How does living a healthy life impact our business? In today’s episode, I have the honor of introducing you to Leah Hope, a photographer whose health journey has inspired her thousands of followers. We’re sharing our thoughts on crushing limiting beliefs, committing to staying disciplined, and how the strength of our businesses is correlated with the health of our bodies. 

On Quianna Marie Weekly, we’re chatting about business growing pains, finding genuine connections, and celebrating wins of all sizes through the lens of a photographer at heart. Sprinkled throughout stories and interviews with past clients, photographers and other business owners this podcast is designed to help you step into your purpose and to truly create a life you’re proud of, a life worth photographing and sharing.

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Review The Show Notes: 

When It Was Time To Make A Change (2:35)

Beginning To Live Your Healthy Life (4:52)

Staying Motivated vs. Staying Disciplined (8:53)

Growing A Following On A Health Journey (13:22)

Documenting The Before And After (17:55)

Leah’s Feature In People Magazine (22:55)

Crushing Limiting Beliefs And Making Mindset Shifts (27:18)

Non-Negotiables In A Daily Routine (32:43)

How Your Relationships Can Change (37:06)

What To Eat For Breakfast (42:13)

Key Tip From Leah (44:00

Connect With Leah:

Website

Instagram 

Review the Transcript:

Quianna Marie
“It’s not about chasing the smaller body, it’s about living a larger life.” I love this direct quote from my dear friend Leah and I’m thrilled to introduce you to one of my photo besties that has naturally lost over 200 pounds and gained over 300,000 followers on Instagram within the last year. Leo was one of my OG photography friends that I met once moving to Arizona.

Leah is an incredibly talented photographer that specializes in family portraits, maternity newborns, seniors, couples and gorgeous landscapes. Her photos are vibrant, candid and full of love. You can feel the connection and genuine emotion evoke through her photos because it’s a reflection of her kind heart, relatable humor and incredible client experience.

Leah also offers education and mentoring for photographers. As an open book she has years of experience and pours her heart into teaching. I’m excited to share this bestie combo with you to join as if we’re all grabbing coffee together to share her health journey and the mindset shifts needed to finally put her health and wellness first. You and I both know how important it is to exercise, drink more water, make better choices and eat more veggies, all while running a business or raising a family and trying to simply survive with this inflation.

For today’s episode, we’ll be sharing thoughts on crushing limiting beliefs, committing to staying disciplined instead of depending on motivation and making healthy choices every day. Leah spills the tea about her rapid growth on social media. Plus, we even dive deeper into the fact that the strength of our businesses are absolutely correlated to the health of our bodies.

Now get cozy and pull up a seat. It’s an honor to introduce you to my sweet friend Leah hope. Welcome to Quianna Marie Weekly, a podcast for creatives who love to celebrate wins big or small by dancing in the kitchen photographers who are excited to serve their clients and friends who are ready to chase really, really big dreams.

You can find all of the resources mentioned in this episode at Kiana murray.com/podcast. Join me as I share weekly motivation, chat about growing pains, finding genuine connections and celebrating your wins through the lens of a photographer at heart. Come join me for a dance party. Ready? Loves though. Hey, hey, hey, welcome. Welcome to the party. Leah. I’m so grateful you couldn’t be here today.

Leah Hope
Thank you so much for having me Quianna!

The Breaking Point To Make A Change

Quianna Marie
I have so many juicy questions for you! I would love to know right off the bat. Let’s just get into it. What was the breaking point when you decided it was time to make a change in your life?

Leah Hope
Yes, it was like there really truly was a rock bottom moment for me. And it was at Disneyland. And that was my breaking point. I went to Disneyland at the highest way that I had ever been to Disneyland I was 388 pounds at the time. I had technically been a higher weight than that. But I hadn’t been to an amusement park at that higher weight.

So I knew it was going to be a struggle. I was going with my my sister’s family, my sister and brother in law and nephew. And my nephew is my favorite person in the world, being an aunt has been my favorite thing to be in life. And I didn’t want to miss out on this experience with him. So I went to Disneyland knowing that it would be difficult for me and it would be hard on my body. And it was and I got a migraine just a few hours in my feet hurt my back hurt, I was profusely sweating.

It was not fun. It was not the happiest place on earth for me. And I spent half of the day just sitting at a table by myself with my head down so that I wasn’t throwing up from my migraine while my sister and brother in law and nephew were out having fun at Disneyland and just the whole drive home from Disneyland. I just felt like an idiot. I was like, I can’t believe I thought I could handle that. When I can barely handle I mean, as a photographer sometimes after a shoot at that point, I was like, Oh my gosh, I’m exhausted and like how did I think that I was going to handle Disneyland?

So yes, so that was I just decided I can’t do this anymore. I don’t want to live a life where going to Disneyland with my nephew is one of the worst days of my life. I don’t want that to be my life. I don’t want that to be my normal. I want to be able to live the life that I want to live and be free to do the things I want to do without thinking how is this going to be hard for me because of my physical abilities. So that that was my that was my rock bottom moment.

Starting The Health Journey + Learning Nutrition

Quianna Marie
Oh my gosh. Well, first of all, thank you for sharing that and being so vulnerable to share this moment. And so I would love to know, because I feel like we all know what to do. Right? We all know that we need to eat more protein and Get outside and exercise and, you know, soak up more sunshine, drink more water and exercise as much as we can. But not unlike not all of us actually know what to do. So can you share with us your experience with learning more about taking the next steps for your healthy lifestyle?

Leah Hope
Yes, so I so my sister who I talked about my sister and brother in law, they have been healthy, living healthy for a while. And so thankfully, I knew that I had them. I had been learning from them already, for years, like, they would share about things. And I’d be like, That’s great for you guys. I’m gonna go get my fast food, I’m gonna go do this, but good for you. So I had information from them. That was in my mind, but I just wasn’t applying yet. But I also I actually, I knew what type of like eating I wanted to look into, which is called Pro metabolic eating.

It’s Not Just Another Diet, It’s A Lifestyle

It’s not, it’s not a diet, it’s basically just eating whole foods, as much unprocessed foods as you can and emphasis on healthy non hormone filled protein and dairy products and things like that. So I actually bought a course which I mean, so many of us buy courses that we never do, but I did the course like I was like, I’m doing this, I’m gonna get healthier.

I bought this course, on pro metabolic eating. And it also teaches about like women’s hormones and how food affects you. And so it didn’t feel like it wasn’t just like, oh, do this, and don’t do that, or eat this and don’t eat that. But it was like, Hey, this is why this is going to be helpful for you and your body. Because ultimately, that’s what I want. I didn’t want to just lose weight. This time, I wanted to get healthier. And so that’s why the research was a big part of it. For me, I also started listening to a podcast to Skyterra is a wellness retreat that I decided to go to, to, to do something that felt like a really big investment for me on this journey. And they have a podcast.

I started listening to their podcast, before I went while I was walking in today. And that just had so much information about again, not as much of it wasn’t like eat this, don’t eat that. But it’s so hard because people they want to know the exact formula tells me exactly what I should eat exactly how many calories exactly, I get asked all the time, how many minutes a day did you walk? And I’m like, It’s not about the exact specific minutes like we all have to find what works for us.

Different schedules allow for different things. But we can educate ourselves and then experiment and try what works for one person, I could tell someone exactly step by step, everything that I did, and it isn’t going to have the exact same results for someone else. And so we have to be willing and wanting to experiment to try to see what works for us what fits into our lifestyle and what actually makes us feel good. Absolutely.

Quianna Marie
I love that you’re bringing this to light too. Because like I said, we all know what to do, right? Like in our mind, we’re like, yep, just take these easy steps we want. I love it. Friend of mine. Julie just mentioned recently on the podcast, he was like everybody wants to Amazon Prime their bodies, like what’s happening here, right? And I love that your message truly is about not necessarily getting smaller, but about living a larger life like that right there.

Leah is so beautiful and such a beautiful message to all of us that everybody is different, right? And we have to take those steps that are needed for us to actually make it a habit right actually make it a lifestyle change and not just a fad diet or something we’re going to do for a New Year’s resolution and then by February or by spring, we’re done into our bad habits. Right?

Motivation vs Discipline

I would love if you could please share with us in your opinion. What’s the difference between staying motivated versus staying discipline and, and what finally clicked for you to be like, this is a lifestyle like I’m learning these tips. I’m learning how food is fuel, but like how am I actually applying this? Yes,

Leah Hope
I love that question because that is another that is one of the number one questions I get asked on my accounts are how do you stay motivated? And I would say the difference between staying motivated and staying disciplined is choice. Motivation is more so something that happens to you like you’re not you’re not choosing motivation you feel it happens to you discipline, you are making that choice whether you feel motivated or not. And that has been one of the most important things for me is realizing. I can’t wait until I’m like yes I want to go for my walk today.

I rarely, I rarely am excited to get movement in even at this point. I have grown to love I love pickleball that is one of the things that I am Excited to do I want to do. Aside from that, I don’t, I would not say that I am motivated to get movement in and to fuel my body well every day, but I am motivated to have the results and the life that those things get me and how it makes me feel. And so I follow through whether I’m feeling motivated to or not. And I know that we don’t want to hear that, like, that is not a fun thing to hear, we want to hear no, tell me how to stay motivated.

The Truth About Staying Motivated

The truth is, I do not stay motivated, but I stay consistent, regardless of whether I’m motivated or not. And I think the thing that finally clicked for me was I just realized that that the life I was living was not at all resembling the life that I imagined for my future. It was not lining up, I have this envision this, this vision for my future. And I was like, Wait, but the life that I’m living with doesn’t resemble that in any way isn’t bringing me closer to that in any way.

How can I say that that’s the life that I want when I’m not actually doing things to get there. And so I started thinking about what my dream life, what is my dream life? What is my dream version of me? And what habits does that person have. And so I’m going to start doing those habits today. Even without that dream life, even without the dream house, or the dream job, or the dream spouse, or whatever it is, I can still have the habits of that person today. And that will bring me closer to that life. And so that’s what that’s what I started doing is is implementing the habits of that dream version of me.

Quianna Marie
That is so beautiful. I feel like this is such a beautiful reminder to all of us listening, whether we are looking to improve our lifestyle, or we’re looking to increase our finances, like boost our revenue, you know, go after that spouse or that relationship that we want.

Stop Waiting, Live As You Wish To Become TODAY

Truly living the life that we dream of like we don’t have to wait! Stop waiting for that next opportunity stop waiting to be asked for things right. Like we have to absolutely take action now. And I love that you’re prioritizing your health because that ultimately, like our hearts are the root and the heartbeat, literally, of our businesses. So if we cannot keep up with our daily habits now, how are we supposed to reach for those goals across the board, right? So I love that you’re bringing this to light and and speaking of business and kind of blending in life and business and your healthy habits.

I just have to say that you and I have actually talked about this, and we giggle and laugh that you like all of us have been creating so much content, putting so much love and energy into our Instagrams. And we were literally laughing about what the heck, like we’ve been photographers, you know, for your Instagram, for your photography, there’s about 5000 followers, even though I know you have so many more incredible clients that work with you year after year. And then your @leahhopehealth account, oh my gosh, has already over 315 317 I think to date 1000 followers and grow.

By the time this goes live, I’m sure you’ll have literally close to 400,000 followers. So like I would love to know if you could break down for us. What is it that you’re posting on your new health journey? And why are you gaining so much traction, so much engagement? And how can we apply that to our business?

Gaining Traction and Media Attention Online

Leah Hope
Yeah, it’s funny. When I when it first started blowing up, I had some people asking me like, Hey, how are you doing this? Like, how are you making your account so popular? And I was like, I am just I don’t know, I have no tips for you in regards to strategy.

It required no, there was no curating there was no game plan. I just started sharing authentically. And I will be honest, I think that people love a transformation people like my best tip is lose 200 pounds and then record it and that is how you can get more followers on Instagram. But I think people just they, they they want to see something that they want.

They want to know that it’s possible and so obviously the diet industry, the health industry, it’s a huge you could ask people on the street like the majority of people would say they want to lose some weight most likely and so I think that definitely has helped that that I am sharing about something that has worked for me giving hope to people so that they can say hey, it worked for her maybe it can work for me too.

But I do think it’s also with my photography account it I always made it this big deal. It was always oh I have to plan out every post and I have to I write out this caption, that’s going to be perfect. And I have to make sure that this picture looks exactly perfect in my feed next to these photos, and I can’t have two green photos next to each other. And it was just all, it was too much, I made it too big of a deal. And with this account, I did the complete opposite.

I literally just said to myself, I want to help people, I want to put this out there, no matter how hard or vulnerable it feels. And so I just started putting it out there without trying to make it perfect. And I think and that is one of the things that I get told the most. And it is my favorite thing to hear is when people tell me that I’m just real, because I’m like, I am real. Like, I’m just, I’m just me, and I’m just sharing. And that’s the whole point is that, I’m saying like, truly I am just this person who didn’t know if it would be possible for me. But it was and it has been.

That’s how I know it’s possible for you to and that’s what I want to be sharing. So I know this isn’t super helpful in regards to actually how to grow your Instagram account. But I do think that honestly, curating less and just sharing in a more raw and authentic way is what that’s what people want. Like we already have enough curation out there like we want. We want to feel something with someone, we want to feel a connection. And that comes through authenticity, which I know that’s like a buzzword, and but it’s just true. Yes,

Quianna Marie
well, I feel like you’re kind of downplaying this, I’m sorry, as your friend, I have to tell you that this is impressive Lea like you truly are authentically Yes, it’s a buzzword right now. But you’re showing up as yourself. You’re sharing your, your journey. And one thing I love that you have to if you’re listening right now, you have to go check out Leah’s health journey and her page because you do this really cool thing where you’re actually reading from your journals.

I think this is a beautiful thing. Because yes, everyone loves a good before and after picture and the transformation, they want to see that because they want to see themselves in that transformation as well. Right, and you make it possible, right? When you’re in it, when you’re in the thick of wanting to make a change, seeing somebody very relatable seeing somebody that has gone through this is is magnetic, like they just want as like they want more and more and more and more. And I feel like you’re doing that Lea like you’re walking the walk, you’re talking the talk, you’re being very encouraging about sharing this journey with people. And I just, I just love it so much.

I feel like that right there is the secret to rapid growth is being authentically yourself is sharing the hard moments, sharing the happy moments, sharing the why, and and proving it, right. So one thing I’d love to ask you about because I obviously am just so obsessed with all of your transformations, and all of the behind the scenes content, like can you give us a little play by play of how you actually planned the before and after shots because you have so many really awesome videos. And before and after photos where you like you could see your it looks like you’re setting up a tripod in the same exact location for you to like walk in your backyard.

Then you know on these really awesome hiking trails here in Arizona. And I feel like sometimes we all have really good intentions to capture like the before and after. But if we’re being honest, all of my photos that for my like health journeys to offer just a whole bunch of before pictures like I never actually do or oppose it. So can you go over? Like, is there any type of like tips or hacks to actually capture this behind the scenes content for your journey?

Hacks For Capturing Behind The Scenes

Leah Hope
Yes, I think also in terms of what I shared before is that just don’t make it a bigger deal than it is I didn’t go into documenting my journey, thinking that I was going to share those before and afters like I did. Like I wasn’t like I’m going to take a video here and then I’m going to come back in a year and take a video on the same place. I wasn’t thinking that I didn’t let myself think that because I didn’t want to have these high expectations for myself because every other time I had tried in the past or taken quote before pictures in the past. There were no after pictures, there was no this is this is how it’s worked for me. So I didn’t want to feel I didn’t want to get my expectations up too much. But as a photographer you can understand, I know the importance of documenting and so that is where it came from for me.

It truly there was no plan when I started this there was not a thought in my mind that someday I’m going to be posting on Instagram. These videos for hundreds of 1000s and millions of people to see that’s still so wild to me like that millions of people have seen some of my videos. That was not a thought In my mind, I recorded it for me because I knew how important it is to document a journey. I knew that it’s just so easy to be hard on ourselves and to not see our own growth and changes. I still believe if I didn’t have pictures and videos of me before, I think I would be like, Yeah, me or a scale?

I think I’d be like, yeah, maybe I’ve lost 50 to 100 pounds. Like, I feel like I wouldn’t know I wouldn’t it just so different day to day, having the changes in you, I just had someone at the gym say, have you lost more weight? And I was like, Yes, I have.

But I don’t see that I don’t see that I’ve lost more weight from a few weeks ago. And so that’s why the pictures and videos are so important. Because we’re just, we’re all so hard on ourselves. And I didn’t see physical changes in me, probably until about eight months in, when I had lost close to 80 pounds, which is a good amount.

I just I didn’t see it. I think part of me also didn’t want to see I still didn’t want to get my hopes up, I still didn’t want to think this is really real, that I’m really changing my life I wanted there. I wanted this like feeling to come over me to when I would know. But that never came either. Like it really just felt like all of a sudden one day I was like, Oh, this is real.

This, these are my new habits. This is my new life. And it just felt like it kind of came out of nowhere. But I the videos and the pictures definitely helped me grasp, like, Okay, this really is real. And so I would say go into it, not planning, not even thinking like, oh, I need to make sure I can be in this exact spot a year from now, or I need to wear this exact outfit a year from now, but just genuinely wanting to document your journey. Because for you because you know that it will help encourage you along the way, it will help you see how far you have come. And so document for that reason.

Then if there is a time where you want to share it with people, you have to share it with people, but you will never regret as long as you tell yourself no one ever has to see this. This is just for me, you will not regret having pictures and videos of your journey.

Quianna Marie
Yes, I’m so happy you mentioned this because as you know, I am a huge advocate for behind the scenes. And it doesn’t matter if it’s for a weight loss journey or creating healthy habits but also your business too. Right? Like actually seeing I mean, if we look back at some of our old felt like our old photographs, when we begin, oh my gosh, like thank you clients for hiring me and trust me back then, like can we do a redo now that your kids are, you know, in their teenage years now let’s do a redo.

Millions of Views

Speaking of millions of views on your reels and getting lots of attention and engagement online, I would love to quickly chat about your your article in People Magazine and your shout out through that. So can you share a little bit more about that article and exactly how you got featured How did that even happen?

Leah Hope
That was crazy! They they reached out to me it was when my that one video that I have went crazy viral. It has over 70 million views on Instagram, which is honestly just terrifying. Like, if I would have known like this is the video that would go by like I just I would have put so much more care into exactly which clips I chose. And you just you don’t say that. But another thing is that like every I feel like everyone wants to go viral. But you can’t plan for it.

If you plan for it, those ones never go viral. And then all of a sudden this the ones you didn’t plan for goes viral and and you’re just like well that’s it now everyone and now all of these people have seen all of this. So it was during that time they reached out and said that they they wanted to share about my story. And so we did a we did an interview over zoom.

I was able to share with them about about my I shared about my rock bottom moment and just like what has been helpful to me to hopefully help other people like there was no other motive behind it. Like I wasn’t selling anything. They weren’t selling anything in the article. It truly was just a piece to hopefully help other people know that that they can lose weight in a natural way.

I think that that that is a big part of it too. There are everyone has to decide what journey is the best and healthiest journey for them. Some people that surgery some people that’s weight loss medication. I think we aren’t seeing as much natural weight loss right now. And so I will I believe that is why they were interested in in talking to me and so I’m so thankful that I was able to share Hear about my story through that way.

Quianna Marie
That’s so amazing. I remember when Tara and I saw your article and saw, we were cheering for you so loud, we’re like, oh my gosh, like, This is crazy. And I just remember it being a moment thinking, wow, like, because to see you as our friend and always supporting you. And like seeing this journey, we’re like, wow, like, this is amazing. But to see it actually be like, in people, like, it’s just so cool. I feel like, you know, I feel like a lot of us chase those accolades, or we want to show up in magazines, and we want to show up, even just speaking for ourselves here in the business well, like, on speaking events, you know, and speaking on stages and traveling the world.

I want to kind of reiterate here and kind of highlight the fact that they reached out to you because you were doing the work. And I think this is such a beautiful message for anyone that has really big goals and really big things to chase, like, you know, like we, we want to be seen, we want to be credited for all of our hard work. But sometimes you actually have to do it and create that magnetic energy around you. So people reach out. And I just, I’m just so happy that this happened for you. And I feel like you’re going to continue getting even more engagement and, you know, opportunities to share your story that you did this. So naturally, right? Like, this is just, it’s just so amazing, Leah, thank you!

Leah Hope
I do agree that like, I think that it our focus makes such a big difference. I actually like here’s an example, I’ll do races with my nephew, which I couldn’t do before at my higher weight and but we’ll race each other. And he he’ll be so caught up with looking at me and where I am, that it’s making him fall more behind. And I tell him every time I say you would beat me if you weren’t looking at me and if you weren’t physically trying to hold me back. And and that’s what it is that it’s like what is our focus is our focus truly just to grow to help people to chase our goal and our dream rather than to have it seen by these people or to be more successful than this person? Like if we have to have our focus in the right place. And then the rest will will follow.

Quianna Marie
Yes. Oh my goodness. Well, I would love to dive deeper into the mindset shifts, crushing our own limiting beliefs and kind of rewiring our thoughts to learn new habits. I feel like this was a big part of your journey. So can you please share with us Leah? What are some things that you had to do to unlearn to actually achieve this healthier lifestyle?

Leah Hope
Yeah, I would say one of the biggest things I had to unlearn was all or nothing thinking because that every other time I had went into a health journey, even not even just a health journey, like a business goal, anything where you are setting out to accomplish a goal or this thing, we so easily can tell ourselves like I have to do all this, I have to get checked everything off the list. If I can’t check everything, I might as well just give up for the day. And that is what I would do in regards to health. It really was I was like, Oh, if I can’t get my walk in today, then what’s the point of eating healthy?

Or if I eat this fast food today, and then I might as well not go to the gym, because what’s the point? But there’s absolutely a point like the fact that somehow we convince ourselves that doing nothing is better than doing something like that is wild that we tell ourselves that and that’s what I told myself for so long, like, yeah, if I can’t do it all then then doing nothing is better than something.

But like that the math isn’t mapping, you know, doing something is going to be better than doing nothing. And so I had to let go of that all or nothing thinking and give myself grace to show up. However, I could show up that day. And some days, I could show up in a big way. And some days I had less of me to give. And that’s okay.

Consistency isn’t about being perfect with it. It’s about just being there and being present and showing up. And so that is definitely one of the biggest things. Another thing is also that you don’t have to restrict to lose weight. I still get asked all the time, like so. Did you go off carbs? Did you How long have you stopped eating sugar. I’m like, I have never stopped eating sugar. I wouldn’t be where I am today. If I was restricting an entire food group that I love. I love sugar. I love carbs.

I eat mostly carbs. But healthy carbs, potatoes, sourdough bread through maple syrup, honey. I didn’t eliminate entire food groups. But so often. We’re told that that’s what we’ll have to do. And so then we keep putting off the diet because we’re like, oh, I don’t I don’t want to have to restrict that. So I’m just gonna keep putting it off. And that’s another thing is that this has not felt like a diet to me, it truly hasn’t, it has felt like I am choosing to eat foods that fuel me and that make me feel good. And I do have to be conscious of how much of them I eat, because that’s just the fact like, if you want to lose weight, you have to eat less than you’re burning.

I did learn that that restriction and deprivation had to be a part of weight loss, it does not have to be a part of weight loss and it like I said, I would not still be on this journey. If it was a part of, of this journey for me.

Quianna Marie
I love that you’re giving us grace for that to remind us that, no, you don’t have to completely cold turkey things like you don’t have to stop doing something. Or like you like I love that mindset shift for you. Because I experienced that too, where it’s like, if I can’t be the best at it, I’m not going to do it. Like if I can’t commit to this and do everything perfectly. I don’t know if I could do this right.

It truly is a compound of making these really really healthy habits and and learning like what you can do every single day to kind of stack right like to actually make this a lifestyle change and not like an extra chore or something else to do on your to do list like you’re making these choices because it feels good, it it makes you happier, like it boosts your mood. I have to ask you, did you stop to having migraines? Like has that kind of gone away through this journey?

Leah Hope
It has been what’s wild is that I don’t think I fully realized that I was feeling badly before until I felt good. Like I it was just like, oh yeah, this is just how it works. You have a headache a few times a week, and you don’t and you have no energy. And to me it was just that’s just life, because that’s what I knew. That’s what I was living. And then all of a sudden you’re like, oh, wait, like, honestly, I didn’t even notice that first it was months into where I was like, Oh my gosh, I haven’t had a headache, or I haven’t felt this way or I haven’t gotten too exhausted at a photoshoot. And then and then once you’re living that, you just got to stay in it because it can be so easy to go back and then think oh, this is my new normal again. But but once you start feeling good, you just you just want to chase that feeling. And and you got to hold on to that. And remember that. That how you got there and and how that changes your life to feel better.

Quianna Marie
Yes, I love it so much can can you share with us? What maybe what are some non negotiables for your new daily routines? Like what is this look like? Where you’re thinking, Okay, I have this feeling. I’m making healthier choices with what I’m putting in my body and how I’m feeding myself and loving myself, right? Like the mindset shifts to say that you can do this and that you do love your body, right? Like you’re not not doing something because you hate it like you actually love your body and you want to take care of it. But what are some things that you’re like, This is what I’m committed to like, this is what I’m disciplined about. And this is what I’m striving for every day. What does that routine look like for you?

Leah Hope
Yeah, and I love that you said that because that’s really what it you can’t hate your body into a healthy place, you could maybe hate your body into losing weight. But that’s not a that doesn’t guarantee a healthy place. And so I absolutely have loved myself and love my body to get to this place. And part of that it does come in, in my new routines and knowing that, that maybe I don’t want to do it in the moment, but it’s gonna feel good.

Non Negotiables For Healthy Living

Later, I’m going to be thankful that I did it. And so the two non negotiables for me are getting in movement. And I really I say it in that way, getting in movement, because it doesn’t have to be an intense work workout. It doesn’t have to be a five mile jog. It doesn’t have to be this long height. There’s no, I have flexibility around that word movement. It’s it’s did I intentionally move my body today, even if there’s a day where I’m like, I am not feeling it.

I don’t want to do anything. And I get up and I walk for 10 minutes, I made the decision to intentionally move my body that day. And realistically, most of the time, when I tell myself, I really don’t want to do this, but I’m going to do it anyway. I just have to do 10 minutes. I rarely ever just do 10 minutes, I always end up doing closer to 30 or more. It’s just the Getting Started that is so hard, but it’s going to be easier to get started. If you tell yourself I only have to do 10 minutes and then you realize, oh I do have more to give today. And if you don’t have more to give, that’s okay too.

Then do whatever you can in that day. So movement is definitely a non negotiable and not in a way like I’m being strict. with myself, and I’m like, you have to move your body or you’re not healthy. But because I know that I feel better if I do it, I know that I’ve learned that. Even if I forget it in the moment, and I don’t want to do it, I know I’m going to feel better later today, if I get this movement in. So that is definitely one of them. And then eating a nutritious food a day is with one of my non negotiables because, you know, some sometimes there’s, we’re going out with friends, or we’re in a rush.

We drive through fast food, or whatever it is, I, I can’t guarantee that every single one of my meals is going to be a healthy choice for me, but I can make sure that I one thing that is nutritious for me one thing that fuels my body well, and that’s just it’s not overwhelming to think about, it’s overwhelming to think I have to eat exactly these three meals today. And this protein shake for a snack, but to say, you know, what, if I could just eat one thing that I know is beneficial for my body today. I did I did something good for my body today. And so those, those are two non negotiables, for me that are that have helped so much.

Quianna Marie
That’s beautiful. And I love that so much because I feel like even for us for like making movement in our daily routines. Like I actually look forward to it, right like going on a walk with faith or you know, my German Shepherd puppy, like taking her out just a little afternoon walk, like I crave that, like, I actually look forward to that, right? Like, that is something that the more you do this and the more you make it a routine, it’s actually a break. Like it’s actually like a little like mine, little breather that you can add and, and I love that you mentioned pickleball and like making those really fun activities, where you’re actually kicking butt like, like, you’re like you’re actually moving around and you’re sweating.

But you’re having so much fun. And I feel like that that is such a beautiful place to be and when exercise can feel your body make you feel better make make you even have clarity in your mind and in your business and in your relationships. And, and that’s something I would love to just kind of naturally talk about next LEA is like, how has your business changed? And how have your relationships with your family and friends change once you decided to truly truly love your body?

Healthy Habits For Life, Relationships and Business

Leah Hope
I feel like definitely when it comes to relationships, everything is just so much fuller, and richer. Even if just for the reason of now I am more open about this huge part of my life for so much of my life. I just tried to pretend like my health or weight wasn’t a problem. I never brought it up with friends or family like we just we did not talk about it. I wasn’t even I wasn’t on those people that like made jokes at my own expense. No I didn’t. I wanted to pretend like somehow people didn’t notice that I was in an almost 400 pound body and so I didn’t bring it up I didn’t talk about it. But that’s it.

That’s a huge part of my life that I was not talking about with the people that I was saying was saying were closest to me. And so now my friendships and relationships are so much richer and fuller because I am more vulnerable I’m more open I there’s more opportunity and chance for connection. And that just can change everything I will say for my business. It hasn’t been the best all the time. However, that is because in light for the past 10 years, my business was my priority like literally my number one priority was growing my business that is not my current priority right now my current priority is my health and getting healthier.

Sometimes when something else takes the front seat, you have to be okay with something else taking the backseat and maybe not growing in the way that you got used to or that you wanted to and so that has been the case for my business. However, I will say I do believe I am a better photographer I have more energy to give I have more endurance I can get on different levels like I couldn’t even squat before I was just like bending over trying to get capture children and and there’s so much there’s so many more ways that I can better serve my clients in a healthier body and that is what matters most to me.

Even if I haven’t been able to put all the efforts into my business that I did for the past years. That’s okay. It’s okay that more of my time is going to my health because it is resulting in in stronger connections both with the people in my life and like my family. I’m friends and with my clients and what I’m able to do for them.

Quianna Marie
Yes. You know what, I am so grateful. I feel like every single question you answer I’m like, yes, yes, yes, I’m so happy you said this. Because this is such a beautiful reminder for all of us that life comes in seasons, right? Like, there are seasons, there are priorities, there are shifts, there are ebbs and flows and just different directions.

Sometimes we’re flying down highways towards our goals. And sometimes we’re kind of stumbling on dirt roads, right? Like, I love that analogy. And I feel like you painted this beautiful picture that there are going to be season in seasons in your life, where you have to put certain things first, right? And that’s okay. Because when you really put that focus on your business, or your, your fitness or your family, right, like, all these things change, and it’s okay, it’s okay to go full force on something, to develop a habit to develop a lifestyle to develop the change that you want. Because ultimately, it’s going to make everything brighter and more vibrant. And just like these deeper connections, like you mentioned, I’m, I’m just so happy that you shared that too.

Leah Hope
Yeah, I do believe that is something I strongly believe is that it focusing on and, and developing and growing in one area of your life will absolutely help other areas of your life. And that’s something that I neglected for so long, I told myself, physical health doesn’t matter as much as emotional health or mental health. But the truth is, and I thought I was like, You know what, I’m good in those areas, like I’m real good with my emotional health and mental health.

Then it wasn’t until I started working on my physical health, this has been so much more of a mental and emotional journey than a physical journey even. And I didn’t realize it until I started working on my physical health. And I realized, oh, wait, these are all connected. And that includes financial health, business, friendship, all of it is connected. And if one of them is hurting, it can hurt them all. Just as much as if one of them is growing and thriving. It can help them all.

Quianna Marie
Yes. Oh, my gosh, so beautiful. So I have to ask you, I have one more. I have two more questions. This wasn’t on our list of questions. But what do you love to eat for breakfast? I’m always so curious, especially when we chatted about oh, you know, there’s, there’s so many different ways to do this. And, you know, I feel like, with someone with a brain like mine who’s listening, it’s like, okay, but really, what do you do? So I would love if you could just share, you know, one of your favorite breakfasts something that you start your day with, because I’m just so curious.

What’s For Breakfast?

Leah Hope
I’m pretty boring. And eggs are just my go to so but that’s an in multiple ways to because I get sick of things if I have it in that same way all the time. So if I do scrambled eggs that there’s pretty much always cheese in them. Like I will rarely just do the eggs. I also do poached eggs on a piece of toast on sourdough bread and I really enjoy that yesterday I just did Friday eggs with feta cheese crumbled over it. Like I think we so easily over complicate things and I’m like okay, if I have eggs, I can make them in all these different ways depending on what sounds good or what and they’re easy eggs or eggs are easy to do too. And so that that is the one thing that when I say like I want to make sure that I have a nutritious food today.

I know that if I had eggs like okay, I at least checked that off boneless like because eggs are so good for you like some people say they’re super food they have so many nutrients and and benefits for you and so and it’s easy and and mostly effortless and can be done in multiple ways. So you can have some variety to Yes,

Quianna Marie
I love that. I’m so happy that you shared that too because I I have that tick in my brain where I’m like okay, wait, I love all this mindset stuff. I love that this is all individual but tell me the facts. Tell me like how I can get started with this. And and I would love to ask I always ask every guest here on Quianna Marie Weekly. What is your key tip Leah? What is something that you would like to share with entrepreneurs and dreamers or anything that you wish you knew sooner on this health journey?

Leah’s Key Tip: Don’t Overthink It

Leah Hope
This is something that I still need to take my own advice for and that is Don’t overthink. Don’t overthink it. We just we make things so much harder for ourselves. And I’m saying this at knowing that I am literally doing this to myself every day. But we overcomplicate things and we overthink it and then that’s how we get stuck and we get paralyzed in fear. And we just have to remember that that we are not chasing perfection and honestly it no one wants perfection like in regards to sharing online even like I’m not interested in following someone who looks like they have a perfect life.

I’m truly not like that is me Avi can look for a little bit and be slightly entertained. But there’s no connection there. There’s no I don’t get to see myself in them. There’s nothing real. But yet we think we like so often feel like we have to be perfect to, before we show up. But showing up doesn’t require perfection, it just requires presence.

So just show up, be there going back to all or nothing thinking, showing up in perfect will always be better than not showing up at all. Like if you think about if you plan something with a friend, and you’re planning to meet at 12 o’clock, and your friend shows up with no makeup and with their hair messy and in their pajamas. Would you rather have that? Or would you rather have them literally not show up and stand you up? I mean, I would choose the friend showing up in perfect then not showing up at all. And that’s how we can show up to we can just remind ourselves showing up in any way is is giving more of ourselves than and giving more to ourselves than not showing up at all.

Quianna Marie
Oh my gosh, Leah, that was such an amazing key tip. Thank you. Because I am always preaching this and the way you explain that I just think is incredible. And all of us are taking notes and we just have so much to learn from you. So how can we stalk you be your BFF and continue learning from you on this journey? Yes, please

Leah Hope
be my BFF I want to be BFFs with everyone so you can find me at Leah hope health on but all social media. I’m mostly on Instagram, Tik Tok, I am on Facebook as well. So that would be the way to find me. I will say that I as much as I wish that I could read every DM I cannot. I do mostly try to read all the comments. So if you if you want to talk to me, you can comment. I also do have my email listed. And so sometimes it takes a little while but I will get to you if you email me because I genuinely I want to talk to people, I want to connect with people. But I am still only one person but I’m doing the best I can I don’t want people to not reach out because of how many people reach out to me. So I still I still want that I want to connect with people. So yes, find me. Find me online at Lea hope health and you can just follow along or if you want to chat, then I will do my best to be there and chat with you. Yes,

Quianna Marie
I’m so happy you mentioned that you guys if you’re listening right now, please please, please check out Leah hope health. And make sure to click on her link because I see Leah and you have tons of great collagen recommendations and adrenal cocktails. Like we didn’t even chat about any of that kind of stuff. And you know, you’re fun. I see you even have a pickleball cocktail like so cute. This is fun stuff, mushroom coffee, you have tons of really great links and recommendations, which like I mentioned before, it’s like, what do you eat for breakfast? Like I want to know these things. And so if you have that little, you know, inquisitive mind like I do, I just want to know all the facts and all the shortcuts and the Trix checkout Lea and I make sure to follow along. Yes,

Leah Hope
thank you. And I will say all of those things so far on my list. Like they’re all products that I used on my own and wanted to share about they’re not companies that reached out to me, not that anything’s wrong with that, too. And I’m sure I will have more of that as well like sharing about companies that have approached me. But for now, I just those are just the things that have been a part of my journey. And so I want to share them with other people.

Quianna Marie
Yay. Oh, my gosh, thank you. Thank you so much for sharing your time today. Leah, thank you for sharing your vulnerable moments, and your real life. This is something that we can all learn from and be encouraged by so thank you so much.

Leah Hope
Thank you so much for having me. This is so fun. I want to do this every week. Yeah.

Quianna Marie
We’ll definitely have you back on seriously. Oh my gosh, I can’t wait. Thank you have a beautiful day.

Leah Hope
Thank you. You too.

Quianna Marie
Wow, wasn’t that a juicy episode? To be honest, this was one of my very first episodes that I felt a little nervous to record and share. Even with Leah being one of my real life, good friends and business besties it can be really nerve wracking, sharing about our weight and sharing these vulnerable stories. We want you to know that you are not defined by the number on the scale or what you look like. We pray that You love your life so much that you’re healthy enough to wait in long lines at Disney strong enough to toss your nieces and nephews in the air and determined enough to know you are worthy of living a large life filled with memories adventures and beautiful views. Make sure to follow along with Leah’s health journey at Lea hope health as well as take scroll through her photography page at Leah hope photography. Your Leah is out there babe she’s crushing it while playing pickleball with friends. She can be spotted at photography and business conferences. You can find her in the gorgeous Arizona desert photographing the cutest families and loves a good rain dance under the cloudy sky listening to Taylor Swift. Thank you so much for joining our conversation today. It’s truly an honor to introduce you to my real life friends, keep on dance in May but cannot wait to connect with you next week. That’s a wrap on another episode of Quianna Marie Weekly.

Thank you so much for your listenership and support. You can find the resources and show notes for this episode and more at QuiannaMarie.com/podcast. I’d be honored if you’d show your support by leaving a review and rating on your favorite podcast app. Until next time, keep on dancing.

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