The $12K machine I don’t regret buying
I have a confession to make. I spent over $12,000 on a body composition scan machine last October.
Yes, really.
And I don’t regret it for one second.
Originally, I planned to keep it at a med spa through a local partnership. That setup didn’t work out, and honestly, I’m glad.
Because now? It lives in my house. And I use it all the time.
Spending $12,000 on anything would have terrified me ten years ago. Back then, I was stuck in a scarcity mindset, recovering from a system that told us to go deep into debt for a degree, get a job we didn’t love, and burn ourselves out just to make ends meet.
Becoming self-employed and creating my own wealth taught me something important: investing in my health and my family’s well-being brings returns that no stock market ever could.
So when the opportunity came to buy the machine, I didn’t hesitate. I got a full body yes.
Now it lives in our dining-room-converted-office-flex-space, and it’s the first thing you see when you walk through our front door, like a prized work of art on display.
Right beyond it sits our favorite mini trampoline, surrounded by intentionally chosen furniture that keeps us moving and leaves room to create.
Our home is filled with space, not stuff. And everything that is here has to earn its keep by being useful, functional, and aligned with how we want to live.
I considered selling the machine at first. But that thought didn’t last long, because I found myself scanning all the time. My husband uses it. My parents regularly check their progress at every visit. Friends and family who drop by get scanned, too.
It’s become one of the most impactful investments I’ve made. Not just for my health, but for how I support the people I love.
One of the clearest examples? My Dad.
His first scan last winter confirmed what I suspected: he was severely under-eating protein. His intake wasn’t enough to preserve muscle, especially at age 68 at the time.
That single scan gave us clarity. We made one simple change — increase his daily protein — and by the next scan, his muscle mass was up and his body fat was down significantly.
Not to mention, he got off testosterone, dozens of supplements, and even peptides.
He also didn’t start lifting super heavy or change everything overnight. He just focused on the one lever that would make the biggest difference.
You see, his biggest issue wasn't food quality or drinking to much (he still has his wine).
It was under-eating the right nutrients... especially protein.
It doesn’t sound glamorous. But it works.
The truth is, most people are overlooking what truly impacts their health and body composition.
Not another diet trend. Not cutting carbs. Not eating “clean.”
You can still be under-eating the nutrients your body actually needs in the right amounts while only consuming whole foods.
We’re talking about real nutrition science: understanding how food quality, quantity, ingredients, and preparation affect everything from your hormones and blood sugar to your metabolism, mood, and muscle.
With the right tool and the right coaching, you can stop guessing and finally get answers that lead to results.
And if there’s one thing we want you to take from this, it’s this:
Muscle is the most underrated key to health, metabolism, and longevity.
Not your body weight.
Not your cardio minutes.
Not your Apple Watch.
Not your jean size.
Muscle.
It’s what helps you burn more calories at rest, stabilize your hormones, protect your joints, and bounce back from illness. It keeps you strong and functional as you age, and it’s one of the most powerful predictors of lifespan, even with other health issues present.
And the best way to support muscle mass? Protein, other optimized nutrition, progressive strength training (not just throwing weights around or doing random workouts), and sufficient sleep (when you actually recover and build muscle!).
So why aren’t we measuring it?
Most doctors weigh you but give no insight into your muscle-to-fat ratio. They have no clue what your metabolism is actually doing.
That’s like managing your finances without ever checking your bank account.
Years ago, my first scan showed a BMR (basal metabolic rate) of over 1,750 calories per day, and that was just what I burned at rest. I got into powerlifting for funsies while pregnant, then kept doing heavy compound lifts with no specific body goals. I just loved having a performance goal of maxing out my lifts instead of constantly trying to shrink.
It was sooooo much fun and I ate sooooo much food, and those years of building muscle were truly a blast.
Eventually, I got tired of eating nearly 3,000 calories a day just to maintain my muscle mass + athletic performance, and I felt like it was hard to do other athletic movements like dancing, so I changed things up.
I've really just been maintaining since then and doing "less" than ever before in terms of training.
But this winter in particular looked different for the first time... ever.
Between launching Awaken Your Cycles, guiding 27 women through light and hormone education, finishing three new certifications, and handling my usual workload and life as a mom and business owner, I could feel my energy dropping.
I was still moving. But I wasn’t lifting to volitional fatigue. I wasn’t sleeping enough. My meals weren’t as balanced.
I was in a season of high output, and I knew it. I also knew how that kind of stress impacts the body.
When I scanned myself in February, the machine showed a small dip in muscle (just about a pound) but enough to get my attention.
I didn’t panic. I understood what was happening and how to respond.
So I made some changes in March. I tracked my protein more closely, lifted with intention again, and prioritized sleep and recovery. No supplements. No hormone therapy. Just food, training, and rest.
I regained the muscle. And now I’m in a steady maintenance phase, focused on form and function.
This is exactly why we start every Awaken Your Nutrition client with a body composition scan. It gives you the data you need to stop chasing weight and start focusing on what truly moves the needle.
We help each client find a local scan, walk them through the results, and build a plan that aligns with their goals and biology.
Some are in fat loss phases. Others are transitioning into muscle building. That shift requires a completely different mindset. It’s not about shrinking anymore. It’s about growing: in strength, in nourishment, in power.
Muscle building takes time. It asks for consistency and patience. But it is incredibly empowering, because it changes how you feel, how you function, and how you age.
So if you’re wondering what phase your body is in, or you’re ready to stop guessing, this is your sign.
And if life feels heavier than usual right now, we want you to know this:
That’s actually when having a coach is most valuable.
Not when things feel easy or light.
But when it feels like everything is pulling at your energy.
That’s when structure, nourishment, and clarity become non-negotiable.
Awaken Your Nutrition was built for seasons just like this.
👉 Click here to book a free application call
If you’re ready for real support, we’d love to walk with you.
Yours in health,
Lisa Kirby and Shannon Morse
Founders of The Green Door Life
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P.S. We’re opening up our Nutrition Coach Certification Program this summer. To be eligible for certification, you must complete Awaken Your Nutrition, which you can start now. Click reply if you have any questions — we’d love to support you!
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