Are You Holding Yourself Back?

In some of the worst possible ways, I held myself back for a long time.

I ate crappy food.

I stopped being physically active.

I increasingly drank alcohol and stayed up late.

Except, those were not the root causes of my behavior.

There was a story that I told myself, an entirely made-up story that I clutched onto so tightly until it almost killed me.

Everything began to change once I could let it go.

Today’s email has 5 sections:

1. The Big Picture 🖼️

2. Explain It To Me Like I’m 5 👦

3. You Can Change Your Thoughts 💭

4. Actionable Tips 🎯

5. Parting Zen 🧘‍♂️

The Big Picture 🖼️

If you’re stuck in an unhealthy place, you might be keeping yourself there.

Sometimes, we’re not ready for change yet.

Sometimes, we’re not willing to give up something.

In my case, it was a deeply held belief that no one could help me. I believed something was wrong with me that no one could understand or fix.

Of course, that was utterly untrue, but because I believed it, it became the truth.

There are all kinds of stories that we believe.

Some are self-imposed. Others are external at first.

Ultimately, whatever limiting beliefs you believe will become your reality.

Until you begin to write a new story.

Explain It To Me Like I’m 5 👦

Today’s topic, as simply as possible:

“If you think you can’t, you’re right. If you think you can, you’re right.”

You Can Change Your Thoughts 💭

Here’s an illustration showing how thoughts affect food choices:

In that example, the critical thought pattern to focus on is ‘repeatedly telling yourself that you are a failure.’

Instead, you can rephrase that with practice as ‘I’m not happy with what I ate today. I made poor choices.’

The second phrasing removes the limiting belief that ‘you are a failure’.

It opens up a world of possibility.

Actionable Tips 🎯

If you’re stuck and reading this, reading is a win.

It shows me that you are ready for one more step.

Your story and the steps you need to take are unique.

Here’s what I would do if I were you:

Ask For Help

It’s possible that you can do this all by yourself, but more likely you need at least some guidance.

Here’s a link to book a free nutrition consult with me.

There are many problems outside my scope of practice, and if I can’t help you, I’ll refer you in the best possible direction.

If you’re not stuck but know someone who is, please forward them this email.

Other Helpful Tools

✍️ Begin journaling daily.

🌳 Get out in nature daily.

🪜 Start with the smallest step possible.

This really isn’t about food, it’s about getting out of your own head and achieving some small wins.

Parting Zen 🧘‍♂️

A simple word, phrase, or thought to take with you:

Thanks for reading!

Take care,

Coach Matt

P.S. New reward available if you refer to this newsletter: