The Best BS Diet Advice You’re Following That’s Keeping You Stuck
In this episode of the Get Sculpted podcast, learn why diets don't work and how to heal your relationship with food to stop dieting for good.
"I used to stand in my kitchen choking down a vile-tasting cleanse drink while my husband held something pleasant under my nose so I wouldn't gag." That's just one of the shocking diet confessions we share in this brutally honest episode about why BS diet advice doesn't work. From surviving on 900 calories while working out for hours to suffering through 14-day "detoxes" before vacations, we've tried it all—and we're here to tell you there's a better way to heal your relationship with food.
Pull up a chair as we rip apart the diet myths that have kept us (and possibly you) trapped for years. In this no-holds-barred conversation, we're exposing the truth behind "eat less, move more," intermittent fasting, cleanse culture, and carb phobia. If you're exhausted from the constant cycle of restriction and rebound, this episode offers the liberation you've been searching for—backed by science and our combined decades of transformation experience.
Here’s what we cover:
Why the "eat less, move more" approach might be the very thing sabotaging your metabolism and energy levels
The surprising truth about how many calories our clients are eating while still losing body fat
What happens to your hormones when you fast as a woman over 40 (hint: it's not what the "gurus" promise)
The eye-opening reason your scale weight jumps after eating carbs (and why it has nothing to do with fat gain)
How a client went from 1,600 to 2,500 calories daily while maintaining her weight and transforming her strength
Why "cleansing" before and after vacations turned one host's week-long getaways into six-week ordeals of food anxiety
The diet industry thrives on keeping you trapped in cycles of restriction, guilt, and rebounding—we've made it our mission to break that cycle.
What's the most absurd diet rule you've followed that left you feeling worse instead of better? We bet we've tried it too! Share your story with us, and let's laugh about it together now that we know better.
“Your metabolism needs energy, and starving yourself is not a long-term strategy. It's absolutely not. And we say this all the time too. You're not a toddler. So you have to stop eating like a toddler because you will not build muscle, lose fat, or feel good if you're undereating.”
-Coach Marilynn
Ready to discover what your body can do when it's properly fueled instead of constantly deprived? Send us a DM with "FREEDOM" and take the first step toward the sustainable results you deserve.
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More about the Get Sculpted Podcast
Welcome to Get Sculpted, the podcast designed for women ready to transform their bodies and level up their lives with science-based strategies and actionable advice.
We dive into the essentials of fat loss, muscle building, and metabolism optimization by helping you work smarter, not harder.
This isn’t about quick fixes or fad diets; it’s about creating sustainable habits and stacking wins. We’ll help you fuel your body, strengthen your mindset, and build your 2.0 sculpted self from the inside out.
We’re your hosts, Jordanna, Marilynn, and Tijana. We have over 20 years of collective experience in the training, nutrition, and body transformation business, with over 1000 transformations and counting.
Ready to get stronger, more empowered, and embrace a healthier, more resilient you? Join us every week and start sculpting the life you deserve!
The unedited podcast transcript for this episode of the Get Sculpted podcast follows:
You know the ones—the “hacks” and “rules” that made you think you were on the fast track to your dream body, but really, you were just spinning your wheels in the drive-through of disappointment.
This episode is about calling out the myths, laughing at our past mistakes, and, most importantly, helping you avoid these same traps so you can actually get results.
So, if you’ve ever eaten a sad, plain, dried-out chicken breast while wondering why you’re still not losing weight, this one’s for you.
Girls, are we ready to get into it?
The Biggest Lie: Eat Less, Move More
[Marilynn] Let’s kick it off with a classic: Eat less, move more.This advice is everywhere, and at first glance, it seems logical. If you burn more calories than you eat, you should lose weight, right? But here’s the problem: your body is not a basic math equation.
Drastically cutting calories and over-exercising triggers a stress response in your body. Your metabolism slows down, your hunger hormones spike, and before you know it, you’re exhausted, moody, craving everything in sight, and eventually, you binge.
And when that happens, you regain all the weight (plus some). Sound familiar?
This cycle gets worse every time you do it.
I fell into this trap hard. At one point, I was eating 900 calories a day and working out for hours. And yes, I lost weight—but I had no muscle, no definition, no energy, and all I thought about was food.
The truth? Your body needs fuel to function.
Muscle needs food to grow.
Your metabolism needs energy to stay high.
Starving yourself is not a strategy.
You are not a toddler—stop eating like one.
[Tijana] Oh my gosh, yes. I feel like my kids eat more than I did when I was dieting. One time, my son ate five energy balls in a row—600 calories, no problem. Meanwhile, adults are out here stressing over a 600-calorie meal.
Here’s the real key: Eat as much as you can while still losing fat.
The more you can fuel yourself properly, the better you’ll feel, the better you’ll train, and the better your results will be.
The Fasting Myth: Why Women Over 40 Should Think Twice
[Marilynn] Another diet trap? Intermittent fasting.Look, some people love it. But for many women—especially over 40—it does more harm than good.
What actually happens when most women fast?
You wake up, skip breakfast, thinking you’re "burning fat."
Your blood sugar crashes.
You feel irritable, exhausted, and stressed.
Your body stores more fat instead of burning it.
You get so hungry later in the day that you overeat.
Sound familiar?
I can’t tell you how many women have told me, “I’m fasting and not losing weight. I feel awful, and I have no energy.”
That’s because fasting isn’t magic.
For most women, the better approach is to start your day with a high-protein breakfast to support metabolism, prevent cravings, and keep blood sugar stable.
[Jordanna] Yes! I actually tried intermittent fasting for a month just to see what it was like. I followed the 14:6 method, where you fast for 14 hours and eat in a 6-hour window.
Within two days, I had headaches, was starving all day, and had zero energy.
I felt miserable.
And what I realized is that calories don’t change value based on the time of day.
An apple isn’t 100 calories in the morning and 500 calories at night. If fasting makes you feel like garbage, it’s not for you.
Detoxes & Cleanses: A Waste of Money
[Jordanna] Spoiler alert: Your liver and kidneys already detox your body for free.So, why are you spending money on cleanses and detox teas that do nothing but empty your stomach, dehydrate you, and burn a hole in your wallet?
Back in my early 20s, I would do these hardcore two-week “cleanses” before vacations. I cut carbs, sugar, dairy, alcohol—everything. And yes, I’d lose a few pounds.
But the second I had one meal on vacation? Instant bloat.
So, what was the point?
The cycle would repeat every time, and I’d convince myself I needed another cleanse to "reset." But if I had just focused on balanced, consistent eating, I wouldn’t have needed the cleanse at all.
[Marilynn] Oh, I feel this. At one point, I did a shake-based cleanse where you’d drink meal replacement shakes every day and then do an intense cleanse every six days.
This “cleanse” was so disgusting that I had to have my husband hold something under my nose while I chugged it just to get it down.
Tell me—why is that necessary?
Save your money, your body doesn’t need a cleanse.
Carbs Are Not the Enemy—Keto Is Not the Answer
[Tijana] One of the biggest myths out there? Carbs make you fat.The reality? Carbs fuel your workouts, support your metabolism, and keep your hormones balanced.
Yet so many women still fear carbs because:
They think carbs = junk food.
They worry about the scale spiking after eating carbs.
They believe carbs automatically lead to fat gain.
But here’s the truth: Carbs don’t make you gain fat—overeating does.
And if you want to build a lean, sculpted body, you need carbs to train properly.
I always ask my clients, “How do you feel now that you're eating more carbs?”
And they always say:
✅ Stronger in the gym
✅ More energy
✅ No more crazy cravings
[Jordanna] Exactly. One of my clients went from eating 1,600 calories to 2,500 calories while staying lean. She’s eating 275g of carbs a day, feeling amazing, and lifting heavier than ever.
Keto? Not necessary.
Also, butter in your coffee is not a weight loss hack.
Final Takeaways
Starving yourself slows metabolism—fuel your body instead.Fasting isn’t for everyone, and it won’t magically burn fat.
Cleanses are a scam—your body detoxes itself.
Carbs are essential for muscle, energy, and hormone balance.
If you’ve been stuck in these diet cycles, send us a DM with the word FREEDOM and we’ll help you get on the right track.
And if you found this episode helpful, share it with a friend—because we all know someone who needs to hear this.
Time to eat a real meal and lift something heavy. See you next time on Get Sculpted.