building better lives. We see the ripple effects in families, friendships, marriages.

(20:48)
 Dr. Tabatha: Let’s talk protein. You taught our community that more isn’t always better.
Bridget: I wanted to lift and build muscle, so I upped my protein—120g/day. I wasn’t losing weight. It was too much. Homeostasis matters. The body needs balance.

(22:53)
 Bridget: This program helps you find the middle. I’m strong, I feel great, I’m not deprived. Too much of anything is too much. Balance is key.

(23:57)
 Dr. Tabatha: You had weight to lose and protein can backfire when overdone. You’ve found that balance—you look lean, strong, and healthy. That’s what most midlife women want.

(25:06)
 Bridget: I want to stay active—skiing, walking, running. I want my daughters to know I’m okay. I want strength and stability so I don’t end up injured or dependent.

(26:07)
 Dr. Tabatha: I know someone needed to hear this. Envision the future you want—and work backward. That’s how we build the life God designed for us.

(27:14)
 Dr. Tabatha: Bridget, thank you for trusting God and being brave enough to step into your calling.
Bridget: I’m a mix of Bulldog and Golden Retriever—I will fight for you, but I’m also soft and nurturing.

(28:24)
 Bridget: If you're curious, follow me on Instagram: @bridgetogreathealth. I share my lifestyle and how I live out this mission. I’ll help you find what’s tripping you up. We’ll figure it out together.

(30:02)
 Dr. Tabatha: The community in the Fast of Faith app is fire. Go introduce yourself. Bridget and our other coaches will welcome you with open arms. We are here to love on you and walk with you through this journey.