Living Life by Design vs. Living by Default

Have you ever felt like life was just happening to you? Like you’re stuck in the same routine, waiting for something—or someone—to step in and make it better? I get it. I’ve been there, and I’ve had my share of moments that could’ve held me back.

Here’s the thing: We can either let life happen to us, or we can design a life that’s ours. We can choose to adapt, change, and take charge to create the body, confidence, and lifestyle we desire, no matter what challenges life throws our way.

My Journey to Living Life by Design

Let me share a few moments from my journey that almost made me feel stuck—moments that could’ve easily kept me on autopilot if I let them.

 Tearing My ACL on National TV
I was in the strongest shape of my life, competing on American Ninja Warrior, and suddenly, everything changed in an instant. Tearing my ACL left me physically and...

My Headphones Broke Right Before My Run… Here’s What Happened Next

It was one of those mornings—I had planned my day, mapped out my workout, and was so ready to start the day strong with a long morning run. But as I was about to head out, I realized… my headphones were dead. And I mean, dead—no magical fix was going to bring them back to life.

Now, if you’re like me, you know the importance of a good soundtrack or guided app to keep your energy up, especially on a longer run. With no music, no podcast, and no backup, I had two choices:

1. Run Without the Headphones – Power through, even though it wasn’t ideal and would feel like a slog without my usual support.
2. Pivot & Reschedule – Order new headphones, take my dog to the park instead, and shift my run to the next morning. Plus, I could squeeze in a different workout later in the day.
3. Give Up Completely – Let the broken headphones ruin my day, skip movement...

  Why Work-Life Balance is a Myth and Work-Life Integration is the Real Goal

Let’s get one thing straight—work-life balance is often a myth that leaves us feeling stuck in the perfectionist mindset. We try to balance everything perfectly, but life isn’t always neat and balanced, is it? Instead, I like to focus on work-life integration, where fitness, family, and personal goals blend with our lives instead of feeling like we have to make everything perfectly fit in separate boxes. Integrating your health and wellness goals with work and life is how we move away from burnout and into true consistency.

The idea that we have to “balance” everything can have us all feeling like we’re falling short if it isn’t perfect. That’s why my approach is about being all in without being all or nothing. And I want to share a story about a conversation with a new Strong Feels Good member that explains why.

Why...

The October Super Moon & Deep Reflection

This week, I want to share something powerful—the experience of the October Super Moon. Whether or not you believe in the magic of the full moon, I love these rituals because they make us look inward and ask ourselves the hard questions. It’s a time to reflect, refocus, and make sure we’re still on the path to achieving everything we desire. And let me tell you, every successful leadership and business course I’ve ever taken has started with looking inward.

Here’s what I did with my journal during this Super Moon, and I hope it inspires you to dive deep too:

Step 1: Gratitude for What I HAVE 

The first step in growth is always gratitude. I started by writing down all the things I already have—everything I’m thankful for. This simple act shifts your mindset from scarcity to abundance, and it opens up so much space for what you want to come next.

Step 2: Desires & How They...

Let’s Talk About the Basics…

Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of this:
"I’m tired, I’m gaining weight, I feel weak…"
And then, the next thing I get asked is for an elaborate plan—macros, calorie-counting, fad diets. But hold up… do you have the basics down yet?

Because here’s the thing: if you haven’t nailed the basics, jumping into an extreme change or restrictive diet won’t lead to lasting results. It’s not sustainable. So before you start planning, ask yourself:

• Are you drinking enough water?
• Are you getting quality sleep?
• Are you limiting screen time?
• Are you moving your body daily?
• Are you eating enough to fuel your day?

Admittedly, I’ve been working extra hard lately, and I noticed I was feeling off too. So, I asked myself these same questions, and the answers were a lot of NOs. ‍

So, my goal this week? Get back to the basics. Sometimes, life gets crazy, and these simple things slip...

  This week, I want to talk about the power of community and how it can truly change your life.

Lately, my personal life has looked a little different than you might expect! If you’ve been on this journey with me for a while, you probably remember a few key moments:

• Owning my gym in Rhode Island ‍
• Winning Miss Fitness America 2016
• Tearing my ACL on National TV during Season 10 of American Ninja Warrior 
• Moving to NYC and going full-on nomadic
• Finally settling in Austin, Texas

But here’s something I haven’t always had throughout that time: community. Even with all the amazing experiences, I didn’t feel like I had a solid group of people who truly lifted me up consistently—until the past two years.

‍ My Community Journey

It all started with a random invite to a girls' trip with my best friend, Marissa. We ended up merging some of our friends, and boom—an incredible crew of motivating...

Hey, we’ve all been there—caught in a cycle that feels impossible to break. Whether you’re a busy professional juggling a career, managing a household, or both, the burnout cycle can hit you hard. For me, as a busy entrepreneur and coach, I know what it’s like to push too hard, go all in on work and personal goals, and then hit a wall because it's just not sustainable.

Sound familiar?

Maybe you’re working from home, sitting at a desk all day, feeling stiff and drained.

Or maybe you’re commuting long hours, only to come home and dive right into caring for the kids, leaving no energy for you.

You want to do it all, but that perfectionist mindset keeps holding you back from consistent action. By the end of the day, you’re brain-dead, unsure of what to even do for your workouts or your health.

Breaking the Cycle

Here’s the truth: burnout comes when we push too hard, too fast, and expect perfection from ourselves. I’ve been caught...

I know you might be thinking, Angela… are you seriously telling me to quit? And yes, I am—BUT hear me out first!

Recently, things have been tough. I know from the outside, it might look like I have it all together. You see me as the Ninja Warrior, fitness cover girl, and the coach who helps hundreds of women become the strongest, most confident version of themselves every single month. But let me tell you, all of that doesn’t come easy.

My passion for health and fitness, which started as something I loved, has turned into my job—a blessing and a curse all rolled into one. And as my business grows, so do the responsibilities. Managing a team, client success, coaches—it’s a lot!

There’s a saying, "New levels, new devils," and that’s exactly where I’m at right now. I’ve been here before—when I owned my gym, when I started the Strong Feels Good Membership, always over-delivering, because everyone else mattered more...

I'm officially in my uplevel era—and I’m calling you to join me!

Here’s the thing: upleveling can be TOUGH. It takes a new version of yourself, new belief systems, and requires doing things differently. What got you "here" won't get you "there." And with this uplevel, sometimes it feels like an "ego death" or an identity crisis because stepping out of your comfort zone is uncomfortable. But that discomfort? That’s exactly what you need.

The 3 M's That Helped Me Uplevel:

M – Movement:

Movement is medicine. ‍ Even on the toughest days, moving my body allows me to focus on me—just for 20-30 minutes. It gives me space to clear my head, get grounded, and feel good in my skin. It’s not just about the physical gains—it’s about the mental reset.

M – Mindset:

The mindset that got you to where you are now won’t get you to the next level. You need a new mindset, a new belief system, and that will feel uncomfortable....

 "Happy people don't have the best of everything, they make the best of everything. Be happy first." 

How often do you catch yourself thinking, "I'll be happy when... I hit my fitness goals, get that promotion, or find the perfect relationship"? It's easy to get caught up in the idea that happiness is just around the corner, waiting for you once you achieve a certain milestone. But here's the truth: If you’re always waiting for the "when," you might miss out on all the joy that's available to you right now.

Here’s the deal:

Happiness isn’t something you should delay. It’s not a reward you get after life goes exactly as planned. Happiness is a mindset, a choice you can make in the here and now, regardless of what’s happening around you.

So, how do you start being happy first? Here are four things you can do this week to find joy right where you are:

1. Practice Gratitude Daily 

Take a few minutes each day to write down three...