I’m Unravelling
A stressed-out client was ready to ditch her healthy dinner for a bag of Doritos. Instead of giving advice, I sent her a simple coaching prompt—and it changed everything. Here’s what I said and why it worked.
Happy 2-Tips Tuesday!
Here are two ideas to consider this week.
By Jennifer Broxterman, RD
1. Unravelling
6:37 PM — I’m unravelling.
6:38 PM — Everything is falling apart. Pulled my hamstring. Work sucks. My kid has hand-foot-and-mouth. My brain is at war.
6:39 PM — Good me wants the healthy dinner I planned.
6:39 PM — Bad me wants Doritos and solitude.
6:42 PM — Help me, please!
Raise your hand if you’ve had to talk a client off this ledge before. ✋
Or if you’ve had to pull yourself out of a junk food spiral.
As a coach, these are the moments where Motivational Interviewing (MI) shines. Instead of telling clients what to do, MI guides them to find their own solutions.
One of my favorite pattern interrupts? A simple image and a question.
Here’s what I sent back:
💬 Me: What do you have? What do you need most right now?
💬 Her: Have – a house full of love (chaotic but full of love). Need – a quiet mind.
💬 Me: Without food or alcohol, how else can you quiet your mind tonight?
💬 Her: A bath. Ok, I’m good. Taking a bath now. Doritos are staying in the cupboard. THANK YOU!
Lesson: Clients don’t always need a nutrition plan. Sometimes, they just need space to find their own next step.
2. Anti-Burnout List
Lately, I’ve been asking myself (and my overwhelmed clients) 3 simple questions:
- Does this give me energy or take it?
- Who fills my tank vs. drains it?
- What work lights me up vs. burns me out?
Just pausing to reflect on these questions has made a huge difference. Try it for yourself—and with your clients. Because nutrition coaching is about the food… and also not about the food.
#share
Want to share this issue of 2-Tips Tuesday?
www.prospernutritioncoaching.com/blog/motivation-vs-doritos
❤️🐻🌈
Jen Broxterman
Registered Dietitian
Prosper Nutrition Coaching
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Jennifer Broxterman, MSc, RD
REGISTERED DIETITIAN & SPORTS NUTRITIONIST
• Award-winning Foods & Nutrition University Professor
• Successful entrepreneur of owner of NutritionRx
• 16 year CrossFit affiliate owner with my husband
• Founder of Prosper Nutrition Coaching & lead nutrition coach
