Hosts Bre and Anthony Goldner recently sat down with a true powerhouse: Courtney Ahdoot, a leading Health Optimization Specialist and Fitness Competition Lifestyle Coach from Rise Athletic Performance. Courtney's background is as unique as her perspective—she's a former cosmetic chemist, a fact that earned her the fantastic nickname, the "Buff Chemist"!

In this eye-opening episode of Infinite Gold, Courtney provided a vault of insights on moving beyond mediocrity in health, building a life of purpose, and the hard truth about entrepreneurship.

From Cosmetic Lab to Longevity Mentor 

Courtney's professional journey is a perfect example of aligning passion with purpose. After a decade in the cosmetic space, where she worked extensively with peptides for personal care, she discovered the world of competitive bodybuilding and health coaching. The transition was a natural fit, allowing her to merge her deep understanding of biochemistry with a passion for physiological wellness.

At Rise Athletic Performance, Courtney doesn't just focus on getting athletes on stage; she specializes in lifestyle wellness and longevity through a functional lens. This approach means looking past standard reference ranges and diving deep into underlying causes of issues like gut health and hormone imbalances. The goal isn't a quick fix or a "crash diet," but equipping clients with the education and habits to stay healthy in the long run.

Entrepreneurship: It's Not a Nine-to-Five

Courtney's leap from the corporate world to running her coaching business full-time is a source of powerful inspiration. She shared candidly about the fear and doubt that comes with that transition, but stressed the necessity of having unwavering conviction.

"If you don't at the core of your being believe in your success, you are setting yourself up for failure."

For any high-performer or entrepreneur, Courtney emphasizes two keys to survival:

1. Build a Dream Team: Surround yourself with a strong support system of coaches, mentors, and specialists who excel in their niche (e.g., a sports psychologist, a lifestyle coach).

2. Make Time for Meaningful Rest: Stop trying to "relax productively." Instead, schedule your rest—whether it's hitting the gym (her personal "car maintenance"), spending time with family, or investing in your faith. Rest and recovery are the gas and oil changes your high-performance engine needs to keep driving forward.

The Golden Nuggets: Why Discipline is Freedom

The heart of the conversation focused on mindset, accountability, and self-love. Courtney delivered three major takeaways that can immediately transform your approach to goals: 

1. Your Discipline is the Ultimate Act of Self-Love

Courtney's most powerful truth is this: "Your discipline is what allows you to keep the promises that you made to yourself."

Every time you choose to do a hard thing you committed to—whether it's getting your workout in, or sticking to your meal plan—you affirm to yourself that you are worth showing up for. Conversely, every time you let yourself down, you train your brain to accept mediocrity. Building discipline opens up opportunities; it is the truest path to freedom.

2. AI is a Tool, Not a Coach

In the age of Chat GPT and instant information, many ask why they need a human coach. Courtney, drawing on her chemistry background, offered a critical warning: AI is imperfect.

A human coach provides the objectivity and tough love needed to adapt to real-life challenges and ensure your protocol is safe and effective.

3. Consistency is King: Avoid the "Zero Day" 

Perfection is unattainable and leads to burnout. Courtney champions consistency over absolute perfection.

Focus on what you did do, not the 20% you missed. If you only have 80% to give, give 80%. If the only win you can stack is staying on your meal plan, that is a positive step. By continually stacking B-plus and A-plus days, you build momentum and can afford the occasional C-minus day without sacrificing your overall success.

Take Control of Your Health & Performance!

Courtney Ahdoot is a phenomenal voice of reason and strength in the wellness industry. If you want to stop accepting "normal" and start living optimally, this is the episode for you.

Don't miss out on her unique expertise in functional wellness and high-performance coaching.

Ready to connect with the Buff Chemist?

✨ Check out Courtney on Instagram and learn more about her programs:

➡️ @courtney_kyle88