Former college athlete Hayley Ashby shares how two ACL tears became a turning point—from identity crisis to calling.
We unpack the pitfalls of diet culture, why how you eat matters as much as what you eat, and the life-long value of pairing strength training with mobility. Hayley also opens up about moving from Texas to Seattle, finding her footing in faith, and building an online coaching business that honors each client’s autonomy—through pregnancy, perimenopause, and every life phase.
Top Takeaways
- Identity > aesthetics: Detaching worth from sport or physique creates the safety your body needs to change.
- Start with how you eat: Slow down, chew, and eat when truly hungry before you micromanage macros.
- Quality first: 1,800 calories of whole foods ≠ 1,800 calories of ultra-processed food—hormones, sleep, and recovery depend on nutrient density.
- Strength + mobility = real-life capacity: Train tissue resilience and full ranges of motion so you can livestronger (pick up kids, load luggage, prevent falls).
- Walk more: Non-exercise movement (steps, chores, stairs) often drives more daily burn than your workout alone.
- Faith in the process: God’s timing reframed setbacks as setup—Hayley now coaches women with that same hope and practicality.
Conversation Guide & Timestamps
- 00:01 – Welcome & why fitness: Hayley’s athlete roots, leadership, and first ACL tear.
- 03:10 – The second tear & a new path: Holistic nutrition, meeting her husband, and discovering coaching.
- 06:20 – Identity shift: Moving from “soccer is who I am” to a healthier self-concept.
- 10:53 – Building the business: From in-person training to scalable online programs.
- 16:03 – Diet culture myths: Quality vs. quantity and the three-phase approach (how you eat → quality → quantity).
- 19:36 – Strength through mobility: Bone density, tissue strength, and injury prevention after 30.
- 22:59 – Daily movement matters: Why steps can beat sweat for total daily expenditure.
- 27:21 – Hayley’s faith story: From church upbringing to personal ownership of belief.
- 30:13 – Coaching with autonomy: Meeting clients where they are—mindset, lifestyle, and goals.
Resources Mentioned
- Complementary guide: Healthy Hips, Healthy Tips (link in description)
- Program focus: Nutrition fundamentals, mobility-based strength, mindset & habit change.
Connect with Hayley
- Website: DailyHailey.com
- Instagram & LinkedIn: @dailyhaileycoaching / Hayley Ashby
Connect with Dena / Upleveled Strategies™
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Call to Action
If this episode encouraged you—or you know someone navigating injury, identity, or nutrition confusion—share it, rate the show, and subscribe. Your support helps more entrepreneurs and women find freedom in their bodies, habits, and faith.
