
Hosted by Rachel DeSonier | Registered Dietitian, Certified Personal Trainer, Fat Loss Coach, Mom of 5 · EN
Every few months you get back on track. You're eating high protein, you're working out, you're feeling good. And then life happens. And then you're starting over again. You know what to do. You just can't seem to make yourself do it.
You show up for everyone else. You get the kids fed, the lunches packed, the schedules managed — and by the time it's your turn, there's nothing left.
Welcome to the Effective Weight Loss for Moms Podcast, where busy moms learn how to eat high protein consistently, build real strength, and create a healthy routine they can actually keep up — not just for a few weeks, but for good.
Each week I'll show you how to use high protein nutrition (to fuel your workouts), meal planning for real family life, and beginner-friendly strength training to create a healthy lifestyle that actually sticks long term.
Let me introduce myself. I'm Rachel — mom of 5, follower of Jesus, Registered Dietitian, and Certified Personal Trainer. I've spent hours coaching moms through fat loss and strength training, and one big thing they struggle with is this: "I know what to do. I just can't make myself do it."
And they think they just need to be more disciplined.
What if it isn't a willpower or discipline problem at all?
If you're ready to stop surviving on whatever's left after everyone else is fed, start hitting your protein goals, and build a sustainable weight loss plan that fits your actual life, then my friend, you're in the right place.
Grab your protein shake, take a deep breath, and let's do this.
— Rachel
Disclaimer: Your health is your responsibility. Always check with your doctor before starting a new diet or exercise regimen.

I know you've got the podcast on right now, maybe in the car, maybe washing dishes, maybe folding laundry way later than you meant to be up. And if you're anything like the moms I work with, you've already learned a lot. Protein, progressive overload, strength training for moms, all of it. You've read the blogs. You've grabbed the free guides. You've genuinely done the research. So why does it still feel like nothing has changed? In this episode I'm getting really honest about a pattern I see over and over with the women I coach, and it's probably not what you think it is. It's not a discipline problem. It's not even really an information problem, and once I explain what I mean by that, I think it's going to land differently than you expect. I'm also telling you about my kitchen cabinets. Yes, really. It's a story about hours of research, a project that went nowhere for way too long, and what actually got me results in the end (spoiler, it wasn't more research). If you've been listening to podcast after podcast and trying program after program and you're still stuck in the same spot, I made this one for you. And before you start, grab my free 100 Gram Protein Cheat Sheet linked below. Okay, let's get into it. -Rachel Next Steps: 100 Gram Protein Cheat Sheet Request to DM me or book a Free Discovery Call to learn more about the Fat Loss Formula for Moms Coaching Program

Okay, be honest with me for a second. How many times have you jumped into a new program, all fired up, only to fizzle out three weeks later and feel worse than when you started? I've worked with a lot of moms at this point, and here's what I've learned: not everyone who wants to lose fat is actually ready to lose fat. And that's not a bad thing to admit. It's actually the first step toward real, lasting change. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on something most coaches won't tell you. I'm walking you through the signs that tell you whether you're truly ready for a structured fat loss program, or whether you need to do a little groundwork first. We're talking mindset, sacrifice, accountability, emotional capacity, and one sneaky habit that keeps so many moms stuck in the same cycle year after year. If you've ever felt like you failed a program, I want you to hear this before you blame yourself. Sometimes it's not about willpower. It's about timing and readiness. Whether you're ready to dive in or you need to build your foundation first, this episode will help you know exactly what your next step should be. -Rachel Next Steps: Whether you're ready to jump in or you're just not sure yet, book a Free Discovery Call and we'll talk through it Fat Loss Formula Coaching Program

You have probably never connected the state of your kitchen to the number on the scale. But what if they are more connected than you think? In this episode I am sitting down with Tracy for a conversation that honestly stopped me in my tracks. We are not talking about meal plans or macro targets today. We are talking about your environment and the health impact of a cluttered kitchen on your ability to actually follow through on the things you already know you should be doing. Because here is the thing. You know what to eat. You know you should move your body. But when your space is chaotic and your brain is quietly running through a silent to-do list in the background, the mental load of all of that is eating away at your focus, your calm, and your ability to make good decisions. That is decision fatigue, and your kitchen might be making it worse without you even realizing it. Tracy breaks down why clutter and disorganization make your healthy habits so much harder to stick to and walks you through five practical steps and a mindset shift that changed everything for her. This is one of those episodes that makes you look around your house differently. Let's get into it. -Rachel Next Steps: Listen to Tracy's Podcast The Organized Coach and try her 15 Minute Declutter Challenge

Let's be honest. Lunch is the most skipped, scrounged, and forgettable meal of the day for most moms. You know you should eat something real. But by the time noon hits, you are already starving and whatever is closest wins. That is not a willpower problem. That is a planning problem. And in this episode, we are fixing it. I am sharing five high protein lunches for moms that I actually rotate through in my own house. We are talking 20 to 30 grams of protein, real ingredients, and meals that take less than ten minutes to pull together when the components are ready. No complicated prep. No grocery hauls full of things you will never touch. Just five simple, satisfying meals that make lunch feel less like survival and more like actually taking care of yourself. I am also talking about the one meal planning strategy that makes lunch almost automatic, and why most moms are one small shift away from never having to think about lunch again. If you have been piecing together crackers and leftovers and calling it a meal, this episode is for you. -Rachel Next Steps: 100 Gram Protein Cheat Sheet Join our Strength Training for Moms Facebook Community Meal Planning on Autopilot Starter Kit

If you've been showing up to every workout, staying consistent, and doing everything "right," but your body still looks the same... this episode is for you. I'm taking you back to 2018, sweating it out in the corner of my gym, hiding in the squat rack farthest from anyone who looked like they knew what they were doing. I thought I understood strength training for beginners. I was consistent. I was showing up. So why wasn't anything changing? Turns out, there was one piece of the puzzle I was missing completely, something that almost nobody talks about in group fitness classes or YouTube workouts. And once I figured it out, everything shifted. In this episode, I'm sharing the exact question I now ask myself (and my own clients, and even my daughter) at the end of every single set to know whether I'm actually working hard enough to make progress or just going through the motions and hoping for the best. If you've ever wondered whether your effort level is actually doing anything, or if you've hit a frustrating plateau and can't figure out why, you'll want to grab a notebook for this one. Let’s make sure your nutrition is working as hard as you are. -Rachel Next Steps: Free 100 Gram Protein Cheat Sheet Book a Free Discovery Call or request an Instagram DM to learn about the Fat Loss Formula Coaching Program

Ever download one of those free meal plans from an influencer with the perfect kitchen, feel hopeful for about five seconds, and then... nothing? Either it's a spreadsheet so massive you close the tab immediately, or it's so bland and so specific to what one person eats that your family wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole. In this episode, I'm talking about meal planning for moms and why someone else's plan, even a really good one, probably won't work for your family the way it worked for theirs. I'm sharing the real reason most meal plans fail before they even get started, and the simple shift that changed everything for me, a mom of seven who used to wing it every single night with no list and a fridge full of mystery leftovers. If you've ever stood at the fridge at 5pm with zero ideas, watched groceries go bad because there was no plan, or made three separate dinners because nobody would eat the same thing... this one's for you. I'm also breaking down three simple things you can do this week to start building something that fits your actual life, your actual schedule, and your actual family (not theirs). And if you're ready to stop reinventing the wheel every single week, stick around to the end. I've got something that can make the whole thing run on autopilot. -Rachel Nest Steps: High Protein Meal Planning on Autopilot Kit

Have you ever wondered why one trip, one bad week, or one schedule disruption can throw you off track for an entire month? You start strong, you're feeling great, and then... life happens. Suddenly you're back at square one, wondering what's wrong with you. Here's a little secret: nothing is wrong with you. In this episode, I'm sharing a story about a client who recently traveled out of the country, completely out of her routine, and bounced back in days instead of weeks. I asked her what was different this time, and her answer surprised me. We're talking all about consistency for moms today, and why it has way less to do with willpower than you've been told. If you've ever felt like you're the only one who can't seem to stick with anything, even when you do everything "right," this episode is for you. I'm also sharing a parenting story that has nothing to do with fitness on the surface, but it taught me more about consistency in a way I haven't thought about it before. Plus, I'll leave you with one simple action item you can try this week, no apps, no new programs, no Tupperware required. If you're tired of starting over and ready for something different, you're going to want to hear this one. -Rachel Next Steps: Free 100-Gram Protein Cheat Sheet Book a Free Discovery Call to learn about the Fat Loss Formula Coaching Program

She was doing all the right things and was STILL gaining weight. Exercising, counting macros, all the things. And still no weight loss. Today on the podcast I'm welcoming Molly McNamee, a fitness and hormone coach. In this episode we are learning all about how stress can totally sabotage your weight loss, and simple things you can do about it. Connect with Molly: Instagram Molly's free gift

Okay, so real talk. I used to be the person who would get to dinner, open my logging app, and realize I had not tracked a single thing all day. Not breakfast, not lunch, not even that snack I definitely ate at 3pm. I would just close the app and tell myself I would do better tomorrow. And then tomorrow would come and the same thing would happen all over again. Macro tracking does not have to feel that way. I am a registered dietitian, a certified personal trainer, and a mom of five, and I have been consistently tracking my macros for years. These days it takes me about five minutes a day, and I want to show you exactly how I do it. Here is what I know after years of working with moms just like you: the problem is almost never motivation. It is the system. Or the lack of one. When I finally stopped logging at the end of the day and made a few key shifts to how I actually approach tracking, everything changed for me. In this episode, I am sharing the tips that made macro tracking for busy moms not just manageable, but actually fast and sustainable. These are the same strategies I use personally and teach inside my program. If you are tired of inconsistent data, missed meals, and feeling like you are starting over every single week, this one is going to be a game changer for you. I cannot wait to share this with you! -Rachel Next Steps: Meal Planning on Autopilot Starter Kit Book a Free Discovery Call to learn about the Fat Loss Formula Coaching Program Follow my Instagram @effectivefitnessforwomen

If you've ever said "I just don't have time" when it comes to working out, meal planning, or taking care of yourself, this episode is for you. And honestly? You're probably not wrong. Mom life is full, loud, and constantly pulling you in twelve different directions at once. But what if there is more to the story? In this episode, I’m going a little deeper than the usual "just wake up earlier" advice, because something else might be going on underneath the surface that nobody is talking about. Something that quietly drives the decisions you make every single day, often without you even realizing it. If you've ever dropped your own needs the second someone else's came up, told yourself you'd start again after this season of life settled down, or felt guilty for simply protecting your time, you are going to want to hear this. Being a good mom is everything to you, and that's exactly why this conversation matters so much. Because the belief you might be carrying about what a good mom looks like could actually be the thing standing between you and the consistency you've been chasing. This one hit close to home for me too, and I'm sharing a personal example that I think a lot of you will relate to. Tune in and let's talk about what it actually looks like to take care of yourself without the guilt. -Rachel Next Steps: Book a Free Discovery Call to find out about my Fat Loss Formula for Moms Coaching Program