The More Than Macros Retreat felt like a big risk. Krista and I were stretched thin, managing client check-ins while trying to balance family life and work. I even stepped away from coaching CrossFit. We knew we had to leave our comfort zone, add staff, and hope people would attend. Ticket sales were slow, our itinerary changed repeatedly, and when the venue fell through I questioned whether this retreat was really what I was meant to do.
“This is why I work online, God! It’s my safe space behind the screen,” I shouted. Even so, I felt in my core that this was exactly the path He wanted me on. I can’t convey the certainty fully, but it felt as clear as knowing my own name.
Before the retreat, I had my life compartmentalized—nutrition business, finances, marriage, faith—each in its own box. After meeting clients face to face, hugging them, and hearing their stories, I felt God telling me, “This is your gift. Don’t short these women. Share the whole story.”
One week after the retreat I received a message on Instagram that left me speechless.
“A few weeks before I bought my ticket, I told my husband I thought the retreat would help me. I was dealing with baby blues, struggling to focus on macros, arguing about finances, and feeling something was missing. The retreat felt like a sign from God. I needed to hear you talk about money and budgeting. Afterward my husband and I read the money makeover book you gave us and started following Dave Ramsey’s plan. Your words stuck with me so much that we’re now attending church. Even a bumper sticker that read ‘Jesus is the way to salvation’ felt like another sign. The retreat helped me see my financial situation clearly and forced me to look at our budget.”
I had no words—only tears. Saying yes to that call and watching how things unfolded felt like witnessing one miracle after another.
People keep asking about the next retreat. As a content creator I’m always planning, but before setting anything in stone I want to rest in gratitude for what this retreat produced.
“Budget Your Food, Change Your Life” — More Than Macros Retreat Workshop
I nearly quit counting macros in the beginning. After my third baby I still had about fifty extra pounds and I wasn’t seeing progress on the scale. I felt defeated and called my brother to vent. Before I could finish, he asked, “If not this, then what? You know it will work. It just takes time.” He was right. I decided to commit, one step at a time, and that choice changed my life.
Nine months later I fit into my jeans and felt more confident in a bikini than ever. More importantly, I learned to value the effort it took to reach that goal: trusting the process, delaying instant gratification, and building habits that produced real change. That experience taught me how to guide other women through the same journey.
But the story didn’t end with weight loss or mastering macros—and neither does yours.
In fall 2016 my husband and I attended Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. At the time we carried $107,000 in student loan debt and assumed we’d carry it for life. In that first class, Ramsey challenged the idea that debt was unavoidable. His words shifted our thinking.
We crunched the numbers and realized in six years of paying $800 a month we had only reduced the principal minimally while giving tens of thousands to interest. Then Ramsey said something that resonated deeply with me: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
I understood that feeling of overwhelm from my weight loss journey—hopelessness followed by the decision to commit despite how long it would take. I had taught women to embrace consistency and delayed gratification with nutrition; could those same principles be applied to money?
Less than three years later we paid off the entire $107,000 student loan balance. We didn’t stop there: we continued the momentum and paid an additional $116,000 off our mortgage. In under three years we eliminated $223,000 in combined debt.
This is not meant as bragging but as proof: the same qualities that make someone a diligent macro counter—consistency, patience, goal focus, and the willingness to delay gratification—are the qualities needed to make major financial progress. Our clients are smart, persistent, and willing to weigh opportunity cost before splurging. They understand that small sacrifices compound into big results.
God has blessed me with a remarkable community of women who celebrate each other’s discipline, choose long-term gains over quick fixes, and honestly confront their weaknesses instead of hiding behind excuses.
Yes, following a macro plan can help you confidently wear a bikini, but the skills you develop can reshape the trajectory of your whole life.
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At the More Than Macros Retreat, every attendee received a copy of Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover, the book that outlines the step-by-step plan we followed to eliminate $223,000 in debt. Ramsey’s baby steps map a clear progression to financial freedom.
Ramsey notes that many people finish Baby Step 2 in two years or less—this is where you apply “gazelle” intensity: focus, sacrifice, and relentless effort. Our clients know how to flip that switch; when they commit to progress, they give their best consistently.
Chris and I reviewed every expense and divided spending into wants and needs. We were surprised by how many “needs” were actually luxuries—cable TV, landscaping, frequent dining out, and other habitual expenses. As we paid down debt, our habits and priorities changed. Now we talk about money daily, teach our children how to save and give, and weigh opportunity cost on every purchase. The process was intense, but transformative.
If you’re ready to use the skills you’ve developed with macros to pursue more than weight loss, consider a financial education class in your area. Commit to the climb—starting is the hardest part.
Engaging with our community online keeps us inspired. We read and respond to many messages and appreciate knowing you’re out there working through the same challenges with us.
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