Valerie Lusvardi is back on the show, and since her last appearance over a year ago, she’s become not only a good friend but someone I’ve worked with in a professional capacity. We even teamed up to help a girl prep for a bodybuilding show.

Val is one of the sharpest minds in the game when it comes to training and programming, and she’s just as dialed in with nutrition. Not to mention—she’s an IFBB pro, a coach, a wife, and a mom to three boys.

In this episode, we covered a lot of ground:

• Val’s journey through 17 bodybuilding shows and the lessons she’s taken away from competing.
• The real power of maintenance calories for women—how to optimize maintenance to build muscle without forcing a huge surplus.
• How long you can (and should) keep certain lifts in your program before switching things up.
• The balancing act of being a coach, competitor, wife, and mom—and how Val shows up strong in every role.

Valerie's Links

Work with Valerie - Learn More

Follow on Instagram - @valerielusvardi

Next Level Links

Nutrition Coaching - www.becomenextlevel.com

Nutrition Coaching Free Consultations - Schedule Here

Next Level Experience Waitlist - Join Here

Craig's Links

Focus Journal - Order Here

www.greatestdaymindset.com

Free Guides:

• Eating Out Guide - Get The Guide
• High-Protein Fast Food Orders - Get the Guide
• Macro Food Options Guide - Get The Guide

Join Us On Patreon - Join Here

Submit your questions to be featured on our Q&A episodes.

Order from Cured Supplement

Order from Legion Supplements and get 20% off your first order by using discount code: keynutrition

Connect with us on Instagram

Host Brad Jensen – @thesoberbodybuilder

Guest Valerie Lusvardi - @valerielusvardi

Next Level Nutrition – @mynextlevelnutrition

This milestone episode is a special one. Brad and Craig dive deep into a topic that separates people who stay stuck from those who create real transformation: choosing hard on purpose.

We live in a world designed for comfort—but comfort rarely produces growth. In this conversation, Brad and Craig unpack the art of designed discomfort and why leaning into hard things is the gateway to the life you want.

They cover:

• The science behind discomfort and what it does to your brain.
• Why intentionally putting yourself in uncomfortable situations builds resilience and confidence.
• How to reframe “hard” so you stop avoiding it and start using it as a tool for growth.
• The truth that everything you want is on the other side of uncomfortable.

This episode will challenge you to stop waiting for change to magically appear and start seeking out the hard things that sharpen you into the person you’re meant to be.

If you’re ready to get unstuck, break through plateaus, and live at your next level—this one’s for you.

Next Level Links

Nutrition Coaching - www.becomenextlevel.com

Nutrition Coaching Free Consultations - Schedule Here

Next Level Experience Waitlist - Join Here

Craig's Links

Focus Journal - Order Here

www.greatestdaymindset.com

Free Guides:

• Eating Out Guide - Get The Guide
• High-Protein Fast Food Orders - Get the Guide
• Macro Food Options Guide - Get The Guide

Join Us On Patreon - Join Here

Submit your questions to be featured on our Q&A episodes.

Order from Cured Supplement

Order from Legion Supplements and get 20% off your first order by using discount code: keynutrition

Connect with us on Instagram

Host Brad Jensen – @thesoberbodybuilder

Co-Host Craig Smith - @greatestdaymindset

Next Level Nutrition – @mynextlevelnutrition

If you’ve been stressing over every tiny detail in your health and fitness journey… this episode is your permission slip to chill out.

I’m breaking down six things you just don’t need to waste your mental energy on anymore — from obsessing over your friend’s macros, to comparing your progress to someone else’s transformation timeline, to that outdated BMI chart that’s about as useful as a flip phone in 2025.

This is part straight talk, part humor, and part motivational kick to remind you: your journey is yours. The less you stress over the wrong stuff, the more you can focus on what actually moves the needle.

By the end, you’ll walk away with less noise in your head and more clarity on what matters.

Next Level Links

Nutrition Coaching - www.becomenextlevel.com

Nutrition Coaching Free Consultations - Schedule Here

Next Level Experience Waitlist - Join Here

Craig's Links

Focus Journal - Order Here

www.greatestdaymindset.com

Free Guides:

• Eating Out Guide - Get The Guide
• High-Protein Fast Food Orders - Get the Guide
• Macro Food Options Guide - Get The Guide

Join Us On Patreon - Join Here

Submit your questions to be featured on our Q&A episodes.

Order from Cured Supplement

Order from Legion Supplements and get 20% off your first order by using discount code: keynutrition

Connect with us on Instagram

Host Brad Jensen – @thesoberbodybuilder

Co-Host Craig Smith - @greatestdaymindset

Next Level Nutrition – @mynextlevelnutrition