Making Triggers Your Teacher - An Interview With Coach Meghan Sandve

Hello, friends, and welcome to Grief Guts and Green Smoothies. I am your host, Melissa Dugalecki, and I am so excited to be here with you all to chat about ways in which we can all get through different adversities, challenges, and loss, and how getting outside of our comfort zone and maybe having a green smoothie or two can help us do so. We will cover different topics, ranging from interviews to recipes to sharing my own stories of my grief journey and the loss of my daughter, Layden. And I'm honored to be able to share her light in hopes of helping you spread yours. Now, let's dive in. I am so excited for today's guest, Megan Sanvie. She is a health coach. She's been in the industry for a long time, and her journey of investing in herself, both professionally, which is how we originally met, and then personally when she joined move, is one that she credits as life changing. Changing. She is a ball of energy. She has her own podcast. I recommend you tune into that as well. She's going to talk to you about what it was like when you're totally afraid to invest and you think that you're crazy. And she also talks a lot about how her growth came from understanding the things that triggered her. Right. The things that kind of made her angry or that she was like, no way would I ever do that. That understanding those was actually how she found the progress that she's achieved. So without further ado, let's dive in with Megan. Megan, welcome.

Thank you so much. I'm truly, truly honored to be a part of this. I have loved watching your journey unfold and learning so, so, so much from the podcast and your content and everything. So this is truly an honor today.

Oh, thanks. Well, I always ask our guests two questions to start. One. You know, my podcast title is a little bit unique, Grief Guts and Green Smoothies. And that resonates differently with everybody. So what does that bring up for you?

Well, unique, but couldn't be more fitting for you. Let's be honest. Like, that couldn't be a better title for me that all of that. That title is really nourishing. It's just grief is something that I think you lean into and become nourished whether you want to or not in something that's very uncomfortable. And Guts and Green Smoothies, they kind of go hand in hand with that as well. You're very nourished.

Yes. That's so true. I have never actually had somebody really kind of piece that make that connection, nor had I. And that these are all kind of Nourishing things. That's so interesting. And then just as important, what is your favorite kind of taco?

Well, my favorite way to nourish would be one of my favorites with tacos. I am digging. There is a small taco place in my town, and they have been doing cauliflower tacos, and they are so, so delicious. So delicious. Yeah, that's my top right now.

I love that. That sounds really good. Mine rotates around, but maybe I'll scope that one out sometime.

Yeah, definitely.

So, Megan, you had this amazing journey, actually, in the MOVE program, and it was so fun to watch you. And you were one of many fitness instructors. You know much. And I have worked with a lot of fitness instructors because it's really not just about your gut health, nutrition, and fitness, but there's a lot about the mindset behind what we're doing and pursuing. And we always talk about if we want to show up for others, we've got to show up for ourselves. And you were really a living example of that. And I would just love for you to share a little bit about what it was like in deciding to make that decision to join and what the experience was like and just really how that impacted you.

Yeah, well. And you couldn't have said it better, you know, especially as somebody who is in the fitness field. And you're always giving, and you always have to be high energy, and you always have to give. I think, anyway, I need to be there to give a really great experience to everybody that's participating in my classes. And that's really mentally and physically draining. And I was getting to a point where I just was not giving that back to myself. And at the time when I started move, it was. I had worked through a lot of disordered behaviors with food and with exercise in the past. But even though I had worked through those issues, my body hadn't physically caught up yet. And so I had come where a point I was really at burnout, adrenal thyroid issues, amenorrhea, Just kind of this gambit of many years of disordered patterns. And I knew that unless I really focused on what was happening with my gut, what was happening with my mind more than anything, that I was going to continue to cycle in these patterns. And that's really where MOVE came into a place in my life.

I love how you acknowledge the burnout. And somebody at one point, I was instructing just too many classes. And I think that's feedback when, you know, you feel depleted, not, you know, inspired from the classes and, you know, maybe not bringing that energy that you really want to impact your community and your clients. And recognizing that, and then not just recognizing it, but you took action on that. Right. Because how long have you been in the fitness industry for now, Megan?

8Ish year? 9. 9 years.

All right, so we'll call it 9 years. Almost a decade, right? That's a long time. Right? Yeah. And probably worked with hundreds, if not more different trainers and different people in the industry. And a lot of us, whether, when you're in the business of giving and serving. So even as life coach, a lot of times we can identify when we begin to feel depleted, but not often do people take action on that.

Yeah. And, I mean, it really did. It got to a point where, to be honest, I waited a very long time before I took action. And it was getting to a point where my symptoms were very debilitating and severe enough that my body was not totally shutting down, but it was going to get to that point. And so if I even wanted to continue to work, if I wanted to continue to enjoy my life, it was to a point where I had to step up and finally make some very drastic changes.

Yeah. Yeah. And so you did. And I'm so excited and honored that you chose to do so and move. And I think one of the things that much and I encounter a lot is that people are totally clear on, like, what is this? Do I have to drink celery juice? Like, do I have to, you know, go to certain classes or do certain workouts? And, you know, what does mindset work anyways? So what was it like for you as you were entering? Like, what were you thinking it was going to be? Like, what were your expectations? And then how did that play out?

Yeah, you know, I came with a lot of resistance, and I had done coaching before, and it wasn't anything against you or Mooch or your messaging, but it was very much. I kind of came in with a thought of what I was going to get out of the program and what I felt okay in that space to put into it. And that was, I'm going to work on my mindset. I'm going to figure out some of my digestive issues. But above and beyond that, I had followed you guys for ages, and there were just some things that, like, I wasn't willing to give up. And I was still tracking my food at that point in time. I was very much in control of all of that. And though I knew that that was a big piece of what you guys really encourage people to do, that at that Point in time, I was like, yeah, that's great for everyone, but I'm not that person and I don't need to do that.

I'm all set with that.

I'm good.

That little non tracking idea to your.

That'S great that it works for you guys, but that's not. I'm not in that. That's not for me. And I think throughout move as well, I mean, there were so many different aspects. And it's so funny looking back now. And even at the time it was one of the things in one of the very first calls that you and Mooch spoke on was, you know, wherever there is resistance, lean into that. And if there is something that we're talking about or we're saying and it is not sitting well with you, lean into it. And now when I look back, it was like everything that I had resistance on, instantly I was like, I don't really care that I'm going to drink water whenever I want with my meals because I'm thirsty before and after, like, all of the things that I thought were so nonsensical, like, as I leaned into it, I was like, oh, okay.

Oh, I love that. Yeah. Meaning. And honestly, our triggers are our greatest teachers.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah.

It's so funny. I mean, all of the things that, like, radically changed for me were the things, quite honestly, until the last probably three weeks of the program that I finally, finally was just like, well, I'm going to try it.

Yeah. And what were those things specifically?

I think most of all, it really, truly was the tracking of my food. For me, that was really the biggest.

How long had you tracked your food for, Megan? I remember you sharing. I don't remember how long it was.

At least three and a half years.

Yeah.

And like, diligently, you know, I am definitely the type A. You tell me to do something and I'm gonna show up and I'm gonna do it before it's due and I'm gonna do it perfect. And it's. So when tracking my food, it wasn't like ballparking or whatever. I mean, it was weighing everything. It was putting in everything and just being very regimented about that for a long, long, long time.

Yeah. No, and that's so powerful. And you're not alone. A lot of, you know, the women that we support and move and, you know, we say the program isn't for everyone. We're really clear about that. And it's not really for people who have never tried, you know, dieting or aren't really experienced in the workout industry. It's also why we have a lot of, you know, instructors or former athletes. You know, it's really for the woman who has tried all the things, right. And is just stuck or isn't getting results or, you know, battling with amenorrhea or, you know, chronic bloat or fatigue or other hormonal imbalances. And so because of that, it's really common for us to work with individuals who are pretty strategic. Right. And stringent on the way that they track their food. And I will never forget how you said, you're like, there's no way I'll ever stop doing that. And we'd call that a limiting belief. What was it that allowed you to actually let go?

I think it was a point in time where I just really had to sit back and say, okay, again, this is where I am having the most resistance against. And I had to sit down and really think about where, where did that come from? And it stemmed because I was terrified that my body would not know what to do if I didn't track my food. I was terrified of actually listening to what I needed. And because when you and I had dieted years and years prior to tracking my food, and then I tracked my food for so long, I was so out of tune with what my body was doing and what it needed that I didn't even know what that was.

I think that's so powerful to think about how we don't even recognize. Myself included. Right. I was in that space too. And I had all the symptoms, all the symptoms, and I couldn't see it. And it was almost like I thought I knew better than my body knew. Right.

Well, I did. Like, of course I did. Because when I started, that gave me results. When I started doing all of those things, like in any diet or any exercise program or anything. Yeah. If any of that is going to give you results, not that that's the healthiest space, but then you become attached to that. And that was my security blanket.

Well, essentially, what those programs and plans do, and like, let's be honest, they're always changing, right. Like at one point in time, it was like south beach was the end all, and Weight Watchers was everything. And then Atkins and then whatever it is now, it's like macros, but it's all of these things. Like you said, they'll get your results short term because they're manipulating your body. But in order to actually have your body function its best, that's where it does come down to more of that listening that not one size fits all meal plan, a one size fits all meal plan. Anybody tries to offer you that, they're making their job easier and they're not really paying attention to what you and your body need. Right. And so it's this transition from thinking we know more than our body or we can manipulate our body, to almost surrendering and listening and honoring our bodies.

And also, with the releasing of. When I was tracking my food, too, there came this space of freedom, of, guess what? I don't need to eat every two hours because that's what somebody told me. I don't need to eat at noon because it's lunchtime. And it's been really, really enjoyable for me to. For somebody who claimed that they had food freedom and that they had overcome disordered eating patterns and all of these things to be like. But I still was very disordered because I was so tied to what I had known for so long. Like, I really was not listening.

Yeah. And, you know, I think one thing that I really enjoyed about in working with you and getting to know you is just, you know, how you're able to kind of shelf that pride or ego that stops a lot of people from being able to say, like, oh, I didn't have it all figured out. Right. Or, I do need to make a change, or, like, it's time to, you know, join a program or have a coach. And I think that takes, you know, you've got to have that sense of humility and being able to say, like. And let's be honest, nobody has it all figured out. Right. I still have coaches, and I plan to forever. Right. Because it's just, I think coaches or program, whatever it is, a coaching program, they just help you constantly bring up the best version of yourself.

Exactly. And what a great space to learn. I mean, it's. It's always a learning tool. And also, I don't relate to somebody. I don't want to work with somebody if they are above me because they are perfect and they have it together and they. Like, that doesn't. To me, that's not what draws me to somebody. I want to see somebody's flaws. I want to hear about it. Like, I then can be like, oh, you too. You're kind of a hot mess some days. Yeah, so am I. Yeah, that's great.

Authenticity is everything. And I don't. You know, I don't. It's smoke and mirrors, right. If somebody's got everything all together and everything's perfect. To me, I always look at, like, what's that person's need to constantly present. Like, everything's perfect. Like, what need is underneath that? Like, what are they masking? You know, I actually have, like, a layer of distrust when I see that. And so, you know, whether it's coaching or whatever it is, I just think, you know, kudos to you for choosing to continually develop yourself, because, you know, as a coach, I do hear and see a lot of resistance from other coaches to do so. So much that I actually did a podcast episode on why I won't work with a coach who doesn't have a coach anyone.

I would love that. Yeah, I love that episode, too. And it just. I mean, it resonated so strongly, too. Yeah, you're so great, too. Like, this is where I continue to learn from you. Like, where is that need for somebody to show up that way? And I'm just, like, straight up, like, I don't trust you. Like, you're hiding shit. Like, I don't know.

But, you know, the energy underneath, that hiding energy under the surface level, you know?

Exactly.

Yeah. And so, you know, one of where we initially connected was actually in Angie's Mastermind, and that was, I think, for us, we didn't know each other then. It was a really pivotal moment. I always talk about it. I'll never forget where I was. I ran the credit card. I closed my eyes afterwards. I wanted a refund because I had buyer's remorse. And I'm like, am I really freaking doing this? And it ended up being the best thing I ever did. And for you, what was that experience like to put yourself out there, join this new mastermind? I don't know if you knew anyone in it. I didn't. And just. I would love to hear about that experience and. And just tell people listening what it's like.

Yeah, very, very similar to your story, actually, Melissa. It was just about throwing up. Like, I remember just vomiting when I put my credit card information and just, like, hit submit. And I was like, all right, like this. That was the most money I have ever invested in myself. Yeah, I went to college and I paid my student loans and all of that, but that. It's just a whole. That's the societal norm of what you do. Like, yeah, that's investing in me, but very different in me stepping up and saying, I want to change my life. I want to pivot this. Nobody's going to do that for me, so I better start to trust myself. And here we go. And, no, I didn't know anyone either. And I had worked with some health coaches to kind of work through my kind of disordered patterns and things in the past. But that was a very different. A very different feel than me saying, I'm gonna do something totally different with my life. Here we go.

Mm. Yeah. And so it's interesting because for those of you listening who aren't familiar, that's actually a coaching, like a business mastermind. So, you know, and then you've also invested in, you know, your personal development and growth Right. Through movement, and through that, you're able to finally stop calorie counting or tracking your food, rather, and whatever means that was. And ease the symptoms of amenorrhea. Is that correct? Yeah.

And actually, we can say, like, I'm sure your listeners are dying to know that within the last week, after three years of not having a period, I finally have a period.

Yay.

Let's see. Great information for your listeners. I'm sure they're totally enthralled right now. But, I mean, that's a big piece. And for anybody who can identify with that, like, it's scary, and it's. It's. It means a lot, and it weighs.

On you a lot.

And I definitely can accredit not only, obviously, the pieces of move of not tracking my food, but the mindset work and the manifestation and shifting my thoughts and behaviors. Like, truly, Truly, that is a huge part possible because of the tools that move taught me.

Oh, my gosh. I literally, like, I have goosebumps still. Just, like, just envisioning, you know, that version of you scared and overwhelmed and almost. I feel like the sense of feeling suffocated. Right, Prisoner. Right to the way that you were functioning around your food and to now, like, have this sense of freedom and spaciousness and feel like your body is working the way it's supposed to. Like, it's incredible.

Thank you. Yeah. I mean, truly, it really is.

And I do think it's important for the listeners to hear. I mean, a lot of the women in MOVE and, you know, just the people I've worked with struggle with hormonal imbalances or hormonal challenges, and they present differently. But, you know, I read something recently from Anthony Williams, medical medium, about how that's, like, the most prevalent source of health challenges for women right now. And so it is important for people to know not only are they not alone, but that it is possible to fix and reverse. Right.

Well, and ayurvedic teaching, too, which I know you guys get a little bit into as well. But that's the last area of our body in the way that we nourish for all of us is our reproductive system. And so for females, that makes sense. If everything else kind of up chain is suffering, like, that's the last piece that we're going to get all of that and function with. Wow. So, yeah, I'm not surprised that that's the number one complaint by so many females.

Yeah. And so when you're talking to or speaking to or right now, this person's listening who's. Whether it's, you know, you shared both your professional, you know, investing yourself professionally and investing in yourself personally, what would you say or what will you say to the individual who has that calling to do so, but is scared. Right. Is saying, like, I can't afford it. It's not the right time. How can I really justify this? What's my return on investment? All of these things that, you know, go through our minds. Like what. What do you say to that person?

Do it. I think that, I mean, and that's simple to say, but trust me, you are never going to feel like it's the right time. You are never going to feel like, oh, I just have this excess abundance of money. I'm just going to spend it on myself, on something. And if it scares you, if you're thinking about it constantly, if you're having that nudge from yourself or your intuition or the universe or whatever it is, like that is there for a reason. And the biggest thing that you can ever do for yourself is to show yourself that you have worth and that you have the value to invest in yourself.

Yeah, I love that. It's, you know, I think when we talk about layers, right. The way that I envision it is that outer layer is. It's too. It's price tag, right. And time. That's that outer layer. But then underneath it, I think is, you know, a layer of, you know, lack of trust or fear. It's not gonna work. Right. But then at the core of it is really that sense of worthiness. Right. Am I worthy of doing this? Of taking this risk, of pursuing my dreams, of feeling my best, of putting me at the forefront? And, you know, I think everything else is just noise that kind of covers.

Up that core 100%. And I think too, when you think about just. Yeah, you know, that sticker shocker, that price tag is always, of course, like the first thing that catches you off guard. But when you really boil down to what, like you said, what is your return of investment or what is the actual value of what you are paying for what you are going to get. And I guarantee I can speak this and I can guarantee for any of you that are questioning that the value that you would get out of investing in yourself is tenfold more than anything anything else that you actually spend your money on right now.

Yeah. Investing in other things, right?

Yeah.

At the end of the day, we just have ourselves. Yeah. That's so powerful. And I think it's important for people to hear. And you've brought it up a few times that leaning into the resistance. Right. And remembering, like if something's triggering you instead of just getting angry or shutting down or walking away, like it's so powerful to get curious about it. Like, where is this resistance coming from? What is it actually triggering? How can I learn from that? And you've done that in so many different ways. So congrats to you.

Well, thank you. And honestly, I mean that would be my biggest takeaway of what MOVE taught me. Like. Yes, honestly, like tracking the food and you know, my health and the changes have been the shiny part, the exterior part. That's really cool. But the core of what all of that was and what actually continues to go through my mind on a daily basis is I can look back now and see in anything, whether that's relationships, my health, my work, my whatever, like where do I have resistance in it and if I'm feeling it instead of running from it, like you said, get curious, explore that. And so that that is the biggest thing that I've taken away from MOVE and transplanted it into every other aspect of my life.

That's so awesome. That's so amazing. And you know, I just love to share, you know, before we wrap up, just a little bit about your own journey because. And let people know where they can find you and listen to you and all the wonderful things you're doing. But you know, a lot of people, it's unbelievable. I actually created an ebook career clarity ebook. And a lot of people in MOVE are working through either unhappiness in their careers or wanting to change careers. And actually a substantial amount of my one on ones, I would say maybe half have focused on a professional change, whether it's getting a new job or getting a promotion or changing their mindset and staying in their current job. And I think for all of it, it comes down to alignment and really being in a place where we're totally aligned with what we love doing. And you've had this spirit for health and fitness industry and you've helped so many other people. And I was so impressed when you just Kind of said recently, you know how you've shifted what you're pursuing to grow based on where your zone of genius is and where you can best make impact. And I think it's a really great example. So can you just share a little bit about that?

Yeah, absolutely. It's that realization of I was working at a hospital for many years and was extremely unhappy and unfulfilled and so then shifted into what I thought kind of quote unquote would be the next best thing and what I should be doing of coaching and really having this hands on relationship. And the more that I've dove into that and toyed with that, I like other aspects of it. I have a podcast that I am super passionate about doing. I do retreats, I work in like that aspect in speaking. And I found my love for that. But then I've also found this love for. I like to be behind the scenes with things. I like to help other people grow and foster and still be a part of this really amazing community of coaches, but not necessarily being the one that is leading it or ahead of that. And that it, that really was a huge, huge piece that again, I had resistance towards and had to get curious with because it was like, yes, but this is what you're supposed to be doing and like this is the best piece for you and that's the path that you should be on. And to then kind of be speaking to you now, Melissa, prior to this and now and being like, but that's not really where I fit. And that's okay too. And maybe someday I will, who knows? But right now that didn't feel fulfilling to me.

Yeah, no. And again, and this is a, you know, I always say things present themselves in patterns, right? And behavior. And one of yours that I think serves you so well is not getting so caught up in like what it looks like, right? Being a coach who is saying, I want to also receive, right? And not having that pride that stopped you from your own personal growth and your own professional growth and then also shelfing that pride that I see stop so many people from pursuing what they really want to do because they're afraid of what it's going to look like or what others are going to think or that word should, right? Like I should do this and all that word is just like, it's just, it keeps us so small.

That too. And I think just bogged down, like, so bogged down and saying like, this is the linear path that you should be doing or this is what I told people I'm Going to do so again, I should be following through and doing with that. And that's. That didn't. That wasn't aligned with me. That wasn't sitting with me. So why continue to force something? If you look back and say, like, man, I really was trying hard and nothing was coming of it, probably because I wasn't in alignment with what I was doing.

Yes, that is. And people always ask, like, how did you build, you know, the life coaching so quickly and how did you build, move so quickly and mooch and I, you know, have the same answer as I do for my own life coaching. Like, when you're in alignment and you're actually able to make impact, you're going to create so much momentum and it's just going to go. But too often we try and force things in a place that energy just isn't flowing and then we become frustrated because we don't grow. Right. Rather than stepping back and saying, something has to give here, just like you did. And so I'm so excited to see what happens for you and where you take off and as you find that space of alignment and continually just kind of shift and grow.

Well, thank you. I am, too.

Yeah.

New things.

So where can people find you? Anyone listening who wants to hear your podcast? They want to follow your journey or just connect.

Yeah. So my podcast is on all the major platforms and it's Fit and fierce, the little and sign instead of the word. And I have two episodes that come out each week. I do a little solo episode and then I do some really fun interviews with other people. People. So that's definitely one. That's my passion right now is diving into all things podcasts. I can't consume enough of them. And Instagram is, of course, my playground, as most people these days. I don't know, maybe, maybe I'm biased, but on Instagram, I'm at Fit. It's F I, T, T A N D, F I E, R, C E. So fit with two T's and fierce and yeah, come and join the party and hang out. And I enjoy hanging out there, so I'd love to see you there, too.

Well, thank you so much for taking time to chat with me and to share your story with everybody listening. Really appreciate it. I think your message of, you know, leaning into that resistance and really just saying, honestly, sharing how scary it was to choose you right in your professional investment and then in your personal investment. But how that's been the greatest roi. I think it's so powerful to spread that message and remind people that they are so worth it.

Well, thank you. And truly, from the bottom of my heart, I mean, I've said it a thousand times, and I'll continue to say it again and again to both you and Mooch and the entire MOVE community. Like, not to take away from anything that that powerful group of women bring to each other is. My life is totally different today than it was in January when I started move. And the changes that my life has brought would not be possible because of what you, Mooch, and that MOVE community have done for me. So I thank you, truly, from the bottom of my heart.

More goosebumps. Thank you so much. All right, Megan, we'll chat soon.

Sounds good.

Hold on. Holy cow. Talk about goosebumps. When Megan ended saying that MOVE has brought her to this progress, it just. I honestly welled up and was covered in goosebumps because that's why Much and I do what we do. Our passion and our purpose is to help people transform their lives. And, you know, the content that we share, that's a method and a means of doing it. But. But what makes us come alive is to know that we've helped people transform into the most powerful versions of themselves. So I hope that you took some really good nuggets away from Megan. She certainly shared a lot around problems that I hear from so many of you and people that I work with all the time. Right. In terms of being aligned in their career, of being afraid to choose themselves first as a priority, and also for how you react and navigate when you're triggered or frustrated, and choosing to turn that into growth. Not easy, but as Megan talked about, so possible. So I hope you love this episode. And as always, thank you for being here on Grief guts and Green smoothies. This was started and inspired by my daughter, Layden, and it is my privilege to shine her light in order to help others in their own path. And if this resonated with you, go ahead and rate review on itunes Spotify. That's what allows us to grow this really meaningful, important work. And I am so grateful to do so with you. Talk soon.