The Wellness Diaries

In this podcast episode, Ashleigh hosts Mike Doehla, the former owner of StrongerU, to discuss various aspects of nutrition and fitness coaching. They dive into the challenges of addressing alcohol consumption, the impact of social media on nutrition advice, and the importance of evidence-based approaches. Mike shares his journey from starting a CrossFit gym to online nutrition coaching, emphasizing the role of passion and the need for delivering tangible results. They also discuss the health and wellness industry's trends, including the importance of discussing fat loss openly and the challenges of intuitive eating. The conversation covers the demonization of certain foods, the significance of effective communication, and the value of building personal connections in coaching. Mike highlights the joy of connecting with people and the importance of being unique and compelling in business. The episode underscores the need for genuine human interactions and serving clients well in the fitness coaching industry. TIME STAMPS Introduction (00:00:00) Introducing the guest and his background in the fitness and nutrition space. Vegas Coaching Summit (00:01:21) Discussion about the recent coaching summit in Vegas, including the topics covered and insights gained. Alcohol and Nutrition (00:02:48) The impact of alcohol on health and fitness, including insights from a specific talk at the summit. Alcohol and Its Societal Acceptance (00:03:54) The societal acceptance and reliance on alcohol as a means of decompression and relaxation, and the challenges in addressing alcohol consumption. Nutritional Wisdom and Misconceptions (00:05:04) Discussion on nutritional misconceptions, research studies, and the influence of health influencers. Challenges in Nutrition Coaching (00:07:23) The challenges faced by nutrition coaches in an age of social media and conflicting health information. Starting Stronger U (00:09:27) The journey of starting Stronger U, the passion behind it, and the challenges faced in the early stages. Trends in Nutrition Coaching (00:14:29) Comparing the nutrition coaching industry in the CrossFit space then and now, and the trends in dietary approaches. Revisiting Dietary Trends (00:15:48) Reflection on the paleo diet trend and the realization of the importance of overall calorie intake and food choices. Misconceptions About Bread (00:16:55) Discussion on the misconceptions surrounding bread and the common misunderstandings about its impact on weight and health. Impact of Food Availability (00:18:00) The impact of food availability and the role it plays in overeating and consuming excess calories. Mindless Eating and Environment (00:18:24) Discussion on the impact of environment on self-discipline and decision-making in relation to health goals. Strategies for Limiting Food Options (00:20:52) Advice on limiting food options and visibility to reduce the temptation for unhealthy eating. Increasing Friction and Mindless Eating (00:23:01) Exploration of the impact of increasing friction on mindless eating habits and strategies to bring awareness to eating behaviors. Finding Joy and Alternatives (00:27:18) Exploration of finding joy in alternative activities to replace the dependency on food for pleasure. Building Communities and Trust (00:30:22) Discussion on building communities through partnerships with gyms and leveraging client success as a marketing strategy. The benefits of fat loss (00:36:17) Discussion on the importance of openly discussing the benefits of fat loss and the impact on health and well-being. Fear of pushback in the industry (00:37:24) Exploration of the fear of pushback and potential cancellation for discussing fat loss and the impact on coaching practices and client health. Transition in the market and coaching (00:38:18) Observations on the shift in market language, coaching practices, and content posting regarding fat loss and body image. Challenges of intuitive eating (00:47:24) Discussion on the challenges of intuitive eating in the current environment and the impact of external factors on eating behaviors. Benefits of tracking and intentional eating (00:49:19) Exploration of the awareness and benefits of tracking eating habits and the impact on making intentional food choices. Simplifying meal choices and reducing decision-making (00:54:24) Discussion on simplifying meal choices and adding flavor to meals to reduce decision-making and improve adherence to nutrition goals. The bread demonization (00:56:00) Discussion about the demonization of bread and the impact of conditioning on people's beliefs about carbs. Barriers to planning (00:57:23) The challenges clients face in planning meals, including time constraints and resistance to tracking food and alcohol consumption. Factors affecting health and weight (00:59:00) Factors such as sleep, alcohol consumption, and movement that influence health and weight management. Importance of planning and decision-making (01:01:27) The significance of planning in reducing decision fatigue and the analogy of planning as a necessary step for achieving goals. Strategies for building a successful coaching business (01:05:22) Challenges in getting clients, the importance of being unique and effective in changing people, and the need to overcome shyness to engage with potential clients. Impact of social media algorithm on business (01:08:13) Discussion about the changing social media algorithm and its impact on audience reach and engagement. Building a successful coaching business through personal interaction (01:11:32) The importance of personal interaction, networking, and engaging with potential clients in person to build a successful coaching business. Lessons from a child for business success (01:12:00) The simplicity of making connections and building relationships in business, as exemplified by a child's approach to making friends. Overcoming shyness and effective communication (01:13:34) The importance of overcoming shyness and effective communication in building a successful coaching business, with examples of successful coaches who excel in personal interactions. The importance of effective communication (01:13:48) Discussion on the need for coaches to communicate in a way that clients can understand and relate to. The focus on client relationships (01:14:41) Emphasizing the significance of building strong connections with clients rather than solely focusing on marketing and sales. Attractiveness and uniqueness in coaching (01:15:41) Exploring the importance of being distinct and appealing to clients in the coaching industry. Finding joy and connection (01:16:54) A conversation about the joy found in connecting with others and the importance of human interaction. The ultimate workout question (01:18:39) A lighthearted question about choosing one workout movement for a lifetime. Concluding thoughts and future insights (01:19:29) The guest's reflections on the conversation and a hint at possible future insights for listeners. 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