Ben-E-Fit

Schools IN⁣
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The return to work is happening⁣
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And what a fantastic time to grab that by both balls (or hands, if you prefer)⁣
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And get some serious routine in place⁣
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I’ve had a lot of new clients join the team in the past week or two⁣
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Absolutely raring to get everything back in order⁣
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They’ve loved summer⁣
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Had some great holidays and days out⁣
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BBQs⁣
Beer Gardens⁣
Brits Abroad 😉⁣
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But they’re also feeling that bit ‘fluffier’⁣
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A few pounds heavier (or more than a few)⁣
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All of which they want to shift⁣
And some⁣
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So, they’ve made sure now is the time!⁣
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Because NOW is always the best time⁣
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Make a start⁣
Commit⁣
Progress⁣
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Progress over perfection… every single time⁣
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And I know they will succeed⁣
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Because they have my 100% backing, support & expertise to utilise⁣
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Proactive planning⁣
Regular communication⁣
Knowing I am always just a message away⁣
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And you can have it all, too⁣
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Send that first message⁣
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Have a chat⁣
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Get to work! 💪🏼⁣
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A former client of mine asked my opinion on Ozempic recently⁣
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And I wanted to share with you my response…⁣
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“My general thoughts on most ‘drugs’ are that, unless there are genuine reasons to use them… I’d avoid them⁣
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The things I always worry about with those kind of interventions is the lack of habit forming and then the rebound as a result⁣
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It’s a bit like the bariatric surgeries. People lose a lot of weight quickly because their stomach has been shrunk, but I’d imagine a large majority subsequently rebound and regain a lot of weight as there’s no lifestyle change support alongside”⁣
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I am also pretty open minded about most things as I went on to explain (as my reply above may come across a certain way given what I do for a living)…⁣
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“Ozempic, stomach surgeries etc for those who are severely overweight and at the point of having or developing serious conditions could be life saving⁣
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My frustration often comes with the lack of ongoing support as I’ve worked with, and spoken to, a lot of people post those kind of things who are back to being much heavier because they just got surgery and were left to crack on”⁣
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I get that those things can be seen as quick solutions⁣
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And the belief that they will resolve all the issues easily⁣
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But the fact will always remain⁣
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Even if you were to see some success with these drugs/surgeries etc⁣
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The likelihood of that being maintained is extremely limited without the lifestyle habit changes alongside⁣
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And that’s what then results in the yo-yoing⁣
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Use something⁣
Lose weight⁣
Stop using something⁣
Gain weight⁣
Use something⁣
Lose weight⁣
Repeat forever⁣
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The root cause is never being identified or worked on⁣
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Just plastering over the cracks⁣
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I would much rather spend time talking to someone about experiences & how they’ve come to be where they are⁣
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Helping identify any problems or blockers⁣
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And finding solutions together to move forwards⁣
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If that sounds like something you’d like to know more about⁣
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Please do reach out⁣
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I’d love to have a chat⁣
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If you’re busy & time is an issue, the strategies are different⁣
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It’s much more likely that you’ll need to prioritise reducing calories in⁣
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Because you have much less time available to increase calories out⁣
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I’ll give you two examples…⁣
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A 40 year old mum of 2 who works as a senior finance exec⁣
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And a 25 year old single, online fitness coach⁣
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Both have 24 hours in their days, that is a true fact⁣
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But the availability of their time is wildly different⁣
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The mum works 50-60 hours per week⁣
She has 2 young kids to look after ⁣
As well as making a bit of time for herself to workout 3 times per week for 45-60 minutes⁣
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The online fitness coach works 30 hours a week⁣
Has no other commitments for their time⁣
And can train 5-7 days per week for 1-2 hours or more at a time⁣
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If both of these people are wanting to lose some bodyfat⁣
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The mum has fewer options available⁣
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The ability for her to significantly increase step counts is reduced as these take a good amount of time⁣
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Adding in lots of cardio also places more stress on her already time poor schedule⁣
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Which really leaves the calories that she eats as the primary means to make changes⁣
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The fitness coach has all the time they need⁣
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They could be getting 20-25k steps a day⁣
Doing 45-60 minutes of daily cardio⁣
Working out 6 days per week for 90 minutes a time⁣
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They may not need to make many, if any, changes to the food they eat if it’s possible to change the energy they expend ⁣
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But food changes are also an option for them⁣
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So, as you can see, two people, both may have similar goals, and both do have 24 hours in their days⁣
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But the two are very different in how they’d go about achieving change⁣
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I’ve been that 50-60 hour office worker⁣
And now I’m a dad, too⁣
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Ok, I wasn’t doing the two at the same time⁣
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But I can 100% relate to the struggles those things bring⁣
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It’s why my approach will be different depending on your circumstances⁣
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Because it has to be suited to you or you’ll always struggle to make it work⁣
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If you’ve found yourself struggling to follow plans, let me know⁣
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In all likelihood, it’s the plans that just haven’t been tailored to you⁣
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MASSIVE shout out to Shanelle!⁣
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Shanelle reached out to me quite a while ago now with some questions regarding her training & nutrition, having developed some really good habits, but wanted to further that knowledge & enhance her own progress⁣
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We had several conversations & I suggested little tweaks to implement, which helped Shanelle progress further than she previously had⁣
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And when I then setup a 4 Week Challenge, Shanelle was really keen to get involved (I'm so glad that she did!!)⁣
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And, well, what more can I say….WOW!!!!! 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽⁣
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In just 4 weeks, the visual changes are absolutely astounding & testament to the work ethic, drive & commitment that Shanelle put in⁣
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Shanelle asked plenty of questions (which I love!!!), took all of the information on board & smashed this out of the park!⁣
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But, perhaps more valuable, was the understanding that balance is so key⁣
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Shanelle’s birthday, Thanksgiving & various other social events took place during these 4 weeks and, where previously, those events may have caused mild panic about ‘falling off the plan’, I helped Shanelle understand how important it is to enjoy those events⁣
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The lifestyle we choose in fitness should complement, not complicate⁣
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Shanelle, you are a very inspirational human being – thank you for being you & being such a pleasure to work with! 🙏⁣
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More hair on his top lip at a month old…⁣
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Than 80% of the youngsters at the gym who’ve hopped in the juice before getting then⁣
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Yep⁣
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Firing shots!⁣
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Because something I just don’t agree with⁣
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And can’t get onboard with⁣
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Is people hopping on steroids without any experience⁣
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Never having trained properly⁣
Never having dieted properly⁣
Never having lived the lifestyle⁣
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Just seeing the huge number of influencers on the gram juiced up⁣
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And thinking it’s the glamourous & easy way to get in shape⁣
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It’s not just men, either⁣
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More & more young women are being introduced to PEDs⁣
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Completely unnecessarily⁣
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Because more & more of social media is talking about it⁣
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Before I go on, I just want to make it clear that I’m not against steroids, as such⁣
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If someone has reached their natural limit (where most don’t get to), accepted the risks & have goals that mean they’ve decided that’s the route to go down… good luck to them⁣
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But I, personally, have never touched them⁣
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And I don’t believe that 99% of people should, either⁣
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Especially if you’ve been in the gym for less than 5 years⁣
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I also despise the coaches that are using drugs, but lie about it⁣
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Tricking people into believing they can achieve a certain physique naturally, just to get paid⁣
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It’s dishonest⁣
And it needs to stop⁣
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One of the fundamental principles to me & my coaching is openness & honesty⁣
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Because they create integrity⁣
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Getting in shape, for the majority of people, is hard work⁣
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If it wasn’t, everyone would be in fantastic shape doing the bare minimum⁣
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But that’s not the reality⁣
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Training hard take effort⁣
Eating the right foods in the right quantities takes effort⁣
Getting your steps & cardio done takes effort⁣
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A lot of that can be simplified by having someone help (hey 👋🏼)⁣
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But there will still be a lot of emphasis on you putting in the required work⁣
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I’d far rather be truthful with you about that⁣
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And I’ll also tell you this⁣
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When you do put in that effort⁣
When you work your arse off⁣
And when you see the results of that effort⁣
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It feels fu***ng incredible!⁣
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On a recent call, I was reminded of something⁣
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I sometimes still have the mindset of my extremely self-conscious 13-15 year old self⁣
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We were discussing body image, confidence and all things that lead us to feel about ourselves the way we do⁣
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And this particular person was talking about being really self critical and how much they hated having their photo taken⁣
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Even the nicest picture with their kids… they couldn’t see past really disliking themselves in it or picking faults everywhere⁣
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Many of us front this out⁣
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We don’t want our partners, kids, friends or family to know how we feel inside⁣
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That we’re deeply unhappy with how we look⁣
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So we play the game⁣
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We smile⁣
We laugh⁣
We let the pics happen⁣
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But deep down… it’s a different story⁣
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And it hit me quite hard actually⁣
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I know to the outside looking in, I appear very body confident⁣
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Posting pics regularly wearing next to nothing almost screams arrogance⁣
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I can assure you I’m as far from arrogant as you can be⁣
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In fact⁣
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I’m really quite shy, awkward and body conscious⁣
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Taking those pics is easier by myself⁣
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But I’m very reluctant to take my shirt off on holiday, for example, because I still don’t see complete happiness in my look⁣
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However⁣
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One important factor, and one that we discussed on the call, is this⁣
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Having complete & utter, 100% confidence in your look is probably a pipe dream⁣
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It’s not realistic⁣
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Instead⁣
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Focus on being appreciative of how much you’ve achieved⁣
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How much your body allows you to do⁣
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Whether it’s birthed children⁣
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Been extremely over, or under, weight previously⁣
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Allows you to weight train, or just to be able to chase the kids around without getting breathless ⁣
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When you’re grateful for what you can do⁣
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The way you feel about yourself changes⁣
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Drastically⁣
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It doesn’t mean you can’t strive for more⁣
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I will always be that way⁣
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But when you recognise where you’re at, it’s a powerful place that sets you up for a huge amount of success⁣
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Don’t eat like a dickhead⁣
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Great advice⁣
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And, to be honest, it’s not difficult advice to follow⁣
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Most people don’t eat like dickheads⁣
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They aren’t eating 5 takeaways per week⁣
Or scoffing entire packets of biscuits in one sitting⁣
Or seeing off litres of ice cream per week⁣
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*most people aren’t doing that… some probably are… different story⁣
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But the vast majority that I speak to, and end up working with, eat pretty sensibly⁣
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A good amount of home cooked food⁣
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Using fresh ingredients as much as they can⁣
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So the frustrations about why they can’t lose weight get stronger⁣
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The common ‘problems’ I see are these…⁣
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1️⃣ Portion sizes⁣
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Simply eating more than is needed, or forcing themselves to eat everything that’s cooked for fear of wastage⁣
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Something I can totally relate to as it was how we grew up⁣
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No food would get wasted⁣
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An easy fix here is making the right quantity from the outset – measuring portion sizes before cooking⁣
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2️⃣ Clearing the kids plates⁣
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Again, not wanting to see good food wasted, totally understandably, but adding to their own weight gain and struggles with body confidence⁣
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One thing that you could do here is simply pop the kids leftovers in a Tupperware for another day⁣
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3️⃣ Rewarding with dessert⁣
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Stemming from childhood more often than not, where eating all your main was rewarded with yet more food⁣
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A pattern that many take into adult life & which can lead to problems controlling quantities being eaten⁣
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Finding alternative rewards can really help with this⁣
Or even just taking a few breaths & asking yourself if you really want it⁣
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What would you say if I asked you if you’re eating like a dickhead?⁣
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Not overly happy with these pics⁣
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Feeling a bit flat⁣
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And struggling to find the poses⁣
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But they come following a fairly poor weekend of sleep⁣
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Little man was particularly restless⁣
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Which has those knock on effects⁣
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I was actually due to train on Sunday morning⁣
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But⁣
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Following a pretty rough night…⁣
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I decided against it⁣
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In part because I have reduced my training sessions to 4 a week from 5⁣
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Which makes it much easier to miss one & fit it in later in the week⁣
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While still getting some good rest days in⁣
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Something that I would historically have struggled with⁣
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Not just the very thought of missing a session⁣
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But because it would then mean training 4-5 days on the bounce at some point to get them all done⁣
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This more flexible setup is so much better⁣
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One that I often use with clients, too⁣
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Especially parents⁣
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It’s rare they’ll be training more than 3-4 days per week⁣
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As something is always going to crop up & need a bit more flexibility⁣
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When you have 3-4 days off training a week⁣
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You can fit that missed one in so much easier⁣
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So you don’t feel guilty for missing it⁣
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Or like you’re sacrificing progress⁣
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(Not that you would be, but I know the feeling)⁣
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Understanding your needs⁣
And creating plans to suit you⁣
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Is what I do best⁣
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If you’d like to know more about how that can work for you⁣
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Pop me a message & let’s have a chat 😁⁣
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It’s the 8 week bulks and 4 week tidy ups that are leaving you going nowhere fast⁣
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I know you need to hear this⁣
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Because I sure did… it just took waaaaaaay longer for someone to tell me⁣
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8 weeks is nowhere near long enough to add any muscle⁣
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At 8 weeks in, you’re only just getting started⁣
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You’ve found your groove with training⁣
Lifts are progressing nicely⁣
Food is gradually increasing⁣
Energy levels are high⁣
Appetite is great⁣
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And yes, you’ll have added a few pounds on the scales⁣
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But most of that weight is going to be water & glycogen fullness in the muscles⁣
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Actual muscle growth takes WAY longer than 8 weeks⁣
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Assuming you began your bulk at a lean start point (which you should have done, FYI)⁣
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Going into that 4 week tidy up phase now is just putting a massive stop to your gains⁣
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And all you’ll be doing is adding and losing the same 3-5lbs of water/glycogen⁣
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Over and over again⁣
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So you could keep doing that for the next 1, 2 or 5 years⁣
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And you’d still be pretty much in exactly the same shape as you are now⁣
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Or you can take action to commit to a proper phase of growing⁣
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Phases of growth need time⁣
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Way more than you think⁣
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You need to be thinking months & years… not weeks⁣
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Looking to gradually increase things over time⁣
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Lifts improving⁣
Food increasing⁣
Scale weight going up⁣
Energy levels high⁣
Visibly getting bigger⁣
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Generally aiming to add an average of 1-2% of bodyweight per month to avoid getting unnecessarily fat in the process⁣
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And it’s a fine line to find⁣
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But 100% worth it⁣
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The times I’ve made the most progress & added the most muscle were when I got pretty uncomfortable⁣
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In both cases I added 40+lbs in 12 months⁣
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And the end of those phases the look wasn’t pretty⁣
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But⁣
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When the fat is then stripped back⁣
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The hard work is revealed⁣
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And you see why that was a required process to go through… as hard as it can be at the time⁣
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Especially for someone like me, who struggled a lot with body image & self-esteem⁣
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What I do know is this⁣
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Without pushing my body to those places⁣
Without getting uncomfortable⁣
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I’d never have added the muscle I have⁣
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And I’d still be going around in circles⁣
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I’ll leave you with this question…⁣
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Are you OK with being in pretty much the same place in 1, 2 or 5 years time?⁣
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One month of loving you ❤️⁣
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1 whole month of little Louis⁣
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And what a learning curve it has been!⁣
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I, perhaps a little naively, thought things would just slot into place⁣
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He would simply fit into our lives⁣
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That’s not to say that I didn’t expect change⁣
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I did⁣
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But my fairly laissez-faire attitude to life these days probably left me a bit unprepared⁣
(Sorry, Lara)⁣
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Because, it is hard work!⁣
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Beautiful⁣
Amazing⁣
Rewarding⁣
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But hard work⁣
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And I’ll share with you one of the things I’ve found really difficult⁣
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Communication… or lack of⁣
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At such a young age, his ability to communicate is incredibly limited⁣
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Essentially to just crying⁣
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And those cries could be one of many things…⁣
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Hunger⁣
Nappy change⁣
Gas⁣
Tiredness⁣
Distress⁣
Something else entirely⁣
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But all he is able to do to tell us is scream⁣
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You go through the routine of feeding, changing, burping, comforting⁣
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All of the stuff you think it could be⁣
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And even after doing all of those… still crying⁣
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Until⁣
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Really suddenly⁣
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It stops⁣
And he sleeps⁣
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And you’re literally fu***ng clueless as to what happened to go from all out, struggling to catch a breath crying the house down⁣
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To fast asleep⁣
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Sleep which might last a couple of hours⁣
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Or a couple of minutes⁣
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The unpredictability is wild!⁣
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And quite a challenge for someone who loves routine & structure⁣
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But I am trying my best⁣
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And the moments when you get that first smile, or babble just make you instantly forget the fact that you’ve barely slept for days & have come close to losing your s**t several times⁣
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Nothing else compares⁣
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How many plates are you spinning?⁣
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Work⁣
Kids⁣
Partner⁣
Gym⁣
Diet⁣
Friends⁣
Family⁣
Housework⁣
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It’s quite a list isn’t it?⁣
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And, even more so since Louis has arrived, I can relate⁣
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Time has become harder & harder to find⁣
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However⁣
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What I have also realised is just how efficient I can be, when I need to be⁣
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And how much I was prone to procrastinate previously⁣
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I know I now have to really focus⁣
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Because the blocks of time I have are limited⁣
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Check Ins⁣
Writing Plans⁣
Calls⁣
Gym⁣
Content Creation⁣
Time with Louis⁣
Time with Lara⁣
Cooking⁣
Cleaning⁣
Appointments⁣
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So much to do⁣
So little time⁣
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And a massive part of how I am managing is support⁣
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Lara has been nothing short of incredible⁣
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And we have to be a team to make it work⁣
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Allowing each other time for ourselves⁣
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As well as times as a family⁣
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Another huge help for me is having lists of what needs to be done⁣
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Plus making sure my diary is planned out⁣
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If I know where my time is being spent, I can focus⁣
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Don’t get me wrong⁣
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There are always the unexpected situations that crop up⁣
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Where you just have to drop everything⁣
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But the more prepared I can be⁣
The better I feel⁣
And I’m much more productive, too⁣
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How do you go about managing life when it all seems pretty manic?⁣
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Phenomenal!⁣
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This one goes way deeper than just the numbers & the visuals⁣
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Aside from a whopping loss of 22kg (49lbs)⁣
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Nearly 3 stone⁣
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In just 3 months⁣
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The mental changes that have occurred alongside are, in my opinion, way more meaningful⁣
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Happier⁣
Healthier⁣
Fitter⁣
Stronger⁣
More confident⁣
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And long existing anti-depressant medications not only reduced⁣
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But completely removed⁣
*done with the support & guidance of the GP⁣
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That is how powerful this lifestyle change can be⁣
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And it all starts with that first message⁣
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This client took the plunge & signed up to my Ben-E-Fit Blitz 6 weeks challenge⁣
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And achieved remarkable progress in that first 6 weeks⁣
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15kg (33lbs) down in that initial 6 weeks⁣
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Progress that earned this client the top spot⁣
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And 3 months of full coaching absolutely free⁣
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Progress that has continued to go from strength to strength⁣
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Life changing!⁣
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Dieting is Easy⁣
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The issue is how you’re going about it⁣
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Because you’re making it more complicated than it needs to be⁣
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You’re creating way too many rules⁣
Overly restricting⁣
Trying to force yourself to eat foods you don’t enjoy⁣
Or making everything so bland you gag just looking at it⁣
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It really doesn’t need to be that hard⁣
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The basic principles below are going to be all you need⁣
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So you not only start to lose the weight you’ve wanted to lose for months, or years⁣
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But you actually enjoy the process⁣
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Yep, ENJOY dieting!⁣
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I know⁣
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Bold statement⁣
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So⁣
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Here we go…⁣
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1️⃣ Create a calorie deficit⁣
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This is the fundamental principle to weight loss⁣
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You need to expend more calories (energy) than you eat⁣
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Start by finding your maintenance calories by using an online calculator⁣
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Then reduce that number by 10-20% to create the deficit⁣
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2️⃣ Decide how many times a day you can, or want to, eat⁣
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Let’s say that’s 3 meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and a couple of snacks⁣
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Divide your total calories across those meals⁣
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They could all be even⁣
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Or you might want a larger evening meal⁣
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Or smaller snacks⁣
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Whatever suits you best⁣
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3️⃣ Find recipes & meals that fit the above meal calories⁣
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Easy to search for⁣
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‘500 calorie meals made with chicken’⁣
‘200 calorie snacks’⁣
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Or any similar search will provide you with thousands of options⁣
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4️⃣ Be consistent⁣
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It really can be that simple!⁣
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Was this helpful? ⁣
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You can’t eat chocolate and lose weight!⁣
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Before you tell me to f**k off & unfollow me⁣
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Hear me out⁣
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You can… but I’m going to hazard a guess that you’re struggling right now doing so… ?⁣
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One of the reasons most (not all) people will find it way harder to lose weight while eating chocolate (or pizza, or Haribo, or whatever else it may be) is this…⁣
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You struggle to stop or have any real control⁣
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You think you can just have the odd little bit⁣
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But⁣
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Very quickly⁣
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You realise you’ve scoffed the whole bar in one sitting⁣
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And completely blown through the day’s calorie targets in 5 great big mouthfuls⁣
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In my experience⁣
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You’re far better off just not having it⁣
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It may not mean you have to avoid it forever⁣
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Just for a period of time while you⁣
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a. Have a particular goal to reach, and⁣
b. Gain greater control over your impulses to eat it⁣
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Relationships with food are a complicated thing⁣
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And this isn’t a one size fits all solution⁣
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But if you know you struggle to control yourself around certain foods⁣
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And they result in an all-out binge every single time they’re put in front of you⁣
⁣
I do genuinely believe avoidance is one of the best (initial) approaches to take⁣
⁣
Let me know if you have a particular food that causes problems like this⁣
⁣
And if you’d be open to finding out how to go about creating greater control over time⁣
⁣
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⁣
⁣

Back in the groove a little more this week⁣
⁣
Another 4 training sessions in the bag⁣
⁣
All feeling really good⁣
⁣
(Well, post legs had me feeling like Bambi on Ice, but 🤷🏻‍♂️)⁣
⁣
Diet just about getting there in terms of accuracy⁣
⁣
A couple of days where there were some grab & go bits⁣
⁣
But a good batch cooking session on Sunday set me up really well⁣
⁣
Louis has been a lot fussier this week & not really wanting to be put down⁣
⁣
Which has meant a bit more managing of time to get things done⁣
⁣
Working with him in the sling, when he’s asleep⁣
⁣
Or trying to comfort him to give Lara a bit of a break⁣
⁣
Some really great calls with some exciting new clients⁣
⁣
As well as amazing chats with existing clients to plan ahead⁣
⁣
A big part of the coaching journey that I really enjoy are those conversations⁣
⁣
Building trust⁣
Creating relationships⁣
Getting to know one another that bit better⁣
⁣
It makes such a big difference to how the journey goes⁣
⁣
And opens up the communication that is so vital⁣
⁣
I’ll always make time for those calls, too⁣
⁣
So if you ever fancy a chat… you know where I am⁣
⁣
You might even get to meet a sleeping Louis strapped to my chest 😂⁣
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⁣

Bored of me talking about consistency yet?⁣
⁣
No?⁣
⁣
Good⁣
⁣
Because it is the most important element to getting where you want to be⁣
⁣
In your fitness journey⁣
In your career⁣
In your relationships⁣
In everything you do!⁣
⁣
And that doesn’t man you need to be 100% accurate, 100% of the time⁣
⁣
It does, however, require more consistency that you’ve been finding so far⁣
⁣
(Otherwise you’d already be where you want to be, right?)⁣
⁣
Let me expand on that⁣
⁣
90% consistency is a fantastic target to aim for⁣
⁣
90% of 52 weeks is 47 weeks of the year⁣
⁣
90% of 30 days 27 days of the month⁣
⁣
90% of 7 days is 6 days of the week⁣
⁣
90% of the 16 hours that you’re awake is 14.4 hours⁣
⁣
The point here is that you aren’t expected to be absolutely ‘on it’ all the time⁣
⁣
That’s an unrealistic expectation⁣
⁣
And one that will likely see you fail before you even start⁣
⁣
You can still have a few weeks on holiday a year⁣
You can still have a couple of meals out a month⁣
⁣
But⁣
⁣
You do then need to make sure you’re really focused for the remainder of the time⁣
⁣
If you want to see significant changes happen⁣
⁣
I’m not going to pretend you can get the most jaw dropping transformation without consistency⁣
⁣
It won’t happen⁣
⁣
But I’m also not telling you that you have to restrict absolutely everything to get there, either⁣
⁣
Hard work will be rewarded⁣
⁣
Put that in 90% of the time⁣
⁣
And you’ll see way more change than you’ve been seeing winging it⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣

Are you ready to kickstart things again post a pretty indulgent summer?⁣
⁣
I hear you!⁣
⁣
Don’t get me wrong⁣
⁣
We’ve finally got a decent bit of weather⁣
⁣
☀️ Sunshine⁣
🔥 Heat⁣
😎 It’s finally feeling like summer⁣
⁣
We’ve had the Euros⁣
⁣
We’ve had the Olympics⁣
⁣
We’ve seen Snoopy D O double G becoming the coolest grandad around⁣
⁣
And that’s got everyone going pretty mental⁣
⁣
BBQs galore⁣
Pub gardens⁣
Holidays⁣
⁣
ALL the food⁣
ALL the drink⁣
⁣
What a blooming fantastic time you’re having⁣
⁣
But⁣
⁣
I bet you’re also starting to feel that catching up, right?⁣
⁣
The waistline has gotten a little wider⁣
The belt is needing the next notch⁣
Energy levels are fading⁣
⁣
And you already know that you need to nip it in the bud sharpish⁣
⁣
Get things back under control before it goes too far⁣
⁣
And many will wait until the summer is over before seeking that help⁣
⁣
Which is fine… if you want another few weeks to see things slide a bit more⁣
⁣
And make it harder to pull back again when you do start⁣
⁣
I’ve spoken to several people in the past week who are already ready⁣
⁣
They’ve made that call now⁣
⁣
Let’s get this under control before they end up further behind⁣
⁣
Taking on the challenge when life is a little more crazy⁣
⁣
Because routines aren’t the same when the kids are off school & you’re fighting fires left, right & centre⁣
⁣
But they also know if they can find some structure now⁣
⁣
While all of that is happening⁣
⁣
Is going to set them up for a huge amount of success come term time again when that routine is back⁣
⁣
As always… it’s totally up to you⁣
⁣
You are in control of when you make that decision⁣
⁣
I’m gently encouraging you to make it now 😉⁣
⁣
Knowing you’ll feel a million times better doing so⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣

Top Shelf Stuff⁣
⁣
I recently had the salesman reaching for the top shelf⁣
⁣
Where the hardcore stuff is⁣
⁣
I asked him what the strongest stuff was they had⁣
⁣
And he pointed to something on display⁣
⁣
I asked if there was anything stronger⁣
⁣
He questioned me⁣
⁣
“Stronger?”⁣
⁣
As if to suggest I was some kind of crazy person⁣
⁣
“Are you sure?”⁣
⁣
“Yep, the strongest stuff you’ve got”⁣
⁣
“OK, I’ve got something for you, hold on”⁣
⁣
And he reached for the top shelf⁣
⁣
Gently lowering the sacred goods⁣
⁣
“Have a go on this”⁣
⁣
As he thrust it under my nose⁣
⁣
I take my time to take it all in⁣
⁣
My senses going wild⁣
⁣
“I’ll take it”⁣
⁣
In the brown paper bag it goes⁣
⁣
I couldn’t wait to get home⁣
⁣
To open it up & sample it⁣
⁣
Absolutely delicious⁣
⁣
Strong⁣
Bitter⁣
Dark⁣
⁣
Just how I like it⁣
⁣
100% Robusta beans⁣
⁣
A fine espresso if ever there was one⁣
⁣
☕️☕️☕️⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣

Feeling Guilty⁣
⁣
Working for yourself is incredible⁣
⁣
But it is also hard work at times⁣
⁣
Everything is on you⁣
⁣
You are so proud of what you are building⁣
⁣
And want to spend every minute pushing, growing, developing & providing the most awesome service possible⁣
⁣
But that also means there’s a guilt that sets in when you aren’t working⁣
⁣
Something I’ve found out even more recently with becoming a parent⁣
⁣
I feel guilty when I’m working that I’m not spending time with the family⁣
⁣
And I feel guilty when with the family that I’m not working⁣
⁣
I know these are both ‘nice problems to have’⁣
⁣
To love what you do so much that you want to spend every minute doing it⁣
⁣
While loving my wife & baby so much that I want to spend every minute with them, too⁣
⁣
So, I am very much having to rediscover what balance is⁣
⁣
Because it isn’t just about me⁣
⁣
I know Lara needs time, too⁣
⁣
And we have to work together as a team⁣
⁣
It’s all very new to us⁣
⁣
And we will continue to learn as we go⁣
⁣
But anyone that feels that sense of guilt⁣
⁣
I totally get it⁣
⁣
As well as the additional financial pressure because if I’m not working, I’m not earning⁣
⁣
And the guilt of not getting to the gym for 2 weeks⁣
But when I'm there, feeling guilty that I'm not back at home helping⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣

If your new business had made £2k profit for the first 3 weeks of the month⁣
⁣
You’d be over the moon, right?⁣
⁣
What if the 4th week made nothing?⁣
⁣
Most people here would lose their s**t⁣
⁣
Hyper focus on making nothing in the last week⁣
⁣
Consider chucking in the towel⁣
⁣
And feeling like everything is against them⁣
⁣
But⁣
⁣
Even if that last week makes 0⁣
⁣
You’re still £6k up for the month⁣
⁣
£6k that you didn’t have 4 weeks ago⁣
⁣
Weight loss is similar⁣
⁣
You may have lost a consistent 2lbs per week for the first 3 weeks of starting your journey⁣
⁣
And then the 4th week stays the same⁣
⁣
The immediate reaction that most will have is…⁣
⁣
“F**k this, I’ve worked so hard this week & not lost a thing”⁣
⁣
Until you take a moment⁣
⁣
Or, like in my clients case⁣
⁣
I take that moment for them 😉⁣
⁣
To remind them that they’d have bitten my hand off if I’d have said they’d be 6lbs down in their first month⁣
⁣
Putting things into perspective is a big part of what I do⁣
⁣
Because it’s really easy for you to get quite in your own head⁣
⁣
I can look in with independent eyes⁣
⁣
And remind you just how fantastically you’re doing!⁣
⁣
⁣
⁣
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