Have you ever had a fitness goal? Did you achieve it? If you did achieve it, were you able to keep your results? Unfortunately most people would say no to the last question, and I am no exception. I’ve achieved my fitness goals a hundred times, but could never seem to hold onto my results. I’d get fit for a wedding, then become a heat seeking missile for calories and blow months worth of work over a single weekend. If you can relate, then you’re going to love the interview I’m sharing this week with Brendan Lund of BrainsforBrawn. He is not only an incredible force on Instagram, setting over 40 thousand followers free of restrictions and unhealthy relationships to food and the fitness journey, but he was also the coach that freed yours truly from a lifetime of disordered eating. So needless to say, I'm thrilled to share my interview with the man behind the donut, Brendan Lund in “Using Your Brain to Get Your Dream Bod”. 
What started out as a freedom project for Brendan Lund quickly became an Instagram sensation. People go nuts for his signature “donut pose” which represents a restriction-free lifestyle, which began to take on a revolution of it’s own as BrainsforBrawn followers shared their own interpretations and meanings. Brains For Brawn Rather than following traditional fitness programs, Brendan coaches his clients to reach their fitness goals at a rate that is optimal for them. Focusing first on the mental health of the client, and when their mindset is ready, putting more emphasis on their physical goals. When asked about the significance of Mental vs Physical transformations of his clients, Brendan said he would choose the mental transformations 100% of the time because it is necessary to achieve the physical transformations. Focus on Sustainability If you’re new to fitness, or have a new goal for your physical health, it’s vital to focus first on sustainability. Brendan explained that if you cannot see yourself following a specific program for the rest of your life, that is an indicator that your methods may be too extreme. You may achieve your goals, but at the detriment of your mental and emotional well-being. The fix: never agree to follow a plan that you couldn’t follow for life. A diet that consists of a very short list of approved foods probably won’t do in the long haul, and neither would working out so much that you can’t have a personal life. Beware of the Binge/Punishment Cycle This nasty cycle is not only for ex-bikini competitors, but often affects anyone who is following too strict of a fitness regime. When someone commits to following an unsustainable fitness program, they often binge eat. This bad habit not only derails your fitness goals, but also leaves you with a perpetual feeling of guilt, shame and defeat. Binge eating is often followed up with extra cardio sessions, calorie restrictions and a piss poor mindset towards themselves and their efforts. The fix: Following a plan that doesn’t leave you (literally) starving. If you have been following a super restrictive plan for a long duration of time, a reverse diet may be required. Brendan mentioned that often a reverse diet adds calories in too slowly, which drives clients to binge eat. By adding more calories, to the point where the client is satiated, there may be a gain in weight, but this will hail in comparison to the gain in mental well-being. Which is always worth it. The Flaw of Wanting to “Get Fit” We’ve all said the words “I just want to be fit” but the problem with this goal is it’s much too vague. Being fit can mean a million different things to a million different people. Which is why I had to ask Brendan share his thoughts on one of my favourite Instagram posts (shown below). Being fit can’t be defined, because being fit is being built for what you want to do. 
This post rocked my world, and shattered my perception of having a “fit body”. Perhaps my thoughts on fitness were outdated, and perhaps even dysfunctional? When I was freed from my ideology of fitness, I was able to embrace the body I currently have, ask myself some deep questions about how I really want to look, and was able to take my new-found self-acceptance and take small daily action towards achieving my goals. While being totally satisfied with my current state of fitness. It was amazing, and I hope my breakthrough can turn into YOUR breakthrough too! Slow & Steady Wins the Race While diving in and getting extreme may be the fastest way to lose weight and achieve goals, it’s far from optimal. Don’t try to overachieve, instead focus on sustainability and your overall health, including your mind, body and emotional health. By being patient and kind with yourself as you learn to make healthier life choices, you can find a personal power within you that will make radical transformation possible. Having a coach like Brendan is a catalyst for these types of changes. Everything Brendan does is to make his client feel like they are succeeding every single day, and to return their apologies for non-compliance with encouragement. I remember he once messaged me “there’s nothing that can’t be fixed” and I have never looked at anything the same since. Thank You Brendan I messaged BrainsforBrawn with a volatile relationship with food and no belief that things could be different. I write this blog today a completely different woman. I can bust my ass in the gym AND enjoy foods I love. I experience freedom and fun with food, a notion I honestly didn’t know was possible after struggling for so many years. For the first time in my life, I have a healthy relationship with food. It's a miracle. If you’d like to know more about Brendan be sure to watch our interview, and follow him on Instagram. As he says, I dare you to read a caption. {It might just change your life.} I hope you've enjoyed this interview, and that it will help you enjoy the challenges and opportunities in your fitness journey, Sending love, light and delish donuts, -L.K. |
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