Self-Selecting

• E. 98 Maria Vegas: How to Prioritize Your Health and Still Win

  In this episode I’m joined by IFBB Pro Maria Vegas for a deep dive into the realities of prep, athlete responsibility, emotional eating, and the intelligent use of supplementation in bodybuilding. Maria gets incredibly candid about her current prep for the Tampa Pro, her journey with emotional eating, and how she’s optimized her physique without compromising her mental or physical health.We talk coaching philosophy, the importance of playing the long game, why “doing whatever it takes” often backfires, and how to decode the metrics judges are really looking at. Maria also opens up about using GLP-1s like semaglutide and retatrutide, and breaks down exactly how she approaches supplementation with responsibility and research.Timestamps:- [00:00 – 00:56] - Overcoming illness mid-prep and why health comes first- [00:56 – 02:54] - Navigating sickness and deciding to postpone a competition- [02:54 – 05:50] - Pro athletes modeling recovery-first approaches for longevity- [05:50 – 08:00] - Working with Paul Revelia: Health-first coaching and long-game strategy- [08:00 – 15:31] - Why most coaches neglect mental health & the cost of chasing leanness- [15:31 – 25:53] - Data-driven prep: Tracking waist-to-hip ratios, Dexa scans & judge criteria- [25:53 – 27:40] - The skill of interpreting data vs. blindly mimicking physiques- [27:40 – 31:15] - Leanness isn’t what wins: Misconceptions about judging criteria- [31:15 – 38:34] - Core engagement vs. core growth: The science of pelvic stability- [38:34 – 44:00] - Athlete responsibility: Stop blaming your coach, take control- [44:00 – 46:16] - Supplements are not candy: Stop blindly trusting marketing- [46:16 – 51:00] - Understanding over-the-counter vs. performance drugs & expected outcomes- [51:00 – 52:00] - Coaches pushing sponsored supplements: Red flag warning- [52:00 – 58:10] - What is Retatrutide? Maria’s experience and why it’s not a cheat code- [58:10 – 01:06:00] - GLP-1s & Semaglutide: The misunderstood tools with legacy effects- [01:06:00 – 01:07:08] - Final thoughts: Prepping with purpose and never compromising healthLinks & Resources:Follow Maria on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themariavegas/?hl=enPose With Maria: https://tr.ee/UeJdeHgq1hhttps://coryfit.com/⁠Coaching: Let's Chat⁠https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/15minConsults: Book a Call⁠https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/one-time-consultationFor more content, follow along:⁠Instagram⁠: https://www.instagram.com/cory_fit/⁠Patreon⁠: https://patreon.com/CoryFit?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

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• E. 97 Hormonal Red Flags: How Stress and Diet Are Wrecking Your Cycle

  In this solo episode of the Self Selecting Podcast, we’re diving deep into a topic that many of you have been asking for—hormonal health, menstrual cycles, and how they intersect with female athletes’ training, recovery, and performance.From understanding anovulation and amenorrhea to navigating perimenopause, menopause, and the impact of lifestyle and PEDs, I’m giving you a full breakdown of how your body is signaling imbalances and what that actually means. Whether you’re a competitor, coach, or someone trying to figure out your hormonal roadmap, this is a must-listen.We also get real about misdiagnoses, lab recommendations, and why cookie-cutter protocols don’t work for hormonally complex issues.Timestamps:- [00:00 – 02:54] – Intro, guest recap, Patreon episode debate, and Cory's health update- [02:54 – 04:37] – One-time consults & how Cory supports athletes dealing with hormonal challenges- [04:37 – 07:19] – Defining common hormone conditions: anovulation, amenorrhea, perimenopause, menopause- [07:19 – 09:31] – Understanding anovulation: bleeding vs true menstrual cycles- [09:31 – 12:00] – Amenorrhea explained: primary vs. secondary, chronic stress & diagnosis- [12:00 – 14:44] – Digging deeper into secondary amenorrhea, PCOS, thyroid function, prolactin- [14:44 – 17:19] – Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA): how stress & under-eating disrupt reproduction- [17:19 – 20:56] – What perimenopause looks like & how lifestyle can accelerate onset- [20:56 – 23:06] – Perimenopause vs dieting stress, long-term effects on hormonal health- [23:06 – 26:03] – What menopause is and how it differs from perimenopause & amenorrhea- [26:03 – 28:39] – Why symptoms aren’t always hormone-driven: the role of lifestyle and stress- [28:39 – 31:21] – The problem with prescribed Anavar and other aggressive HRT protocols- [31:21 – 33:24] – The risk of dieting too hard: how chronic suppression compounds over time- [33:24 – 36:46] – Why sleep and nutrition are critical for hormonal preservation- [36:46 – 40:06] – Why getting your period is a sign of optimal health (and not an inconvenience)- [40:06 – 43:25] – Lab test recommendations + closing thoughts on hormone mismanagement & empowermentLinks & Resources:https://coryfit.com/⁠Coaching: Let's Chat⁠https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/15minConsults: Book a Call⁠https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/one-time-consultationFor more content, follow along:⁠Instagram⁠: https://www.instagram.com/cory_fit/⁠Patreon⁠: https://patreon.com/CoryFit?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

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• E. 96 How to Nail Conditioning Without Ruining Your Physique on Show Day

  In this episode of the Self Selecting podcast, I dive deep into the nuances of peak week, conditioning, and what it actually means to show up ready. It’s not just about how you want to look — it’s how you stack up next to others. I break down misunderstood feedback terms like “coming in full” vs. “coming in flat,” and explain how to actually interpret and apply this feedback to improve your showing. I also discuss why most athletes are under-muscled, how judging often hinges on who shows up, and how many competitors ruin their look with last-minute changes. You’ll hear the reality behind show-day outcomes, and why cookie-cutter prep plans fail more often than not.Timestamps:- [00:00 – 02:57] - Introduction: Expectations vs. reality in show prep- [02:58 – 05:54] - Why your look is judged next to others, not in isolation- [05:55 – 08:51] - Interpreting feedback: “Coming in full” and “coming in flat”- [08:52 – 11:48] - How to assess fullness vs. conditioning as an art- [11:49 – 14:45] - Should you come in flat or full? Best way to decide- [14:46 – 17:42] - Most athletes are under-muscled: What that means- [17:43 – 20:39] - Conditioning wins at amateur level, but depends on competitors- [20:40 – 23:36] - Shifting standards: It depends on who shows up- [23:37 – 26:33] - The athlete matters more than the plan- [26:34 – 29:30] - Last-minute changes that ruin physiques- [29:31 – 32:27] - The psychology behind “doing more” before show day- [32:28 – 35:24] - Strategy vs. panic: Why timing matters- [35:25 – 38:21] - Why you should stop comparing yourself to the pros- [38:22 – 41:18] - Recap: What makes a prep plan fail or succeed- [41:19 – 44:24] - Final takeaways: Getting smarter with each prepLinks & Resources:https://coryfit.com/Coaching: Let's Chat⁠https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/15min⁠Consults: Book a Call⁠https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/one-time-consultationFor more content, follow along:⁠Instagram⁠: https://www.instagram.com/cory_fit/Patreon⁠: https://patreon.com/CoryFit?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

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• E. 95 PEDs & Boundaries: How to Know When You’ve Gone Too Far With Brianny Terry

  In this episode, I sat down with Brianny Terry to discuss performance-enhancing drug (PED) use in the bodybuilding space—especially in women’s divisions. We got candid about dosage, risks, and the unspoken sacrifices that come with elite physique development. From the idea of preserving femininity to the reality of internal health concerns, we unpack what it really means to walk the fine line of physical enhancement. Brianny shares how she personally defines her “hard stop,” the value of choice even when it’s not fun, and the realities behind compounds like anavar and winstrol.This conversation is a must-listen if you’re an athlete considering performance enhancement, a coach looking to support your athletes better, or someone curious about the lived experience behind the physique stage.Timestamps:- [00:00 – 02:00] – Intro to Brianny Terry and the focus of today’s conversation- [02:00 – 04:32] – Setting the stage: transparency in drug use- [04:33 – 08:21] – PED usage & anavar dosing: what’s considered moderate or aggressive?- [08:21 – 11:55] – Navigating femininity in a muscle-forward sport- [11:56 – 16:15] – Defining boundaries: “What does your hard stop look like?”- [16:16 – 21:30] – Balancing aesthetic goals with internal health concerns- [21:31 – 26:40] – Impact of oral steroids on liver health- [26:41 – 30:58] – Athlete responsibility and self-accountability in enhanced prep- [30:59 – 34:00] – Developing the ability to “know your why” and commit through discomfort- [34:01 – 38:00] – Internal resistance: the grind of showing up daily- [38:01 – 42:00] – Are you doing this for you—or someone else?- [42:01 – 44:56] – Using Winstrol: benefits, drawbacks, and limitations- [44:57 – 49:00] – Supplement stacks: when do they help, when do they backfire?- [49:01 – 52:00] – Decision fatigue and the importance of deloads- [52:01 – 59:21] – Closing thoughts: redefining success and choosing discomfortLinks & Resources:Follow Brianny on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannyt/?hl=ehttps://coryfit.com/Coaching: Let's Chat⁠https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/15minConsults: Book a Call⁠https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/one-time-consultationFor more content, follow along:⁠Instagram⁠: https://www.instagram.com/cory_fit/⁠Patreon⁠: https://patreon.com/CoryFit?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

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• E. 94 Female TRT 101: How to Optimize Hormones Without Guesswork

  In this episode, I talk through critical issues around hormone therapy and lab testing, especially for women navigating TRT (testosterone replacement therapy). I break down common pitfalls in provider care, how symptomology is often overlooked, and why proper lab work is a non-negotiable. If you're confused about DHEA, TRT, or the impact of low-fat diets on hormone production, this one’s for you.I also tackle how to read ovulation signs properly, the role of functional health coaches, and the importance of subjective data in optimizing hormone protocols. We close with tips on adjusting dosages, how libido reflects hormonal balance, and why you should never treat lab ranges like hard rules.Timestamps:- [00:00 – 03:15] - Opening thoughts on lab work and hormone optimization- [03:15 – 06:30] - When subjective data matters more than lab numbers- [06:30 – 09:45] - Dangers of improper provider protocols- [09:45 – 13:00] - Ovulation, cycle tracking, and hormonal accuracy- [13:00 – 16:15] - Female TRT and understanding where it fits- [16:15 – 19:30] - The danger of low-fat diets for hormone production- [19:30 – 22:45] - Functional coaches, DHEA, and questionable care- [22:45 – 26:00] - Most common TRT missteps in women- [26:00 – 29:15] - Symptomology vs numbers in diagnosing low testosterone- [29:15 – 32:30] - TRT administration methods: pros and cons- [32:30 – 35:45] - The importance of titrating doses correctly- [35:45 – 39:00] - Libido as a reflection of hormonal health- [39:00 – 42:15] - Overcorrecting TRT protocols too fast- [42:15 – 45:30] - Escalation risks in hormone therapy- [45:30 – 48:46] - Final takeaways: test smarter, not harderLinks & Resources:https://coryfit.com/⁠Coaching: Let's Chat⁠https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/15min⁠Consults: Book a Call⁠https://calendly.com/coryfit-coaching/one-time-consultationFor more content, follow along:⁠Instagram⁠: https://www.instagram.com/cory_fit/Patreon⁠: https://patreon.com/CoryFit?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

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