We all start somewhere. Before I started coaching, I went through multiple versions of “Erik” over the years. I severely under ate and made very poor nutritional choices as a teenager. Part of which attributed to my max body weight of 135 lbs. as a Senior. My body was far from what would be considered an ideal male physique and I commonly felt the sting of verbal harassment and intimidation for being small and weak. Funny how time can change things if I were compared against many of those upper class men these days…haha, but I digress. Years later in life I found myself on the opposite end of the spectrum at nearly 230 lbs. I was unhappy with myself, unmotivated, and lost.
As a part of this, I was very susceptible to all the marketing and scams related to improved health and fitness. Trust me, I’ve wasted a lot of money by following bad advice and slick sales tactics. Supplements aren’t regulated and as such you take a gamble any time you buy them. This goes for products from popular weight loss companies that peddle shakes, teas, and other fat burning products as well.
No need to feel ashamed if you have fallen victim too but keep this in mind and learn from the experience. The same can be said for fad or trendy dietary strategies as well.
- Atkins
- Paleo
- Whole30
- Shake-ology
- Herbalife
- Plexus
- AdvoCare
- Fat Burners
- HCG Drops
- Raspberry Ketones
- And the fad of 2018, Ketogenic Dieting
Heard of these, tried one or a couple? For many, they “work” at first. Three to six weeks go by and those new to the supplement or program love it and are seeing results. They feel as if they have finally found what works for them. But after another 3 to 4 weeks results slow. In the coming months, biofeedback starts to suffer. Clients using them report feeling wore down mentally, emotionally, and physically. So as many do, they quit the process.
On the positive side, they lost weight, so it worked…. right?
Wrong
Often many end up gaining back all the weight and then some during the rebound phase. I’ve been there myself and made the same mistakes. And now as a coach, it is my job and as I feel it my obligation to share this with you. The hope is to keep you from falling into the same trap.
It is at this time of year that the 30-day fitness challenges, dietary resets, cleanses, and a whole host of eat less and do more approaches rain down. Or as Eat To Perform puts it, “The basic idea being that your health is like your battery in your car has died, you get in and get out and get back to normal as soon as possible.”
The true problem is what we perceive as normal. Many clients I work with come to me with damaged hormone and metabolic function from the aforementioned fad diets and plans. They don’t know what normal feels like. The first area we address is the building of positive habits and skills to handle nutrition. In tandem with working on positive habits, I work to address any damage from previous diets and to get them moving in some way. It’s a process with the goal of improving quality of life, while being sustainable for the long haul.
So, over the coming days be vigilant to these quick fix tactics. If someone is selling you that they can change everything in a very short period, they are lying and/or don’t have the proper knowledge and experience to truly help you in your unique situation. I encourage you to question those who use the title of coach. Ask how they can specifically help you and prescribe an approach to your situation. This means a custom plan and not a “cookie cutter” program.
And in my opinion, if the plan they are selling requires the purchase of, or regular use of, a supplement (shakes included) then walk away.
If nothing else, ask them to explain the ingredients within these supplements and how they truly work. You would be surprised at how many of these wellness experts or workers at nutrition shops whom know little to nothing about the things they sell and recommend. GNC I’m looking at you…
In many cases it took years to arrive at your current state regarding health and fitness, it only makes sense that it will take time, consistency, and patience to make positive changes.
Best of luck to you all on your health and wellness in 2019!
