Double digits! In this milestone 10th episode, I share a raw and real update on how the past week challenged me from battling low energy and mood dips, to rethinking my training and nutrition strategy after seeing the scale go up.

I dive into a big lifestyle shift I made by selling my gaming PC to remove distractions and focus on what really matters. Plus, I touch on my growing interest in peptides and wellness tools, give a quick candle business update, and talk about reworking my gym approach for smarter results all while figuring out how to meal prep without a microwave (send help 😅).

If you’re navigating change, chasing goals, or just trying to make better choices while staying true to yourself, this one’s for you.

Welcome back to another episode of Pushing Flames. This week was one of those stretches that tested me it felt long, I was exhausted, the scale barely moved, and my workouts were weak. Normally, that combination would leave me frustrated and stuck. But instead of quitting, I learned something new about how the body works, and it completely shifted my mindset.

In this episode, I’m breaking down what I discovered about the leptin hormone, why my body was stalling, and how one planned refeed day actually pushed me forward. I’ll also share why I’ve decided to put my business on pause for now and fully invest in myself mentally, physically, and emotionally. This journey is more than numbers on a scale. It’s about betting on myself, and refusing to let anything stop me.

This week was all about the mental game. From sleepless nights and wrestling with blood sugars to figuring out rest days and gym struggles, I had to remind myself that progress isn’t always linear but it’s still happening.

I talk about hitting my lowest weight yet, why weighing in every day actually helps me understand my body, and how even setbacks (like Metformin emergencies or uncomfortable cardio sessions) can teach me something.

Beyond fitness, I share honest thoughts about work, what truly fulfills me, and how I’m learning to stay disciplined in more areas of life. I also touch on candle testing updates, building community, and how the right mindset can fuel everything.

If you’re on your own journey, health, habits, or personal growth this one’s for you.

The scale didn’t move this week in fact, it went up a bit. But progress is showing up in new ways: better workouts, looser clothes, stronger habits, and a healthier mindset. In this episode, I talk about learning to trust the process, balancing gym time with rest, tackling cravings that once controlled me, and making tough calls in my candle business. This journey isn’t about perfection it’s about persistence.

In this episode, I open up about how easy it is to feel isolated in your struggles, whether it’s food, fitness, or just feeling ‘not enough.’ But the truth is, this boat is a lot bigger than you think and you’re not rowing alone. From breaking old habits to smashing through a forgotten shorts at the gym moment, I share the mindset shifts, scale victories, and personal wins that are fueling my journey forward.

Even when I don’t know what I’m doing; I’m learning that showing up still matters.

This week, I had no real wins to boast about in my candle business, I’ve been second-guessing myself, and I got hit with a surprise sore throat and cold that delayed this episode. But I’m here. Because I promised myself I would be.

From wick testing setbacks to fighting off old habits, and even trying to rebuild my relationship with food and movement, I’m realizing this isn’t about doing it perfectly. It’s about not giving up.

In this episode, I share what’s been working (and what hasn’t), how I’m trying to create sustainable routines, and why healing requires honesty;even when it’s uncomfortable.

"No one’s going to care if I fail or if I win not really. So I’ve got to care. I’ve got to show up for me."

Let this be a reminder that wherever you’re starting from, it’s enough as long as you keep going.

Listen in, and then hit me up on IG: @natetakescontrol or @pushingflames let’s talk about your journey too.

This week, I didn’t hit the gym like I planned — but I did show up for myself in other ways: more walking, less snoozing, better meal prep, and being honest about my setbacks. I’m learning that healing doesn’t always look like progress on paper. Sometimes, it’s just not giving up when it gets hard. In this episode, I talk about the power of specific goals, confronting the voices in my head, and learning to fight for the version of me I know I deserve to become.

Progress isn’t perfection — it’s redirection.

This episode is called The Beginning, A Journey to Me, because I want to talk about something deeper — something that’s shaped a lot of my decisions, my behaviors, and how I see myself: trauma.

Needless to say video did not make it in. Next one.