Episode 4: Nutrition Coaching and Behavior Change with Two-Time Olympian Sheena Lawrick
Here’s the secret about weight loss diets and 30-day challenges that no one will tell you:
If you’re going to change yourself on the outside, you need to change yourself on the inside first.
This means habits, behaviors, mindset, self-talk, and yes, even your identity.
Don’t think that dropping X amount of weight is going to magically fix everything else that’s going on in your life. That is a sure-fire way to stay stuck on a hamster wheel of frustration.
Everyone likes to talk about and show off what they’ve accomplished in those 30 days and how much weight they’ve lost. But what no one talks about is what happens on day 31 or 32, 33…you get the point.
Today my conversation with Sheena Lawrick covers all of that: the pitfalls of quick fixes, what behavior change really entails, and how long of a process it really is.
Sheena is a lifelong athlete and a two time Canadian Olympian. Her passion has always been directed towards getting the most out of her body, she's had a series of life changing experiences that range from competing at the highest levels of softball, competitive CrossFit, to becoming a mother for the first time and now expecting her second child.
All of this has allowed her to learn the value of being able to adapt to the changes that life throws her way. Sheena believes that there is no one right diet and that each person is unique in their nutritional needs. She values the connection and relationship that she creates with each client, and she teaches positivity patients at a trust the process mentality.
Here’s a brief overview of the episode:
[02:19] Sheena’s background as a female athlete and her transition into coaching
[07:10] Beyond the Box Nutrition and their approach to working with clients when it comes to nutrition and lifestyle changes
[12:42] The role of mindset in health and nutrition coaching
[22:06] Identity statements and how Sheena applies principles from the book Atomic Habits to her nutrition clients
[32:52] Embodying our new identities and Amy Cuddy’s research on body language
[35:14] Starting with the simplest of actions in order to make big life changes
[43:53] Changing your behavior is hard, so stop beating yourself up about it!
[53:35] 30-Day Challenges, 75 Hard, and what Bridget and Sheena would do differently if they were going to run a nutrition challenge at a gym today
[71:25] Nutrition coaching for athletes and how they compare to lifestyle clients
[78:07] Final thoughts around identity statements and how they’re meant to evolve with our lives
