Judgement Free Coaching

I recently had the honor of attending a party with a client and friend of mine.  We were hanging out by the water chatting and she was smoking a cigarette when someone I knew came by. Introductions were made and my client proudly announced that I was her trainer and then proceeded to chat with someone else.  My other friend leaned in and asked "You let your clients smoke?" I was a little taken aback at first because I honestly hadn't given a second thought to her smoking. We were out having a good time completely separate from the gym but even so, it isn't my job to stop my clients' actions and it certainly isn't my job to judge them.  I told my friend as much and carried on with my evening.

I take issue with this guy's comments for two reasons. First of all, he assumes that I expect my clients to act perfectly.  This is most certainly not the case. In fact I spend much of my time helping them face their own perfectionism. I've experienced it with myself and my clients, when our actions don't match our very high expectations we give up and fall prey to the infamous "Fuck Its".  One "bad" meal can lead to days if not weeks of overeating before we finally pull up our big girl leggings and get back "on the wagon".  Also, unless you're a professional athlete or bodybuilder and physique/performance are your main goals, no one really wants to be perfect all of the time, it sucks.  I work with my clients to fit fitness and healthy nutrition in to their lives, ideally without making huge sacrifices or unsustainable changes.

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My friend/client and I dressed as Wilma Flintsone and Betty Rubble: The Real Housewives of Bedrock

​The second thing that bothered me was the idea that I would judge my clients. We are our own worst critics, we don't need to pay someone to judge us more.  I don't judge my friend for smoking, and I know that she's made a ton of progress over the past few months, consistently exercising for the first time in a while. She's proud of her efforts and so am I.  I remember when I first began training I would cringe when people sat on the recumbent bike peddling slowly as they read a magazine. I'm not going to lie, I judged. What's the point, they're barely even moving? One day a woman shared with me that she figured peddling and reading was better than sitting at home, reading and snacking.  It opened my mind and forced me to assess my own notions of what exercise should be.  You're moving, you're enjoying yourself, great!  I've been coaching for almost a decade and I've learned that people approach things at their own pace. They may start with the gym and not be ready to look at nutrition right away. I'm there with my hands out to give them a boost when their ready to make that step, I don't push them into it.

People have preconceived notions of what a personal trainer does and how they coach. 

If you're my client I am here to:

-  Meet you where you are at
- Listen to your concerns and struggles without minimizing them
- Help you come up with solutions to your problems
- Know what your day looks like and what realistic expectations will look like
- Celebrate your victories with you because sometimes people in your life won't understand how exciting those achievements can be

I'm NOT here to:
- Make you feel judged
- Put you down
- Tell you what to do
- Write strict meal plans
- Lecture you

If that sounds like the kind of coaching you could get on board with, take a minute and fill out this BRIEF application for my 1:1 coaching program.  I have 2 spots available for clients looking for simple, sane and supportive nutrition and fitness coaching.  Feel free to contact me with any questions and I'm happy to jump on the phone and chat about any struggles your having.