YOU have to WANT to make the changes
YOU have to WANT to make changes.
You know the phrase, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink”?
Some cliches are cliches because they’re TRUE!
Just joining a gym isn’t good enough, you actually have to go. And then want to continue to go.
Paying a nutrition coach for coaching is only as good as the effort you’re willing to put into the communication, asking questions, making adjustments in your food plans, etc.
You have to want to do it. You have to be read to make changes. You have to be willing to make changes. You have to be able to make changes.
Does this mean you’ll do it all perfectly simply because you’re committed? Likely not, but in being committed to the process, because it’s something you actually want to do, is half the battle.
Similarly, sometimes I talk to people that say they heard about me and my coaching from a friend who I worked with. This is awesome, please send me all the referrals ;) But, from time to time, these friends don’t actually want to make the adjustments in their own lives, they just magically want the results their friends got. And, unfortunately, that’s just not how it works. (For what it’s worth, many times I’m able to better explain the process so that that individual is aware of what they will need to put into the whole process, and what they’ll receive from me in return, so that they can better decide if working together is right for them)
Where am I going with this?
Here it is: Next time you see something that you think you want, consider what it would take to obtain that thing and then see if it feels worth it to you.
For example, I want a Tesla. Is it in my budget currently? No. But I did the figuring to see how much I’d need to save, what the payments would look like, etc, so that when I’m ready to get one, I know exactly what I’m getting into in doing so.
What if you want a Tesla and you DO have the money available for one right now? Great! If it makes sense in your budget to get on right now, then that is an available option to you, with little “extra work” you have to put in (and acknowledging yourself for saving as much as you have to afford one on the spot)!
A different (hypothetical) example… let’s say you’re currently 200 pounds and want to get to 150 pounds. (Great, we have a clear metric to understand the change we’re looking for).
Next, we figure out how long that process will take and what things you need to commit to to get there. Studies show that the most sustainable rate of weight loss is 0.5-1.5 pounds lost per week. So, simply from that data, we’re looking at about 50 weeks of effort. Let’s call that a year.
Question 1: Are you willing to dedicate at least a year to this process?
Yes? Great.
No? You may not actually want that thing.
Okay, let’s pretend you said you’re in for the year. Now, within that year, you’ll work on prioritizing water, protein, fruits and veggies, while monitoring treats and alcohol. This likely means that you’ll have to add things to your routine and habits. You might have to schedule food shopping or prep days. You might have to make 50 weekly food plans for yourself and your family. You might have to pick certain days you’re drinking alcohol. You might have to adjust some of your recipes to include more protein. You might have to cut back (not restrict completely!) some of the treats you enjoy. (Is there more specific information associated with those directions? Yes, of course, this is just an illustration of “willingness.”)
Now, Question 2: Are you willing to dedicate a year to this process and make some or all of the adjustments mentioned above?
Yes? Great.
No? You may not actually want that thing.
Obviously this is just an example. And I am definitely NOT trying to put anyone off from working towards their goals, but I am inviting you to make sure you understand what achieving those goals will take and that you’re ready, willing, and able to put in that effort.
And, certainly working towards your goals is not always as straightforward as that example above. Sometimes our timelines aren’t as clear. Sometimes we have to do some playing around to figure out exactly what pieces to prioritize in the process, but regardless, the REAL WANT and commitment has to be there for it to work.
To go back to the original cliche… you gotta want to drink the water!
What do you think of these perspectives? Agree? Disagree? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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Thanks for reading! I hope you have a great holiday week!
xoxo,
Sara