Before starting with a client I have a pretty lengthy questionnaire that they need to fill you. It covers past habits and lifestyles, current exercise programs and routines. The very last question is: “What is holding you back from reaching your goal?” Most answers are the same, lack of knowledge, or lack of accountability. A few weeks into check-ins and things change.
Here are some common things I see happen and my best advice on how to fix or avoid this.
#1: Change of mindset. The moment you decided to try with a coach you were all drunk of the Kool-aid of this new body or new PR in the gym, once you started and saw that it might not come to quickly MAJOR attitude shift from, I’m excited and ready to, WHY ISN’T THIS WORKING? If this is you, remember things take time. Foundations need to be built, consistency needs to happen and stress needs to stay low. A bad attitude really can make or break your progress!
#2: People only focus on the scale. Yes, most of my client weigh themselves daily, but the weight is not what matters, whats happening to the weight is the important information. For example, if you are reverse dieting, therefore, eating more food, and your weight stays the same that’s a GOOD thing! If you have been dieting for a while and you get stuck at the same number that is also a good thing, you have created a new low set point. If you are up a couple pounds because of your menstrual cycle we can tell that your body likes to hang onto water and in a couple days life will continue! A scale is a tool, what really matters is your biofeedback, consistency and your progress photos!
#3: Lack of planning. If you’re new to counting macros You will not be able to eat and then log. You need to sit down, and meal plan the week or at least a couple of days, prolog your qualities into your logger and then follow your logger like a meal plan. Winging it will make you feel like your putting in the work but you’re missing the mark. It’s a hard cycle to break so start the habit from the start.
#4: Meal prep. All of the sudden there aren’t enough groceries in the fridge or people take your food. Lay out your foods and let your family or roommates know whats off limits. It’s not rude its part of your journey, don’t be shy about it!
#5: “I don’t have time” Well we all have time. We are all busy, we all work, we all volunteer we all ect…. But we have to MAKE the time. Prioritize your time, set a time to make your weekly grocery list, meal plan and then prep if you need to. Treat it like a job. Nobody ever got the results they wanted by eating out, eating on the fly and making it work. With experience, you will be able to do this a little more but from the start its not going to work. We all have time, you have to make it a priority.
#6: “Nothing is happening” “ I work so hard I haven’t cheated, I haven’t had any alcohol, but I’m not getting the results I want” I’m here to tell you this happens to everyone after a couple of months. If you just went the last 5, 10, 15 years eating very differently, living differently things are going to take time. If you have depressed your hormones, and you don’t sleep through the night, and you have constant stress and you refuse to drink the amount of water you should and take the vitamins recommend, it’s going to take a while. Everyone is different, no two people will get the exact same results at the exact same time. You have to stick it out every day. You have to put the work in and know that some of that work needs to be put into your stress management, sleep, and water. Consistency will pay off.
Last one!! Is the combination of all 6. For whatever reason, we can blame social media or the products or templates with catching names and quick promises but nutrition is a lifestyle, it’s not a quick fix, it’s not a walk in the park it’s more like a marriage. There are good times and bad times. You may have moments where you fall apart but getting back going and working through your problems and frustrations will give you your happily ever after you just have to be ready to stick with it. Talk about your goal, create a timeline, set mini goals if you need to, but have a plan and stick with it. I promise you nobody has ever said “Man I regret working on my lifestyle to become healthy and fit” It doesn’t happen, But I do hear a lot of “ I wish I would have just stuck with it” as they start over for the 10th time. Starting over is fine, just let the next time you start over, be the LAST time you start over!