The most fundamental aspect of any training programme

The most under represented aspect of health coaching is the mind. Health and fitness blogs and websites spend pages dissecting the ins and outs of techniques to optimal body composition. However you can have all the knowledge in the world about physiology and conditioning, you can design the perfect programme and advise the perfect bespoke nutritional advice; but if the person who is changing doesn't have their head in the right place nothing will work. Their compliance will be low, they will give up and that will be that. Think about it, doctors know all this stuff but they often aren't the picture of health. 

The reason I point this out is that many clients who say they are unhappy with their health are riddled with attitude problems. I don't mean this in the way that teenagers have attitude problems, I mean this in a way that the main underlying reason that they are unhappy is that they have the mindset of an unhealthy person. 

As the famous quote says we are a product of our thoughts, we are a living legacy of the decisions we make in our lives. What you see in the mirror is a direct result of your actions and our actions come as a result of our thoughts. The thoughts are small, but the implications are huge.



So what can be done? Something as simple as changing the wording of what you say has made a huge difference to clients.

Instead of saying 'I can't eat something', which suggests a crash diet to which you are being externally subjected to; you should say 'I choose not to eat that'. All of a sudden you are in control, you are thinking like someone who will achieve the transformation you want. 

Other alternatives seem small but when combined can add up, referring to a meal as a 'feeding opportunity' subconsciously makes it seem like an opportunity to better yourself. Calling  a trip to the gym 'training' implies it's something which you do regularly. A cheat meal is not a cheat meal, you aren't cheating anyone because you control what you eat. Celebrate your success with a win meal. 

Avoid using the word 'try'. Never try to do anything. The word try is non-committal, there is no risk, and so only stunted personal growth. If you want to do something have the conviction to say 'I will change', don't leave it up to chance by trying to change.

Don't dwell on things which hold you back. Instead of thinking about how far you have to go, take pride in how far you have come, be confident in your ambition to become the best version of yourself. 

Change your thoughts, become a healthy person, your body will soon follow suit.