When COVID hit and her gym closed in the spring of 2020, Christina Relke initially thought she’d just been given a vacation. She happily reacquainted herself with her couch, the remote, and everything Netflix had to offer. “I thought I’d just go home, figure things out, and then go back to work,” says Relke, BA, CPTN, PN2, FMS, a Mississauga, Ontario-based personal trainer and nutrition coach. But two weeks became four, then six. With her savings dwindling and the virus proving anything but predictable, Relke pivoted—to launching an online coaching business. She faced a series of obstacles. Fear nagged at her. The increased foot traffic of the gym had brought clients to Relke, somewhat effortlessly. Outside of the gym, how would she get the word out? Could she even train people online? How would she correct someone’s form or pick up on a clients’ nonverbal cues… through a computer screen? And could she teach herself a range of new skills—say video production or social media marketing—in mere weeks? Despite those challenges, over the course of just a few months, Relke built a solid business. Given that so many nutrition coaches and personal trainers are facing the same challenges, we wanted to know more. So we asked Relke:
If you’re exploring nutrition coaching as a career, her answers might help you determine if a nutrition certification is right for you. And if you’re already coaching, Relke’s experiences and advice could give you lots of ideas for growing your business. Why did you become a certified nutrition coach?As a certified personal trainer at a gym, one problem kept dogging Relke. “People had the perception that I was a one-stop shop,” she says. Sure, they posed questions one might expect:
But they also voiced lots of other concerns, especially about food. “I felt uncomfortable answering their nutrition questions,” Relke says. “I realized I was out of my scope.” Initially, Relke thought the only solution was to go back to school, study nutrition, and complete the internship, exams, and licensure to become a registered dietitian. But then she connected with a former classmate who suggested she look into a nutrition coaching certification. Why did you choose Precision Nutrition as your nutrition certification program?The former classmate that we mentioned above? He was Jeremy Fernandes, PN2, a coach at Precision Nutrition. “He’s someone I respect,” says Relke. Fernandes explained that, as a nutrition coach, Relke wouldn’t be able to offer medical nutrition therapy or give people meal plans, as registered dietitians did. But she would be able to have the conversations she wanted to have with her clients. (For more about what nutrition coaches can and can’t say, read “Can coaches give nutrition advice?”) Plus, back in university, Relke’s focus was psychology. “The PN Certification will help you to apply what you learned for your degree,” Fernandes pointed out. “I’m a sucker for figuring out why people do the things they do,” says Relke. As soon as Fernandes explained Precision Nutrition’s heavy emphasis on change psychology, she was sold. How did getting the nutrition certification impact your career and life? How did your income change?After earning her Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification in 2017 and PN Level 2 Certification in 2018, Relke changed how she worked with clients. “Not only did those certifications improve my confidence, they added credibility to everything I said between sets, especially in relation to food and nutrition,” she says. The two certifications also helped her do something powerful: Explain complicated nutrition and exercise topics in a way folks could quickly grasp. As a result, more clients requested her and told other people about her, allowing her roster to grow. And grow. And grow. Her ability to explain complex topics eventually earned her a promotion at the gym where she worked—to metabolic specialist, a managerial position that came with a team to oversee and a pay bump. (To learn how much of a pay boost tends to come with a new nutrition certification, read: How much should you charge?) “I don’t think I would have gotten the position had it not been for the nutrition certification—and I can say that confidently,” Relke says. “Not only could I administer metabolic testing, but I could explain the results to clients in a way they could understand.” Then March 2020 came—along with COVID. Her gym closed, and Relke was furloughed. How did your nutrition coaching certification help you rebuild your career after COVID?Relke now faced a daunting goal: Build on online business from zero clients to somewhere between 25 to 30 regulars. Thankfully, she had access to a huge group of helpers: Her Precision Nutrition Certification gave her lifetime access to a Facebook community of more than 45,000 nutrition coaches (and counting), many of whom have experience with online coaching. Based on what she learned, she decided to build her business using the following steps, which you could try to. Step 1: Understand your superpower.Remember earlier when Relke mentioned she was “a sucker for figuring out why people do the things that they do”? That deep curiosity drove her to lean into her background in psychology and behavior change. She decided to create a coaching business focused on individually-tailored programs—paying as much attention to clients’ emotions and behaviors as to their form, reps, and sets. “That’s my biggest strength,” she says. Step 2: Define your ideal client.Rather than throwing a big net and working with anyone who surfaced, Relke decided to specifically zero in on people with simple goals, such as feeling and looking better. At Precision Nutrition, we call these Level 1 clients. They’re people who need support with the fundamentals, such as eating without distractions, getting enough sleep, or consuming more veggies and other whole foods consistently. (To learn more, check out Food Secrets That Change Lives, our essential guide to helping anyone eat better.) If you’re thinking that describes just about everyone, you’re right. Level 1 clients make up about 90 percent of the population. Step 3: Plan and build the business.Relke found software that allowed her to host video chats, on-demand workouts, and more. Then she nailed down the services she would offer, how she would offer them, what she thought they were worth, and how she would market them. Step 4: Learn from others.At the gym, Relke had mostly trained, coached, and mentored staff. Now, she suddenly felt like she needed to become an expert in a wide range of topics: marketing, business development, and the list goes on. So she studied successful companies (including Precision Nutrition), connected with top online coaches, and signed up for a number of virtual workshops and seminars. You can study the “PN business formula,” too, with our FREE 5-day course: How to Succeed in Health and Fitness. (It was created by our co-founder, Dr. John Berardi.) Step 5: Tell the world.In August 2020, with her business plan, website, and social profiles in place, Relke started advertising online. After about eight weeks, she’d already racked up 20 clients—two thirds of the way to her goal. What kind of health and fitness work are you doing now, as an online coach?Relke offers virtual nutrition coaching and personal training, working with clients one-on-one as well as in groups. She occasionally partners with chefs, registered dietitians, and other professionals to offer group seminars and challenges. Her clients include a wide range of people, such as:
Though her clients vary in age, profession, and surrounding circumstances, one thing links them all together: They’re learning to adjust—to home workouts, 24-7 parenting, home schooling, uncertainty, upheaval, and a slew of other new stressors. How does online nutrition coaching compare to coaching in a gym setting?In the gym, Relke loved working closely with clients. “I like getting in there, poking and prodding,” she says. Not only did the close, personal interaction help Relke correct form, it also allowed her pick up on subtle body language cues. A blank expression might reveal that a client wasn’t into high-intensity workouts, for example. Another plus: She didn’t have to put much effort into marketing. It seemed like every time she taught a Pilates class, her personal training roster grew. Relke saw as many as 10 clients a day, taught classes, and ran nutrition seminars. On top of that, in a typical week, she spent up to 7 hours in meetings or organizing professional development opportunities for her staff. “I often found myself scheduled back-to-back, so finding half an hour to catch my breath was rare,” she says. Like many gym-based fitness professionals, Relke worked a range of hours—some shifts starting at 7 a.m. and lasting until 9 p.m., with a several hour break in the afternoon. During that break, she went home to walk her dog, answer work emails, or nap. “You would think that I’d want to work out during that time but I was averaging three to five hours of sleep at night,” she says. “I was just so tired that I wanted to sleep.” (If you’re feeling the same way, read: How to transform your sleep.) The pace left her drained, something she didn’t fully comprehend until after the gym closed. With online coaching, Relke’s in control of her schedule. By keeping her client roster below 30, she’s able to cap sessions at 4 to 6 per day. This opens up time for other tasks, such as continuing education as well as dog walking, reading, and exercise. “I was nervous about switching from in-person training to an online business,” Relke says. “I worried my quality of work would suffer. I thought I needed to be next to people as they were working out. Now I’m seeing that they don’t need me to hold their hands. That allows me to have lengthier discussions and to maintain personalized programming.” A Typical Day of Online Coaching7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Relke schedules this time for herself. She takes her husky, Jenney, for a long walk, has breakfast, reads or watches videos, meditates, and stretches. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Relke reserves this time for backend business tasks, which include:
11 a.m. to Noon She has a leisurely lunch and takes Jenney for walk #2. 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. During the afternoon, Relke meets with clients virtually, either one-on-one or as a group. Though each client meeting lasts 30 minutes, Relke books clients an hour apart. That gives her a cushion, so it’s no biggie if a client meeting runs long. The 30 minutes of unscheduled time also allows her to complete any needed post-session tasks, like sending follow-up materials or tinkering with client programs. Plus she can take a breather, if needed, as well as prepare for the next session. 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Now it’s time for walk #3 with Jenney, which serves as Relke’s warm up for her own strength training or mat Pilates session. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Relke spends this time following up with clients, building her social media presence, reading and filing intake forms, answering messages, and building client programs. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. If she’s not running a virtual seminar or group workout, it’s dinner and relaxation time with her boyfriend and Jenney. 10-10:30 What’s your favorite part?In a word: autonomy. “There’s a freedom to running my own business,” she says. “I love being an entrepreneur and being able to assert myself and coach in a way that resonates with my values.” A big part of those values: coaching holistically. Holistic coaching involves taking the whole person into account, homing in on the decisions behind their food and lifestyle choices, and tailoring practices to their individual needs. In addition to talking to clients about food and recipes, for example, Relke highlights other topics, ranging from sleep to stress to relationships and more. This whole-person approach allows Relke to blend her undergraduate degree in psychology with her post-college certification studies in nutrition and fitness. “Holistic thinking is part of who I am as a professional,” she says. What’s your advice for folks hoping to get certified and break into online nutrition coaching?Earlier in this story, Relke outlined the five steps she followed to go from zero online clients to 20 in just a couple of months. Beyond that five-step formula, however, Relke has, time and time again, based her business decisions on one driving force: What gets her out of bed in the morning. For Relke, excitement comes from understanding her clients and helping them achieve real, lasting change. For you, meaning might come from somewhere else—and that’s okay. The point: Know what drives you, and use that knowledge to figure out whether a coaching program is a good fit as well as how to set up your business once you’re certified. Relke’s second piece of advice: Clients need much more than a program to follow, especially right now. Many are homeschooling their kids—but don’t want to. They’re working at home, with lots of distractions. They’re exercising at home, with minimal equipment, and often with children and pets interrupting their every move. Cookies, chips, and other highly palatable convenience foods have crept back into their lives. (Learn more: How to deal with problem foods.) They’re often stressed, tired, and frustrated. “Try to understand why they make the choices they do,” she says. “People want someone who is real, who can address what is specifically challenging about these times,” she says. ++ In the beginning, Relke’s jump to online coaching was an act of self preservation, a temporary stopgap. But now she sees it differently. When the pandemic ends and life returns to normal, Relke now has options. With a thriving virtual business, she doesn’t have to go back to a full-time gym atmosphere. She could keep doing what she’s doing right now. “Even if I were to go back, I could continue to coach people outside of my district or who aren’t comfortable returning to a gym setting,” Relke says. “I’ve created something that I can sustain.” If you’re a coach, or you want to be…Learning how to coach clients, patients, friends, or family members through healthy eating and lifestyle changes—in a way that’s personalized for their unique body, preferences, and circumstances—is both an art and a science. If you’d like to learn more about both, consider the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification. The next group kicks off shortly. The post Precision Nutrition Certification Grads: Spotlight on Christina Relke appeared first on Precision Nutrition. from https://ift.tt/36udIn5 Check out https://peterlegyel.wordpress.com/
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The advice and tools you need to help anyone eat healthier, get the results they want, and enjoy the foods they love (100% guilt-free). The post Course | Food Secrets That Change Lives appeared first on Precision Nutrition. from https://ift.tt/2HOgs6s Check out https://peterlegyel.wordpress.com/ Are you body-shaming clients? How even well-intentioned coaches can be guilty of size-bias.10/26/2020 As Lili finished her workout, it felt like everyone was staring at her.Because they were. It took her longer to complete the group session than everyone else, and the coach made a point of having the whole class stick around and encourage her. Afterward, the coach and classmates approached Lili to say: “It’s really great that you’re exercising. Good for you.” She understood everyone was trying to be inclusive and nice. But, deep down, Lili also knew she was being singled out for her 300-pound frame. It made her feel incredibly self-conscious. So she never went back. Ranjan had a similar experience. He struggled with binge eating, and felt ashamed when his coach said, “It’s not that hard to avoid fast food,” and “Unless you’re about to run a marathon, there’s no reason to ever eat a bagel.” He quit two weeks into a 12-week group diet challenge—even though he’d already paid in full. Angele ghosted her coach, too, after months of great progress. She’d originally signed up to feel stronger and more in control of her body. And though her trainer knew weight loss wasn’t her goal, his compliment about how fit she looked was met with a blank stare. Turns out, Angele was struggling with the trauma of an assault that happened years before. Comments about her body were majorly triggering. These coaching scenarios? They’re all inspired by real client stories. The coaches who made these mistakes never knew what went wrong. Or how much pain they’d inadvertently caused. But the underlying reason for each is the same:Many health and fitness professionals tend to focus too much on weight loss and body size.If reading that made you feel like putting your fist through the screen, hear us out: We’re not suggesting that helping clients lose weight is wrong. Many of your clients WILL absolutely want to lose weight, for various reasons. But there’s a difference between helping clients who come to you for weight loss and assuming all clients want to lose weight. This is especially important to understand if you work with clients in larger bodies—many of whom may not want to lose weight right now, or ever. Here’s the most important thing to know: Regardless of whether a client wants to lose weight or not, the way you talk about weight, body image, and fat loss can make or break the coach-client relationship. It affects how freely clients share information—and ultimately whether they’re able to succeed. This is particularly true with clients who:
(FYI: It’s pretty likely that many of your clients will fall into one, if not both, of these categories.) In this article you’ll find:
(Note: This article isn’t intended to “fix” complex issues like weight stigma. But it can help you avoid reinforcing harmful ideas about weight, weight loss, and what health truly means.) +++ 5 ways to respectfully support all clients—no matter what kind of body they’re in.It’s not a coach’s job to tell a client how their body should be. Here at Precision Nutrition, we believe all clients:
Okay, so what does that look like in practice? We’ll show you. Are we talking about body positivity here?Sorta. But also, not really. Originally, the body positivity movement was a safe space for people in the most marginalized bodies—people who are treated as “other” for how their bodies looked. These days, you might associate the term “body positive” with Instagram photos of people highlighting their cellulite, stretch marks, and stomach rolls. Ironically, these types of posts have become especially popular among people in relatively fit, conventionally-attractive bodies. In other words, the movement has been co-opted by the mainstream. That’s why some of today’s activists, particularly ones within the nutrition and fitness world, use terms like body liberation, body neutrality, and anti-diet instead. If you want to learn more about weight stigma/bias movements like Health at Every Size, how fatphobia is intertwined with other “isms” like racism or ableism, and other related topics, you’ll find boxes throughout this article that provide further resources to explore. #1: Give every client the blank slate treatment.See if you can spot what goes wrong in this coach-client interaction. Martha is a 48-year-old woman. She’s always lived in a larger body. In the past year, she’s struggled with chronic back pain. She thinks making some changes to her exercise and nutrition habits might help, so she contacts a coach she found on Facebook. In the initial consultation, Martha introduces herself in her customarily lively, outgoing way. The coach says:
Martha’s utterly deflated. This coach won’t be hearing from her again. Why? Two big problems:
What the coach in this scenario didn’t know was that Martha has struggled with her weight for what feels like her whole life. She’s often felt too big, too bulky, too awkward in her body. Now in her late 40s, she’s starting to feel at peace with herself. After all, this body has been home for nearly five decades. So when Martha hears what this coach has to say? She feels those old emotions creeping back. She’s frustrated, angry, and fed-up with people—like this young, genetically-predisposed-to-be-fit coach—assuming she can’t possibly be happy with her body. This isn’t just a rookie coaching mistake, by the way. Experienced coaches do stuff like this, too. Thanks to our cultural conditioning, many of us have hidden biases in this area. So it’s important to be conscious of not equating:
Because when you’re fine with your weight but someone assumes you’re not… or they imply you shouldn’t be… it stings. Even the most confident people will likely feel a pang of, ‘Wait, is my body okay? Am I okay?!’ Or even: ‘I was right. This fitness stuff just isn’t for me.’ The takeaway: Don’t assume your clients want to lose weight. Check your assumptions. Consider what you don’t know about your clients, and how you might learn more about them. Wait for them to tell you what they want. Otherwise, you risk damaging your relationship—and causing your client pain—before you even get started. Why is fat activism a thing?… and why should you care about it as a coach? People in smaller bodies are often shocked to learn what life can be like for people in larger bodies. For instance, one client in a larger body told us that if she appears to be buying “junk” food for herself at the grocery store, she braces herself for comments from the cashier, other people waiting in line, and even people passing her in the freezer aisle. And those comments? They can range from “are you sure you want to buy that?” to “better not buy that ice cream, fatty.” If you’re a straight-size person reading this—that is, a person who can walk into any store and find clothes that fit—you may be shocked to learn this ACTUALLY HAPPENS. Imagine not being able to buy your stinking ice cream in peace. Now imagine that’s the least of the prejudice you experience on a daily basis. (Especially if you’re also white, cisgender, and heterosexual—so you’re really not used to it.) And if you’re in a larger body—or ever have been—you might be thinking ‘Do people really not know this happens?!’ People in larger bodies are discriminated against all the freaking time. We know this from real-life experiences and research. For example, people in larger bodies are more likely to:
These are just some of the disadvantages people in larger bodies experience. And for Black and brown people—especially women—they’re compounded by racism. This is particularly true in the area of health care. 11 12 These problems are part of why body positivity, fat activism, and other related movements exist. But these movements are about more than helping people defend themselves from discrimination and stigma. They’re also about helping people shift from feeling ashamed—and like they’ll never fit in—to feeling actively proud of their bodies. Not in spite of being big. But because they’re big. If fat activism’s existence doesn’t quite add up to you, consider this: What if no matter how you feel about yourself, society tells you there’s something wrong with your body and it’s all your fault? In this situation, reclaiming the narrative for yourself is one of the most powerful things you can do. Learn more: Body positivity and fat activism
Learn more: Health at Every Size and the Anti-Diet movementHealth at Every Size and the anti-diet movement both reject the idea that purposeful weight loss is healthy, and that weight and BMI are reliable indicators of health. Both communities advocate for only making changes to your diet, exercise routine, and lifestyle based on preference and quality of life improvements that aren’t related to weight.
#2. Dig deeper—even when a client’s goal is as simple as “I want to lose weight.”About half of Americans say they want to lose weight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 13 (And that trend is likely to translate to other similar cultures.) There’s also this: Some clients say they want to lose weight simply because they feel that’s the only societally acceptable option for their body. Or because they’re living in a culture that tells them losing weight will automatically make them happier and healthier. Plus, clients often have important secondary goals, in addition to weight loss. For instance, our Precision Nutrition Coaching clients are almost always interested in fat loss. But that’s not all they’re after. On a 1 to 10 scale, clients commonly rank the following as a 9 or higher:
Over time, these goals may become more important than weight loss. Talk with your clients to clarify their goals and motivations so:
The following strategies will help you do just that. Present a variety of goals that are all treated as equally valid.One way PN Master Coach Kate Solovieva normalizes all types of body goals: giving clients options. For instance, whether she’s working with a 75-year-old woman or a 25-year-old man, Solovieva might ask: “What are you hoping to achieve through coaching? Do you want to gain weight, lose weight, feel stronger, move without pain, love how you look naked?” By letting your clients know they have lots of different choices, they’re more likely to feel safe telling you what they really want. You might even open their eyes to the fact that weight loss isn’t their only way forward. Ask this secret-weapon question.Here’s a powerful coaching question for any client who wants to lose weight, courtesy of Precision Nutrition’s Director of Curriculum, Krista Scott Dixon, PhD: “What else is going on for you right now?” Just ask it, and let your client talk. Why? “Being ‘on a diet’ is an A+ way to avoid all the other crap in your life,” says Dr. Scott-Dixon. Sometimes when people realize they don’t have anything to fill the void, they decide going on a diet will help them feel better and more fulfilled. Your client might reveal that they’re going through a divorce, dealing with a sick parent, or feeling unhappy in their job. Losing weight won’t fix those problems. This is why it’s a good idea to… Always ask why.We often use an exercise called The 5 Whys with our clients. It starts with a simple question: “Why do I want to change my eating and exercise habits?”
Then, whatever answer your client comes up with, ask why again. And so on, five times, until you get to the heart of what’s really behind their goal. You can use this worksheet to get started. This exercise helps clients move past motivations that focus on comparing themselves to others. Sometimes, when people can’t come up with a compelling deeper reason to lose weight, they realize weight loss might not be what they’re really after. (And sometimes it IS weight loss. That’s okay, too.) #3. Understand that body image exists on a spectrum.“If you work with clients enough, you know that almost everyone has some kind of body angst. It doesn’t matter what shape they have,” says Dr. Scott-Dixon. As a coach, you can help people develop more productive, deep-health promoting experiences of themselves in their bodies. Why should you care? “We know objectively that the more you hate yourself, the worse your life is,” Dr. Scott-Dixon says. Struggling with body image:
Many people believe that criticizing themselves will help them excel at changing their habits and living better, healthier lives. But constant self-criticism and being “down” on yourself can make it much, much harder to adopt healthy habits. For example, clients in larger bodies who also struggle with body image sometimes tell us they don’t feel comfortable entering gyms and other fitness or wellness spaces. Often, it’s because they don’t feel these spaces are meant for people who look like them. While it’s true some gyms aren’t particularly welcoming to people of all body sizes, improving body image can make finding a supportive fitness space and developing regular exercise habits feel much more manageable. How to respond to body negativityChances are, you’ve heard a client say something like:
What can you possibly say to make someone feel better? According to Precision Nutrition Super Coach Lisanne Thomas, the most impactful thing you can do is ask productive questions. You might frame it like this: “Can I ask you a question about that?” If they say yes, proceed with something like…
OR
These questions can help people recognize just how unkind they’re being to themselves. In a recent Facebook Live, Chrissy King, a writer, speaker, powerlifter, and strength and fitness coach shared her strategy for challenging what our bodies are “supposed” to look like. When faced with a comment like, “My stomach rolls are so gross,” question what exactly makes them gross, and what standard you’re measuring against. “This doesn’t come from a place of judgement or shame,” said King. “There are no right or wrong answers. It’s just that we’re taking the time to really think through it. When we really sit with our feelings, underlying a lot of these things aren’t our own personal beliefs. These are things we are taught. These are things that we see societally.” So it may be worth asking:
People may find that their answers surprise them. Of course, you can’t just snap your fingers and decide to love your body. So think about body image on a spectrum. On one end: Body negativity, or actively disliking your body. On the other end: self-love. And body neutrality, or “meh,” as we like to refer to it? Somewhere in between. Here’s the thing: We might exist on multiple parts of the spectrum at once. Human beings are complex, and body dissatisfaction and positive body image aren’t direct opposites of each other. 21
But the goal is to nudge ourselves up the continuum, so we’re spending more time in the body neutrality and self-love sections than before. The bottom line: You can’t make a client love their body. But you can refrain from adding more negativity to someone’s baggage. And remember, complete body positivity and absolute self-love aren’t necessarily the goal. “For many people, getting to ‘meh’ is actually a pretty good goal,” says Dr. Scott-Dixon. Self-love resourcesPrecision Nutrition Super Coach Lisanne Thomas often talks about self-love with her clients. “My role as a coach is to help a client love and care for their body and do with it what they want,” she says. While conversations about self-love can be helpful, sharing articles, videos, books, and more that “speak for themselves” may also help start a productive discussion, or just provide food for thought. Below are some of Coach Lisanne’s favorite resources. #4. Use language as a signal.Here’s another coaching scenario to consider: Your client tells you they ate a pint of ice cream last night. What’s your gut reaction? Think about it. Then read on. As much as possible, avoid saying anything that might make your client feel ashamed, Solovieva recommends. Beware of responses that sound supportive, but are actually criticism, like, “Oh, that’s a bummer. How’d you get so off track?” or even, “No worries! We all slip up from time to time.” “Clients are always listening to see how you talk about things,” Solovieva says. It helps them determine how trustworthy you are with their most difficult feelings and behaviors. This is important in many areas, but especially when it comes to food. That’s why, when faced with a client eating a late-night pint of ice cream, Solovieva starts with: “What flavor was it?!” She might follow it up with any number of questions, like “How are you feeling this morning?” or “Did you enjoy it?” These kinds of open-ended, judgement-free questions help clients feel comfortable talking about what’s really going on in their heads. Normalize all food choices.People aren’t great at remembering or estimating what or how much they’ve eaten. 22 This is often what’s at play when clients say they’re not overeating (or undereating), but still aren’t seeing results. But there could be another reason clients aren’t reporting their food intake accurately: They don’t feel safe doing so. And this can be conscious OR unconscious. Conscious: Your client chooses not tell you about their late-night pint of ice cream because they fear your response—and how it’ll make them feel. Unconscious: They underestimate their food intake because they want to avoid being shamed for eating eight ounces (or thumbs) of cheese instead of the “acceptable” serving size of one. In either case, it’s going to make it hard for you as a coach to see what’s really going on. One way to normalize food choices, according to Solovieva: Openly talk about foods that people may believe are “off limits.” (Friendly reminder: There are no “bad” foods.) For instance, you might ask: “What do you normally eat for lunch at work? Is it more like a salad, or a sandwich, or tacos?” When talking about food planning for the weekend, you might say: “What are you having for dinner Saturday night? My family always has pizza!” From there, you can still encourage clients to make their meals “a little bit better” by adding a side of veggies, or upping the protein content. But normalizing your client’s food choices helps you meet them where they’re at. Skip body-shaming “motivational” language.Many coaches don’t realize certain phrases and cues can make people feel “less than.” Here are some ways coaches might unintentionally be signaling clients that there’s something wrong with their bodies, plus what to say instead. (Note: Many of these cues have been commonly used for what feels like forever. So we’re not criticizing coaches for using them. We’re pointing out why evolving your language will ultimately help your clients—and your coaching.) Model healthy, or at least neutral, body image.You set an example for your clients. In many cases, they look to you for information about what it means to be healthy and fit. So saying you’re going to “shred for summer” probably isn’t the best way to signal to your client that their post-baby body (or whatever kind of body) is completely fine. We’re not saying you need to have it all figured out yourself. In fact, it’s common for coaches to:
Ironically, coaches who have been through their own process of coming to health and fitness after feeling ashamed about their bodies are often the best qualified to really understand what clients go through, Dr. Scott-Dixon points out. That’s a superpower in itself. So if you’re comfortable, it may help to share your own body image journey with clients once you’ve gotten to know them. Showing vulnerability lets clients know they’re not alone. Plus, people are more likely to be open and honest about their challenges when they feel you can relate. No matter where you are on the body negativity to self-love spectrum, be conscious of the language you use. This includes what you say around your clients, in your marketing materials, and in your social media posts. That way, you can ensure you’re not passing any of your own body image struggles onto others—or reinforcing their existing ones. #5. Be trustworthy.Trust is a key element in the coach-client relationship. Here’s the tricky part: “You can’t make clients trust you,” says Precision Nutrition Coach Jon Mills. “You have to be trustworthy.” So how do you do that, exactly? The art of coaching is about being trustworthy for ALL your clients, including those who:
You might be thinking: “I don’t have any clients like that!” or “I don’t really cater to any of those groups.” The truth is that you probably do—even if you don’t realize it. Many disabilities and health issues, like ADHD and diabetes, can be completely invisible from the outside. You won’t necessarily know someone’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or race from looking at them. And just because you don’t currently have clients who outwardly appear different from you in terms of body size, race, gender, or in any other aspect doesn’t mean you can’t coach those clients. What coaches need to know about intersectionalityWe can’t talk about weight stigma and bias without talking about race and intersectionality. Intersectionality is a term coined by law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw. It refers to how social and political categorizations like race, class, and gender interconnect to create both discrimination and privilege. 23 Crenshaw pointed out that when it came to discrimination, the legal system wanted to know, for instance, whether a Black woman was being discriminated against because of her gender OR her race. There wasn’t a framework for understanding how it could be both at the same time. Thus, intersectionality was born. Intersectionality helps us understand that fatphobia and discrimination against racialized, trans, queer, disabled and other marginalized bodies are all deeply intertwined. So it’s great to be a size-inclusive coach. But that also means understanding that multiple aspects of discrimination and marginalization compound each other, and how this effect may impact your clients. Learn more: Racism and fatphobia
Learn more: Developing an intersectional coaching practice
It’s not as hard as you think.Maybe you’re wondering: How can you possibly become an expert in body positive coaching, coaching trans athletes, working with people with disabilities, and anti-racism?! This may come as a relief: You don’t have to be an expert. First, you can turn to plenty of experts for help. Many of these activists have courses, books, and other resources, like the ones listed in the boxes throughout this article. But what’s even more important, Mills says, is this: Clients are experts in their own experiences. Usually, you can learn directly from them. That doesn’t mean it’s their job to educate you. But you can listen to and engage with the lived experience of the person right in front of you, Mills suggests. “Often, it’s not even that they need you to be really involved in their personal experience as their coach. They just need to know that you’re not going to devalue it.” We have work to do.Many of us have hidden biases, body image concerns, and areas where our awareness is lacking. To grow into more inclusive coaches, according to Mills, we first must lose the “fix it” mindset. We won’t solve weight stigma, racism, or any other type of discrimination by changing the equipment in a gym or taking a course. (Though those can be good action steps.) “When we try to fix problems, we’re trying to get a sense of control,” Mills points out. “And to meet people where they’re at, you need to lose that desire to control things and be open and receptive.” And meeting clients where they’re at? That’s what matters most. ReferencesClick here to view the information sources referenced in this article. 1. Products – Data Briefs – Number 313 – July 2018 [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2020 Sep 2]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db313.htm 2. Persky S, Eccleston CP. Medical student bias and care recommendations for an obese versus non-obese virtual patient. Int J Obes. 2011 May;35(5):728–35. 3. Foster GD, Wadden TA, Makris AP, Davidson D, Sanderson RS, Allison DB, et al. Primary care physicians’ attitudes about obesity and its treatment. Obes Res. 2003 Oct;11(10):1168–77. 4. Stone O, Werner P. Israeli dietitians’ professional stigma attached to obese patients. Qual Health Res. 2012 Jun;22(6):768–76. 5. Ferrante JM, Ohman-Strickland P, Hudson SV, Hahn KA, Scott JG, Crabtree BF. Colorectal cancer screening among obese versus non-obese patients in primary care practices. Cancer Detect Prev. 2006 Oct 25;30(5):459–65. 6. Ferrante JM, Fyffe DC, Vega ML, Piasecki AK, Ohman-Strickland PA, Crabtree BF. Family physicians’ barriers to cancer screening in extremely obese patients. Obesity. 2010 Jun;18(6):1153–9. 7. Brown I, Thompson J, Tod A, Jones G. Primary care support for tackling obesity: a qualitative study of the perceptions of obese patients. Br J Gen Pract. 2006 Sep;56(530):666–72. 8. Byrne SK. Healthcare avoidance: a critical review. Holist Nurs Pract. 2008 Sep;22(5):280–92. 9. Flint SW, Čadek M, Codreanu SC, Ivić V, Zomer C, Gomoiu A. Obesity Discrimination in the Recruitment Process: “You’re Not Hired!” Front Psychol. 2016 May 3;7:647. 10. Puhl R, Brownell KD. Bias, discrimination, and obesity. Obes Res. 2001 Dec;9(12):788–805. 11. Sabin JA, Greenwald AG. The influence of implicit bias on treatment recommendations for 4 common pediatric conditions: pain, urinary tract infection, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and asthma. Am J Public Health. 2012 May;102(5):988–95. 12. Cooper LA, Roter DL, Carson KA, Beach MC, Sabin JA, Greenwald AG, et al. The associations of clinicians’ implicit attitudes about race with medical visit communication and patient ratings of interpersonal care. Am J Public Health. 2012 May;102(5):979–87. 13. Emmer C, Bosnjak M, Mata J. The association between weight stigma and mental health: A meta‐analysis. Obes Rev. 2020 Jan 10;21(1):68. 14. Fortman T. The Effects of Body Image on Self-Efficacy, Self Esteem, and Academic Achievement. 2006 Jun 1 [cited 2020 Sep 2] 15. Cash TF, Deagle EA 3rd. The nature and extent of body-image disturbances in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa: a meta-analysis. Int J Eat Disord. 1997 Sep;22(2):107–25. 16. Markey CN, Markey PM. Relations Between Body Image and Dieting Behaviors: An Examination of Gender Differences. Sex Roles. 2005 Oct 1;53(7):519–30. 17. van den Brink F, Vollmann M, Smeets MAM, Hessen DJ, Woertman L. Relationships between body image, sexual satisfaction, and relationship quality in romantic couples. J Fam Psychol. 2018 Jun;32(4):466–74. 18. Wilson RE, Latner JD, Hayashi K. More than just body weight: the role of body image in psychological and physical functioning. Body Image. 2013 Sep;10(4):644–7. 19. Markland D. The mediating role of behavioural regulations in the relationship between perceived body size discrepancies and physical activity among adult women. Hellenic Journal of Psychology. 2009;6(2):169–82. 20. Sarwer DB, Thompson JK, Cash TF. Body image and obesity in adulthood. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2005 Mar;28(1):69–87, viii. 21. Tylka TL, Wood-Barcalow NL. What is and what is not positive body image? Conceptual foundations and construct definition. Body Image. 2015 Jun;14:118–29. 22. Trabulsi, J., Schoeller, D. (2001). Evaluation of dietary assessment instruments against double labeled water, a biomarker of habitual intake. American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, 281(5): E891-E899. 23. Crenshaw KW. Demarginalising the intersection of race and sex: A black feminist critique of anti-discrimination doctrine, feminist theory, and anti-racist politics. Univ Chic Leg Forum. 2011 Jan 1;140:25–42. If you’re a coach, or you want to be…Learning how to coach clients, patients, friends, or family members through healthy eating and lifestyle changes—in a way that’s personalized for their unique body, preferences, and circumstances—is both an art and a science. If you’d like to learn more about both, consider the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification. The next group kicks off shortly. The post Are you body-shaming clients? How even well-intentioned coaches can be guilty of “size-bias.” appeared first on Precision Nutrition. from https://ift.tt/31MxoAW Check out https://peterlegyel.wordpress.com/ “Does anyone else here struggle with imposter syndrome?”Jamie posed her question to the Precision Nutrition Coaches Facebook Group, wondering if other coaches ever felt the same way. “I know I am certified and have the information and skills that I need to coach,” she wrote. “But I have that persistent voice in my head that tells me I’m not qualified enough.” In minutes, Jamie’s post was flooded with responses. The dozens of answers she received amounted to a collective “Yes!” Jamie definitely isn’t alone. And if you feel the same way, neither are you. The good news? For every coach who struggles with imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and insecurity, there’s also one who’s overcome it (or at least learned to effectively manage it.) In this article, we’ll pull back the curtain on imposter syndrome, sharing the stories—and strategies—of coaches who’ve been through it. And we’ll offer helpful advice from our own experts. Then you’ll be on the road to conquering your self-doubt, leveraging your own expertise, and coaching with confidence. (Side note: Yes, we know most dictionaries spell it “impostor.” But because it seems more people use “imposter”—a spelling that’s also considered acceptable—we chose that version.) ++++ In the Precision Nutrition Level 2 Certification, there’s a lesson we call “The Secret.”In this lesson, we ask our students: Do you have a secret angst or worry about coaching? When you think about that secret, what is it like? How does it make you feel? Coaches aren’t required to share their secrets with us, but lots do. And, considering the Level 2 Certification is an advanced Master Class, their answers might surprise you. According to Precision Nutrition Level 2 Master Coach Jason Bonn, “By far the most common response is about imposter syndrome, stemming from not ‘knowing enough’ or not being ‘good enough.’ “Almost everyone falls somewhere on the spectrum of not feeling ‘enough’ in some way,” says Bonn. “Though some feel it much more deeply than others.” (The second most-common secret? Concerns about one’s own body or physique. Read: Am I fit enough to be a trainer?) What is imposter syndrome?Imposter syndrome is the nagging feeling that you’re somehow not good enough to do what you’re doing and that eventually, someone will find out. This often-unfounded yet persistent feeling can interfere with your confidence, mess with your coaching skills, and steal the joy and passion that led you to do this work in the first place. It might even stop you from coaching altogether. How do you overcome imposter syndrome?To find out, we spoke with six PN Certified coaches who’ve been through it themselves, and sought advice from our own top coaching experts. Here are five proven strategies to try. Strategy #1: Be a coach, not an expert.Previously a successful chef, Robbie Elliott made a career transition and became a coach in his mid-30s. But the change came with a ton of anxiety. He feared client questions and positively dreaded having to say the words, “I don’t know.” “When you don’t know the answer to a question, and you’re supposedly the voice of the professional, it can be really deflating,” says Elliott. “There were times early on in my career that I would get things wrong simply because I wasn’t sure, but I really wanted to give an answer.” In time, Elliott learned that “trying to be the person who knows everything is actually really detrimental. Being authentic and honest, and then dedicating yourself to finding the answer is way, way better.” Elliott’s new mantra? “I might not be the perfect coach, but I can be the dedicated coach.” Srividya Gowri had a similar revelation. Once hyper-concerned about being perceived as “The Expert,” Gowri eventually realized that “I don’t need to be the expert. I don’t need to know everything. If my clients are getting the results they want, that’s what matters.” This mental shift relieved Gowri’s imposter syndrome—and changed her coaching style. “I’m not setting huge expectations and saying ‘I’m this perfect coach and I’m going to get you these results,’” she explains. “No, I’m saying ‘We’re going to try things together, and experiment, and see what works for you’. This eases the pressure for both me and my clients.” Put it into actionIn the Precision Nutrition Level 2 Certification program, coaches are taught that while you may be the expert on nutrition, the client is the expert on their experience. Here are a few ways you can put this into practice. 1. Assume nothing.Ask about and confirm every single proposition and assumption you make with a client. Be clear that you’re using a working hypothesis rather than an “expert pronouncement.” For example, you might say, “OK, here’s my take on things. Did I get that right? “Based on my experience, here’s what I’m guessing will work for you, but we may need to test it and see how it turns out.” “It sounds from what you’re saying like _____ might be a good next action?” 2. Be honest if you don’t know something.Saying “I don’t know but let’s find out together” is powerful stuff. If your client’s experience is different than yours, level with them. For example, you might say: “I’m going to be truthful with you. I don’t know much about cancer survivors. But I’ve got a good toolbox of things, and I’m prepared to collaborate with you and do what it takes to become informed. I’m on your team all the way. We’ll work through this together.” 3. Build a referral network.You don’t need to be (nor should you be) the expert on absolutely everything. Building up a referral support network can give you an opportunity to help your clients even when their needs are outside your scope—by referring them to someone who can legitimately help. (Start building your referral roster by clicking the image below to get the downloadable form.) Strategy #2: Gather feedback, intelligently.Feedback—both positive and negative—can be an effective antidote to imposter syndrome. For example, Kay Sylvain had been really hesitant to put her qualifications into action and start coaching clients. But once she did, she found that their positive feedback helped a lot. “Getting positive feedback reminded me that sometimes the way we view ourselves is not necessarily how others view us,” she says. But even negative feedback can be helpful too. “Maybe you do need more time, experience, knowledge, or skills to be the kind of coach you want to be,” says Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon, director of curriculum at Precision Nutrition. “Imposter-syndrome-type anxieties can reflect a completely valid urge towards self-improvement. The problem with anxiety is that it lives in your head, thriving on isolation and shame.” Getting clear on how and where you have room for improvement can ease the anxiety. Take Greg Smith. In his early days as a coach, Smith was terribly worried about coaching “right,” trying to avoid mistakes at all costs. Now, instead of worrying about doing the wrong thing, or not doing enough, he gathers feedback (or “data”) he can use for small, incremental improvement. “When my clients are trying something new, I tell them the worst thing that happens is you learn what didn’t work for you. And then you get data to help you do it better or differently next time. The same is true for ourselves,” he says. According to Robbie Elliot, this “data gathering” approach might be best paired with an added step: data filtering. “I try to be obsessively open to feedback. But if you take every little bit of feedback to heart—including from random people on the internet who don’t know you—you’ll be questioning yourself all the time. Instead, Elliott concentrates on deliberately sourcing feedback from people he trusts. That includes his family, a close group of friends and colleagues, and his PN coaching mentor, Jason Bonn. Elliott takes critical feedback from that group very seriously. “I know their values, and they know mine,” he says. “I trust they will tell me if I need to look at something or do something better. Their feedback keeps me accountable.” Put it into actionIt’s hard to actively solicit feedback, and use it constructively—if you’re deathly afraid of screwing up. To help you become more receptive to feedback, try an approach that we at PN call “feedback, not failure.” First, imagine this. You’re walking on a rocky surface—maybe a beach, or a dry creek bed, or a hiking trail. If you step on a rock, and it shifts, did you fail? No. You just got important information about the next thing to do—try another rock. You got feedback. Instead of treating any mistakes or slip-ups as failures, try to see them as feedback, and approach them with curiosity. For example:
Get rid of the words “good” or “bad” and substitute “interesting” or “useful,” as in: “Well, that’s interesting,” or “That’s useful to know.” With this mindset, you can start to treat all feedback as neutral information that you can use to make decisions—with less fear of failure. Strategy #3: Question your thoughts and assumptions.Have you ever felt like other coaches, practitioners and professionals have more or better qualifications than you? That’s exactly how Heather Lynn Darby used to feel. Earlier in her coaching journey, she compared herself to “other professions that are licensed.” In particular, she worried that nutrition coaching would be seen as “less legitimate” than a registered dietician (RD), doctor, or psychologist. Maybe clients wouldn’t respect her credentials or see the true value she had to offer. Rather than letting her assumptions take over, Heather Lynn practiced some critical thinking. “I asked myself, ‘Why would someone come see me instead of a registered dietician? What’s the unique value I bring that’s different from an RD?‘” She came up with loads of answers: like being able to offer more personal and frequent contact to clients, something clinicians like RDs aren’t always able to provide their clients. “That differentiation helped me discern my unique value and concentrate on that,” she explains. In addition, Heather Lynn challenged her fears by asking: “Is this true?” “The process goes like this: If you’re assuming something negative about yourself or your situation, ask yourself the question: ‘Is that true? Are your achievements fake? Did you or did you not complete those certifications? Was it really just luck that got you where you are now?’” You might discover the answers by reflecting on your past. That’s what Srividya Gowri did. In her early years as a coach, Gowri felt “like a fish out of water. I worried, do I know everything? Do I have the talent and skills to actually help someone who’s so different from me? What if it doesn’t work? Are people going to call me out and say, ‘Hey, you’re fake. Your coaching didn’t work on me?’” To challenge her fears, Gowri took a step back. She reflected on all the changes she’d made in her life, the challenges she’d worked through, and the successes she’d had. This led to a profound lightbulb moment. “When I looked back I realized: You know what, maybe nutrition coaching is new for me, but learning something new is not new. I have learned. I have succeeded. I have been able to do very well. And there’s a lot I’ve overcome with grit and resilience.” Put it into actionWhen uncomfortable thoughts or feelings crop up, try writing them down, says Karin Nordin, PhD(c), behavior change coach and curriculum advisor to Precision Nutrition. “You might find it helpful to explicitly write down: What is it that you think makes you an imposter?” Once your thoughts and assumptions are on the blank page in front of you, consider them critically. “Ask yourself, ‘Do I actually believe that’? From there you can start that metacognitive process to consider and challenge your own thoughts.” As an added step, try taking a page out of Gowri’s book. Make a list of your previous accomplishments and a list of challenges you’ve overcome. How did you make it through those difficult times? What strengths, skills or assets have those experiences given you? By looking back and re-familiarizing yourself with your own history, you might realize you’re more prepared and capable than you thought. Strategy #4: Seek improvement and mastery rather than trying to avoid failures.Do you tend to focus on avoiding mistakes? Or on making improvements? According to Nordin, if you have imposter syndrome, your focus is likely on avoiding mistakes—as opposed to being awesome. “Research suggests that people with imposter syndrome tend to focus on performance-avoidance—trying to avoid mistakes—rather than improvement or mastery,” says Nordin. This can translate to thoughts like, ‘I’m a fraud, I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m afraid of messing up in front of everyone,’ rather than thoughts like, ‘How can I get better at this?’ The solution? Try to shift towards mastery goals (goals focused on improvement), rather than performance-avoidance goals (goals focused on preventing mistakes). For Chaquita Niamke, this was a significant mental shift. Earlier in her career, if Niamke made a mistake with a client, she felt so embarrassed, she didn’t want to show her face. (She even found herself ducking a previous client in the grocery store.) But in time, she became more focused on working towards her bigger goals and the things she needed to do to get there. “I know when I have a plan and a process, the imposter syndrome is not as prevalent,” she says. Niamke also learned to “embrace the road to mastery, with all its lumps and bumps along the way.” “I came to realize the process is the process,” she adds. “You have to go through it in order to be refined.” Put it into actionTo get out of your imposter syndrome mindset, try shifting your focus towards improving the things you want to master, rather than focusing on avoiding the things you’re afraid of. To do this, Nordin suggests a “thought bridge.” “Suppose you think you’re not the best coach right now,” she says. “Rather than saying, ‘I’m not a great coach,’ try telling yourself, ‘I’m not the best coach, but I can get better.’” From there, Nordin recommends focusing on the things you’d like to improve. For example, you might say to yourself: “I really want to master motivational interviewing. So in this client session, I’m going to focus on my motivational interviewing skills.” Or you might say, “I really want to be a compassionate coach. So in this session, I’m going to practice being as compassionate as I can.” These stepping stones can build a path to confidence, while helping your brain think more productively and creatively. “After a while, you might say, ‘Hey, I’m a pretty great coach after all, because I’ve worked really hard at it. And I know I can always get better.” Strategy #5: Put in the reps.There’s no getting around it. Gaining confidence, developing your skills, and feeling solid in who you are and what you offer… these kinds of things take time, effort, and experience. “If you don’t get your reps in, the imposter syndrome just stays there,” says Niamke. “You have to go through it.” Greg Smith agrees. As a young coach, he constantly worried whether he was “doing it right.” But looking back, he now says, “I practiced coaching just like the clients have to practice their eating habits. It doesn’t happen overnight. You need to put in the reps.” But sometimes, it can be really hard to get started. After receiving her PN Level 1 Certification, Kay Sylvain was still hesitant. “I was like, ‘Okay, I passed the test, but I’m not really ready to coach.’” Her imposter syndrome kept telling her to wait. So she got more certifications and more training. “And I still wasn’t doing anything with it. Just hoarding knowledge, reading books. I came to a point where I said to myself, ‘Am I really going to start this or am I just going to keep taking courses?’” Sylvain finally realized that she wouldn’t magically feel confident enough. So she chose to get started anyway. “I said to myself: Either you’re going to do this, or you’re not,” says Sylvain. “After that, I filed all the paperwork, set things up, and finally started my business in the span of a week.” Put it into action“Put in the reps” might seem like obvious advice. But sometimes we forget about it (or don’t take it) because we set unrealistic expectations for ourselves. For a re-set, try this thought experiment from Dr. Scott-Dixon. Suppose a client comes to you. They’re about 25 pounds overweight, especially in their midsection. They tell you they want visible abs. And they want them in one week. You try to reason with them. Explain the physiology. Show them examples of other clients so they can set their expectations accordingly. In turn, your client says, “That’s all well and good for other people. But I’m different. I should be able to get abs in a week.” What would you think? You’d probably be shaking your head (at least on the inside). “If you’re just starting out and expecting to be successful, confident, even perfect overnight, you’re basically asking for ‘abs in a week,’” says Dr. Scott-Dixon. “In other words, you’re not thinking realistically about what it really takes to meet a goal.” Instead of worrying about whether you’re good enough (or not), get clear about your goals, and set a realistic plan to achieve them. To get started, try the PN “Goals to Skills to Practices to Actions” method. (We call this GSPA.) First, take out a piece of paper and write down your goal. Make it as specific and concrete as possible. Then, reverse-engineer what’s required to achieve that goal. Ask yourself:
Clarifying what you want to improve will allow you to make progress, and see concrete, measurable improvement as you go. Bit by bit, progress by progress, rep by rep, you’ll probably stop feeling like an imposter. And you’ll start to see yourself becoming the coach you always wanted to be. If you’re a coach, or you want to be…Learning how to coach clients, patients, friends, or family members through healthy eating and lifestyle changes—in a way that’s personalized for their unique body, preferences, and circumstances—is both an art and a science. If you’d like to learn more about both, consider the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification. The next group kicks off shortly. The post 5 ways to beat imposter syndrome: Health and fitness pros tell you how they did it. appeared first on Precision Nutrition. from https://ift.tt/3m9uuhI Check out https://peterlegyel.wordpress.com/ If you’ve ever (briefly!) thought about duct-taping your kid to a chair while you wedge a forkful of spinach into their mouth, you know the frustration and anxiety many parents experience around kids’ nutrition. “Are they eating enough?” “Are they getting the right nutrients?” “Why won’t they eat anything green??” “Am I failing as a parent???” “WHO’S IN CHARGE HERE ANYWAY?!” We feel you. The good news: It is possible to help kids get the nutrients they need without everything being perfect. Because let’s face it: When does that ever happen? We’ve worked with over 100,000 clients—many of whom are parents and guardians looking to bring more peace to mealtime and more greens to their fridge. Here’s what we tell them: You don’t need to win the Best School Lunch contest, make the world’s healthiest family dinners, or demand your kids eat a heaping plateful of vegetables. Instead, we recommend another approach: Be gently persistent, and take the long view. When kids have some choice and control, a basic understanding of why nutrition matters, and a safe, low-stress environment to try some food experiments… a lot can change. (For the better.) Check out the infographic below for nine ways to help your little ones make healthier food choices on their own. Plus, five recipes that draw on family-favorite foods that most kids will love. No duct tape required. Download the tablet or printer-friendly infographic to share it with friends, family, or (if you’re a coach) clients. Don’t forget to download and save this infographic so you have low-stress strategies for kids’ nutrition when life gets busy. If you’re a coach, or you want to be…Learning how to coach clients, patients, friends, or family members through healthy eating and lifestyle changes—in a way that’s personalized for their unique body, preferences, and circumstances—is both an art and a science. If you’d like to learn more about both, consider the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification. The next group kicks off shortly. The post Level 1: 9 ways to take the anxiety out of nutrition for kids. [Infographic] appeared first on Precision Nutrition. from https://ift.tt/347rFHM Check out https://peterlegyel.wordpress.com/ What do a doctor, dietitian, licensed clinical social worker, side-hustling nutrition coach, and personal trainer all have in common? No, this isn’t the beginning of a terrible joke… The answer: We interviewed people in each of these careers, and they all said getting a nutrition certification was worth it. But is a nutrition certification worth it, for you? In this article, we’ll explore that question. The truth is, a nutrition certification’s worth-it score depends on your situation. To help you weigh all the pros and cons, we put together this comprehensive guide, complete with a free self-assessment tool to help you make the decision for yourself. In this article, you’ll also find:
++++ 5 questions that’ll help you decide if a nutrition certification is worth itFiguring out whether a nutrition certification is worth it can be tricky. In part, because we all define “worth it” differently. For instance, is a nutrition certification worth it if you:
Consider the following questions to define what “worth it” means to you. How to use this quiz to make your decisionEach section below ends with a question. You’ll rank your response on a scale from 0 to 5. (Just click the number on your screen, and your results will automatically populate at the end of the quiz.) Once you’ve answered all five questions, you’ll get a worth it/not worth it result. If you’re not sure how to answer one or more of the 5 questions (or just want to consider it from multiple angles), you’ll find boxes labeled “dig deeper” with prompts for further reflection. Our advice: Keep a journal handy. Jot down your thoughts so you’ll have something to refer to when making your decision. Question #1: Does a nutrition certification fill a gap in your knowledge?A nutrition certification is worth it if it helps you gain key knowledge or skills, according to the coaches we interviewed. Here are a few real-life examples of how a nutrition certification can fill knowledge gaps. The personal trainer who wanted to master nutritionThe release of a massively popular Netflix nutrition documentary, coupled with a resulting deluge of client questions, made personal trainer Tyler Buckingham, PN1, PPSC, realize the full extent of nutrition misinformation. He wanted to better understand the discussion as well as be able to answer client questions with authority. “I was like, okay, it’s time to get certified in nutrition,” says Buckingham, who trains a group of former athletes. Since getting certified, he’s much more adept at answering the nutrition questions clients lob his way—especially tricky ones with no clear answer.
In the end, Buckingham knows his clients are getting answers to their questions, and the actionable advice they need to keep moving forward. The doctor who wanted to give better adviceA family medicine resident and CrossFit Level 1 coach, Kristina Hines, DO, PN1, felt confident talking to patients about exercise. But the few hours of nutrition education she got in medical school just weren’t cutting it. “I didn’t really know what to tell patients nutritionally,” she says. Her patients often had specific questions about how to eat, whether various diets were right for them, and what foods calmed their symptoms. Dr. Hines wanted a deeper level of nutritional understanding, so she decided to pursue a nutrition certification. Thanks to the certification course, Dr. Hines now feels comfortable answering just about any nutrition question patients come up with. The registered dietitian who wanted to learn about behavior changeJennifer Broxterman, MS, RD, was already a dietitian when she got her nutrition certification. But she wanted to learn more about the psychology of behavior change and motivational interviewing. “As a university professor, I like to see different teaching methods and different learning styles,” she says. For her, getting a Precision Nutrition Level 1 certification meant gaining perspective on how behavior change actually works, so she could better implement it with her clients. Will a nutrition certification fill a gap in your knowledge?
already know everything have a major knowledge gap
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Question #2: Will a nutrition certification bring you additional and valuable benefits?People often cite benefits of becoming certified that go beyond their initial reason for doing so, such as:
Below, we’ll cover each of these benefits in detail, so you can decide if they’re worth it for you. Benefit #1: Enhanced credibilityAfter Vivian Gill, MA, RN-BC, CPT, earned her nutrition certification, she noticed something that surprised her: “My credibility increased,” says the registered nurse, personal trainer, and lifestyle coach. “Clients know I’m evidence-based and not biased, and they’ve felt the difference.” Gill saw that lots of other trainers in her community pushed dieting, counting macros, and detoxing. Her nutrition certification helped her realize that a different approach would resonate more with her clients. “I’ve decided to be the voice of reason and grace,” she adds. Benefit #2: More confidenceWhat does Buckingham see as the biggest hidden benefit of getting certified? “Definitely the confidence I have now,” he says. Not long ago, a client came to him wanting to lose weight. During their intake, Buckingham learned the client had already lost several pounds. Clearly, the person was doing a lot right. In the past, Buckingham would have felt pressured to deliver a completely different program—for the sake of it. Thanks to what he learned from his certification, however, he confidently encouraged his client to keep going with some of the same strategies. Buckingham also feels more at ease talking about nutrition’s gray areas. Instead of claiming to know it all, he feels comfortable saying: “Hey, I don’t know the answer to this question, but I’ll find out,” or “Why don’t we see if it works? Then after a week, we can see what happened, and take it from there.” Benefit #3: Improved coaching and communication skillsSome nutrition certification courses, like Precision Nutrition Level 1, include information on the art of coaching as well as nutrition science. In other words, part of the course trains you to talk to your clients more effectively. (Want to see what we mean? Check out our FREE Nutrition Coaching e-course.) Josh Chang, PN1, a dietitian and owner of Mycro Nutrition, says getting a certification was worth it for him because it taught him how to talk to clients about their barriers. “Dietitians are trained to use a little bit of motivational interviewing and empathize with clients, but Precision Nutrition teaches you to take that one or two steps further—to get to know the client and how to dig into why they might be saying what they say or doing what they’re doing.” “A nutrition certification may be worth it if you need a little help strengthening those communication or rapport building skills,” he adds. Benefit #4: Opportunities to learn from peers and experts in the fieldSome nutrition certifications offer Facebook groups, online forums, and even in-person events. These resources provide coaches with a chance to connect with like-minded health professionals, get input from others on challenges and, in some cases, access top experts in the nutrition field. Having a large community of coaches at his fingertips was one of the biggest unexpected benefits for Chang. “Once you enroll in PN Level 1 or 2, you get invited to a Facebook group. I particularly enjoy seeing how different coaches respond when people post questions. Some coaching suggestions are just so out of left field, in a good way. I’m like, ‘I would’ve never thought of that, but it’s brilliant.’” Benefit #5: A healthier relationship with foodJenna Ashby PA-C, PN1, an oncology physician assistant, decided to become a nutrition coach after overcoming disordered eating. Though Ashby primarily uses her nutrition certification in her side job at Breathe CrossFit in Derry, New Hampshire, she also came away from the experience with some personal takeaways. “It helped solidify what I’ve been building upon the last few years, and it helped me find more peace with myself,” says Ashby. “I now know, without a doubt: I can love my body, be okay with my body, and appropriately nourish it.” “That’s huge because I once thought that, if I wanted to eat, I had to exercise, or vice versa. Now, that mentality is reversed: In order to be strong and feel strong I need to nourish myself. The PN certification really solidified that for me,” she says. Will a nutrition certification bring you additional and valuable benefits?
not valuable at all massively valuable
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Question #3: Does a nutrition certification line up with your career goals?A nutrition certification enables you to make nutrition recommendations to otherwise healthy clients. With a nutrition certification, you’ll be qualified to:
These qualifications can be useful in a variety of careers. What are your career opportunities with a nutrition certification?People often wonder if they need to go to (or go back to) a university to get started with a career in nutrition. For certain jobs (such as registered dietitian), you need a specialized degree and training. But there’s also a lot you can do with a nutrition certification alone. Coaches in our community have job titles like:
If you already have additional certifications or degrees (or plan to get them), there may be other career options. Some PN-certified coaches are also:
What are you not qualified to do?It’s important to note that Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)—which involves giving nutrition advice to treat or cure disease—is out of scope unless you’re specifically MNT-accredited. You won’t be qualified to do this with a nutrition certification alone, and you should never try. Depending on where you live, rules and regulations vary on what people with nutrition certifications are allowed to do. For instance, in some states in the US, the only people who can provide meal plans are registered dietitians. But in these states, nutrition coaches can still help people with their eating as long as they’re not telling people exactly what they should and shouldn’t eat. If you take a Precision Nutrition certification, you’ll learn that meal plans, deeming foods “off-limits,” and telling people exactly what to eat aren’t our style anyway. In our nutrition certification, you’ll learn how to get results without using these tactics. Does a nutrition certification line up with your career goals?
don’t line up at all yes, they completely line up
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Question #4: Will a nutrition certification help the clients you work with (or want to work with)?Our grads say a nutrition certification can help you provide a better service to your clients (or potential clients). This service can not only focus on what they eat, but also how they think, feel, and go about their daily routine. (We call this “deep health” coaching.) This allows you to figure out what’s really holding clients back from making the lasting changes they really want. That’s important since many people get a nutrition certification, at least partly, because they want to help people—even if it’s their friends or family members. So it’s worthwhile to consider how getting certified will help the people you work with (or eventually want to work with). For instance, Buckingham now includes nutrition coaching his personal training clients as an added value service. “If you’re meeting me in person, I’ll often say, ‘Hey, let’s talk nutrition. Let’s make sure that you get those questions answered,’” he explains. Getting a nutrition certification may also improve client experiences. “I think it’s made me a better practitioner,” Dr. Hines says. Developing her motivational interviewing skills, she says, helped her approach conversations about nutrition in a way that makes patients feel more at ease.
Lastly, a nutrition certification may help clients get better results. For example, Kelly Lynch, LCSW, EMT, CPT, PN1, a therapist who specializes in treating first responders, began suggesting clients talk to their physicians about blood work and other diagnostic tests, especially when she suspected their mental health symptoms might be related to (or exacerbated by) nutritional deficiencies, GI dysfunction, or hormonal issues. When one of her clients described worsening depression along with digestive issues, Lynch thought of a condition she’d learned about during her certification that could contribute to these symptoms: SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). She encouraged the client to ask their doctor about it. Sure enough, testing revealed Lynch’s hunch was correct, and the client’s depression improved once the SIBO was treated. Will a nutrition certification help your clients?
won’t help at all will help majorly
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Question #5: Will a nutrition certification boost your income potential, or provide other financial benefits?Based on our survey of 1000 nutrition coaches and additional independent research, coaches with a nutrition certification earn slightly more per hour than coaches without one. If you have two to three certifications, you’ll earn an average $12 more per hour than coaches with just one. And coaches with a Precision Nutrition certification earn 11 percent more than people with other certifications. So it’s safe to say that, on average, certified coaches earn more. For Chang, getting a nutrition certification was the impetus to start his own coaching business, getting him out of a hospital nutrition setting and into the driver’s seat of his own career and earning potential. Lynch experienced greater interest in her therapy services after sharing that she’d gotten certified in nutrition. It also helped her launch a coaching side business, providing an additional revenue stream. For some, a nutrition certification might be an avenue to saving money. In addition to enabling her to start a side job as a nutrition coach, Ashby says getting certified meant she no longer felt like she needed to pay for nutrition coaching from someone else. Now, she feels totally confident adjusting her own eating habits. Will a nutrition certification boost your income potential, or provide other financial benefits?
not at all yes, absolutely
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So is a nutrition certification worth it?YOUR TOTAL SCORE: – Now find your score range to see if a nutrition certification is worth it. 20 and above: Yes, a nutrition certification is worth it for you!Based on your answers, it sounds like a nutrition certification will pay off. By getting certified, you’ll level up your:
6 to 19: A nutrition certification might be worth it for you.Based on your answers, it sounds like a nutrition certification will pay off in some ways, but might not in others. The big question for you to consider: Do the likely benefits outweigh the costs? To answer that, take another look at your quiz answers, specifically at the ones where you scored a 4 or 5. Compare the benefits with the cost associated with getting certified. For example, let’s say you ranked high for a certification filling a knowledge gap as well as for it likely bringing in more income. For costs, maybe you already have the money set aside as well as the time to take and pass a course. In that case, you’ll likely decide that a certification is worth it. On the other hand, let’s say you picked 5 for a certification lining up with your career goals. For all of the other questions, you choose a 3 or lower. On top of that, you’d have to borrow money to pay for a certification. And you’re already working two jobs. Oh, and you’ve got a baby on the way. Well, a certification might not be worth it to you—not right now anyway. 5 and under: It doesn’t seem like a nutrition certification is worth it for you.Based on your answers, it’s not clear that you’ll find a nutrition certification to be worth it. That said, there are always exceptions. You might be interested in getting a certification just for your own personal benefit—not for your career. You may not want to work with clients, earn money through nutrition coaching, or change jobs, and that’s totally legit. No matter what you decide, it’s important to have a clear picture of your reasoning. Hopefully, that’s what you’ve gained through this self-assessment. Where to go from hereIf you decide to get a nutrition certification, you have quite a few programs to choose from. For guidance, check out this in-depth article: How to choose the right nutrition certification program for YOU. Learning how to coach clients, patients, friends, or family members through healthy eating and lifestyle changes—in a way that’s personalized for their unique body, preferences, and circumstances—is both an art and a science. If you’d like to learn more about both, consider the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification. The next group kicks off shortly. The post Is a nutrition certification worth it? 5 questions to ask yourself before signing up. appeared first on Precision Nutrition. from https://ift.tt/2SXi8MP Check out https://peterlegyel.wordpress.com/ Can you determine if a nutrition certification program is reputable, a good fit, and something that will boost your career—before you actually sign up? Absolutely! To do so, you’ll need to:
This article gives you all the answers. But they’re not just based on what we here at Precision Nutrition think. Because… we’re a little biased. (We offer the #1 rated nutrition certification worldwide, according to a third-party industry report.) That’s why we asked five outside nutrition certification experts to help you weigh the pros and cons—so you can choose the best nutrition certification program for you with confidence. Maybe you’re wondering: What the heck is a nutrition certification expert? They’re health and fitness industry professionals who have so much experience with certifications they’ve earned the right to be called experts. A couple of them have dozens of certifications. One is the 2017 IDEA Health & Fitness Association Personal Trainer of the Year. Three have Master’s degrees. Two others are registered dietitians, one of whom has taught on the university level. Put simply: When other professionals are considering a nutrition certification, they turn to these people for advice. You’ll hear from…
This team of experts has experienced it all. Many reported that their certifications catapulted their business—helping them attract clients, improve their success, and, as a result, generate more referrals and positive reviews. Have they ever felt like they wasted their money on a nutrition certification? Um, yeah. And, in this article, they reveal three powerful tactics that can help you avoid the same mistake. Here, you’ll learn what they look for in health, fitness, and nutrition certifications, how they decide if certifications are worth it, and the strategies they use to steer clear of shady companies. ++++ When choosing a nutrition certification, ask yourself these questions.This probably won’t shock you: No one certification is right for all people. So how do you zero in on the right one for you—right now? According to our team of nutrition certification experts, you’ll want to carefully consider 8 questions. 1. Why do you want to get certified?At age 15, Michael Piercy, MS, CSCS, had read every fitness book he could find at a store at his local mall. Still, a nearby gym wouldn’t hire him. “We only hire certified trainers,” they told him. That might have been the end of his prospects had it not been for his “never take no for an answer” mother, who called certification company after company, in search of one that would enroll her 15-year-old. She eventually found a program that welcomed Piercy. Later, with his new certification in hand, he reapplied and got hired. (Aren’t moms the best?) Back then, Piercy’s “why” was obvious: It’d help him get a job. But getting a job is just one of many important reasons to get a certification. Jennifer Broxterman, MS, RD, took a nutrition certification to dive deep into the science of behavior change. Vivian Gill, MA, RN-BC, CPT, wanted to expand her personal training and life coaching businesses. And Kathleen Garcia-Benson, RDN, LD, sought out her nutrition coaching certification so she could brush up on behavior change and motivational interviewing skills. What do you want your certification to do for you? Here’s a list of what the right nutrition certification could help you accomplish: ✓ Acquire new clients ✓ Retain existing clients ✓ Gain new strategies to help clients succeed ✓ Get hired by someone who requires a nutrition certification ✓ Improve nutrition knowledge ✓ Feel qualified to coach nutrition clients ✓ Add nutrition as a service ✓ Break into the health, wellness, and fitness field ✓ Reach the next level in your career ✓ Improve your ability to communicate with clients ✓ Overcome problems with difficult or resistant clients ✓ Boost your credentials ✓ Set yourself apart from your peers ✓ Increase your rates ✓ Build credibility and/or confidence ✓ Fill a knowledge gap ✓ Dive deep into a specific aspect of nutrition (for example, pregnancy nutrition) ✓ Learn about successful behavior change ✓ Be more respected by your peers All of the above? They’re great reasons to undergo certification—but not all certifications address all those reasons, which brings us to the next important question to consider. 2. What are your values?You might be tempted to just skim past this question, thinking, ‘What does THAT have to do with my nutrition certification?!’ The answer: everything. Here’s why: Your strongly held beliefs about nutrition, health, and fitness will affect which nutrition certifications feel like a good fit—and which ones just don’t. For example, maybe you:
None of those values are universally right or wrong for all people. But they might be deeply right or wrong for you—and you’ll want your certification to reflect that. Otherwise, you’ll feel like an outsider. Take Gill. In her nursing career, she’d noticed that, for patients who struggled with wellness, detailed meal plans or sets of food rules didn’t work. These patients had too many other things getting in the way. Like stress. Like insomnia. Like rage eating. Like loneliness. Like lack of support. As a result, Gill wasn’t remotely interested in:
Like Gill, Broxterman wanted an open-minded program that taught nutrition in a nonjudgemental way, without heavy bias against specific diets or foods.
Your values may differ from Gill’s or Broxterman’s—and that’s okay. The point: By knowing your values, you’ll know what you want your certification to cover. If you want to get an idea of what the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification is like, you can try our FREE Nutrition Coaching e-course. 3. What does the nutrition certification cover?Questions #1 and #2 will lead right into question #3. Based on your why and your values, you might want a nutrition certification that covers holistic health coaching, plant-based diets, intuitive and mindful eating, and/or any number of other close-to-your-soul topics. At the same time, you may not want a certification that focuses too heavily on one or more areas. In addition to your why and your values, our experts suggest you ponder three additional points. Assess your nutrition know-how.If your understanding is pretty basic, you’ll benefit from a course that hits on the fundamentals: how digestion works, the role of vitamins and minerals, and the types of foods that contribute to good health. On the other hand, if you’re the kind of person who reads nutrition journals for fun, an overemphasis on fundamentals may put you to sleep. For example, during one of Deana Ng’s fitness certification courses, an instructor spent hours explaining how to do squats, planks, and other basic moves—all stuff Ng already knew. The information wasn’t wrong or bad. Other people in the class got something out of it. But Ng stood there thinking, “Why did I waste my money on this?” Consider how to level up your skills.If you learn about the neurological impact of aging, for example, could you better attract older clients? Would a digestion-specific nutrition certification help you stand apart from other coaches? If you deepen your knowledge of plant-based diets, could you better serve existing clients who are interested in that style of eating? Examine your level of confidence.Maybe you’re the kind of person who would ace the nutrition category on Jeopardy. But when it comes to people skills? You freeze. In that case, you might want a certification that focuses more on behavior change and less on the nuts and bolts of nutrition. Many people who come to Precision Nutrition, for example, don’t come just to learn about food. They seek out our Level 1 and Level 2 certifications for guidance on how to help clients change their behavior. After all, clients usually know what they’re supposed to eat, Piercy says. They just lack the skills to actually do it. This is especially true right now, says Gill, because clients are struggling with stress, sleep, and mental health—all things that intensify hunger and cravings. 4. What’s the reputation of the nutrition certification company?This is one of the top questions our clients say they consider when choosing a nutrition certification. To vet nutrition certification companies, our experts suggest you do five things. Read up on the nutrition certification program and the experts who created it.Broxterman decided to undergo nutrition certification with Precision Nutrition, in part, because the person who created it, John Berardi, PhD, frequently spoke at a nutrition and fitness summit at Western University in Ontario, Canada.
But let’s say you haven’t had the opportunity to hear a lecture from one of the company’s higher-ups. What else can you look at? Our experts suggest a quick Google search to learn more about the company, its founder, and its curriculum team. Try to learn about:
“I looked at a lot of companies,” says Garcia-Benson. “What really helped me feel comfortable with the certification company I chose: They had Registered Dietitians on staff. For me, that was really important. It helped me to know that, as a Registered Dietitian, I would be welcome and the program would be science-based.” Make sure the company mentions scope of practice.Scope of practice was a biggie for Garcia-Benson. She’d seen people throughout the fitness industry who were prescribing supplements to treat complex health problems, putting people with diabetes on questionable diets, or continuing to work with clients with orthorexia rather than referring them to professionals qualified in medical nutrition therapy. For her, this was an ethical issue. Garcia-Benson only wanted to learn from a company that made it clear what a certified nutrition coach could or could not do—both legally and ethically. Check the company’s blog and social feeds.Look for companies that focus on educating others at least as much as on making money. Vet the quality of the materials, too, checking to see if they:
Piercy looks for companies that make everything really simple. “That way I know I can communicate that information to the people I train and coach,” he says. Search out people with the certification.Read reviews from people who have undergone the company’s certification program. Talk to other people in the field, too. When available, check out third-party industry reports that rank certifications and offer pros and cons. 5. How much will it cost?Whether your certification costs a few hundred or a few thousand dollars, the price must match the rigor. You might expect a weekend course, for example, to cost a couple of hundred dollars—but certainly not a couple of thousand. On the other hand, for a year-long certification course that’s recognized by people throughout the industry? A few grand might feel like a bargain. “This is what I tell the trainers who work for me,” says Piercy, “Any certification you get has to pay for itself within the first few months.” Will a reputable nutrition certification help you earn more money?In a word: yes. Based on our survey of 1000 nutrition coaches as well as additional independent research, coaches with:
To decide whether a new nutrition certification is worth it, use this advice. Check to see if the same material exists for less money.Could you learn everything the course provides from freely available videos? Or by reading a book? Sure, many certifications consolidate all of that information in one convenient place. But worth-it certifications should offer more value. “It has to be about more than just consuming knowledge,” says Piercy, “because you can consume knowledge for a lot less money than it costs to get a certification. It has to help you apply that knowledge.” Do a cost-benefit analysis.Revisit your “why” and consider how a certification will improve your life. If it does any of the following, you’ll likely feel happy about the money spent:
Look into hidden costs.Consider whether the company will ask you to pay more, in the future, to recertify and/or undergo continuing education. If the company requires re-testing, re-certifying, and/or professional development, vet the quality of those future professional development options. If few, if any, of the future professional development offerings will help you improve your coaching skills, these recertifications can feel like a money-making scheme, says Ng. Is that nutrition certification worth it? What an IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year wants you to know.When people ask for advice on whether to sign up for a new certification, Michael Piercy, MS, CSCS, offers a lesson he learned as a professional baseball player. When searching for hitting advice, Piercy knew he couldn’t absorb any one baseball player’s philosophy 100 percent—because their gifts and strengths weren’t necessarily the same as his. At the same time, he usually gleaned one or two pointers that helped him connect with the ball more powerfully. When applied to certifications: Any new nutrition certification should teach you one or two things you can start using immediately. “If you learn something that changes how you coach or train, that’s a game-changer,” says Piercy. 6. How long will it take?You won’t get as much market credibility from shorter certification courses as you’ll get from longer ones. “My education was a couple of years of my life and hundreds of documented hours,” says Ng. That’s completely different than someone who is teaching after taking just a weekend workshop—and clients get it, she says. 7. What is the online learning experience?When choosing an online experience, consider four factors: how you learn, the level of difficulty, how you’ll be tested, and the support you’ll receive. How you learnThink about whether you’re the kind of person who needs a deadline for motivation versus someone who thrives in a self-paced program. Similarly, do you learn more from reading than from watching videos—or the other way around? And consider how virtual group discussions make you feel. Do you look forward to connecting with others? Or do you cringe every time an instructor says, “Okay, let’s pair up. Please find a partner”? There are no right or wrong answers here. The point: Your learning style will affect whether an online learning experience feels like a good fit. The level of difficultyThe honest truth: A program’s percentage of successful graduates drops as standards rise. Why? Reputable companies with high-standards tend to create certification opportunities that require:
In other words, you have to get through a lot of material. No one is forcing you to study. Therefore, students who don’t put in the time tend to struggle. In the end, a certification is only worth what you put into it. How you’ll be testedFor Ng, what she learns is more important than how she’s tested because that’s what matters to clients. They don’t care if you can name every bone in the body or describe the digestive system in intricate detail. They care that you know how to help them change, she says. The support you’ll receiveIn addition to the online learning experience, consider added value services, such as:
8. What is the quality of the curriculum experience?Granted, you may not find out what the curriculum experience is like until after you’ve already handed over your credit card, but these tactics can help you get a solid sense of things. Check out what the company puts out for free.We mentioned this investigative tactic earlier, as a way to assess a company’s reputation. “I look for companies that are educating generously—not offering a tiny little nugget and then quickly pivoting to a sales pitch,” Gill says. Also, clear, easy-to-grasp free materials most likely signal that the company’s curriculum materials will be just as clear and easy to grasp. If you want examples, here’s a shortlist of free resources that Precision Nutrition offers. (It’s also where our bias comes in, but hopefully, you’ll find it valuable.)
Consider any bonus resources that the company bundles with the certification.Years after your certification, you may no longer remember every detail. That’s why it’s helpful if the certification company allows lifetime access to materials so you can refresh your memory, says Ng. “One of the reasons I decided to get certified at Precision Nutrition: There’s just so much information for free. Not all certifications do that,” says Ng. “You’ve got this whole arsenal, a library of stuff. There are so many tools. It’s like a superpower that allows you to do your job to the best of your ability. It makes you feel like a badass.” Look for certifications that teach you how to coach with confidence.Some coaches learn and learn and learn—but never actually take the plunge to start coaching. So advanced certifications that pair them with a mentor and allow time for role play can be helpful for building confidence, says Gill. What to look for in a good nutrition certification programWe just told you--a lot. Chances are, you won’t remember it all. That’s why we boiled down all of the key points in the handy checklist below. Screenshot it. Print it out. Or just bookmark this page. Use it to vet certification companies so you can get your money’s worth. Your Complete Nutrition Certification Program Checklist Look for nutrition certifications that: ✓ Help you take the next step in your career. ✓ Cover the nutrition topics that interest you the most. ✓ Boost your confidence. ✓ Match your values, level of knowledge, and learning style. ✓ Are highly regarded by other health, fitness, and wellness professionals. ✓ Publish easy-to-understand, evidence-based materials. ✓ Demystify scope of practice. ✓ Offer validation for their graduates, so clients can check to see if their certification is legit and current. ✓ Teach you one to two skills you can use immediately. ✓ Will pay off within six months. Avoid nutrition certifications that: ✓ Focus on a narrow “flavor of the month” skill that will quickly become dated. ✓ Are promoted by companies that are 100 percent focused on the “hard sell.” ✓ Are priced much higher than similar courses based on rigor and reputation. ✓ Do not staff credentialed experts. ✓ Use social media to spread debunked nutritional claims. Whether you ultimately decide to get certified by Precision Nutrition or another company, we’re sincerely rooting for your success. (The world needs more great coaches.) The post How to choose the right nutrition certification program—for YOU appeared first on Precision Nutrition. from https://ift.tt/378ZTMT Check out https://peterlegyel.wordpress.com/ On Wednesday, October 7th, 2020, we’re opening registration for the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification, the world’s most recommended nutrition education program. Developed over 15 years, and proven with over 100,000 clients, the Precision Nutrition curriculum stands alone as the authority on the science of nutrition and the art of coaching. It gives you the knowledge, systems, and tools you need to feel both confident and qualified to coach nutrition with anyone—in-person or online. Whether you already work in health and fitness, or you’re starting a new career or side business you’re passionate about, the PN Level 1 Certification is your springboard to a deeper understanding of nutrition, the authority to coach it, and the ability to turn what you know into results—for yourself and your clients. For more about the program, check out the frequently asked questions below. But, first, watch these two short videos; the first is a full breakdown of the program from Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon, and the second video features Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon gives you a sneak peek inside the brand-new edition of the Level 1 Certification.
Dr. John Berardi and fitness industry leaders discuss what makes the Level 1 Certification so unique and effective.
As we’re about to open the program—and last time we sold out in hours—we’re getting lots of questions. Here we’ll answer the most common ones so you can decide if it’s a good choice for you.
What is the Precision Nutrition Certification?
What will the Precision Nutrition Certification do for me?
How was the Precision Nutrition Certification developed?
What happens after I get certified?
Precision Nutrition co-founder Dr. John Berardi gives you a sneak peek at the Level 1 Certification.
How do I sign up?
If you’re a coach, or you want to be…Learning how to coach clients, patients, friends, or family members through healthy eating and lifestyle changes—in a way that’s personalized for their unique body, preferences, and circumstances—is both an art and a science. If you’d like to learn more about both, consider the Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification. The next group kicks off shortly. The post The Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification: Frequently Asked Questions. appeared first on Precision Nutrition. from https://ift.tt/2IB6v7P Check out https://peterlegyel.wordpress.com/ On Wednesday, October 7th, 2020 we’re opening registration for the Precision Nutrition Level 2 Certification, designed specifically for Level 1 students and graduates who want to master the art of behavior-change coaching. Part master class, part graduate program, part mentorship, the Level 2 Master Class will give you all-new strategies to get better results for your clients and your business. Want to achieve total confidence in your coaching skills? Get (and keep) more clients? Grow and strengthen your business? If so, the Precision Nutrition Level 2 Certification is definitely for you. For more about the program, check the frequently asked questions below. But, first, watch this short video; it provides a full breakdown of the program, including interviews with superstar coaches, physicians, and trainers like Adam Feit, Spencer Nadolsky, Adam Lloyd, Mary Kate Feit, and Will Boggs: Precision Nutrition co-founder Dr. John Berardi gives you a sneak peek at the Level 2 Certification.
People come to Level 2 to develop mastery in (and derive more satisfaction from) their coaching.
Precision Nutrition co-founder Dr. John Berardi gives you a sneak peek at the Level 2 Certification.
Interested? Add your name to the VIP list. You’ll save up to 37% and secure your spot 24 hours before everyone else.We’ll be opening up spots in our next Precision Nutrition Level 2 Certification Master Class on Wednesday, October 7th. If you want to find out more, we’ve set up the following VIP list which gives you two advantages.
If you’re ready to take the next step in becoming a world-class coach, we’re ready to share our knowledge and help you master the art of behavior-change coaching. The post The Precision Nutrition Level 2 Certification Master Class: Frequently Asked Questions. appeared first on Precision Nutrition. from https://ift.tt/2pnrqCP Check out https://peterlegyel.wordpress.com/ Elimination diets can help people understand food sensitivities and intolerances. This free ebook gives nutrition coaches tools to help clients through elimination diets with confidence. The post Ebook | Coach Clients Through an Elimination Diet appeared first on Precision Nutrition. from https://ift.tt/3ckkdLN Check out https://peterlegyel.wordpress.com/ |