Change Requires Change

I was speaking with one of my best clients yesterday, and we realized we are both in a unique—and uncomfortable—phase with our nutrition. We are both eating more than we are comfortable with, yet our goals are completely opposite. She is eating more to lose weight; I am eating more to keep from losing it.

This conversation solidified a simple truth for me: Change requires change.

The Client’s Dilemma

My client has struggled with her weight for years. In our first year working together, she lost 40 pounds, which was life-changing. Since then, she has increased her strength and dramatically improved her cardiovascular health. But recently, we hit a wall. From an aesthetic standpoint, she isn’t where she wants to be, and her body has stopped responding.

The culprit? A sluggish metabolism caused by years of low caloric intake.

To fix this, we have to do something counterintuitive: increase her food intake. The strategy is to increase her calories by 50–100 per week to boost her metabolic rate. But for her, the idea of eating more is terrifying. She fears the short-term discomfort of feeling full or of seeing the scale tick up a few pounds from glycogen storage.

The first week on her new plan went great, and then we were hit by a major winter storm. It was a huge distraction, and I completely forgot to check in regarding her nutrition. When I checked, she admitted she hadn’t increased her food intake as planned for the second week. After a brief pep talk, she agreed to bump her food as needed and move forward with the process. 

The Coach’s Dilemma

I am on the other end of the spectrum. As a fitness professional, I average 10,000 to 12,000 steps a day. My activity level is so high that if I don’t eat at least 2,800 to 3,000 calories a day, I will lose muscle mass.

Just like her, I have to eat more than I’m comfortable with. While she is fighting the fear of gaining, I am fighting the physical sensation of being constantly full just to maintain my “ship.” We are in the same boat: we both have to endure a season of discomfort to get the result we want.

Outcomes Over Process

This reminds me of Earl Nightingale’s wisdom. He taught that successful people focus on the outcome, not the process.

There will always be parts of the process that are unpleasant. Unsuccessful people get hung up on the “pain and struggle” of those steps and stop doing the work. Successful people, however, keep their eyes on the prize. They understand that the discomfort is the toll you pay for the transformation.

As I told my client: Who cares if the scale goes up two pounds in the short term if that metabolic repair allows you to drop ten pounds in the long term?

Where Are You Stuck?

You may not be trying to fix a metabolic issue or gain muscle mass. But I guarantee there is an area of your life where you are stuck because you are avoiding the discomfort of the necessary change.

• Is it a difficult conversation with a spouse or colleague you are avoiding?
• Is it a sales call you are afraid to make?
• Is it a bad habit you know you need to break, but the withdrawal feels too hard?

We often claim we want the result, but we resist the requirement. We want the “pot of gold,” but we aren’t willing to walk through the rain to get it.

Try this: The next time you feel that resistance—that knot in your stomach when you know you need to do something different—don’t run from it. Label it. Tell yourself, “This discomfort is evidence that I am changing.”

Conclusion

If you want something different in your life, you cannot keep doing what you’ve always done. As Einstein said, the level of thinking that got us into this situation is not the level of thinking that will get us out.

You have to become a different person in your mind first. My long-time mentor, Zig Ziglar, used to say that you have to become something in your mind before you will ever experience it in reality. You have to embrace the discomfort of the new action. Whether it’s your health, your career, or your relationships, remember: Change requires change. 

Take the Next Step

We all know that change requires change, but that doesn’t mean you have to navigate the discomfort alone.

1. Ready to break through? If you are tired of staying in the same place and are ready to map out a new path for your health and performance, I’d love to help. Click Work with Kelly to schedule a quick strategy call with me.

2. Want to follow the journey? If you aren’t ready to jump on a call just yet, that’s okay. I am documenting this entire journey—diving deep into recovery, mindset, and the science of performance—every week. Subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss the next insight.

Either way, don’t stay stuck. Take action today.