Jess mentioned an interview she saw with a senior NHS bod about a new non-surgical weight loss treatment known as a “gastric pill balloon”.
The way it works is very simple. You swallow a pill-sized gastric balloon with a little tube attached. Your doctor then inflates it with water using the tube before popping it out and sending you on your merry way, secure in the knowledge that from now until the balloon dissolves, you can’t eat as much so you’ll lose weight.
But what happens when the balloon dissolves – surely, you’ll just put all the weight back on the moment you can eat “normally” again?
It’s a good question, and one I was surprised to learn the journalist asked.
The response?
A throwaway remark about a behaviour change programme to accompany the magic pill.
Give me strength…
Look, it’s not that “behaviour change” isn’t important because it is, and fundamentally so.
However, the way most people in the diet, fitness, and wellness industries go about it is profoundly flawed.
I’ll explain:
Let’s pretend you’re the sort of person who struggles to go to the gym consistently.
You make the bold and wise decision to do something about it, so you hire Dave, the PT at your local gym, reasoning that paying for PT sessions is the best way to make sure you turn up.
Dave is delighted. You’re his ideal client because you’ll stay on his books for ages without him having to do very much. In fact, it’s in his financial interest not to help you overcome your struggles with motivation and discipline.
Despite this, Dave can correctly argue that he has facilitated “behaviour change”.
How?
You didn’t go to the gym regularly and now you do.
Job done, right?
Nah.
You’ll fall off the wagon as soon as you stop paying him.
Why?
Thoughts inform actions, and as your thoughts around training haven’t changed in any meaningful way, the moment you remove the “stick” (in this case, losing whatever you paid the PT for a session), you revert to type.
Another example:
My parents have a springer spaniel called Lucy.
Lucy has a lot of energy, and there’s a real risk she might tear the head off my daughter’s favourite cuddly toy.
The only way to mitigate this risk is to continuously control her environment (e.g. shutting doors) and issue commands “in the moment” because dogs can’t think, so you must tackle their actions – their behaviours – directly. (The same also applies to young children).
On the other hand, when you’re dealing with a thinking human being – as Dave the PT was – you actually have a shot at delivering long-lasting or perhaps even permanent change, but only if you overcome the faulty thinking that’s responsible for the deleterious behaviour.
That’s what I do.
It’s my duty to show you new perspectives – simpler, better ways of training, eating, and living – and invite you to reflect on how you might apply them to your specific circumstances.
In so doing, I’ll change your thinking which will enable you to change your behaviours.
It’s not a pleasant process, and you probably won’t like what I have to say all the time, but, honestly, I’d be worried if you found it easy because it would indicate you’re not thinking deeply about my teachings or I’m giving you an easy ride.
Anyway, the latest of these “new perspectives” is my unique approach to training your back.
The back is, arguably, the most important body part of all because it’s taxed constantly – both inside and outside of the gym – so, if it’s weak, you’re at constant risk of a very serious injury.
Plus, I’ve yet to meet a chick who doesn’t love an upside-down triangle back.
I reveal all in February’s issue of The Phil Tyreman Letter.
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Thank you,
Phil Tyreman