The Tribune

Health coach Ethan Quant, of Elite Wellness Solutions, has succeeded in his weight loss journey and now wants to share his methods with the Bahamas in an effort to foster a culture of wellness and conquer the obesity epidemic.  

One of the greatest myths when it comes to embarking on a journey of a holistic lifestyle change is that it’s a sprint, when in fact it’s a marathon.

A lot of sweat equity comes along with making a decision to be the best version of yourself. Likewise, it is no surprise that some individuals can become angry, resentful, or even depressed if results aren’t panning out at the rate they would like them to.

For this reason it is crucially important to lay a firm foundation before setting off on this journey. We find that the most successful cases we’ve seen in our years of coaching individuals are those who have a great support group.

Typically, these groups are comprised of a health coach, personal trainer, friends and family and accountability partners. It is imperative that we incorporate a great team of supporters to go along on this journey, else, failure is always a reality.

Naturally, there are at times when some on this path to change have the tendency for some on this path to change to look at things in black and white. This impediment to growth is what we call, “all or nothing thinking”. “All or nothing thinking” is one of 10 cognitive distortions I encounter in my practice as a health and lifestyle coach.

As contradictory as it sounds, particularly when we evaluate everything that’s out there in the personal development marketplace, “all or nothing thinking” can have detrimental effects to the journey of changing one’s lifestyle.

It is especially harmful when individuals develop attitudes that they either have to be perfect and rigid about their diet or fitness programme. Equally as dangerous is when people develop destructive behaviours like binge-eating and not exercising altogether. However, the beauty of lifestyle modification is striking a balance where behaviours are created to cultivate a long-term approach where change can not only thrive, but also be maintained.

Interestingly, we find that when people feel as though they have broken the rules of their programmes – going to ‘happy hour’, treating themselves to their favourite dessert, or life takes over and they miss a few training sessions – guilt prevails.

Many figure, “What’s the point?” Or sometimes, people we’ve trained aren’t disciplined enough and constantly make excuses for not holding up their end of the bargain they made with us, and most importantly, themselves. You want the positive outcome that comes along with changing your life, but waiver on the commitment to put in the work.

Believe me. I understand. I get it. I was once there, too, but the reality is that we become our own worst enemy this way.

Moreover, if we truly want to achieve success, the foundation has to be laid brick by brick. We have to develop habit forming behaviours and a level of commitment that will guard us from the on/off mindset that is prevalent in “all or nothing” thinking.

Changing your behaviour is a process just like anything else you did for the first time. You learn and relearn until it becomes second nature. Whether it was riding a bike or playing the piano, you got there by practice and repetition. Mistakes are an inevitability, but they are also necessary for growth.

When it comes to modifying your life, the same rule applies – “fall down seven times, get up eight.”

Be encouraged and also, confident that wherever you start is the perfect launchpad to becoming your best you yet. And most importantly, remember the path to changing your life is a marathon, not a sprint.