Ann Randall's Leap from Banking to Barbells: Cultivating Community and Wellness in Entrepreneurship

When Anne Randall stepped out of the corporate world and into the vibrant space of an Orange Theory Fitness studio, she didn't just change careers—she ignited a community where perseverance meets passion. Join us as she recounts her journey from banking to barbells, and how fostering inclusivity and support can revolutionize personal growth and wellness. Our conversation sails through Anne's experiences, emphasizing the role mindset plays in not just shaping our bodies, but also sculpting the life we desire. The transformative power of community shines as the heart of her narrative, offering a playbook for anyone looking to pivot their path toward entrepreneurship with soul and sweat.

In a deeply personal revelation, I peel back the curtain on a family health ordeal that prompted a seismic shift in my understanding of gut health and holistic healing. This episode unpacks the layers of nourishing the body beyond the calorie counters, spotlighting the whole food revolution and the dark side of food labels lurking in our pantries. Discover how to navigate the maze of additives and make simple yet impactful food swaps—think chickpea pasta over white rice and why your ketchup might need a makeover. Anne and I share our insights, hoping to spark a flame for those ready to make small, smart choices that ripple into profound changes for a more vibrant, health-conscious life.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:02

Welcome to the Bite Size podcast. I'm your host, lorraine Michaels, former EMT and nursing assistant, now business owner and wild entrepreneur. I walked away from over 15 years in medicine to pursue my passion and my God-given talents. Now I get the honor of helping other women discover their passions and purpose. If you're feeling stuck in life, unsure where to go or what to do, welcome. If you're exactly where you want to be great, you're welcome here too. If you have faced any kind of hardship or setback, you have found a safe place here. In other words, no matter who you are or what you've been through or what you're going through, this is the space for you. On the Bite Size podcast, we'll discuss life, business and faith. There's something for everyone. So grab a cup of coffee and something to take notes with, because there will definitely be things you won't want to forget MUSIC. Hey friends, welcome back to the Bite Size podcast.

Speaker 1: 1:12

I'm your host, lorraine Michaels, and today I have with me my sweet friend, miss Ann Randall. I met Ann at a conference last year January actually, the Create Conference in Atlanta and we both her and her husband and I had a lot in common in the medical field, in the health and wellness arena and then, lo and behold, we get together and meet each other at this event with like-minded people you know talking about growth and speaking and all the things. So I've loved getting to know her through this past year and watching her journey and her transformation with coaching and speaking and in the health and wellness and everything. And so Miss Ann is the owner of Orange Theory Fitness in Colorado. She's a motivational speaker. She's also a podcast host and a business coach, and so I would love for y'all to welcome Ann to the Bite Size podcast. Welcome, I'm so glad you're here.

Speaker 2: 2:24

Awesome. Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it and I'm excited to share today Awesome.

Speaker 1: 2:30

Well, I would love to just dive in Orange Theory. That is huge and well-known everywhere across the nation. How has that been for you? How did you get into it? How did you become the owner of Orange Theory?

Speaker 2: 2:49

Well, about 12 years ago, when Orange Theory was really not known, one of the very first studios opened right by our house and we got a postcard in the mail for a new workout. And I've always been into working out for it's kind of a hobby. I was in the banking field for 15 years prior to Orange Theory and I told Jeff I'm like, hey, let's go try this new workout. And he looked at it and he was like group fitness is for girls. I don't want to go. And so I begged and pleaded and finally we went to a class and I walked out of there and I loved it. I was like awesome, I want to be remembered, I can see why this works. And he walked out of there and said we should own this thing.

Speaker 2: 3:33

And I just thought we don't know how to own this thing, we don't know how to be a small business owner and honestly, we just started kind of praying about it and keeping an open mind and doors started to open and a couple of years later that was 10 years ago. We opened our first studio and then, over the next few years, opened two more.

Speaker 1: 3:57

Wow that's awesome. That is, that's a rapid journey. I didn't know that it was that fast, like after one class. He's like we need to own one. That's awesome. So I know that it has just totally blown up Orange Theory. I mean I see them everywhere. It's incredible.

Speaker 1: 4:15

One of my really good friends, who we were we went to church together back in high school, so in California her and her husband and family now live out in Tennessee and I don't think they knew well. I mean I know they knew about it in California but I don't think they were a part of it. But have been since being in Tennessee and I have seen their growth and transformation and they absolutely love it. They absolutely love the community. I see them doing like different events with it, different challenges and everything. I just I don't know about it, but from what I can see, there's like a whole little community involved with it, which is something that you know. You and I know that community is important in getting in those right places and spaces with like-minded people. But how has that helped you or helped your clients in their transformation journey, being a part of that community?

Speaker 2: 5:20

I think community you're right is so important and it really to me. I didn't wanna own a gym, but I wanted to build a community, so that was key for me and Orange Theory really can do that. Like, we welcome people in and it doesn't matter what size you're at, where you're at on your fitness journey. We have beginners to elite athletes, we have people that are 14 years old to 85. And so that part doesn't really matter, but we just welcome them of just a safe place where you can make changes to your fitness and that you know, I always think of it. I'm gonna date myself a little bit to the show Cheers, but you know when you walk in and everybody knows your name, that's the place we wanna be and that's where it's just been so fun to see our members journey of losing weight, becoming more confident, all of it Because when you like the person looking back at you in the mirror, so much else changes. So I think it starts physical but it ends up being such a bigger journey.

Speaker 1: 6:26

Absolutely 100%. A community is a major part of that, as well as mindset. So I know, like having gotten to know you and following you, mindset is a huge aspect of your whole transformation journey when it has to do with health, wellness. You know your mindset when it comes to working out your mindset when it comes to nutrition and what you're fueling your body with, what have you done? What has been a good tool to help you with your mindset, with health and wellness as well as nutrition? What things do you do to help your mindset?

Speaker 2: 7:11

You know, I really started paying attention to the stories I was telling myself about five years ago and, honestly, I was running on a treadmill orange theory and one of the coaches said, hey, if you're telling yourself something right now that you wouldn't say to the person next to you, stop saying it to yourself.

Speaker 2: 7:30

And, honestly, it was a light bulb moment for me because at the time, man, I was mean girl to myself. I really was yelling at myself for not getting enough done that day, not running fast enough. You know, there was so much going on in my own head and I would never say that to the person next to me, but I wouldn't have any friends or employees if I did. But yeah, I continued to speak to myself that way and, honestly, I didn't realize it. So I really started to pay attention.

Speaker 2: 8:02

What are those stories that you're telling yourself? And I was really beating myself up or you know, the story that probably underlined all of that was just not being good enough and figuring out where did that story come from. Because if you have that story, I'm not good enough, it sabotages your health, what you put into your body, all of it. So just tracking that back and really saying no, no, I'm gonna change that story because it's really changed what I believe about me and what I can do, and that changes the choices that I make on my health and wellness.

Speaker 1: 8:40

Yeah, I've never thought of it like that, like I've heard that before of. You know how you talk to yourself. It's part of this stuff. You know some of my keynotes of self-talk and how that can sabotage your progress and everything, and it really starts there. But I've never thought of it in that aspect and that light you know of. If you wouldn't say it to your friend, then why would you say it to yourself? In that aspect, that angle of it, if you will, that's pretty good.

Speaker 1: 9:13

Since Create last year in January, I have seen you all over the place. You're traveling with your family. You launched a podcast. You've done different speaking engagements, which is so incredible and I'm so happy for you. Talk to me about the mastermind that you're in, because I know when you were sitting at my table, we had so many different connections and one of them was you know, I was following Amberly Logo and I was talking about how I would love to be in your mastermind, but it just wasn't the right time for me at that moment and then you had said you were in it and you had just gotten in it and that was what kind of led you to this event. How has that been? How has being in a mastermind with you know other like-minded women. How has that helped your journey?

Speaker 2: 10:08

That really has been a game changer for me and, honestly, I didn't know that it would be but one. I love Amberly. She's an amazing leader, so just following her, but then the group of ladies that are drawn to her have just been incredible and they have been such a great support. I think we borrow courage is the best way I can say it from each other, because I was scared to death to start a podcast or do some of these other things are really outside of my comfort zone, but I really felt like, with their support, I could do that. So it's been a really fun year to one be supported, because in a lot of ways, I've always been the leader for a lot of different things, and just to have people that are equally as strong and there to support me has been such an incredible gift, and I think it's pushed me to explore things that honestly, I didn't think I could do, because of their help.

Speaker 1: 11:10

Well, that's awesome. I know we always hear about getting in the right rooms, right, getting into the rooms, going to events virtually is great, it's definitely helpful, but when you're in the room with these people and you're making these connections and walking alongside of them, I think that's pivotal. Like you can only go so far, but it's like when you join a mastermind or group coaching or whatever it is, where you're in the community and you're in the rooms with these people, it just it unlocks a new level, you know, and I think that's just so amazing. Plus the connections Like you make you end up making these deep friendships, which is necessary in all of it, I think.

Speaker 2: 12:00

Even when I think about getting in the room for that Create Content or Create event, just the doors that it opened and the connection even for you and I that over the past year we followed and supported each other giving me the opportunity now to be on your podcast has really been since you decide to get in the room with like-minded people, it really does open up those doors and connections.

Speaker 1: 12:25

Yeah, yeah, I'm super grateful for it.

Speaker 1: 12:31

Just because of those connections and just following along and other people's journeys, it's so encouraging, Like I feel like I'm the biggest and best cheerleader, Like I love making these connections. I mean, I don't know how other people are, but I go into it with a mindset of making friendships and not like I was just on a previous podcast and the difference between connecting and networking, and I really take on the mindset of connecting and building relationships and friendships and not networking, because I love being people's cheerleader, I love following along on their journey and cheering them on and being a supportive supporter in whatever it is that they're doing whether it's you know their products or their services or whatever it is. I just I love making those friendships and cheering along those people and watching their journey. And speaking of the journeys, I know you had decided to get some certifications and you're focusing on nutrition. Talk to me a little bit about that. Tell me how, what led you to do that, getting into the holistic side of it and getting different certifications in that realm?

Speaker 2: 13:52

Yeah, it's really been a journey over the past couple years.

Speaker 2: 13:55

My older son had some gut issues and every day he would wake up and just be sick or be hunched over because his stomach hurts so bad.

Speaker 2: 14:05

And he had SIBO and it's a really expensive antibiotic that's really hard to get approved through insurance and honestly, it was a blessing in disguise that he didn't, because we went more of the holistic nutrition approach and I just saw from his journey that we could heal his gut with food and it really opened my eyes Like I knew, being in the workout space and owning gyms, that food is really important and the foundation to our health.

Speaker 2: 14:39

But this took it to a whole new level and it just made me want to dive in. And you know, I think there's so much out there now but it's fairly new on overall gut health and how important that is for your brain health, your immune system. So I've learned a ton about that and just implemented different things in my own life that I could see a difference in skin, brain fog, just overall weight management. It wasn't about counting calories in and out, it was about eating the right foods that nourish my body versus just counting a calorie. So it's been an interesting journey that started out with something that was unfortunate for my son but ended up being a blessing in disguise, yeah.

Speaker 1: 15:32

That's kind of crazy how those things happen, because when we're going through it we're like, oh my gosh, why? And we don't see the bigger picture until we've kind of removed ourselves or kind of like taken a broader look, a broader lens perspective, if you will. And I'm so impressed, though, for you to be, for you to actually acknowledge the fact that it was a blessing in disguise, you know, and what it actually led you to. And I know we've kind of talked a little bit about our belief systems and how we feel about medicine and whatnot, and it's a touchy subject and I'm not here to put my beliefs on anyone, but everyone each to their own right.

Speaker 1: 16:13

But I'm a huge proponent in natural path and holistic healing and my first reach is not medicine. My first reach is food, and you know natural ways of healing, because our bodies were created to heal themselves and if we're fueling them correctly and we're putting the right things in them, then our body will respond the way it's supposed to. So before I reach for medicine, I definitely think of okay, what is it that my body is lacking and what can I give it naturally to help it respond appropriately? So the holistic thing, that is one certification that I'm definitely looking into getting, because I just I love I geek out on that, Like I have, you know, 20 years background in medicine and working in hospitals, and so I love learning and knowing the way the body works, and so when you mix that you're the biology of your body and the cells and the way we were created and what they're supposed to do, along with the natural stuff that we were given by God and what he created out there and what works with our body, I nerd out on that totally.

Speaker 1: 17:38

Hey, it's Lorraine. As you know, it's my joy and passion to teach and encourage others through this podcast, but my heart is actually at live events. Currently, I'm available for booking, so if you're organizing a live event, I'd love to share my story. Your audience will walk away with tangible tools on how to overcome limiting beliefs, break down obstacles and discover their gifts, talents and abilities in order to live a life that God created them to live. It's not the size of the audience that's important. It's the connection and impact that I will bring. For more information, email me at Lorraine at theboldbeginningscom.

Speaker 2: 18:28

Like what happens in the body when you put certain things in, and even like one of the things that's been so eye-opening is high fructose corn syrup.

Speaker 1: 18:39

You know when.

Speaker 2: 18:40

I started looking at all of the labels and all of the things that one you wouldn't think it's in that. I was like, oh my gosh, it's in everything.

Speaker 2: 18:50

It's super addictive and what it does to our body is just it's terrible. But honestly, I just didn't know. I bought things thinking they were healthy and then really, once I started looking at the labels, it's been super eye-opening and when you understand what that does to your body, it really makes you not want to put that in there. So it's just been an easier journey, I think, to say I'm not a big person to say, oh my gosh, we have to take this out, you can't eat this and you can't do that. But like, what do you want to add in? Like, how can I nourish my body Just adding in more proteins, healthy fats, vegetables, things like that?

Speaker 2: 19:31

And honestly, I am a sugar girl, I love dessert, I love chocolate and for me to have to see how it's changed my own palate that I don't have nearly as many cravings as I used to. So I'm a big fan because if I can do it, anybody can do it. I used to drink Diet Mountain Dew and eat chocolate chips for breakfast. So if you looked at that versus the way I eat now, it's so different. And sometimes people think, oh my gosh, I could never get rid of that or I could never do this, and like oh, you can, it's little baby steps. It's not like today we have to throw out every single thing and do something totally different, but it's like one little swap at a time that makes us get to the place we want to be.

Speaker 1: 20:19

Yeah. So what was the swaps? Because I'm the opposite. I'm like, okay, this is what we're doing. I'm throwing everything out that doesn't fit this. I'm like we're getting rid of it all. That's just me personally, because if I'm like, if it's in my face and I see it, I'm going to have a moment of weakness, although I have gotten a lot better because, being married to a man, that is all about desserts and food and all the things I've had to strengthen my self-control muscle. But what were some of the things that you implemented when you were trying to slowly eliminate the high fructose corn syrup and the sugars and whatnot? What did you do to change that, to swap it out?

Speaker 2: 21:05

You know there were some easy ones when you look in your refrigerator. Ketchup was one. One of the number one ingredients in ketchup is sugar, and Primal Kitchen has a really great ketchup. Honestly, I can't tell the difference. That was an easy swap. Same with syrup from going to something in the bottle just to pure maple syrup. It still has the sugar but it doesn't have the high fructose corn syrup, which is really the ingredient that is not good for us. So those were a couple of easy ones In pulling like I haven't gone completely dairy free up until this year and one of the easy ones to swap out was we switched almond milk for just regular milk or started cooking with coconut milk.

Speaker 2: 21:51

That was a really easy swap versus cream. When we look at pasta, we did the chickpea pasta versus just the white rice pasta. So there were some easy ones that, honestly, I didn't really even notice that much. And then I took a cooking class earlier this year and it really talked about these bowls, like how do you make these bowls? And there's this one bowl that I make and I'm a big meal prep person because in the midst of like, if I'm hungry and need to make a food decision, I need it preplanned or I will never choose correctly, but just having these bowls with a lot of different like vegetables and things in there.

Speaker 2: 22:33

They taste great, but prepping those on Sunday, so I had them and just adding more vegetables in that way, in a way that I liked, because, honestly, vegetables have been an acquired taste for me. It hasn't been something that I just easily pick up, so it's been trial and error, like how do I make these? So I actually want to eat them and just I don't know playing around with that until I found a way. But I really feel like I have that dialed in so I get a lot more vegetables in my diet now too.

Speaker 1: 23:06

Yeah, did it help the fact taking this course and getting this certification, learning like what it actually does to your body? Because I mean me personally I knew what was right and what was wrong, but I never knew why until I really started educating myself on what these products actually do to our body, and our body can't absorb certain things. One of the first people that really educated me on it was Gary Brecca, when he was at the Create Conference as well, and then I started following him. Since then. I mean he's blown up like ginormously now, which great. I'm so excited for him because what he does and talks about at the world needs to know.

Speaker 1: 23:53

But one of the things was what we're putting in our body. Some of the things that we think is healthy, our bodies really can't even break down. So when I learned what this actually does inside of my body, it was much easier for me to be like no, like you said, I'm not going to put that in my body. Did that? Did that help? Was there certain things that when you found what was the most shocking to you that you didn't realize?

Speaker 2: 24:22

You know I am a big picture person. So when I could picture what it was doing inside my body, that was a game changer for me and I have a business background. I didn't have a nutrition or biology background. You know, when we got into orange theory I got my coaching certification so I learned some there. But this has taken it to a whole new level to learn like physiology and biology and I'm still learning.

Speaker 2: 24:49

But when you learn really like high fructose corn syrup or the different sugars sugar is a big one. When you put that into your body, what it does, especially one of the hormones, insulin it is a huge driver because so many people now are becoming insulin resistant and what that means in your body. When you can picture that high fructose corn syrup is a huge driver to insulin resistance and when you see that and what it does to the cells in your body, it makes you not wanna do that. But there's little things. Again, you can look at labels. Seed oils are another one. When you look things, there's good oils like olive oil, avocado oil. They do great things to our cells. But there's a lot of processed oil like canola, sunflower, palm oil. So when you're looking at those labels. Look at those.

Speaker 2: 25:48

It was big to me when you can find things without them, but it's challenging. Like nuts, for example. Nuts can be such a great source of fat and if you look you can find packages with nuts that just have nuts like macadamia nuts, but if you look, probably 80% of them also have sunflower or canola oil and when you understand that creates a huge inflammation in your body and so just turning over the package and looking, it's an easy change. You're not gonna taste a difference. But in different things like nuts, look and see, okay, which ones just have nuts One, you're gonna be surprised. My daughter called me from the store the other day and was like mom, I'm looking for these and I can't find one. So you do really have to look, but I promise they're out there. When you think about I think sugar, what it does to your body, and then the seed oils those two things with causing inflammation and insulin resistance when you know what that is in your body, it makes you not wanna put it in there.

Speaker 1: 27:00

Yeah, 100%. I couldn't agree more. I didn't realize, though, with, like, the packaged seeds that they add in the canola oil or the sunflower oil. I had no idea about that.

Speaker 2: 27:13

And when you start looking at all of your packages you're like, oh my gosh, that's in a lot of things Because it really it's cheap to do that way. Versus an olive oil or an avocado oil, it helps the shelf life. So when you look it isn't a lot, but when you start to think of again it doesn't. It might be like you to think about oh my gosh, I'm going all in. But if you told me that, I was honestly, at most points overwhelmed with just life having a business, three kids, all of that.

Speaker 2: 27:44

So if you're like me. I had to do these little changes and if that's one I could do at the grocery store and look and buy better nuts awesome, I can do that. So it's been this process over the past few years to really dial in what does that mean and, honestly, to notice a change in my body. I was on an antibiotic for my skin, you guys, for probably 20 years and to really figure out, okay, I got to get rid of this antibiotic, but I would have terrible breakouts when I did so. Really changing what I put in my body changed that. I've been off it for probably almost a year now and my skin is better than it was with the antibiotic. But learning all of that and those changes to make to get that to happen, I always have to do it at a personal level before I can coach or teach anybody else about it.

Speaker 1: 28:41

Yeah, yeah, that's huge. I didn't know that and that just goes to show you. Again, I'm not trying to bash Western medicine, they do what they are taught. But you know, they gave you something that Really it was making your body dependent on it. But until, like, you went to the root and fix the root issue, which was what you were putting in your body, and then you fix that, then you no longer needed the antibiotic and, in fact, not being on the antibiotic and fueling your body with what it needed, your body Naturally responded the way it was supposed to and now your skin is better and healthier, and that's, that's a that's a good testimony. I didn't know that. That is awesome.

Speaker 2: 29:26

That it really does work, that there are things that you do For your gut microbiome, for your stomach, for your skin health, that really it matters what you put in your body.

Speaker 1: 29:36

Yeah, 100%. Um, kind of shifting gears. So I want to talk about your, your journey, in a sense of like what has been the most impactful so when, from when you got started in Business and speaking and health and wellness and all of that In that journey what has been the most impactful for you, both good and bad?

Speaker 2: 30:06

I think one seeing how I View myself has been super impactful that you know what. I'm 48 and Sometimes we get to that middle-aged stage and think I can't do this anymore. Why would people want to hear this from me? But really understanding that you know what I'm in a stage of life where I have a lot of experience, I have a lot of things to share because of my own testimony and the fact that I can learn a lot of new things. So to jump in and say I don't have this background, but I have a passion for it and I want to learn, it has been super impactful for me. It's given me confidence and courage to share that, both on social media and then also on a stage of just like.

Speaker 2: 30:56

I Want to help other people live healthy and for me that means, yes, exercise is important. It's why I love orange theory. Food is super important. What we put into our body and also Mindset, what you think and those stories that you tell yourself. They matter, because that can trip all of us up. So I think just the biggest thing for me that's impacted positively is how I view myself. Hmm, probably on the negative side, it's been a challenge for me because I do have so many passions of figuring out how to put them all together.

Speaker 2: 31:35

And have time for them, because my day job is still and I love running orange theories and I have three kids and then to do all of this on the side, to do the podcast, to do the speaking, to learn. The material has been awesome and fun and it has also been really challenging from a time perspective.

Speaker 1: 31:54

Yeah, I definitely resonate with that. I don't have three kids, but I would definitely say that I am multi-passionate and so it's. I don't I wouldn't say that it's necessarily the shiny object syndrome, because it's. It's definitely things that I am passionate about. But Having all of that and and figuring out how to make it all work together, how to meld it into you know, I'm a picture person also, so I think of that.

Speaker 1: 32:22

Each of these things are all ingredients and I really want to make a yummy cake and it's just learning like how much of each and when and when to put it in. And, yeah, finding the time for it all, because we're all very busy people with different things. You know you have three kids and businesses and you have all these passions and I as well have all these passions and one child, but you know it's hard to Balance it all. I don't like saying you know, finding balance, because I really don't feel that you're ever in Complete balance, right like we're as a whole. We're gonna equal one whole, but sometimes we're gonna be More in one area in one compartment than we are in another and different seasons require a different level of Presence in and things. So, wrapping up, I just I want to know and give you an opportunity to talk about anything you have coming up a book launch or a new project or speaking engagement. Let us know what's going on.

Speaker 2: 33:29

Right now I'm really focused on. I, like you said, I have a new podcast that came out last year. It's called be the person, so you can find that on Apple or Spotify anywhere you listen to podcasts. And then in a couple weeks, I'm also doing in Colorado Springs a nutrition seminar. I have two people also doing it with me. They're doing the live food demos, so I'm super excited about that. I'll put that on YouTube after the fact, so that that's two things that I'm super passionate about right now awesome podcast and the event coming up in Colorado Springs.

Speaker 1: 34:08

Well, and thank you so much for being on the bite-sized podcast and we'll have everything in the show notes how to reach you, connect with you. Friends, if this episode has helped you in any way, I would love for you to Share it. Tag us you can find us on all the socials and always remember you guys. You were divinely created for a divine purpose and live each day to the fullest. Catch you on the next episode.