I’ve been coaching in some capacity for almost 20 years and I’ve pretty much seen it all. In my experience as a Dietitian Nutrition & Fitness Coach, success comes down to one thing and one thing only.
Here’s an example of how it works…
Person 1, let’s call her Susie.
Susie identifies a problem.
Susie is struggling to get leaner. Nothing is working. She’s on again off again. Finding it more difficult to drop the fat she wants and see the definition she wants.
Susie also identifies a deeper purpose to why that stuff even matters.
She wants to keep up with her kids. She wants to set a better example for them. She wants to be around a long time and not fall into the same patterns that her parents fell into.
Susie wants to make a change.
She’s ready.
She reaches out to get help.
She knows that having accountability and guidance is going to be extremely beneficial because she’s tired of trying to figure it all out on her own.
Susie takes the leap, learns what works best for her life and her body, achieves the results she desires, and never looks back.
Person 2, let’s call her Jennie.
Jennie identifies a problem.
Jennie is struggling to get leaner. Her clothes aren’t fitting like they used to. She’s hiding from pictures. Jennie is heavier than she’s been in a while.
Jennie also identifies a deeper purpose to why that stuff even matters.
She wants to live a long life for her family. She wants to avoid any major health concerns. Her doctor told her that her health markers aren’t great and she needs to do something about it right away.
Jennie wants to make a change.
She’s ready.
She reaches out to get help.
She knows that having accountability and guidance is going to be extremely beneficial because she’s tired of trying to figure it all out on her own.
But when the rubber meets the road… Jennie freezes.
She latches on to any excuse she can… “I can’t swing it right now.” “My husband said now isn’t a great time.” “We have other bills to pay.”
Jennie goes through the same cycle, year after year.
Now, the thing that I’ve learned over my 20+ year career is this…
There’s actually no difference between Susie and Jennie. Susie doesn’t have more money. Susie doesn’t have more time. Susie doesn’t have an easier life.
Susie just knows what she wants and even though she has plenty of excuses… she doesn’t let them influence her decision.
She thinks logically. She knows that investing in her health will pay off more than anything else.
Like I said, I’ve seen just about everything you can imagine in my time as a coach but there’s one thing I’ve never seen.
Not even once.
Never in my life has someone gone bankrupt because they’ve invested in their health.
In fact, quite the opposite.
Often times my clients end up getting better paying jobs, promotions, and improve their relationships because they finally remove the weight (literally and figuratively) that’s been holding them back.
I only share this because it’s unfortunate to me that so many people hold themselves back when they are so close to a breakthrough.
They take ALL the steps. Reaching out for help. Knowing exactly what they need. They’re right on the verge of getting everything they could ever want and more…
And then… freeze.
Time continues to fly by. No one is getting any younger. The opportunities just whisk away. Why is it that every single client that we work with says… “why didn’t I start sooner?”
And this is why.
Because so many people hold themselves back for SO LONG before they finally take the leap.
It’s a tale as old as time.
I have so much freaking respect for those individuals who know what they want and don’t even hesitate for a second.
They are the ones who everyone else assumes have it so easy. “Oh she must have better genetics, more money, more time, better kids…”
Nope.
She just did the brave thing that you were too afraid to do.
Sorry but it’s the truth.
Any other story you tell yourself is just a story. A deflection. A justification.
It’s ok though. It doesn’t make you a bad person. It makes you extremely human. Make no mistake about it… you’re in the majority.
The people who take the leap and never look back are the weird ones. They are the ones who do what most are too afraid to do.
So maybe there’s comfort in not taking action.
I don’t know.
What I do know is that once you see it. You can’t unsee it.
My gift is that I can help anyone who is willing to take the leap.
My curse is that I can’t help those who are unwilling.
Onwards we go.