As a mindset coach, I can spend months trying to motivate a client towards change. The aim of my first mindset session is to investigate what motivates a client to make a lifestyle change that requires psychological and physiological strength to complete.
Here are some tips for motivational support;
A “Focused Mindset”
Firstly, according to research, we teach lifestyle changes to embody the qualities of; determination, courage, unselfishness and the all-important “focused mindset”. In my first session, I aim to understand, adapt and respond to my client’s needs.
People need an incentive to push the mind and body towards a new lifestyle that requires a client to; build up their self-esteem, conditions of worth (how they feel about themselves) and to adapt their body to cope with a new approach towards eating in a new way.
Benefits of a Lifestyle Change
Secondly, research suggests mind-setting a client to find sufficient strength takes around the 90-day mark. The critical time-frame to see the benefits of a lifestyle change takes around 12 months.
This change requires specific cognitive tasks that increases self-regulatory capacity and resistance, and embrace new opportunities once the client feels they are ready to go it alone. Research demonstrates that clients have become more successful when interviewed after a six-month lifestyle programme. Skills learnt and then developed play a key role in keeping a client in a positive frame of mind.
A Supportive Network
Research tells us the special bonds with individuals on lifestyle changes may never be broken. This is due to them sharing weight-loss journeys and working together to motivate each other and embrace a lifestyle change.
The hypothesis suggests there could be some similarities in motivation by using positive psychology over time, especially with a lifestyle change. This motivation could be; goal setting, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, ie motivated by their own situation or by “Cracking the Cycle” itself.
My primary aim is to motivate my clients through hard work and pushing themselves mentally to achieve their goals in life with a nurturing and non- accountable approach. Moreover, this method can be very challenging for the practitioner and requires a tremendous amount of energy.
What Is Ketosis?
A ketogenic diet is based on the body swapping its energy system from running on glycogen to running on ketones via a process called ketosis.
Ketosis allows the body to run on these ketones, which are produced in the liver to fuel the brain.
Living on glucose or high- carbohydrate diets can affect; mood, mental health, mental clarity and neurological disorders. This is due to the variance of high and low sugars. These diets may cause long-term physical harm to the body or brain and provoke the inflammation of vital organs (Martin, Jackson, Levy & Cooper, 2016).
Ketosis has been described as a “natural lifestyle” due to us being born in that state. For example, a mother’s colostrum is a primary fuel in the first stages of life. This fact would suggest that once an individual changes their diet, they have regressed to a primordial lifestyle. It has been explored by doctors and psychologists around the world as a way to lose weight, prevent obesity and alleviate significant medical health conditions (Bosco, Camporesi & Mangar, 2015). This regime allows the body to regulate emotional states without experiencing the highs and lows of a sugar-induced stimulus.
Over a Century of Research
Research literature surrounding ketogenic nutrition dates back to 1912. The studies identified that low-carbohydrate diets could potentially lower the frequency of seizures. Investigations revealed significant weight loss, taking bodies to a healthier, natural state (Fernstrom, Wurtman, Hammarstrom-Wiklund, Rand, Munro & Davidson, 1979).
Ketogenic lifestyles do not affect the subject’s metabolic rate as it is low-carb, but high in fat. Calorie consumption is high and when the body is hungry, it seeks out the natural stored fat as fuel or ketones.
This article is by
Hannah Sadowska BSc (Hons) MBPsS
Mindset and keto lifestyle wellness practitioner
Hannah lives in Penley with her two children and is studying for a Masters degree in counselling at Bangor University.
For more information on Cracking The Cycle, visit www. crackingthecycle.com or contact Hannah on 07506 844 257.
Finally, thank you for reading ‘Motivational Support – the Non-Personal Trainer Approach’. For more lifestyle related content, click here.
