“Sunshine, Endorphins, Sweat”
“The hardest part of beginning any journey is just taking the first step.” Despite the thunderous circumstantial setbacks in her early 20s, Tally Savage along the ups and downs of her stress-related, physical, emotional, and mental health struggles has been daringly relentless in going beyond the distance in competitive praise. When she isn’t exercising in killing the flesh twice a day, five days a week, Savage is using her physical fitness platform to help give back to the world by motivating, leading, and influencing other people’s lives. Tales of Tally is a lifestyle accompanied by her guardian German Shepherd, Pet Peeve, to become a fully-realized version of herself. A carving of a trailblazing footnote through nature’s open gym.
What motivated you to pursue a lifestyle in physical fitness?
TALLY: At one point, I realized that I wasn’t the best person I could be. Fitness was the catalyst to become the exceptional person I knew I could be. Through fitness, I was able to develop skills like confidence, awareness, perseverance, discipline, commitment, goal identification, pursuit and achievement. A lifestyle in fitness opened my awareness to the opportunities to become a fully-realized version of myself.
What were the setbacks that led towards your wakeup call?
TALLY: In my early 20’s, I started experiencing seizures as a result of extreme stress in my life. My body didn’t know how to respond and therefore, it shut down. To combat this, I turned to meditation and yoga as a way to learn how to control my body and my mind. After a couple years of learning and consistent practice, I was able to see the positive difference physical health made on mental health.
Where were you born and raised?
TALLY: I was born on the east coast, spent years in College Station, Texas (Gig Em Aggies!) and Phoenix, Arizona. My family is from Austin so we have close ties to the city and state.
Is Savage your real last name?
TALLY: Savage is my husband’s family name. It’s a great one!
It reminds me of the legendary Macho Man Randy Savage.
TALLY: That’s funny because my husband always used to ask his grandma if they were related to Randy Savage.
What’s the meaning behind Tales of Tally?
TALLY: Tales of Tally is the platform I created to share my story. Through my ups and downs of physical, emotional and mental health, I’ve become a stronger, more confident and more joyful person. I know there are people out there who experience what I’ve experienced. I wanted to create a platform that I could share my learnings so they can expedite theirs. My real first name is Natalie, but Tally has been a childhood nickname. So…Tales of Tally.
As a kid growing up, did you participate in any athletic sports? If so, do you believe your athleticism is what gave you an advantage?
TALLY: I definitely believe childhood sports are a crucial piece of development. I played a variety of sports from very young to early college. That foundational knowledge of how to use my body, what it is capable of and the fundamentals of how to fuel it with food definitely helped expedite my growth into competitive sports as an adult.
What is your fondest childhood memory?
TALLY: I’ve always had a very strong relationship with both my parents and my siblings. But one of my fondest memories was when I was around 9 years old, my dad took me to Chicago for a dad/daughter trip. We went to the American Girl store, explored Chicago and ate a lot of great food (at least, what was viewed as great by a 9 year old). It’s a memory I treasure to this day!
You look like someone who is championship material. What accolades do you have displayed in your home?
TALLY: I definitely love to keep and display my medals! While I haven’t been competing for very long, I have triathlon, obstacle course and club sports medals, hopefully one day to be accompanied by the title “Fittest On Earth”.
How old were you when you began your weight loss journey, and how old were you when you reached your goal point?
TALLY: Starting when I was 18 years old, I gained almost 50 pounds in a little less than two years. Moving into adulthood, I forgot to prioritize my health and was focused on work and school. When I was 20, I hit a point where my clothes didn’t fit, extended family made comments and I could feel the impact the extra weight was having on my body. I finally had to face what I’d put my body through over the last two years and decide if I wanted to keep or change it. I had to change it. Over the course of the next 12 months, I lost about 70 pounds of weight followed by years working on building muscle and aerobic capacity. I’m still not at my “goal” point, as my goal point changes every time I achieve it. But I’m the strongest and happiest I ever have been in my life! I’d say that’s always my ultimate goal.
We all have our struggles while pursuing our goals. What struggles did you have to compete with while achieving yours?
TALLY: The biggest lesson I learned was not relying on motivation, but learning and keeping discipline. I kept struggling to maintain the workout program I’d created, as will to rest wins over will to work almost every time. Instead of leaving my progress up to how future Tally felt (I’ll workout tomorrow when I’m ready), I created discipline in my day. I began by waking up at 4:45am every morning, without question. I was at the gym by 5am, home by 6:15am and off to work by 7am. Now that my work and commute have changed, I still maintain that discipline but adjust the specifics. I’m up at 5:30am every morning, down in the garage gym by 6:00am and back in the house by 8am for work. This routine is followed every day, with extremely little variance. Motivation was a struggle. Discipline is not!
What motivates you to keep yourself going?
TALLY: My drive to compete is strong. Knowing that I’ll have to compete against other people pushes me to work smarter and harder. When I feel too tired for a second session, I think about the fact that the people I have to compete against are probably working to improve right now. That gets me down in the gym fast. I really like to win. But I hate losing even more.
What does your music playlist list consist of when working out, and how do their songs help the process?
TALLY: This is a great question! My husband laughs about my music regularly. I get attached to a playlist and play it on repeat until I’m completely exhausted of the songs. Right now, I listen to upbeat techno and dance music with songs by my grammy-nominated sister (Saint Sinner) always thrown in. Music helps in a variety of ways. For one, it’s actually helped me learn to pace my workouts. I can keep count of breaths and know roughly how long the workout is taking me, depending on how many songs have passed. Secondly, who doesn’t like a dance party during a rest?
Others workout to compare themselves to others so that they can fit in and feel confident, and then there are others who work out for themselves to live a healthy and determined lifestyle, however, what are you working out for?
TALLY: I workout for me. I thrive in learning what my body and my mind are capable of. I love the art of knowing when to push and when to pull back. I’ve done things I wouldn’t have thought possible when I was a child and I know I haven’t hit my limit. I am capable of so much more.
Who were and are your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your passion to keep striving the most, and why?
TALLY: My fitness mentor was definitely my husband. As a competitive athlete in martial arts and olympic weightlifting, he has taught me so much about how to listen to my body, how to workout hard but also keep joint health and longevity at the forefront. That balance is so crucial. My emotional mentors were my parents. They raised me with the understanding that I was capable of so much. They taught me that being a female didn’t mean I couldn’t be physically and mentally strong. They’ve always been in my corner and two of my biggest supporters.
Speaking of inspiration, you have a German Shepherdwho is like your biggest fan, watching your every workout.
TALLY: Oh man, she’s honestly the best. “Do you want to go to the gym?” is probably her favorite command. She loves spending time in the garage and doesn’t leave my side when we’re in the house.
You have a photo with you guys hiking through an open field hill; it reminded me of the film, “A Dog’s Purpose.”
TALLY: She’s one of my best friends. I couldn’t imagine life without her.
What has been the purpose of your dog in your life?
TALLY: We adopted her back when I was managing my seizures. She was there to watch and support me through those experiences. While she’s not a fully certified Service Dog, she’s passed level 1 and has learned to be watchful, tender and a guardian.
What is his/her name?
TALLY: Her name is Peeve. Like… Pet Peeve. Yes, we laugh at it too.
What’s life like outside of physical fitness?
TALLY: There’s no difference. Physical fitness is our way of playing. Our weekends are always spent in the water, in the forest or on a mountain. Movement is a natural way of life for us.
Yoga (like Yoda) is a balancing activity to bring forth unity by connecting the mind, body, and soul, allowing a person to be at peace within themselves, however, is yoga better equipped indoors or outside in nature?
TALLY: I think yoga is so valuable both indoors and outdoors, but I set two different types of intentions depending on the setting. When I’m outdoors, my mind focuses on external senses and synchronizing with the universe around me. When indoors, I’m focused on internalizing that energy and synchronizing with the universe within me.
What’s the fun part about using nature as an open gym?
TALLY: I think the ultimate goal for fitness is play and functionality. It is knowing how to use, move and work your body in any situation and being able to maintain its capabilities throughout an entire lifetime. Using nature as an open gym allows this methodology to become practice! You can do pull ups on a bar in the gym with grips and chalk, but what about doing them on a branch? It’s a whole next level of functional fitness. When I’m one hundred years old, I still plan on doing yoga and playing in nature.
What different changes do you feel about yourself that you didn’t feel before?
TALLY: Hunger! I’m kind of kidding, but honestly I’m hungry all the time. The first thing I noticed was the change in my posture. After that, it became more subtle but impactful things. I have more proprioceptive awareness and a powerful yet fluid control over my motions. There’s an awareness you gain by having to constantly use your body that’s almost like another sense developing. I’m able to move through space differently than I ever have.
Does your body feel healthier now compared to when you weren’t in shape?
TALLY: Absolutely. I feel stronger and capable of more than ever.
When it comes to workouts, is more always better?
TALLY: NO. It’s not. I’m a huge believer in this. I’ve learned that it is absolutely possible (and common) to push past your breaking point. You can get injured (instant or over time), mentally exhausted and lose your motivation and discipline. I think what makes a true champion is knowing where your body’s breaking point is, listening to your body and stopping just before you hit it. Then being able to fully recover so you can assess whether it’s time to match or exceed that output the next time you train.
You don’t need to feel like you’re going to pass out after every workout, right or wrong?
TALLY: Right! Some days, I need a heart-pumping, full effort workout. Other days, I just want to focus on proper technique and perfecting movement. Knowing my cycles (i.e. load and deload weeks) as well as learning to listen to my body are both crucial in performing the best I can in the long run. Every decision is made with the long goal in mind.
How much in a day do you commit to exercising?
TALLY: Honestly, about 3 – 4 hours a day. I do a morning workout, usually focused on aerobic capacity. I spend 30 minutes warming up, 45 minutes executing my workout and 15 to 30 minutes to cool down, stretch and foam roll. My afternoon session is a similar set up, but focused strength training. My evening is spent managing recovery so I am ready to go again in the morning.
If someone is striving to see results, whether it be muscle gain or losing weight, how much a day should they commit to physical fitness and how many months would you say until they would see those results?
TALLY: The first thing someone should do is forget about days and months. Set a timer on your phone and absolutely commit to doing a physical activity that will improve your health every time that alarm goes off. It can be clapping your hands if that’s all you can do, but what is most important right now is beginning to develop the habit. The hardest part of beginning any journey is just taking the first step. But once you’ve done that, once you’ve dared to venture out your door, the journey will lead you to places you might never have believed you could go.
How many months was it for you until you started seeing results?
TALLY: There’s years of foundational training in this body! But it was at least a full year of true, concentrated effort on my programming and nutrition before I started seeing the results I really wanted to see.
Do you take two days off or do you exercise every day?
TALLY: I exercise twice a day, five days a week. I have one active recovery day (long slow distance walk, jump rope, yoga, sometimes sprints…) and one full rest day, where I allow the flow of life to guide me.
How often do you work out, and how often do you rest? What structured schedule do you employ?
TALLY: I workout twice a day, five days a week. I rest on Mondays and Thursdays, as this is best for my full-time job. A lot of people rest on Sunday, but I love working out on the weekends! My weekend workouts are long and include a lot of technique work that I don’t have as much time for during the week.
Do you enjoy working out alone or do you prefer company?
TALLY: It depends on the mood. I love working out on my own, but working out with a coach is so important because I don’t want to engraine bad habits. So it’s a balance.
How do you warm up before a workout?
TALLY: I love a dynamic warm up, properly activating my muscles and nervous system. I use a combination of an exercise ball, light weights, resistance bands and a foam roller.
What has been your favorite recovery after a workout?
TALLY: Food! I always eat right after a workout and I love it.
What has been your ideal workout routine that has led you to see results?
TALLY: What led me to results is consistency. My ideal workout routine is a combination of aerobic capacity, strength and power training.
When it comes to your workout schedule, what do you enjoy doing the most?
TALLY: I really love technique and olympic lifting. But I also love EMOMs. EMOM workouts are my bread and butter. Definitely an area of strength.
Is exercising enough to get where you want to be or do you need a strict diet plan?
TALLY: Nutrition is 80% of wellness. Exercising is the other 20%. You need both. You won’t get where you want to go, in the best shape you can be, without the right nutrients to fuel you.
What happens if you ignore your diet plan and cheat once a week?
TALLY: I am a huge advocate for having a healthy relationship with food. I don’t label food good and bad because I’ve had unhealthy relationships with food in the past. I eat with the purpose of fueling my body and every now and then, my mind needs something special. That’s where extra goodies come in and I intentionally allow myself to enjoy it, guilt free.
Like Dwayne the Rock Johnson, what is your favorite cheat meal?
TALLY: If I could pick a perfect meal, it would probably be crispy shoestring fries, a woodfired pizza loaded with toppings, a bottle of champagne and a slice of carrot cake.
How many times a day do you eat?
TALLY: At least six. I’m always eating. My coworkers have noticed that I always have food in my video calls. Oops!
Do you wait between meals or snack?
TALLY: I eat so often that I don’t usually feel the need to snack. But if I’m still hungry in between my meals, my body is telling me something and I listen.
What’s your ideal post-workout meal?
TALLY: I absolutely love chicken, so that’s my go-to. Usually chicken breast, some sort of sauce and crispy potatoes. If I’m feeling like I need more carbs than that, I’ll just make protein banana pancakes.
What has been your diet plan when it comes to food and snacks alike?
TALLY: I track my macros, so everything I eat fits into those numbers. But I do eat with longevity and true health in mind (broccoli provides very different nutrients than candy, even if they both say they provide “25g of carbs”). Clean, real food with room for great treats. My favorite snacks are snow peas, oatmeal, greek yogurt, pretzels and nuts.
Was changing your diet a difficult task?
TALLY: Absolutely. There is so much food out there that is marketed so well. It can be so difficult to ignore it. I definitely went through ups and downs with my relationship with food. But when I learned about tracking my macros, that’s when my eating stuck with me. I could have things that are typically labeled “bad” (toast, oil, butter, etc.) and truly enjoy them, as long as they fit in my macros! Counting macros can be daunting to people, but I found it liberating.
Does drinking more water help you lose weight or maintain it?
TALLY: It depends on a lot of factors, But if you’re thirsty, drink water. There’s plenty of studies that show reduced function capacity at even slight degrees of dehydration.
How do you lose body fat and preserve muscle mass?
TALLY: Your diet will do the majority of the work when it comes to fat loss. But your training should be centered aroundcircuits and high metabolic activities that engage all of the muscle groups.
What advice would you give someone who is having trouble finding something they like about eating healthy?
TALLY: I think eating well is all about your mentality. Looking at food as fuel, as a gift to your body, and not as something you’re forced to eat. If you have a negative relationship with healthy food, it’s never going to stick. Find ways to make it delicious (stevia-sweetened chocolate, no-sugar sauces, etc.) and as you’re preparing the food, remember that it is a gift to your body. Not a punishment.
You take a lot of progress photos of your fitness work ethic and post them on Instagram, is that to help inspire others, and what does that do to help motivate you?
TALLY: I started my Instagram as a way to help people. When I began my fitness journey, it was so difficult to find programming and nutrition information that real people were using. I want someone to be able to follow my instagram, see how I program and how I eat, and be able to bring that into their own lives. Having the responsibility to post requires me to be very thoughtful in my programming and in how I speak and think about food. It’s a big responsibility to influence people’s lives and I take that responsibility very seriously.
What’s your favorite season of the year, and why?
TALLY: Probably spring! The sunrise and sunset timings are perfect for my schedule. I love the crisp air in the morning and the warm sun in the afternoon.
Does the weather have to be a certain way for you to workout outside or are you down to overcome any weather phenomenon that comes your way?
TALLY: I’ll workout in any weather, but I find I want to be outside longer in the spring, summer and fall. I’m grateful to have a pretty well equipped gym in our garage, so that allows me some weather coverage if needed.
What was your before and after weight?
TALLY: Honestly, I don’t really track my weight. I know where I started but now it’s no longer relevant to me. My only focus is maximizing my body’s capabilities. Whatever weight that happens to be is irrelevant.
Is your current weight your goal point or are you still reaching that defining weight goal?
TALLY: If you mean my physical weight, I’m happy with where I’m at. But if you mean my lifting weights, whatever the world record is… I always want to be one pound above that.
When it comes to getting your dream body, does it make you love yourself any more than you did before?
TALLY: I’ve always loved who I am. But achieving small and regular goals does wonders for your mentality and confidence. As I achieve more, I stand taller, walk more confidently and speak with courage. I love who I’ve grown into as a result of accomplishing things I set my mind to.
Does being quarantined due to COVID19 help or hinder your physical fitness routine?
TALLY: It has definitely helped! I have longer and better workouts, since we set up our garage as needed. I loved going to the gym and seeing my community, but I definitely work harder when I’m alone.
You’re a woman who is built on minding and fulfilling her purpose. Did you discover what you were created and destined to do along the way?
TALLY: I always knew I was destined to be a leader, a guide and a mentor in whatever field I chose. I didn’t know that field was athletics until much later, but once my passion was identified, I immediately worked to become a leader.
Looking back at all of the obstacles you overcame, what has been the reward?
TALLY: An entirely new perspective on the way I’m able to see life. Good things take time to build.
What can we expect from the rest of your physical fitness tales moving forward?
TALLY: CrossFit games, here I come. But really, just get ready for more. I’m not even close to my potential yet.
Who is Tally, and what trail of footprints does she plan on leaving?
TALLY: Inspiration. Ambition. Accomplishment. Fulfillment. I am a leader and I want to help everyone who can benefit my journey in any way. We are all capable of so much more than we know. We just need to learn how to tap into it.
