PRECISION NUTRITIONVIDEO COURSE

10 KEYMENTALSKILLS

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN EFFECTIVE NUTRITION COACH

LESSON 1

10 KEY MENTAL SKILLSNutrition coaching isn’t just about the food.

Both coaches and clients need mental skills to deal with change -- and the discomfort of change.

Master these and you’ll be unstoppable. Remember, like all skills, mental skills can be learned, practiced and improved. Just start where you are.

Precision Nutrition Video Course | Lesson #1: What It Means To Be An Effective Nutrition Coach precisionnutrition.com

MENTAL SKILL 1

FocusDescription

Deciding on a course of action and then staying true to it.

Ignoring distractions.

What it might look like for a coach

Giving clients your full attention during sessions.

Focusing on your clients’ goals and priorities, even if other options seem more appealing.

What it might look like for a client

Sticking to a single eating plan rather than jumping from diet fad to diet fad.

Doing one habit at a time.

MENTAL SKILL 2

Re-focusingDescription

Getting back on track after getting distracted or “falling off the wagon”.

What it might look like for a coach

Having a way to “switch gears” between clients so that each client gets a “fresh coach”.

Showing up to each coaching session as your “best self”, no matter what happened previously.

What it might look like for a client

Scheduling a session with coach immediately after the holidays.

Having a plan to get back into normal routine after a disruption.

Precision Nutrition Video Course | Lesson #1: What It Means To Be An Effective Nutrition Coach precisionnutrition.com

MENTAL SKILL 3

Setting goalsDescription

Having a clear idea where you want to go.

Adjusting as needed, when things change.

What it might look like for a coach

Working as a team with your client to set clear objectives that are meaningful to them.

What it might look like for a client

Asking: “Where do I want to be at the end of 4 weeks? Why is that important?”

“What specifically will I work on this week?”

MENTAL SKILL 4

Following the “inner compass”Description

Knowing and living your core values and priorities.

What it might look like for a coach

Coaching with integrity despite temptations to “sell out” or take the path of easy reward.

Deciding purposefully how you want to “show up” as a coach — what kind of coach you want to be, and what’s important to you.

What it might look like for a client

Saying things like: “I value my family and being there for my children. So I want to get healthy to be a role model for my kids.”

“I value confronting life’s challenges. So I’m going to push my limits a bit, on purpose, as part of growth.”

Precision Nutrition Video Course | Lesson #1: What It Means To Be An Effective Nutrition Coach precisionnutrition.com

MENTAL SKILL 5

Self-awarenessDescription

Noticing and naming thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and how all of these things are related.

What it might look like for a coach

Staying “checked in” with your own thoughts, feelings, responses and actions as you work with clients.

Noticing which clients or situations “trigger” you into feeling annoyed, frustrated, etc.

Choosing to act maturely.

What it might look like for a client

Asking “How might my emotions affect my eating behavior?”

“How does my 7 AM breakfast affect my 9 AM workout?”

MENTAL SKILL 6

Reframing and rewriting stories and scriptsDescription

Noticing when we are writing scripts and stories for ourselves to explain the facts of our lives. Then, consciously reframing and rewriting the endings.

What it might look like for a coach

Reframing “I don’t know enough” to “I’m always learning and growing”.

Reframing “I don’t want to make mistakes” to “It’s important to me to do a good job. I’ll try my best.”

What it might look like for a client

Reframing “I hate cooking” to “I prefer simple food preparation strategies”.

Reframing “I fail every diet” to “I have fallen down a lot but have always picked myself back up and tried something else.”

Precision Nutrition Video Course | Lesson #1: What It Means To Be An Effective Nutrition Coach precisionnutrition.com

MENTAL SKILL 7

Confronting anxieties, fears, or worriesDescription

Dealing directly with anxieties, fears, and worries rather than avoiding them or trying to make them go away. Allowing “failure” to be an option, so that it becomes less of a threat.

What it might look like for a coach

Focusing on what you are learning and doing well as a coach.

Taking risks. Experimenting.

Treating all setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow.

What it might look like for a client

Speaking openly with your coach about what you’re worried about.

Focusing on what can be learned from setbacks so that “failure” is not paralyzing.

MENTAL SKILL 8

Recognizing and changing limiting factorsDescription

Identifying the things that hold you back or block you from moving forward, then either removing them or working around them.

What it might look like for a coach

Thinking about what is working and how to do more of it. Or how to remove or work around blocks.

Sample limiting factors can include a heavy client load or a tough work schedule that makes it hard for you to take care of yourself, or spend time learning.

What it might look like for a client

Thinking about what is working and how to do more of it. Or how to remove or work around blocks.

Sample limiting factors can include a stressful job or not having cooking skills.

Precision Nutrition Video Course | Lesson #1: What It Means To Be An Effective Nutrition Coach precisionnutrition.com

MENTAL SKILL 9

Self-regulationDescription

Being aware of and managing emotions and impulses.

What it might look like for a coach

Noticing when a client interaction is frustrating or annoying you.

Having techniques to calm and refocus yourself.

What it might look like for a client

Noticing when you may eat impulsively or emotionally.

Having techniques to help yourself pause and choose more thoughtfully.

MENTAL SKILL 10

Discomfort toleranceDescription

“Sitting with” uncomfortable sensations or thoughts, without rushing to respond.

What it might look like for a coach

Allowing a few moments of silence in a client conversation to let a client share an idea.

Allowing a client to progress more slowly than you would like, because it’s better for them.

What it might look like for a client

“Sitting with” urges to over-eat or make a poor food choice.

Learning a new habit.

“Feeling silly” while learning a new movement.

Precision Nutrition Video Course | Lesson #1: What It Means To Be An Effective Nutrition Coach precisionnutrition.com

Want to learn more? If you’d like to learn more about helping people find the best way of eating for them, check out our Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification program; the next group kicks off soon.

The Precision Nutrition Level 1 Certification is the world’s most respected nutrition education program. It gives you the knowledge, systems, and tools you need to really understand how food influences a person’s health and fitness. Plus the ability to turn that knowledge into a thriving coaching practice.

Developed over 15 years, and proven with over 100,000 clients and patients, the Level 1 curriculum stands alone as the authority on the science of nutrition and the art of coaching.

Whether you’re already mid-career, or just starting out, the Level 1 Certification is your springboard to a deeper understanding of nutrition, the authority to coach it, and the ability to turn what you know into results.

Visit this link for more information: http://get.pn/level-1

[Of course, if you’re already a student or graduate of the Level 1 Certification, check out our Level 2 Certification, an exclusive year long Master Class for elite professionals looking to take their nutrition knowledge and coaching techniques to the highest possible level.]