Episode summary

In this episode, Lily reflects on how her background as a professional dancer has shaped her approach to fitness, resilience, and coaching and the important lessons she’s had to unlearn along the way.

From rejection and relentless training to discipline, structure, and body awareness, the dance world gave her powerful tools that now support her fitness goals and business. But it also ingrained beliefs around restriction, aesthetics, and “earning” results that she had to consciously dismantle.

This episode explores both sides: the gifts and the growth, and how they’ve shaped the Inside Out Method today.

What you’ll hear in this episode

• The relentless reality of the dance industry and how it builds resilience
• How rejection and repetition strengthened Lily’s mindset as a business owner
• The power of structure and why random workouts don’t create high-level progress
• Transitioning from expert to beginner again (and why that’s uncomfortable but powerful)
• The body awareness dancers develop and how it translates into fitness
• Why restrictive eating was normalised and how unlearning it changed everything
• The Friday binge / Monday restriction cycle and what was really driving it
• Why sweating more doesn’t mean better results
• Moving from performative training to training for yourself
• Debunking the myth that heavy weights make women bulky
• How lifting heavier improved body confidence and physical results

Want to talk about it?

If you resonate with any part of this episode, whether you’re an ex-dancer, athlete, or simply someone who’s navigating old beliefs around fitness, Lily would love to hear from you. DM her on Instagram: @lilyrosecooper21

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