Your Collective - Mind, Body & Spiritual Balance

The Harmonious Voyage of Transformation and Wellness with Kim Hipolito

• Sherisse Alexander • Season 1 • Episode 4

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When life presents a symphony of changes, it's the rhythmic dance between balance and growth that composes our most transformative experiences. I'm Sherisse Alexander, and today's episode resonates with those melodies, as my dear friend Kim joins me to share her invigorating journey of embracing every twist and turn. Together, we lift the veil on how the influential people in our lives can spark a cascade of personal development. Kim recounts how her friend Sarah Plowman's metamorphosis into a professional bodybuilder and the mentorship from a network-savvy athlete reshaped her approach to health and fitness, igniting a ripple effect of motivation that's bound to touch your own quest for well-being.

Let's talk about the tangible strides in chasing after your best self. Kim opens up about her leap of faith into a more disciplined, fitness-focused life, spurred by a tenacious friend's nudge towards personal training. This chapter of her story delves into the synchronicity of financial readiness meeting opportunity, setting the stage for a transformation that proves both physical and mental. And it's not just about the sweat and reps – we celebrate cheat meals, embrace the power of positive self-talk, and acknowledge the deep-seated shifts required for long-term personal evolution. It's a tale of triumph over the "I can't" mindset, one that explores the profound effects of accountability and the sweet surprise of influencing others through a simple social media page.

As we wrap up, we rekindle the spark of self-care and the artistry of setting goals with intention. Straying from the well-trodden path of number-centric resolutions, I share how I've reframed my aspirations into a more holistic pursuit of active living, underscoring the magic woven into written goals that seem to fulfill themselves. Kim and I then wade into the waters of self-compassion, setting boundaries, and nurturing the myriad facets of our identities, all while finding peace in the marks life leaves on us – a candid reminder that self-acceptance can be your most powerful ally. Don't miss out on this fusion of laughter, heartfelt conversation, and the unwavering conviction to pursue happiness, unapologetically.

Sherisse Alexander:

Good morning, good afternoon, good evening, wherever you might be in your day. My name is Sherisse Alexander and I'm your host of Your Collective, where we examine ways in which we can bring about balance in our mind, body and spirit to help us navigate this journey called life. On today's episode, I'll be chatting with my good friend, Kim, who, again, I've also known for several years. We began our journey together on the football field with our sons, and Kim's going to be a guest today because she is somebody who has inspired me in terms of the commitment that she has made to her own journey and you know around her body and she's done remarkable, remarkable work in bringing about health and fitness into her experience, and she's inspired me in how she's gone about doing that. So I hope you enjoy the chat with Kim today.

Sherisse Alexander:

Let's go ahead and dive in. Ahead and dive in. Welcome, Kimmy. Thank you so much. You are, I'm honored to have you here. You are the first guest that I've had or that I am having on this Very Maiden podcast, and so why don't we start with you telling us a little bit about yourself, your journey, where you grew up and how did that impact who you are today?

Kim Hippolito:

I could write a whole book, to be honest, but we're not there. Well, my name is Kimberly Hippolito, but my friends, my closest friends, they call me Kimmy Born and raised here, right here in Edmonton, alberta, canada, um, to two people who immigrated from the Philippines, uh, but very Canadianized, and although I still love my Filipino food, which I have every now and a blue moon since I'm, since I've become strict and really have come to find and discover my body and what has worked and what hasn't worked for me throughout. Oh, it'll be almost 46 years come next month, but, hey, I think I have found the fountain of youth, you know, but but anyway, yes, I have. I'm a single mom of a 20 year old, amazing son it's. I've been through many different. I've had many different positions in life. I can say call me the Jill of all trades. What have you? Because even when people ask me all my different job positions like I'm never someone that's ever been afraid of change. So, but very different.

Sherisse Alexander:

Do you think that the frequent change and I've known you through some of that do you think that in some way like? I think that sometimes, when I also roll through changes and people are like, oh now, what is she doing? Kind of?

Sherisse Alexander:

thing, right, she's on to something else and doesn't ever stop, and I agree, I think that if you're not learning then you're dying. So do you feel like, in some ways, that that frequent change, that one thing that you maybe did five, 10 years ago, has somehow prepared you for some later thing that came up and you're like, oh yeah, I totally know how to do that because I, unbeknownst to me, back 10 years ago, I didn't see this thing that was coming and I was just laying the groundwork without even knowing it 100%, but I've become more open-minded to it.

Kim Hippolito:

I've become, I've learned to grow and learn all these different things and notice that everything connects, like, as the years go by, everything connects and what I've learned there has connected with this and has connected with this and has always just made me better. So everything that I've done, yes, I've taken something from it. It's the same way as how I feel about the people I meet, like you know, like friends, people. I've dated all these different things, like I take something positive and roll with it and and it works. It's worked.

Sherisse Alexander:

So I love that and I love that you said you take something positive out of the experience. Positive out of the experience I've said, I will say, and you will continue to hear me say, that I choose to roll through life with this optimism and I think that's really why you and I have always connected so well, because we are very similar in that way, where it's like, yeah, it's thundering and storming outside, but you know what?

Sherisse Alexander:

Wouldn't it be fun to like put on like some rain gear and go out and splash in those puddles, which I've definitely done? Yeah, I can see you doing that Absolutely.

Kim Hippolito:

But this is why I've always loved you, because I'm like, yeah, I'm down, you can call me and you know I'm like, yeah, when, what time, you know, and I was always, I was always ready, so isn't that?

Sherisse Alexander:

part of the journey of life, though, isn't like just really being open to the opportunities that come around and how to actually say yes as opposed to getting stuck in fear and saying no?

Kim Hippolito:

I mean, I think so. I don't feel like, unfortunately, I don't feel like everyone has that same mindset. You know like sometimes I know I might. I might seem a little like I'm never someone that'll ever push, but I'm definitely that friend. It's like okay, well, of course Kim's going to be like you know what I?

Kim Hippolito:

mean, but I you know what I've learned to brush those kinds of things off. While I am who I am. You love me or you hate me, but most people love me. I should. I hope I'll say this now and it's like oh, that, kimmy, but again, it's really, it's. It's the way I roll, I'm, I've always it's, this is how I've always been. I mean, I'm not. Nothing's ever been perfect, nothing's ever gone like awry in my life. I mean I've. It's everything's just. Actually. I just as of recent, um, I was asked like, just a, like a former thing, when it came to my my last like relationship, which was my son's dad, like a real, actual relationship. As to, okay, when you guys broke up and all those things happened to you, did you like were you one of those crazies that went crazy over it? And I was like hell. No, if anything, I grew, you know, I grew from that there was no crazy.

Kim Hippolito:

Yeah, I do, yeah, but like I grew from that, you know what I'm saying. So there wasn't, there wasn't anything that I took away from that, in a sense that it's like. No, it's like. It's like you can either drown or you can swim and you can move on and you can grow from it and all those good things. And from then on, from that point, it literally has been I've been climbing ever since step, little minuscule steps, but climbing regardless, absolutely.

Sherisse Alexander:

And I think you know, talking about a relationship breakdown is like, I think it's relatable for a lot of people because really, as I often say to the kids, you know, relationships are opportunities to learn so much about yourself Because truly, when you're in relationship with someone, it is a reflection in a lot of ways of where you still need to heal and grow and learn and so on and so forth.

Kim Hippolito:

And you know I haven't had many relationships in my life but the breakdown of I always say well, you know what, we're both in the same boat, Like it's basically high school, it's basically high school relationships. Right, we were young, we were young.

Sherisse Alexander:

But when that relationship broke down, I think it was really shocking for people and I was shocked.

Sherisse Alexander:

I love you. But you know, I think that we, mike and I, navigated it in such a I think I was really confounded by why other people were so confounded that we could like separate and we could still be friends. We could still do birthdays. We could still do big holidays, we could still be kind to each other, respect, be friends. We could still do birthdays. We could still do big holidays, we could still be kind to each other, respect each other. We could still have dinner. We could still do all of these things. And I remember when we would be posting family Christmas photos, my dad would call me and be like are you guys back together? Like no, no, we're not and it's not happening, dad, we can still be amicable and have mutual love and respect for each other and move on from the relationship, just recognizing that we, we both need something different at this point in time. But anyways, there will be other conversations about relationships. I'm curious, though with your journey, who has been, would you say, the most influential person in your life?

Kim Hippolito:

Okay, so this is a question that I was a little stuck on. To be honest, I've never really truly found someone that's been influential in my life per se, but as my journey, as I have gone on through my journey, I've met people who I feel have influenced me into continuing and growing and really learning the fact that, oh, I get it, you know, that's how they got there, that's how they do this, and then, at that point, that's how they became influential in my life. That's how they became influential in my life, the first one being and this is just a more recent thing, because I again, I don't I've never really looked at looking up to people and being influenced Like, yes, do I follow social media and have all these different followings as far as motivational, inspirational, you know, things I can take from them? Yes, I have those. I was like, but now, at this point, um, actually my best friend, sarah Sarah Plowman, um the grueling, the grueling life of a professional bodybuilder, like she was um bikini and she I've seen her start from the get from, like from the beginning, like she's always been nice, slim, build, you know, like very kind of petite, tall but petite, and I've always oh, my friend's so hot, you know. But then when she started talking about how she's gonna go and start bodybuilding and I'm like, oh really. I'm like oh yeah, that's cool. Like nothing I ever looked at, um, but as I seen her journey and all the strip, all the struggles and all the things that she needed to do to get there, I was just so proud watching her as my friend, as a fan, and just like just cheering her on, like you know, from the stands and just being like in such awe of where she, of how she started and how she got there. I mean, it took her a few years before she actually finally got her pro card, which I feel she should have probably gotten way long before. But everything takes time and as long as you stick to it, you'll get there.

Kim Hippolito:

So she, I can say, is probably the start of where I really started my own health and fitness journey, like between me and you. You know, we've always been into doing some type of exercise, some type of meditation, something to like kind of gear us towards health. But only in the last two years have I really not even less than two years really have I really honed in on what it has actually worked for me and she was a part of that. So she started me on a diet and which I started, but it was a lot of food I'm like who eats this much? It was hard, I couldn't, I couldn't even Anyway, I couldn't even get into that but basically what she was preparing me for was to jumpstart my metabolism and that's what that was. So she's first my first influential person, so she's the one that got me pretty much started into my journey.

Kim Hippolito:

And then secondly and then this is someone that's new that that I met in the last couple of years that I found I met him to kind of jumpstart my actual physical like to really push myself hard and further. And he's an athlete, so but I'm someone that's always kind of posted my exercises here and there. So I'm someone that's always kind of posted my exercises here and there, and so he is on my social media and he's a networker. He loves to network. He's always on his phone, he's always trying to figure out the ways and the hows and whatever he like businesses that he's doing. But he would reach out every now and then he's like you know, you should let me train you. And I'm like, oh yeah, you know, yeah, one day. One day I'm like just starting with my friend, but he asked me like three times, and then finally, and it's always in the middle of like he'll like comment on one of my workouts and I'm like okay, curious, when something repeatedly happens, I've started to take this as like a message from from some.

Sherisse Alexander:

so some kind of message like you're supposed to do this because it keeps coming up. It keeps coming up, you're ready?

Kim Hippolito:

Yes, so, anyways, yeah, so this was winter of 2022. So finally he asked me for that third time in December 2022. And I'm like, okay, well, how much do you charge what? What would it be? And then so he gave me the little rundown. I'm like, okay, let's start. Oh no, no, yeah, let's start January 2023. Like I'll start off like I'm, I'm already going to the gym, I'm already on a diet. I think at that point I had lost eight pounds. When I started the meal plan with Sarah in November, so mid November I started that lost about eight pounds.

Sherisse Alexander:

How quickly did he come in with? Like? This was, like you said, november. You started with Sarah and then and then.

Kim Hippolito:

But he has been asking me about training from the summer of 2022. So he asked me first in the summer of 2022, and then he asked me in the fall of 2022 and then finally in the winter of 2022, and I finally was like, okay, he wasn't bothersome in any kind of way, it was just literally like he no, I wouldn't even say persistence, it was just at the end of the day, he didn't. When I'm posting something and this guy is really big on health, really big on seeing changes, um, just pushing people. So when he, I think in those three times he's seeing, he feels he felt like he didn't see progression in what I was doing. Maybe Right, and that's.

Kim Hippolito:

He never said it, but in my head I'm like what are you trying to get at, sir? You know what I mean. So. So then I asked him I was like how much did you charge me? And blah, blah, blah. So, yeah, he gave me a breakdown and I'm like all right, cool. Like I'm like well, two times a week, cause I'm trying to like I'm not trying to take out too much money out of my pockets. At that point I'm like you know. So he. And then he's like no, you need at least three times a week a minimum of an hour. So he does. Um, he actually plays for the Edmonton Elks and his name is Niles Morgan and he's grueling and he is serious and he is like a strict gym dad. He is serious and he is like a strict gym dad.

Kim Hippolito:

Okay, Like I'd be looking at him like my mouth on the floor, Like are you dumb? Like you know what I mean. But I needed that push.

Sherisse Alexander:

You know what I mean. What was your resistance Like? I do believe that when I, when I say that, what I mean is, yes, you've always been health minded, body conscious, and I just mean in you know how can you create the body that you want? But he'd been asking you for six months before you took him up on the offer. So what was the resistance?

Kim Hippolito:

Money, money. I just felt like no, you know, I think I could do it, like I'll just follow a regime and I can do this. I've been someone that's always gone to the gym. Have I always, can I, but I've always had the gym in my life. Um the twice have I only really seen any kind of real changes. But then back up, you know, then back to like gating all the weight back and then having to work it back off again, just but, um, do you think?

Sherisse Alexander:

makes it different, like I, I think, I think in a lot of ways that for me, anyways, um, accountability is huge, right, having somebody to and I don't mean playfully holding you accountable, I mean like in your face, reminding you that, hey, you committed to this, like you committed to yourself. So what, what was the change for you that this has now been like? This is a part of your life, this is a lifestyle.

Kim Hippolito:

The fact that I worked and I did it and I see the results and it's something that's been a lot more sustainable at this point. Um, something that I don't hate. I still live my life Like like I still, I still eat, you know, some cheat meals and you know, every now and then, like, well, I go a little bit overboard not overboard, but things that I feel like, okay, you know this is totally off diet Like, but then I'll get back to it, just as long as you never overdo it, but don't ever beat yourself up out of up about it and make sure you have enjoyed that cheat meal for sure. But just just just seeing the results. And also since I've been posting and sharing and you know I did decide to start a new page, a fitness page.

Kim Hippolito:

I started that last year summer and, for those who continue to follow my journey, those are the people that have truly been like thank you. You know they're like as much as I'm in the gym and sometimes I don't feel like it, but I, when I see you, put you post and you've had your little check in, it's like, yeah, no, I gotta go like, and I've had several people say that to me. So that's why I continue to do the, to do the page. I don't care if I have five likes or 20 likes. Uh, you know what, if I'm helping somebody else, at least one person, that for me is like it's more than gratifying.

Sherisse Alexander:

I hear you, so I guess in a sense, you could say the people who have been inspired by you also keep you accountable. So you've got your coach, your what did you call him? My gym dad, your gym dad, your gym dad coach, who's a football player. So we know it'll be intense. And then you're, of course, being accountable to yourself, and now you have followers that you feel accountable to 100%.

Kim Hippolito:

But adding to why Niles has been also my one of my influential people is my change in mindset.

Sherisse Alexander:

That's where I was going next, I was curious what was maybe one of the so great? You've got this physical transformation, but what other transformation have you witnessed in your life?

Kim Hippolito:

The mental transformation it's, it's that whole discipline thing, like even Okay, so let's. So a lot of different things. That didn't connect when I was doing my workouts was the breathing. So he would tell me it's all about the breathing and concentrating on that, on how to breathe when you're doing things form, but even just breathing, stop saying you can't, you know, just just you can, it's all mental. He's like it's all mental, mental. Yes, it's strength, but it's really all in your head.

Sherisse Alexander:

Do you find that verbiage is important? Cause you just said something that a coach a while ago had said to me, and it was, instead of saying I can't, it's I presently struggle with and, if anybody knows, some people actually really despise this about me because I'm like verbiage watch your verbiage Because I'm like you're putting it out there and you're reinforcing the idea, right? So if I say I can't do something, I'm telling everything, every cell in my body, everything conscious, subconscious, all of it that I can't do this. So do you feel like maybe verbiage has also changed, like? So, for example, you said you stopped saying I can't. What would you think instead? Or say instead?

Kim Hippolito:

I'm still working on the verbiage.

Sherisse Alexander:

I.

Kim Hippolito:

I may not not say, I may try not to say, I can't, I just will just not say anything at all. That's the problem that's a start.

Sherisse Alexander:

It's a start.

Kim Hippolito:

But going back, remember, I was telling you how I take something from someone every time. But I, I do remember like, um, I had dated this guy and, very briefly, we're still. We're still friends. You know what I mean. But I remember him. He's a, he was someone that really he's a, he manifests. He's one of those people that always says things into the universe and every time I said something that I couldn't, or something negative, he would stop me and be like or something negative. He would stop me and be like no, don't do that. You can, you're this, you're that. Always, do that. I don't ever want to hear you say that. And I was like, oh, okay, even the last time I ran into him, I he was telling me, you know, he's like you look good, wow, you're so fit. And I'm like you know, I'm just not there yet. No, you're there and you're going to go move forward further. And I just said, and I was like ah, I remember that about you. I was like that's right, okay, okay, okay, you're right, you're right, you're right.

Sherisse Alexander:

A hundred percent, because it's like it's a little bit of the fake it till you make it. And what I mean when I say that it's, I think, the belief that being able to find the resonance somewhere within you, of you are already there, right, whatever. And because I was about to say, well, where's there, what is it? But you are already there. You look great, you feel great, you're joyful, you're happy, you're passionate. Like what else is there? I don't know If that's, you know, because when people say, well, when I lose the weight, I will do this, okay, but is there anything that you're not doing right now?

Kim Hippolito:

Yeah, that's definitely not me. I'm doing everything.

Sherisse Alexander:

Exactly so. Aren't you already there?

Kim Hippolito:

Yeah, that's definitely not me. I'm doing everything, I mean, so aren't you already there? Yeah, yeah, I guess I am. I know I you know what, because I just feel there's so much more this. What I know now, though, is that this is my lifestyle, this is what I'm going to do, this is how my life is, and it like, and I love it and I enjoy it, but I'm curious what is the more?

Kim Hippolito:

the more, much more yeah, um, well, you know, and this is where the influence of, and the power of social media comes. Okay, it's, uh, it's not seeing how people look, but it's the. It's me watching other people's journey and how many years it took them to get where they're at. Um, and it's, it's not something that happens in one year, two years. There's still more to go.

Kim Hippolito:

You know, like I'm, I'm happy with this, but you know, in a sense like it's still the loose skin. You know what I mean. But that that's whatever it is what it is. But I want to see more of a definition, more a little bit tighter, not not bodybuilding status definition, but you know I I just I want to see what my body can do and I have a vision in your head.

Sherisse Alexander:

Yeah, I'm kind of excited to see what my body can do and I have a vision in your head.

Kim Hippolito:

Yeah, I'm kind of excited to see what more I can do.

Sherisse Alexander:

Oh, you're inspiring me.

Kim Hippolito:

It's crazy what the body can do, though Like it is actually amazing isn't it?

Sherisse Alexander:

It's such a gift.

Kim Hippolito:

You know, like it is a gift. I'm, I'm, I've always been someone that's been thick, thick thighs, thick hips Well, no, my hips aren't really thick, but it's and I've. Growing up, I was self-conscious about it, but as I grew older and became a woman and realizing, no, this is sexy, like I like my thickness. So, no, I don't want to be skinny, um, but I would want to be slim and I want to be built nicely and I want to keep my ass. Can I say that?

Sherisse Alexander:

Yes, of course you can yeah, so I.

Kim Hippolito:

I want to keep that. So, to be honest, this is this is why I still have my cause, my my people are like, well, do you still need your trainer? Like you seem to be able to do it on your own. And yeah, I do. I do need my trainer. Why? Because they push you to a whole nother level that it's hard to do by yourself, Like you can do it but that extra level, yo.

Kim Hippolito:

So I've been pushing sleds, right, you know the sled? Yep, I do, and I started off with three plates, 345 plates, but honestly easy, that's easy money right there. Okay, I can do that. Um, then we got to six plates, which is heavy, um, and then, and then another time we got to seven plates, okay, 45 plates. And then the next time he added a 35 pound plate, which would be seven 45 pound plates, and then the 35 pound plate. So that was like my personal best. But just this past week, 35 pound plate, so that was like my personal best. But just this past week he put nine 45 pound plates and we started at three, like so we're talking about going the length of the, the little runway there, going back and forth at three, then we went to four, then we went to five, so I did six of these rounds all the way up to nine 45 pound plates. I don't know how much the sled weighs, but the nine 45 pound plates is 405 pounds, that's crazy and you started at three.

Kim Hippolito:

At three, like in the day that particular day though.

Sherisse Alexander:

You know I love watching how women have evolved in their fitness journey. My daughter, michaela, is like a beautiful example of this. So I mean you know Michaela is a cheerleader but I mean this girl is in the gym and her biggest prize possession because being a cheerleader and being the base of any stunt she's strong. And now when you see her she's like I want to show off my arms. I just love it that women are now at this place where they're really okay with strength training and having muscle and having definition and it's so normalized now. Right when really 20 years ago it was like I just want to be slim, right Now it's I want to be strong.

Sherisse Alexander:

And I think something I said to somebody once was like I think that being able to do a pull-up or a chin-up is like a life skill. What if you? I look at things in a very practical and functional sense sometimes where it's like you got to be able to pull yourself up. Like what if you had to save yourself right? Like what if there's no strong man around to like pull you up?

Kim Hippolito:

You better be able to pull your body weight up, like at least once Thank you, actually adding to this. That is my goal. That is my goal. I'll be honest. It's been, that's been hard.

Sherisse Alexander:

It is. It requires a large degree of upper body strength, which is not generally our forte as women. We carry our strength in the bottom half of our body. So I hear you and trust me. Every time I go to the gym and try, I'm like I'm on the chin up assist. So am I.

Kim Hippolito:

But I actually went to a different trainer, while my my original trainer was cause he was playing, right, so he was he wasn't working, I mean as a trainer. And I remember this next trainer when he, when he told me to try and do a chin up, and I was like that's what I'm working on. I can't do them yet, though Not by myself and he's like so if you fall and you're hanging from a cliff, you're dying. And I'm like I mean damn this is what I'm working towards. I know.

Sherisse Alexander:

Very practical and very functional, and I don't even know where that idea came from for me, but I'm like yo I got to be able to save myself if somebody is not around. So, yeah, I mean that should motivate us, shouldn't it To? Pull ourselves up just once.

Kim Hippolito:

Listen, I'm doing it. I'm that. Next, I said to myself last year, this year, that I'm going to be doing a pull up and yet to do it.

Sherisse Alexander:

So did we just set a new goal.

Kim Hippolito:

Yeah, did we just set a new goal. Oh yeah, yeah, that's it. I'm over it, Like I do all I do. Yes, yes, so the ass be fine, but Kim can't pull herself up. But you know what I'm okay, with the ass being good.

Sherisse Alexander:

You know I still need that ass. No judgment, there is. No, it's not like I can I. I just was saying how it really put it in perspective for me, so why it should be part of fitness training, so, um. So you said that mindset is one of the ways that you are different. Is there anything else that you feel has changed significantly in the last year, or even through the course of, like this new Kimmy?

Kim Hippolito:

I mean from going like, from how I feel doing my workouts, honestly it's, it definitely bleeds into everything else you do. So I'm in this new position position. It just kind of was thrown in in my lap. I was, I didn't. I'm never really thought to be some an advisor to, to others, like as far as life, like changing their own lives, but, um, but, yes, uh, it's funny because I might. I think I work a little differently than the other advisors I work with because of the fact that not only do I motivate myself and, to be honest, I have a hard time Like I'm a I'm a strict advisor, like I don't take excuses for nothing, because because if I can push myself to do things and if I really want it, I'm going to do it. So I, when I'm, when I sit someone in front of my, in front of me, at my desk and I start to dive into what they want and what they're looking for, what they're currently doing and why they're deciding that they might want to change their lives by, you know, getting getting into a new career, um, I, I'm kind of that voice of hey, you can do this, you know it's, it's, but it's all in a matter of the steps to take towards it, how much you're willing to work for it and to get yourself to the finish line. How much you're willing to work for it and to get yourself to the finish line, I'll be here if you need me and I'll be your cheerleader, but the only person that can do it is yourself. So, definitely, what I've learned in my fitness journey, I've learned that you got to do it in every other aspect of your life, and that's the same way as even in my own position, because I'm still learning it. Well, I'm better at it, but every single day, I tell myself, like from the points of yes, so it goes into work, um, where I'll be honest, I've, I've.

Kim Hippolito:

I do have a problem with authority. Everyone needs some kind of an authoritative figure. Am I going to ever disrespect my bosses in any kind of way? Oh no, but I am learning where I am in a position that I actually enjoy. I enjoy what I do. I enjoy being there for others, that I, too, am growing in my role, where I know my position.

Kim Hippolito:

I know what I need to do. I know that I need to work as a team with management. I've always worked as a team with people that worked around me as well who assist me in my job. But management has always been my, my tough one, because I feel like there is a certain way of you know that and I think there's a certain way of managing too. I don't feel like being yelled at or talked to a certain way or being condescending as a way of managing management. Management just because you're in a higher position doesn't mean you can talk like shit to people. So that one, that one, I was like you're new to this, it's fine, I'm curious how do you, how do you navigate that?

Sherisse Alexander:

Because you know I I've struggled with this in this role that I hold in Nigeria, which it's been real interesting from a people standpoint right, because, I'll be really honest, this is the first time that I've worked in an environment where I'm really responsible for a lot of people.

Sherisse Alexander:

You know I've had assistance and so on and so forth, and even that was stressful enough because it was like, oh my gosh, I'm not only just responsible for myself, but I got to make sure this person gets fed every month, and not like a child, but like in the sense of like I got to make enough that I can make sure that this person can get a paycheck and so on and so forth.

Sherisse Alexander:

So this level and I totally understand what you're talking about, because I've never been like a task manager type of manager. I've never been a task manager type of leader I want, I think that I, in my relationship with people and I say this and it's not meant to be condescending, but I think that I look at my you know, my staff as being people that I need to help guide and help them be inspired and help them find what lights a fire in their belly so I can help them give their best right. And if they give me their best, you know, then ultimately that means that the company will be a benefit. So how do you navigate that piece with your management that wants to be mean, for lack of putting it another way.

Kim Hippolito:

Well, okay, so let's let's rewind a little bit. Like I wouldn't say management is mean. I know that they have quite a bit on their plate as well, and I understand this, and they also have their own management that they have to. You know, like answer to the thing is okay. So, as you, as my boss, understand this, I will do my best. I want to do my best. I want to like, I want to produce, I want to do what's best for the company and know that I am.

Kim Hippolito:

Do we make mistakes?

Kim Hippolito:

Yes, we can make mistakes I, I but like I, I find that I've already, I already have a fire lit under my ass, like I do.

Kim Hippolito:

And I need that same belief that you believe me, that I want this as much as you want this for the company and want to see me do well, know that I do Like I'm not here to just half-ass things Like there's so much opportunity when you do like, when you do put the work in and all of those things, because the reason why I'm in the position I am, it's not something that is just I'm just working off some base salary. It's like the more I do, the more I produce, the more it there's just there's so much more to get you know what I mean. There's so much more money to make. There's so much more that I things that I want to do. I still want to travel, I still want to do all these different things and and all these things. So, instead of kind of like, well, if you're making a mistake, I don't think, I think there's just a better way of handling and managing things and and and in the way it's. It's all in the way you present it to your to your workers.

Sherisse Alexander:

You know what I mean? Well, it's managing change really, at the end of the day, people I think most people, I'm not going to say all people, but I think most people really enjoy the comfort of the known, whether they like the known or were they, or whether they don't like the known. And so part of that is how do we get buy-in? Because if you don't have buy-in, regardless of what the scenario is, then you're not going to be able. And I think trust is also a big part of it, right? I think when people don't trust what your intentions are and that you have their best interest at heart, it makes it really difficult to manage the rest of that right, Inspiring them to put in the work and, you know, managing change and all of those other kinds of things.

Kim Hippolito:

So, but I I think that that all comes together and I don't know. I think, as a manager, I think there should be, when you're hiring and you're doing the interviews, I think there should be a specific list of questions and not something that can just you, can just like I don't know. You know, because people like to talk shit, shit and you know, just give you air and just be like you know sound like yes fluff their way through it.

Kim Hippolito:

Like, I'll keep that one to myself, but there are people that fluff their way through it. You know I I can easily be someone that may sound like I fluff through things, but what I I'm, I'm genuine in the way I talk Like, and sometimes a little too genuine where these students are like no, I do, I do appreciate you're just being honest and I understand and I I really want you know and I'm like Okay, it's just I'm. I'm a very passionate person and I want to see that same passion in you when you're doing this, because you are making an investment in your future and I do not want you to waste it. Just think of the bigger picture is what I always tell people.

Sherisse Alexander:

You know, and when I'm interviewing and I, when I'm interviewing people, uh, I know that I don't interview the way other people interview, because I ask, I ask questions that people do not expect, uh, and I will not let you easily get away from the answer.

Sherisse Alexander:

So I'll ask things, like you know, and to me they're not difficult questions. But I think that sometimes people are so focused on getting the job that they want to give you the right answer. And I say that in quotation marks and I'm saying to them and you know the HR manager's there, and I'm saying things like listen, this guy knows, like I'm being open and I'm being transparent, like I don't like fluff. So if you can't do something, just tell me, cause I am willing to work with where you are, if you have the right mindset, uh, the drive, the desire to like really better yourself. And if you're not, if you're, if I can't get past that, then as far as I'm concerned I'm like okay, so you're not, you're not taking me where I am, which is being so authentic, so I can't bring that into this environment. And you might be supremely capable, but at the same time, it's like I know the energy of who I want to work with, so I actually put a priority on that.

Kim Hippolito:

You know it's. I think that's big and, with that being said, like, um, my, where I work, there's it's. We're a small group right, our office and we're. We do have to vibe and we do have to have that same energy, like throughout the, throughout the whole office, for it to be a smooth running, well-oiled machine, and that energy is definitely something that is very important so that everything works well Well culture.

Sherisse Alexander:

Eats strategy every day of the week.

Sherisse Alexander:

So I'm so big on that, and if you can't vibe or if I can't get a vibe and I know that not everybody necessarily prioritizes it the way that I do, but it's like so important to me. And then of course there's the skill sets and stuff like that. But I'm big on teaching and training and I'm really okay to do it. In fact I really enjoy doing it. But it's got to be the right energy mindset and then there's got to be at least a foundation of skill that I can work with. And so, yeah, I'm learning a lot in this role myself personally anyways. So and it sounds like you are as well- I am, I am and I'm.

Kim Hippolito:

I'm definitely learning. I, I really did Um this. I I didn't really have any new year's resolutions per se, but um, but I know that in order for me to to like, get better, get and grow and all those things, is that I did I do have to make changes, and so I'm curious.

Sherisse Alexander:

You brought up New Year's resolutions. I didn't make any either. I just wrote a list of things that I would like to achieve this year. And for the first time ever, I did something really different. I wrote them down and I broke them down in categories, and usually what I do is they're very numerically based, right, so they're very it's very methodical and very fun normally.

Sherisse Alexander:

But this year what I did was I broke them down into categories, so like personal and spiritual and physical and things like that, and I didn't put numbers. So even for something like health you know, I always have getting healthier on there but instead of putting a number on like I want to lose this much weight, I was just like, okay, I'm going to be physically active four to five times a week, I'm going to reduce my meat intake, I'm going to do so these kinds of goals, right. Instead. But what I did that was different is I actually go back to them, and I find that most people don't, right, they just write their goals during the year and then they forget about them. That's why when you you know you get to the end of the year, you're like what did I do Well? Did you check in with your goals along the year.

Kim Hippolito:

You know, I need to find my book. I okay, okay. So I um, this was 2021. I actually, for the very first time, did write down some goals, just little things, cause at the time I I didn't know if I could travel to the States, but I said, okay, let me, let me see about getting my waiver, I'm going to. Also, I'm going to start losing weight. So all these different little things. And I didn't go back to it, but fast forward, I actually accomplished every single thing on that list.

Sherisse Alexander:

Good for you, congratulations. Unconsciously, then, maybe there's a gap in my theory, but you know, this is why I had to tell you that maybe it's because, I mean, we don't need to dive into the details of how you were and I mean, if we're talking about your, your weight loss journey, like you were singularly focused on it, right Is. Is that what you're talking about? Like for this year or for last year, was this goal?

Kim Hippolito:

That was in 2021. That was in 2021. And then I did start later, in the year of 2022, but it wasn't a New Year's resolution in any way. It was just a list of things that I wanted to do and I just and I decided to write it down and from there I left it alone. I didn't go back to it. I just kind of I just kind of just started doing little things and making them happen. I think there's power in that.

Sherisse Alexander:

I think there's power in that, in writing things down and I think that's why I keep going back to it.

Sherisse Alexander:

And so, interestingly enough, when I was writing, you know the things that I wanted to accomplish this year, and I don't know why. But I was just like you know what, I'm going to go back to my goals and see what applies Like what is it that I still want to do? And so I was going through and I'm like, okay, I'm doing that, I'm doing that, I'm doing that, so check, check, check, check, check. And then there was something on there that no longer applied. So I was just like I'm going to remove it, Cause and it was yeah, Cause it was like a goal, you know so, for a future plan, and I was like that's going to be too restricting. I don't, I don't want anything that ties me down to like one place.

Kim Hippolito:

So I want to, I want to be. Let's not do that. Come on, yeah, was like oh, brick and mortar.

Sherisse Alexander:

Now I don't want anything that holds me down like that. That's too much, so I'm the same way, I can't even lie oh man, um, if you had to give one single juicy nugget to the audience at large, you said a juicy nugget. Yeah, juicy, yeah, I call it a juicy nugget.

Kim Hippolito:

Okay, I'm ready, I think.

Sherisse Alexander:

What would you say Like what is the one thing that you feel like? And it doesn't have to always have been your mantra, but let's just say, at this phase of your journey, almost like a mantra, what would you? What would you share?

Kim Hippolito:

Fuck it, Fuck it and fuck everybody. And I, and I don't mean fuck everybody. I'm sorry, I and you know, sometimes I may come off selfish, but at this point in my life I am Is it really, though I mean you know what, maybe in some people's eyes, but but okay.

Kim Hippolito:

But I'm saying this in a sense that we all deserve better for ourselves, because if you don't love yourself enough to do whatever it takes, whatever it takes and whatever you need to do to better yourself so that you're better for everybody else, like you have to be selfish in that way, without compromising how you treat people, though, obviously. But that's, that's the one thing I got to say, cause I've I've always been a giver Give, give, give, give, give, give, give, give, give. That shit don't, that shit is for the birds, because I was just shit on Okay. Okay, I'm a gi on, okay.

Sherisse Alexander:

Okay, I'm a giver.

Kim Hippolito:

You are, you are, but you also have that little bit of selfishness.

Sherisse Alexander:

I do, but I don't. I don't love the word, actually, interestingly enough, I. So the lead up podcast to this one is talking about self-care and I say almost exactly that, which is, you got to start the day giving to yourself first, because you can't go out and give to everyone else. And, truth be told, like when I have my self-care routine, I've learned over the years, like without that self-care routine, I go batshit crazy real quick, like I just I start to spin, I start to spiral, I start to spend way too much time in my head and then get really focused on the things that don't matter. So it's that self-care routine, whatever it looks like for whoever uh, that keeps me really grounded and rooted and centered in, like in what's important.

Sherisse Alexander:

And I find that when I do those things that I like and that's, I think, maybe what you're saying about being selfish it's about the things that you do for yourself that bring you peace, joy and fulfillment. I'm not going to say happiness, because happiness can be 100%, that what brings you peace, joy and fulfillment without inflicting pain on someone else. That is how what self-care should ideally be, and then you can give, give, give, give, give without resentment, because it's when we're giving without resentment because we're not filling our own cup, then now you're angry. Now I'm angry that I gave you all this stuff. Why did I do that? Right, so? And then there's blame and judgment and all that other, all of that all of that good stuff.

Kim Hippolito:

So you said it in a nutshell, what I said. I just said it in different words see verbiage. It's verbiage. There we go.

Sherisse Alexander:

Yeah, absolutely, verbiage is important, I mean. But you did say it and you're not wrong. Like, just do what makes you happy and uh, and do so without guilt, right? There's nothing to feel guilty about. No it's really okay to take care of yourself. You should.

Kim Hippolito:

And that's and that's my juicy little nugget, I guess you would call it. It's. Maybe it's not as juicy as you were hoping for, but honestly, that's that's. That's my juicy little nugget, I guess you would call it. Maybe it's not as juicy as you were hoping for, but honestly, that's how I really started. That's how I really started my journey and what kept me disciplined and, knowing all the different things that have, I just I feel good, I really do.

Sherisse Alexander:

You know, I think that it's, it's whatever. You know. You said it wasn't maybe what I expected. No, it's, I expect whatever it is you say. And I think if anybody knew you, kim, they would know that you you're probably one of the very few people that I know that I think, anyways, has really embodied that mentality of like and I don't mean selfish, like me first, but like I we started this and I was like you pretty well say yes to everything, like yep, sure, I'll do that, yep, I'll do that, yep, I'm game, I'm in right, I am like that, right, exactly. And so you really embody like I don't really care what people think or say, they can make all the judgments that they want. And I mean you are probably one of the most pleasant people that I've had the pleasure of knowing.

Kim Hippolito:

So well, big heart with my hands. You know the big how they do it, Like there's a new way of doing it, Millennials, or whatever you call them.

Sherisse Alexander:

Gen Z these kids don't know anything about care.

Kim Hippolito:

Bear stairs okay the care bear stare.

Sherisse Alexander:

Oh my god, let's take it back to the 80s yes, that's what you are trying to do is a care bear. Stare it is it's what?

Kim Hippolito:

yes, and they show it from the belly. Exactly right, right, so anyways, not with your chest you know that whole. Thing say it with your chest, not with your belly.

Sherisse Alexander:

Oh, I'm actually not every well, yeah, I mean, I guess, if you think about it well, it's say with your chest when you're a man, right, Because that's where it comes right, With some base in your chest, kind of thing, I think anyways, that's how I've always interpreted it so. But the belly, I've never heard that one. Actually, that's new for me you know.

Kim Hippolito:

But then that's showing it with the belly as a woman. I think that is definitely a hot cause. We're all our insecurities are usually there, right? So if you're like, you know, you show the love and you just stick it out and be like here's my belly. You know that's true. You know it's nice.

Sherisse Alexander:

Everyone loves to rub on a little buddha belly every now and then, yeah, you know, I actually remember saying in I don't know if I've actually posted this podcast or if I ever will, but I was talking about stretch marks, because I have stretch marks all over my stomach and I remember one day I was like leaning over the back seat, I was doing something with a kid and my, my belly was hanging out and one of them was like rubbing it and they're like what are all these things all over your belly? I'm like, oh, those are my stretch marks, those are my war wounds from like, but you know, I never had any shame in them because to me it's signified like this body carried life.

Sherisse Alexander:

This body gave life to four amazing human beings, and there is no shame in that, so I will wear it.

Kim Hippolito:

Absolutely Wherever I go, absolutely so. I've never two babies at one time, for heaven's sake. I know Twins, beautiful twins at that. How old? How old are the twins right now?

Sherisse Alexander:

Oh, those babies are 19. They will be 20 in the fall. Oh my gosh.

Kim Hippolito:

I know. Yes, that's right, they are one year younger than Anthony, that's correct.

Sherisse Alexander:

Yeah, those are. Those are the babies, so, but anyways, thank you so much, Kim, for joining me today as my first first guest. I am so beyond grateful for you to be here and share and be vulnerable and authentic and, you know, being yourself I appreciate it Always.

Kim Hippolito:

I can be myself anytime the weird, the goofy, the nerdy and also the sexy. Hey, all of that of everything, okay.

Sherisse Alexander:

Well, hey, how else would we have it Right? Good for you that you can embody all of that right, and I think that that's the other part is being very okay with. I mean, you just named a lot of different ways that you show up and I feel the same way. I'm like I'm a professional, so I'm a boss bitch, I'm a mom, but I'm also a verifiable crystal girl. Uh, I've been accused of being like a hippie. Uh, you know all these different?

Kim Hippolito:

kinds of things.

Sherisse Alexander:

I mean, I think the way it came out was like I don't want any of that hippie stuff. And you know, the truth of the matter is is that those are all parts of of me, those are all parts of my personality. So, you know, I can, I can be there being supremely professional, but I can also be extremely down to earth and, you know, get down with some crystals and patchouli.

Kim Hippolito:

So you know what, and I embrace it. Whatever brings me the best energy, I'm taking it. I'm not a crystal girl or a hippie girl or whatever the heck they call you. But you're right, I am a yes person.

Sherisse Alexander:

So ain't nothing wrong with that.

Kim Hippolito:

No, I'm, I mean, I'm all when I. I know, I know my limits, but it definitely. I like to mix it up. I'm not, I'm. I'm for the people, but for myself too. I'm, I'm for the people, but for myself too. Contradiction, I don't know.

Sherisse Alexander:

No, I think you mean you're open, you're, you're here for the people, but with boundaries in place, because you've been the yes person for the better part of your life and you found that it didn't serve you well because maybe you didn't have healthy boundaries in place.

Kim Hippolito:

Yes, I didn't. And that, going back to that, absolutely because I was very unhealthy, very, very unhealthy. So now that I am in a healthier space, absolutely everything is. It's just, it's a good feeling and I, I share, and I share, and I share because I just want people to just fall into it too. It's not easy, but hopefully one day, like I feel as we get, especially as we age, it's. I think it's super important. You might be able to attest to this because with your children, like Anthony has shocked me. Actually my son, and because him, at the age of 20, he's, I feel like he's learned it earlier on and he's got a good set of friends, but he definitely has set his own boundaries. He's definitely a man's man. He is not a follower, he's actually quite the leader, if I may say so myself, super proud to say that, um, and so he's he. I don't know if that's just because of what, me and him being pretty much like best friends, and it's always been me and him.

Sherisse Alexander:

Yeah.

Kim Hippolito:

If maybe he's kind of learned that with him, or maybe if he's learning from it and he's seen all the ups and the downs, that he's kind of adapted it himself as an individual.

Sherisse Alexander:

My children are very similar in that sense, like they're all leaders, they all have strong boundaries, they do. They're kind of like I'm gonna do me like and I'm not. You know that kind of thing. So maybe it's just you know children are a product of their environment. So maybe it's exactly what you said, like you guys are very close and it's just you know children are a product of their environment. So maybe it's exactly what you said, like you guys are very close and it's been you two for a while. So maybe what Kimmy's doing is rubbing off on young Anthony.

Kim Hippolito:

Absolutely, I would like to think so. I would like to think so. Yeah, pat yourself on the back, go ahead, girl. But same goes for you. For you as well, I would like to think so. Yeah, pat yourself on the back, go ahead, girl. Pat, pat, pat, but same goes for you, for you as well, as well, as Mike as well. Like you guys did a really amazing job we did On four beautiful children, and you guys were young ass parents, so I don't even know how we did it, that's why I always tell people, like we won the kid lottery, that's what happened, you did, you did, yeah, and I'm grateful.

Sherisse Alexander:

And they know it, they're like Mom. Would you please stop? Gushing about us. I'm like no, I will not, I will not, and I don't care what you say. I'm gonna tell you every day how amazing you are, because you are amazing human beings. Okay, period.

Kim Hippolito:

Well, and partially with that, because that is a huge accomplishment that you've done. So they're a product of your accomplishments and I realize that's the same, for I feel the same way, like I feel like I've accomplished raising a strong Black male as an Asian woman.

Sherisse Alexander:

Yes, you did, and he's such a nice young man he really is. So later in the like in the upcoming weeks, there's going to be a couple of episodes with dads on and I'm interested to like chat with them and get it from their perspective Because, you know, I do an episode where I talk about me and you know my challenges as a mom and everybody hears about challenges as a mom, right, because we just we talk about it so openly and so freely, but I don't know that men do the same thing. So I wanted to give an opportunity to men to share what they experience and what their challenges are, and sometimes I just feel like dads don't actually get enough love out there, because there are, there are some good dads out there 100% and they, they, they, yeah, they need to be celebrated too.

Sherisse Alexander:

Yeah. You know that's look for it, looking forward to that, and I hope that you tune in and listen. So, anyways, thank you again so much. I really appreciate this opportunity for you to share your journey, what you've learned, how far you've come, and I am like positive that I will have you back as a guest on your collective and I look forward to seeing what other changes and transformations and what's going on in your life at that point in time 100%.

Kim Hippolito:

Now I got, I got to work again, I got to figure out some spiels. I'm like because I'm bringing, I'm bringing it to the table next time.

Sherisse Alexander:

Well, you did a beautiful job, so thank you, thank you. Thank you so much for joining us today, where I spoke with my good friend, Kim Hippolito, who shared some of her story on her fitness journey. If you enjoyed the content that you got today, please feel free to follow or subscribe on Spotify or Apple podcasts and, of course, as always, you can send me a message. Until next time, take care.