Fitness Coaching

     In today's age, it seems that you can find a coach for just about anything. There are life coaches, business coaches, coaches to teach you how to use Facebook and the list continues. With that being said, the definition in recent years has become hazy. A coach is someone who teaches, but there job title is not that of a teacher. They are not your boss but at times could be downright bossy. And to be honest, they don't necessarily have to be great at the sport or activity that they coach you in (I can only imagine legendary gymnastic coach Bela Karolyi attempting a split if his life depended on it). The bottom line is this "Great coaches often tell you things you need to hear, not what you want to hear". And most of the time you are probably going to need to do more.

     In theory we can all reach our goals on our own. But when it comes down to it, who doesn't need more tips? Who doesn't want to see better results? Who doesn't want to have a blueprint for success? Who doesn't love learning how to manage energy more efficiently? These were all questions posed to me as I read an article written by fitness pro Todd Durkin. And when you put it that way, it makes it very difficult to answer "I, don't" to any of them. Who in there right mind wouldn't want help? Even great athletes need a coach to help them be the greatest they can be (turn on the French Open and you will see all these tennis players with their coaches by their side). A good coach will help you focus on what matters most. And to all those things that do not matter much: get rid of them! Being a jack-of-all-trades just means that you aren't a master of one. A good coach will help set you up with a routine, and in the world of fitness the answer to these four questions often prove to be the starting point for change: Are you exercising? Are you eating good? What are you reading? Who are you spending your time with? All of these factors influence the decisions you make and could be the determining factors that may be holding you back. So here are my 7 coaching tips for making positive changes:

1. Focus is going to be the key to any success you will have. Eliminate distractions and focus on 5 or 6 important things and get good at it.
2. Do not mistake activity for productivity. Economy of time should be the goal for all things that need to get done on a day-to-day basis. Do not cut corners, but get things done in a timely fashion. Those extra minutes will add up
3. Work out more often. 2-3 workouts a week will not be enough to get it done. At the minimum, add in an additional 1-2 low-intensity workouts on days that you typically would not work out and aim to burn 300-500 calories. As those calories add up over time, you will be trimming down!
4. Clean up your diet. Decrease portions but eat more regularly. Hydrate your body throughout the day. Eat breakfast. Double your protein and vegetable intake. If you are serious about fat loss, ditch the booze! If you still aren't seeing results, keep a food journal and try to find trends that could be preventing you from succeeding!
5. Put an emphasis on strength training. On the days you go to the gym for strength training, make sure you are trying to get stronger. Each day aim to do something that you have never done before. Strength training will increase lean muscle tissue which will have a positive effect on your overall body composition (muscle increases, fat decreases).
6. Set goals and place them everywhere. Write down 3-5 things you want to get done and look at them on a regular basis. Attack each goal with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind!
7. Win the day. Picked this quote up from Drew Brees' memoir and it applies to everything you do in life. Focus on what is in front of you, not what is far off in the distance. If you are worried about the mountain in the distance, you might trip over the molehill right in front of you! 

Details create success. We all get to a certain point in life, whether it is in our job or at the gym, where learning and progress may come to a halt. This is where the small things and attention to detail become the catalyst for positive change. Hope these tips help!

Chris