Every single week, I get the chance to speak to somebody who’s working through their own transformation journey. It’s an honour to listen to each individual story, and an utter privilege to oversee one – it’s truly amazing to find out what or who inspired them to get started.
Every client I work with, teaches me a little bit more about how people operate both physically, mentally and emotionally.
It goes without saying… a transformation isn’t for everyone.
Myself and my fellow ‘ENERGISE’ coaches are always realistic when we talk about potential time frames. Having worked in the field of physique development for 25+ years now, I can tell very quickly if someone will do very well, or if they’re, in fact, not ready for what lies ahead.
With social media littered with fantastic results on a daily basis, it’s very easy to convince yourself that you’re ready. Liking the pictures, and then appreciating and understanding the hard work, are two totally different things.
I pride myself on my success rate, and an extremely high one at that. So when someone says they want to be a transformation in my portfolio, I want to make sure they’re going to see it right through to fruition.
There is a HUGE amount of work put into helping someone completely transform his or her body. It’s not just about writing a training programme and nutrition plan.
We very often work with our clients at a psychological level. You can’t expect to go from completely out of shape – to lean, athletic and low in body fat, by thinking (and behaving) exactly the same.
There’s going to be lifestyle and psychological factors to face up to, and these can take quite a lot of adjusting to.
“To change one big thing, you’re going to have to consider changing many smaller things”
I’ve been called ‘brutally honest’ by many people – often on day one when I meet them, and for good reason…
I tell them how it is, I have a duty of care to tell them what to expect along the way.
I do this to gauge their reaction, does the potential workload scare them, or does it make them light up with excitement? You can be excited but nervous, that’s completely fine. But nervous, scared and doubting yourself from day one, isn’t a great combination to be starting with.
I don’t expect my clients to be able to picture the final result, that’s my job. I take great pleasure in listening to someone’s goals, surpassing them and then taking them to places they never even dreamt of.
Watching someone’s face when they see how they look in the photographers lens for the first time can be priceless – it’s a feeling I will never forget. ☺️
I run a results-based business, so when someone asks me if results are really possible, I just reply with ‘that’s completely up to you’ – because I know I will always give 100%, it’s down to that individual to match me.
MENTAL STRENGTH
When I reflect back on the many transformations I have achieved over the years, a positive mindset in the athlete has undoubtedly been a key asset to success.
Some transformations can take as little as 10 weeks, others can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years.
A transformation isn’t always a short term thing, so you need to be prepared and strong enough to deal with the psychological issues that will face you along the way.
Having taken many people through this journey, I can always gauge who will do well.
It takes someone who backs themselves and wants to achieve greatness more than anything else.
It takes the type of person who is excited by challenges and aren’t prepared to quit.
It takes the type of person who is prepared to get comfortable being uncomfortable.
It takes someone who isn’t frightened to acknowledge that certain areas need to change.
WHAT/WHO IS YOUR WHY?
You won’t ever succeed if you’re getting in shape to make someone else happy. This journey needs to be personal to you, an no one else.
Each time you see your results, you want to be able to look at yourself in the mirror and acknowledge your success. People who train to make others happy often resent their results, and are usually the ones who cheat on a regular basis.
Why would you diet, train hard, and bust your ass every day if the results are all for someone else?
IF SOMETHING IS WORTH DOING… IT’S WORTH DOING RIGHT!
There is the way you might WANT to train, and then there is the way that you NEED to train. When you talk to me about transformations, you’ll hear me talk about the word PHYSIQUE.
I have complete respect for large people who have committed themselves to a huge amount of weight loss, but a true transformation in my eyes is when there is a physique at the end of it.
I don’t necessarily mean visible abs, but I like to see that thought has gone into that individuals programming. Have they actually gained muscle tissue throughout the whole process?
I often get requests for meal plans or training programmes, and I flat out refuse.
Transformations don’t work this way!
The whole journey is designed, bespoke and personalised – and delivered and then reviewed week by week.
Asking a coach to do this is like asking for the recipe of a cake, and then using only half of the ingredients on the list!
I said it before… GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE!
I’m never one to hold back on intensity when it comes to the training part of a transformation.
I train hard, my coaching team train hard, and we expect our clients to train hard also.
Now there is coaching someone hard, and then there is training someone like an idiot.
Training a complete beginner to failure and adding in high intensity with technicality is just stupid.
Teaching someone how to push that little bit harder each and every week is professional coaching.
Teaching someone how to connect with certain muscles so they get the best out of every session is smart.
Most people will always train INSIDE their comfort zone, it’s where they’re used to being and that’s where they’ll try and stay.
You have to be prepared to turn up to the gym and dig deep inside, you have to learn to train harder than you’ve ever done before.
A dramatic jaw-dropping transformation won’t happen training ‘the usual’ three times a week, you’ll be asked to give up more of your week as the journey develops.
You’ll often be asked to add in four, then five and perhaps even six training sessions per week. You might then be asked to add in morning cardio sessions, which add more time to your week.
Are you prepared to sacrifice this amount of time to achieving your dream physique? ????
As a coach, it is a huge privilege to be able to help someone through their transformation journey.
Myself and the ENERGISE coaching team take huge pride in our work, and the amount of detail that goes into each and every project. Therefore it’s very important that each and every client is ready for what lays ahead of them.
If you are keen to get started with YOUR transformation – or maybe you just want to find out more…?
Click the tab at the top of any page, and book a ‘clarity call’ with me.
Steve