Change work: Conversations with ActNOWfitness

Growth comes in many ways and while you might think because I work as a strength coach that most of the work I do with my clients is physical but in actuality all the big changes in my clients start with a shift in the way they perceive themselves and their surroundings. 

Without going into too much detail I will just say this client is a triathlete who has been battling a series of different injuries and is having trouble learning how to bring down her intensity level during training until her body can properly heal.

Change work:

(this has been edited only for spelling and to preserve my clients anonymity) 

Client- So I did myself in at bootcamp- shoulders and neck is a mess

I think it was from holding the weights in my hands, so I'm thinking I'm gonna save my last session with you until I'm able to do a real workout

ActNOWFitness- Sounds good,in the mean time work on "taking it down a notch" and moving but not hurting

Client- I'm trying I just honestly have no idea what 60% intensity should look/feel like

so proving to be very difficult!

ActNOWFitness- Its really simple 60% means 6/10 so if you usually do 10 of something now you do....6

leave 4 reps in tow

Client- what the hell is "6" tho!?

ActNOWFitness- ...%60 of 100?

Client- i know the numbers!!

I just don't know what it should feel like

far to abstract

ActNOWFitness- no its not, 6 *feels* like you could do another 4 but you don't

Client- oh ok

another 4 reps?

ActNOWFitness- exactly, you know you could do another 4 but you stop

Client- so only do 6 squats?

well that's lame

ActNOWFitness- well your rep range is usually 12 so modify that to 8ish

NOTHING lame about it

you become stronger by listening to your body period

Client-  Just feels like the lazy man's workout

ActNOWFitness- change your outlook and heal

Client- I'm trying, just not proving to be very successful i guess! haha

ActNOWFitness- this is an opportunity not a punishment

Client- Easier said than understood

ActNOWFitness- Learning is confusing until it clicks

Client- Haha tell me about it. I thought it'd clicked, or maybe it unclicked if that's possible. Honestly I feel like I'm standing in front of a running treadmill and my brain is screaming jump on- so I do and it just flicks me off like a piece of dust

a little frustrating

ActNOWFitness- Your at a point where your body is directly telling you what must be done and until you get on board...you suffer

Client- I've been resting for 6 weeks!!!!!!!!!

sorry- not my intention to vent at you

ActNOWFitness- bullshit, you haven't been resting properly...you are still pushing too hard

don't take my word for it, take yours

your bodies that is

Client- I have not! bootcamp on thursday was the first time I'd been out to anything since the accident

and I was on a deload 2 weeks before that with my hip

ActNOWFitness- Ok Ok lets not get caught up in time tables and details. bottom line is your body needs love that doesn’t mean do nothing but it does mean treat it like it’s just learning to workout again.

Client- trust me! my clothes are letting me know!

I refuse to go back to square one!

not happening

ActNOWFitness- so you put on a little fat, when you learn this lesson and heal up it will all come off again, no rush...you still look fucking great so get over it *hug*

Every great athlete has this same story, they get majorly injured and have to learn to take it back to basics again and its one of the greatest lessons to learn

Client- Well thanks for the support- I appreciate it. I just feel like I don't know what the heck I'm doing or what to expect so hence feel out of control which is not a good feeling at all

ActNOWFitness-Your thoughts are a little inflexible at the moment, that will change and when they do so will you

Client- Not sure what you mean...

ActNOWFitness- Just listen to your trainer darling and for now focus on %60

"I refuse to go back to square one!" = inflexible thinking

Client- But that thought is so depressing!

ActNOWFitness- Like I said it’s not punishment, its opportunity. When I was in Peru I realized I am to study NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) again and I thought awesome i'll take the next lvl of NLP and then I was instructed to START FROM THE BEGINNING AGAIN...at first I was like no way I know it already but now I know it’s going to be awesome to start again and try and see it from a different perspective...it’s a gift

Client- So you're saying i could learn to see training from a different perspective?

ActNOWFitness- YES

Client- Ok, no clue how that could be but I'm open to it

ActNOWFitness- that’s all you have to be right now is open to new ideas and concepts

Client- fair

ActNOWFitness- Now here's what I want you to do...go to the top of this convo today and read it as if you are your favourite athlete and your reading a convo between another athlete and her trainer.

Client- so read it as if I'm Simon Whitfield?

ActNOWFitness- Exactly

Client- ok....

but I have no clue how simon thinks!

ActNOWFitness- no but you can pretend and that’s enough

its called the observer position

Client- but i need to know the observer!

ActNOWFitness- nope

Client- otherwise i'll be thinking like me

ActNOWFitness- go read please and don't get caught up in details

Client- fine…

(2 min break)…wow I'm a stubborn little bugger

hahah

ActNOWFitness- learn something?

Client- Yeah actually- now i just need to believe it for what it is and not convert it into something else

ActNOWFitness- good girl

Client- It's hard to see that as taking care of myself and not as wimping out and being lazy

but I'll try!

ActNOWFitness- but "Simon" understands doesn’t he?

Client- I know! argh!

i have no comeback

ActNOWFitness- good talk girl, you’re making progress