30 Pounds Lost and Increased Coaching Performance
Mar 28, 2022Hi everyone,
As you all know, we spend a lot of time at practices and games, in meetings and watching video, and then add in all of the traveling that happens when you are out recruiting or doing camps.
I’m not sure if you can relate, but as I would get into the heat of the season or when I was on the road a lot going from one place to the next, what little discipline I had for eating healthy flew right out the window. I was absolutely exhausted, had no energy, and slowly but surely, I was packing on the weight.
For you that are parents as well, I know it is extra hard to eat healthy when you are busy coaching, recruiting, traveling, and trying to feed your little ones what they will actually eat as well.
I was a low energy coach that was teaching my team, campers, and recruits well below my potential.
When it comes to energy, I very quickly realized that food was playing a very critical role.
If you’re like what most of us who are busy do, you make your food choices based on convenience first, taste 2nd, and consequences third. What makes us happy when we eat doesn’t always give us maximum energy. There is nothing wrong with eating foods that taste good, but if you want to be truly healthy and have the energy to prepare your team to be champions, you must learn to value the energy consequences of the food you eat, above the taste.
Digesting food is one of the most energy-draining processes the body endures (think about how exhausted you feel after a big meal, like Thanksgiving dinner). Thus, eating living foods that contribute more energy to your body than they require to digest is the secret to maintaining extraordinary levels of energy all day long.
Foods like bread, cooked meats, dairy products, and processed foods require a lot of energy to digest and contribute very little energy to your body, leaving you in an energy deficit. Foods like raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds typically give you more energy than they take, empowering you with an energy surplus to perform at your best.
Over the last few years, I have shifted my view of food from that of a reward, treat, or comfort to that of fuel. I want to eat delicious, healthy foods that fuel my energy levels and allow me to keep going as long as I need to go.
The easiest way for me to start making some better decisions about my eating was to start paying attention to the way I felt after eating certain foods. I literally started setting a timer for 60 minutes, as soon as I finished each meal. One hour later, my timer would go off and I would assess my energy level. It doesn’t take much when you are actively recognizing the way your diet affects you. I can clearly tell the difference in my energy level the days that I eat a salad, and the day I cave for a chicken sandwich or some of that pizza that smells so good.
I find that just by incorporating as many of the right foods as I can often stops me from snacking on the unhealthy foods. The idea is to eat what you need to refuel and recharge your body— to give your body exactly what it needs to generate a sustained energy level.
What if you gave your body what it needs to work and play for as long as you like? What if you gave yourself exactly what you truly deserve: the gift of great health, consciously chosen through what you eat and drink?
If you are eating throughout the day almost as an afterthought, maybe hitting a drive-through after you’ve hit the point of being famished, it could be time to start building a new strategy.
Give some thought to the following: Can I start consciously considering the consequences of what I eat (both health and energy consequences), and valuing that above the taste? Can I keep water with me at all times so that I can hydrate with intention and purpose and so I can avoid becoming dehydrated? Can I plan my meals in advance, including snacks, so I can combat any patterns I have that don’t serve me?
Yes, you can do all of these and much more. Think about how much better will your life be, and how much more energy you will have to develop your program, when you become conscious and intentional about your eating and drinking habits.
Again, I will be showing you more ways to do this throughout the month. If you want daily tips on how to improve your energy and performance as a coach, check me out on twitter, facebook, or instagram (i’m going to start showing up here more from now on).
I’d love to know what you think about this after you try it. Or if you want my help setting this up for you, please email me at [email protected].
If this was helpful, will you send me a quick email letting me know so I can keep sending you things that will be useful for you? Thank you!!
P.S. If you have found this article helpful, please share it with your staff or other work colleagues! Studying time and energy management over these last 8 years and applying it to my coaching and recruiting has been a game changer for me. I am committed to helping coaches get more important work done in less time so more time can be spent with family and friends. Thanks!
