The distinction between hustling and hustle-for-the-gram is more hazy than ever in a time when gym selfies have more filters than real exercises, and fitness journeys are transformed into carefully edited Instagram highlight reels. And Kayla Nicole? She’s had enough. Yes, she is, in fact, Travis Kelce’s ex, but don’t just box her into that title. Kayla is a sports journalist, fitness enthusiast, and creator of the wellness company Tribe Therepē.

With more than 830K Instagram followers and an ab routine that combines elements of a Greek goddess and a Navy SEAL, she has long been a role model in the fitness industry. And now? She’s calling out what she sees as the biggest deception influencing modern fitness culture: the hush regarding surgery and shortcuts.

Kayla Nicole went all out on the recent episode of The Pre-game Podcast with Gerald Washington. The caption of the reel she shared on Instagram: “BBL culture is reshaping bodies – but also reshaping expectations… Should trainers/influencers have to disclose their surgery/weight loss meds if attempting to promote their fitness journey?” From hidden BBLs (Brazilian Butt Lifts) to Ozempic injections, Kayla posed the pointed question: Are we being duped by appearances masked as effort? She asked, “Having a BBL and selling training programmes is okay, truth or trash?”

Gerald answered honestly, “Having a BBL is not wrong, one. If you choose to do that, hey, if it makes you happy, have at it.” But he also called out the deceitful marketing, “If you’re promoting this butt came from squats and this butt came from hard work…and you actually got a BBL…Then no, that’s not okay. It’s being deceitful.” And Kayla couldn’t agree more. She added that the fitness industry is becoming less legitimate. The popularity of influencers who sell fitness regimens based on bodies they didn’t completely train for has made getting fit less important.

And to be clear, Kayla didn’t just reveal this information from the sidelines. Because she works pretty damn hard for her body. Her workout is intense, full-body, and drenched in sweat-pouring realness. No shortcuts. No Ozempic. For full-body workouts, she says, “This is how you train smart, not just hard.” For the glutes? “If you’re not hip thrusting, what are you even doing?” For the abs? Hanging leg raises and high-intensity cardio.

So, Kayla is talking about accountability. In a society where young women are pursuing unrealistic expectations with real consequences, transparency is essential. But while Kayla Nicole is busy restoring trust in the fitness industry, someone else is rebuilding his physique, his game, and perhaps even a small portion of his legacy.

Training in paradise, playing for legacy—Travis Kelce eyes redemption run

The Chiefs’ star tight end, Travis Kelce, was last seen on the big stage when the Chiefs were getting buried under green-and-white confetti. The final score: Eagles 40, Chiefs 22. Still, Kelce continued to garner media attention for breaking Jerry Rice’s Super Bowl reception record. Though he was aware that records don’t make losses go away. He acknowledged, “You don’t lose like that without everything going bad.” And Andy Reid doubled it down, “It was a bad day to have a bad day.”

The NFL community was flooded with retirement rumors following that game. Ed Kelce, his father, didn’t do much to help by sharing pictures of his vacation in Boca Raton with a cigar in his mouth. Was the Kelce era coming to an end? Not even close. Ed’s response to a fan’s question about Travis’s whereabouts was unexpected: “Trav is in training here.”

As it happens, Kelce has converted a $20 million estate in Boca Raton into a miniature training center. This isn’t the offseason; it’s mission preparation, especially with NFL friends Ross Travis and Kumar Ferguson joining the grind. His objective? Not a rocking chair, but the Lombardi Trophy. Even Andy Reid stated, “He wants to come back and he’s training like crazy.”

Indeed, the 2024 season was a dip: Just 823 receiving yards in 17 games, his lowest since 2015. But the burden was all on him because Hollywood Brown was inconsistent, and Rashee Rice was injured. And Reid knows it too: “The healthier we can be around him, he can still be productive.”