framework

daily9

on calorie counting

For a lot of us starting off a diet, calorie counting is the go-to method. As convoluted as it seems to be, it allows us to get a handle on a few important things when we look at a few days of eating and tally them up.

diet

on cravings

You decide to not eat sugar and everything is going well for the first 15 hours or so. You finish dinner and are watching some TV. About 15 minutes in, you suddenly have a hankering for some chocolates.

framework

transition from work-mode to family-mode

Once you transition, you are fully present with your family. You recharge and rejuvenate yourself. You will find stress levels go down and your productivity improve as well.

framework

if it is not about the 'what', then what is it about?

While there are a few things we should know - the fruit >> the juice, as an example, that's not what is preventing us from doing what we need to do about our health or our fitness goals. Then, what is it about?

framework

on losing work-life balance and sanity

either there's no work at all or there's too much work. As employers and companies and our co-workers adjust to the new way of doing work, to the increased pressures, trying to stay afloat, trying to keep revenue coming in, there's a cascading effect that just rocks everyone.

coaching

when I lose these 10 kilos, everything will be fine

Whether it is fat-loss or muscle-gain, we have a random goal setting attitude when it comes to it. Suddenly, one day we wake up and decide that things have to change and we set a goal with zero understanding of what it requires to get there, and whether it is a good goal in the first place.

coaching

on knowing what you are capable of

A difficult situation is not fun. It makes us rather uncomfortable and queasy. The severity of the situation compounds this effect. The situation asks a question of us. Can you handle it?

coaching

is it possible to balance things out?

Most attempt (at eating better or getting fitter) fail because of a lack of balance. As a beginner, you think only an all-out, no-holds-barred approach works. While brute force has its place, the issue with brute force is it drains you at a rapid pace

framework

can we buy more money?

we cannot afford NOT to invest our time and our money on our health and fitness.

coaching

buying time

if it is not about cramming more work, then what?! If I don't cram more work in, how will work get done? Plus, work is not a bad word. I am here to do work. That only I can do. That I want to do. And if I don't do the work now, will I have a secure future?

coaching

cleaning out your pantry

The next time you feel that commitment towards that goal, or you feel annoyed with yourself for not taking it seriously enough - seize that moment of resolve. Get rid of all the junk food. Yes, literally! Give it away or throw it away.

ArvTraining

on finding your wolf

Like the wolf, there are certain habits that have far-reaching consequences in our lives. In Charles Duhigg's wonderful book, The Power of Habit, he talks about these as keystone habits. These habits cascade into the rest of our lives, well beyond what we compute as the output.

coaching

on over-complication and understanding

We tend to over-complicate things. The simple or the obvious sometimes seems too simple and/or obvious to be true.

framework

on being too regimented

taking stock daily and weekly and adding these nudges and tweaks, and seeing if they help or not has been useful. And not constraining. I am in control, and that makes a world of a difference.

coaching

a simple drill for listening

I am thinking of a response even as the other person is finishing a sentence. To prolong the conversation, to say something witty. Or whatever. I've stopped listening fully.

training is my sandbox for life

on one rep at a time

There are many lessons that I did not learn, or completely missed the point on. Either they were too abstract for me, or I was not ready for it, or I did not have enough wisdom and/or context to understand them. Viewing them though the lens of strength training clarifies much larger lessons.

coaching

on procrastination

I have identified and called myself out as a procrastinator. From studying the evening prior to an exam, to finishing a task a few hours before the deadline, that has been me for all of my life. Almost.

covid19

on anchoring my day

Like most of you, I've found the past few months have been a bit unsettling. Most of the routines and rituals established were now gone, and new ones had to come in.

running

on desired outcomes

The only issue, and it was a huge one, was actually going running. I disliked it. Vehemently. I sucked at it. It was cold. It was hard. It required waking up early in the morning, which was not something I did. Did I mention I sucked at it?

coaching

on plateaus

Plateaus are part of the game. They are part of the plan. Don't dread them. Expect them! They are an essential milestone on your journey.

coaching

on labels and identity

Labels are useful and necessary. They are part of our identity, and how we sometimes find community. It helps us find commonalities and explore things together.

coaching

how do you start with this fitness thing?

Not knowing what to do. Not knowing that we should be doing something. Not knowing where to look for advice. And caught in the "I have a career to think about" leads to getting out of shape.

coaching

on Tom Sawyer

fall in love with fitnessI love my job. I get to coach strength. I get to see people transform themselves, and this goes way beyond fat loss. I get to

coaching

turn the AC all the way down

Sometimes, we have the wrong mental models about how things work, and they affect us. The AC thermostat is an example of where a flawed mental model does not affect us.

framework

taking a day off

give my brain some distance from the daily work, and the busyness. As well as let it be less lazy by doing tasks that I normally would not do.