Ep. 236 | Burnout in Lycra – Nathalia Melo’s Journey from Bro-Culture to Balanced Coaching
What happens when a world‑class athlete trades the stage for the boardroom—and discovers the hardest competitor is the one in the mirror?
In this episode, Matt and Luigi sit down with Nathalia Melo, former Ms. Olympia, to talk about her journey from gym floors in Brazil to global stages, and how that athletic mindset maps straight onto entrepreneurship, body image, hustle, and building a life that works when the perfect time never comes.
🍸 What you'll hear in this episode:
Nathalia’s humble start: moving from Brazil to the U.S. with $300, living in a cockroach‑infested apartment, cleaning restaurants, and bartending before the bodybuilding world.
How competition training (3‑4 hrs of cardio + 1–1.5 hrs lifting daily) pushed her body and mind…and why she now warns that competition is far from “healthy.”
The “fat closet / skinny closet” metaphor: the mental toll of fluctuating between extremes and losing sight of identity outside the stage.
Why the devices, data, and perfection‑culture around fitness are creating more noise than help, and how busy high‑achievers sabotage themselves by waiting for perfect alignment.
Practical strategies for busy professionals to stay consistent: build routines that work even when travel, kids, long hours, and chaos hit. Commit to something, not perfection.
Transitioning from competitor to coach: how Nathalia flipped the script, began working with women in high‑stress professions, and focused on behavior, emotion, and sustainable habits instead of extreme “bro‑culture” fitness.
💡 Notable Takeaway:
“The deadline is literally the coffin.”
👤 About our Guest:
Nathalia Melo is a Brazilian‑born former Ms. Olympia (one of the most prestigious titles in bodybuilding) who turned her high‑performance athlete mindset into a coaching business. After years in the extreme world of fitness and competition—where she traveled, coached, and lived the spotlight—she shifted gears into helping busy professional women (law, finance, executives) design realistic, high‑impact lifestyles that include health, movement, and mental clarity.
🔊 Why Listen:
Hit play, take notes, and let Nathalia’s story remind you: you don’t need perfect conditions—just a consistent decision to show up. Tune in now.
Connect with Nathalia:
📞 Want help prepping your business for growth or sale?
Hit us up at https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/call-with-credit-banc-pod
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Connect with us on Instagram:
➡️ @matthew.r.meehan
➡️ @luigi_rosabianca,
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