[Newsletter] The Smartest Coach in the Room

What about alcohol? Every Saturday, The Smartest Coach in the Room delivers helpful takeaways on the hottest nutrition and health topics and the world’s most effective coaching techniques. (Did some amazing friend forward this to you? [Subscribe here]( Is alcohol blocking your client’s progress? Many folks enjoy an alcoholic beverage now and then. Some clients recognize its benefits and limitations, and decide it’s worth the trade-offs. [A GIF of a man raising his beer up in a pub.] But past a certain point, alcohol may interfere with goals—like feeling good, athletic performance and recovery, and/or body composition (such as weight loss). Some clients won’t be interested in discussing (let alone changing) their alcohol intake, and that’s okay. But other clients will be open to exploring the subject. They might wonder about the role alcohol plays in their lives, and be curious about change. For the latter clients, here are a few strategies to try. Strategy #1: Keep a drinking journal. Invite your client to track their alcohol intake for a week or two ([here’s a worksheet to try](. Importantly, don’t ask them to change anything for now. Just collect the info. If your client is willing to share their journal with you, review the data together. When reviewing, don’t judge or immediately give advice. Instead, look for patterns and observations. See what conclusions your client comes up with for themselves. Strategy #2: Try a “Non-caloric beverages” experiment. One of the habits we practice in our PN Coaching program is: Drink non-caloric beverages. This 2-week experiment naturally requires clients to avoid alcohol, without explicitly targeting booze. During this time, clients often make some useful observations. For example, some clients are surprised to discover how much alcohol they’re drinking, and how difficult it is to stop. Or, they may notice how many calories they consume through beverages alone. Regardless of their conclusions, this experiment is a great awareness-builder. Treat it as a starting point for further coaching conversations. Strategy #3: Play “Let’s Make a Deal.” Alcohol is just one factor among many that affects physical performance, health, and fitness. Whether to keep drinking or cut back depends on your client: How much do they drink? What are their goals? What do they want to prioritize? Help your client consider what trade-offs they are—and aren’t—willing to make. Some questions to ask: ▶️ What are you currently saying “yes” to? (For example, socializing with friends at the pub) ▶️ What are you currently saying “no” to? (For example, early morning workouts because they’re up late with friends) ▶️ What are you willing to say “yes” to? (For example, being hangover-free on Sunday mornings) ▶️ What are you willing to say “no” to? (For example, those extra two beers on Saturday night) There are no wrong answers here. The point is to help your client become more aware of their options, their trade-offs, and their choices. Alcohol is one of many challenging topics you’re guaranteed to encounter as a coach. Want more strategies to navigate these sticky subjects? Check out our [Level 1 Nutrition Coaching Certification]( where you’ll learn the art of coaching, along with the science of nutrition. [Become a Certified Nutrition Coach - Join the presale list for the #1 rated PN Level 1 Nutrition Certification]( Cheers, Camille --------------------------------------------------------------- Camille DePutter Co-author of PN’s Level 1 Certification textbook Precision Nutrition (Home of the World’s Top Nutrition Coaches) --------------------------------------------------------------- What did you think of this email? Precision Nutrition Business Insider's #1 Choice for Nutrition Certifications in 2022 --- To view this email as a web page, click [here.]( Precision Nutrition Inc. 18 King Street East, Suite 1400 Toronto, ON, M5C 1C4, Canada Finally, nutrition makes sense. Visit us at [www.precisionnutrition.com]( today. Follow us on [Unsubscribe or Manage Preferences](