When I was younger, my dad told me something that changed my life.
He said:
“Son, I could give you a fish, and feed you for a day. Or I could teach you to fish, and feed you for a lifetime.”
At the time, this royally pissed me off.
I think I was asking him to make tacos or something.
Instead of just making the tacos for me (like any normal parent would), he insisted that he TEACH me how to make tacos.
I obviously didn’t have time for that crap.
I was a Call of Duty protégé, had a cartoon schedule to keep up with, and was trying to impress girls…learning stuff wasn’t exactly high on my priority list.
But, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown to appreciate what my dad taught me.
Not just in terms of skill sets, but also in terms of mindset.
You see, my dad taught me that the most reliable person I can count on is myself, and as such I should strive to learn the “how” and “why” behind everything that I do in order to become self-sufficient.
If I don’t, I’m putting my fate/success/happiness/hunger in the hands of another person.
And, although learning from others is important (a necessity, really), allowing them to have control over MY destiny is not a position I’d like to be in.
How Does This Apply to Fitness?
In many ways, but the most applicable is in the distribution of meal plans.
A meal plan is a detailed outline of meals, foods, and macro targets laid out by another person, and “can you give me a meal plan?” is the most common question I get asked on a weekly basis.
My answer?
“No.”
It’s always, “no.”
For one reason:
It doesn’t teach you anything.
As a coach, my goal isn’t to give you a fish (i.e just get you results).
It’s to teach you to fish, or to help you learn to get results on your own for the rest of your life.
If I give you a meal plan – and tell you exactly what to eat, how much of everything to eat, and when to eat it – I’m doing all of the thinking for you.
I’m just feeding you.
And, although you may be fed for a night (i.e. you’ll get results while you’re following the meal plan), you won’t be able to feed yourself for the rest of your life (i.e. you’ll stop getting results the moment you stop following the meal plan).
Well, If We Shouldn’t Ask for a Meal Plan, What Should We Do?
Learn.
Ask questions.
Offer up ideas.
And figure out “why” you’re doing what you’re doing.
As a coach, it’s my job to guide you, teach you, and push you past your limits.
It’s also my job to create programs designed to help you reach your goals.
But, it’s YOUR job to learn from these programs, and to figure out – at least on a basic level – how to handle your nutrition when I’m not there.
If you don’t – if you allow me to do everything for you – you won’t become self-sufficient.
You’ll put me in the driver’s seat of your success.
And, although I’m honored you’d trust me enough to be there, I’d much rather you be behind the wheel.
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