How do you know if you’re truly ready for an online relationship with a body recomposition coach?
That’s a wonderful question. Let’s talk about it!
Sign #1: You’re finally ready to invest financially.
Oh, this is awkward. We’re talking about money on point number one? Absolutely, and I’ll tell you why.
It’s one thing to say, “Shoot. I’m just not sure I can responsibly spend that money on a body recomposition coach right now,” because that’s a reality of life.
I used to walk by the freshest cuts of Wild Atlantic Salmon at the grocery store and think, “Man, I’d really like to buy those cuts, but I’m not sure we can responsibly afford that right now,” for that very same reason. I just simply couldn’t justify paying for it at the moment, and that was completely understandable.
So, what’s the difference?
Well, I don’t have a strained relationship with the fact that I’m not eating the best cuts of salmon on a weekly basis. If I were walking around on a daily basis cursing my non-salmon dinners of ramen noodles and peanut butter sandwiches while harboring an excessive amount of negative energy toward the lack of salmon in my life, that might be a different story.
What’s my point? If I had wanted the salmon badly enough, I’d have found a way to afford it even if it meant making sacrifices in other areas of my spending.
In short, your spent dollars tend to reflect the nearest and dearest values of your heart, so if you’re not willing to spend a few hundred dollars a month getting fitter instead of fatter, it’s probably a good indication that you’re not ready for an online coaching relationship yet.
Sign #2: Frankly, you’re a little bit pissed off.
You’ve been overweight for years, and you’ve decided that enough is enough.
You’re tired of being that person and being discouraged by the image you see in the mirror.
I even had a client once tell me that they were going on vacation in six months and they were determined not to be the “fat friend” in photos. I will never forget that conversation because it created a renew sense of empathy in me. I couldn’t imagine the shame this person was feeling toward the shape of their body.
Are you sick and tired of being the “fat friend?”
If so, this might be the perfect time to make a powerful investment in yourself.
Now, I’m not saying you have to be angry in order to commit to a successful body recomposition goal, but I am suggesting that you should be experiencing some degree of motivational and emotional restlessness to help you kickstart your endeavor.
If this is you, there’s a very good chance that you’ll be willing to make the lifestyle adjustments necessary to achieve your goal, and a coach might be the perfect fit for you at this time.
Sign #3: Getting a personal coach has been a long time coming and you know it.
You’re probably ready for an online body recomposition coach if you’ve been spinning your wheels aimlessly for years dabbling in all kinds of diets and “training programs.”
You lost 10 pounds on keto, but then you gained 15 back over Christmas. You lost 15 pounds as a vegan and then gained 20 back once you ate a pizza. Now you’re doing intermittent fasting in tandem with Whole 30, but you’re starving like Tom Hanks on a life raft in the middle of the South Pacific.
When will it stop?
To be fair, there’s nothing technically wrong with this. No one is saying you can’t continue experimenting with new dietary patterns and training styles.
But it might be worth admitting that at this point you have no idea what you’re doing when it comes to dieting and training for an improved body composition.
So ask yourself this, “Is anything really going to change if I keep leaving myself in charge of this process? Do I really have the knowledge to do this on my own?”
If the answer is no, you’ve been blessed with an exciting moment of honesty and clarity.
When you’re able to face that reality openly, there’s a good chance you're in an appropriately humble position to hire a fitness and nutrition coach for the next six months to a year.
Sign #4: You’ve stopped asking questions like, “Am I going to have to run?”
Why is this important?
Because if you are still asking questions like this, it exposes the reality that you’re still keen on keeping things as cozy and non-invasive as possible. That sort of mentality generally doesn’t inspire optimal results.
The key to being successful in this process is to approach all things with an open mind and a willingness to learn.
No, you don’t have to run, but why are you not willing to run?
The mindset of someone who is truly ready for an online coaching relationship is one that communicates this: “I am ready to trust my coach to guide me toward my body recomposition goal, and I know for a fact that this will mean remodeling old habits, welcoming new habits, and adapting to any adversity that may present itself along the way.”
You should be asking what you get to do to get the results you’ve always wanted - not immediately hoping to shirk as many unpleasant forms of exercise as possible from day one.
If that’s you, you’re probably ready for an online coaching relationship.
Sign #5: You’re excited about the challenge.
If you’re dreading the idea of becoming the leanest version of yourself you’ve ever been, what are we even doing here?
Save yourself the cash! I mean that sincerely. Life is short and there’s no sense in forcing yourself to be something you don’t want to be.
Your legacy is yours for the forging, and no one is asking you to trade in your muffin top keg for a six-pack if you're happy and healthy just the way you are.
But if you are excited about the idea of seeing your body transform in new and motivating ways, you’re probably in a wonderful position to consider hiring a body recomposition coach.
Sign #6: You want to change your body shape for yourself and no one else.
Yikes, this one cuts to the core! But, how true is it?
If you’re considering hiring a body recomposition coach because you want to look hot for Justin Bobby at the pool this summer, you’re essentially looking to hop in a dune buggy at 100mph headed for the edge of a cliff.
Devastation awaits.
Why?
Because I’ve found that the only meaningful and lasting results in body recomposition are the ones that are pursued and accomplished in a spirit of self-respect and love.
Cliché? Probably. But I’ve found that some of the most cliché things in life turn out to be true.
So, if you want to get lean or jacked, do it for yourself - not to impress a person or earn a meaningless badge of cultural approval.
If you’re in this for yourself - or even selflessly for others in the sense that you know your current body weight is putting you at risk of early mortality - then hiring a coach might legitimately be one of the best decisions you have ever made.
As always, I really enjoyed writing this article, so if you found it helpful, do me a favor and send it to a friend.
Although I no longer run my own body recomposition business, I have joined forces with The Vegan Gym, where you can apply to work with me directly.
Until next time,
-Andrew
