[Newsletter] The Smartest Coach in the Room

My recovery from binge eating 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]( Ever struggled with compulsive eating? I have. There was a time in my life when I didn’t trust myself around food. Not the snacks in my cupboard, and forget baking at home. In the company of a dozen warm cookies, I was afraid I’d eat the whole tray. Back then, I was in a frustrating cycle: ▶️ Binge. ▶️ Feel terrible and broken for what I’d done, and vow to “make up for it” by eating less at the next meal, or skip the meal entirely. ▶️ Get really hungry. ▶️ Binge. ▶️ Repeat. [A GIF of a woman walking in front of a snake that is perpetually going around in circles.] Replace the nightmarish snake with tormented eating habits. But I was trying to “fix” the wrong thing. Most people who experience binge eating (also called loss-of-control eating) point to their episodes of overeating as the thing to solve. They think if they can just stop bingeing, the cycle will end. If you have clients who are brave enough to discuss this topic with you, they’ll say things like, “I just need to get control over my eating. Tell me how I can stop bingeing.” As a health and fitness coach, you’re not qualified to diagnose or treat anyone with an eating disorder, but you can be part of their support team (alongside a registered dietitian, medical doctor, or therapist who specializes in disordered eating). You can also help your client figure out… What problem is overeating trying to solve? Here’s the funny thing about behaviors: They don’t exist in a vacuum. Usually, behaviors—even the “self-sabotaging,” irrational, what the heck am I doing ones—are trying to solve a problem. That’s why, instead of a problem, it’s helpful to look at a behavior like overeating as a symptom of an unresolved issue. Or even, as a solution. A Quick Guide to “Compassionate Inquiry” Whether you’re self-reflecting, or you’re working with a client, you can try asking the following questions. 🗣️ “Here’s a general question: What else is going on in your life right now?” 🗣️ “Now here’s a more specific question: What was happening in the few hours before your last binge eating episode? How were you feeling, physically and emotionally? Where were you? Who were you with?” 🗣️ “If there wasn’t food around to comfort or distract you, what are you afraid would happen?” 🗣️ “Are there times when this behavior doesn't happen?” The answers to these questions can help. They’ll start to give you some context for the behavior. You might find there are reliable patterns (like, loss-of-control eating happens whenever you feel lonely) and rational reasons for turning to food as a “remedy.” You might also find clues for how to design an environment or routine where compulsive eating doesn’t feel so compelling or necessary. From there—with kindness, honesty, and non-judgement—you can start to work on real solutions (learning how to cope with difficult feelings, changing your environment, or just making sure you’re eating regular, balanced meals so you don’t get over-hungry). The truth is, the “causes” of disordered eating habits are multifaceted, and so are the solutions. To read about the six steps that helped me recover, read: [7-years of binge eating—and the 6 steps that helped free me](. Humans are complex... ... and so are our eating behaviors. If you want to go beyond macros and calories and dive into why people eat the way they do and how to change their habits, check out [Level 1 Nutrition Coaching Certification](. It combines the science of nutrition along with the art of coaching—so you can give people evidence-based advice that they’ll actually be able to do. [Become a Certified Nutrition Coach - Join the presale list for the #1 rated PN Level 1 Nutrition Certification]( Take care, Alex :) --------------------------------------------------------------- Alex Picot-Annand, PN2, Holistic Nutritionist Editorial Director 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](