From binge eating to bodybuilding with Nan Saysana

Welcome to This Daring Adventure podcast!
In this episode, host I welcome certified life and weight loss coach, Nan Saysana, who shares her inspiring journey from emotional eating to becoming a coach and bodybuilder at 50.
Nan, a certified coach from the Life Coach School, discusses the importance of mindset over willpower, how to break free from food guilt, and the steps to stop overeating.
This conversation covers Nan's philosophy on decoding cravings, dissolving emotions, and declining food in a healthy way. The episode also delves into the significance of visualization and intentional living for lasting change.
Key Moments:
00:00 Introduction to This Daring Adventure Podcast
00:40 Meet Nan Saysana: Life and Weight Loss Coach
02:29 Nan's Journey: From Emotional Eating to Coaching
04:08 Discovering Brooke Castillo's Podcast
07:21 The Path to Becoming a Certified Coach
10:09 Balancing Teaching and Coaching
11:10 Transition to Full-Time Coaching
12:23 Bodybuilding at 50: Nan's Fitness Journey
16:23 Empowering Midlife Clients
17:58 Embracing Change and New Possibilities
18:54 Empowerment Through Intentional Choices
20:43 Understanding and Managing Cravings
21:54 Decoding and Dissolving Emotions
22:43 Breaking the Diet Pendulum
30:56 The Power of Visualization
Connect with Nan
Step 1: Start Here — Get Inspired by Real Stories & Practical Tools
These free resources are a great way to begin:
- Podcast Interviews – Hear real stories, insights, and wins:
- https://www.thecravingscoach.fr/podcasts
- The Scholar’s Shortcut to Endless Possibilities in 2025 – For fans of mindset work & self-coaching:
- https://nadege-saysana-coaching.kit.com/7f541747c5
- 5 Insights (and a Bonus!) – Gentle mindset shifts that work:
- https://nadege-saysana-coaching.kit.com/ec8cdf7bb2
Step 2: Ready to Stop Overeating? Use These Free Mini-Guides
Simple tools to help you feel more in control — starting today:
- Join my free webinar, Stop Overeating Now: https://www.thecravingscoach.fr/stopovereating
- 5 Simple Steps to Not Stress-Eat Tonight
- https://nadege-saysana-coaching.ck.page/b33737ad80
- 3 Easy Steps to Stick to Your Chocolate Plan Today
- https://nadege-saysana-coaching.ck.page/5416ffba36
- Finally Free: A Proven System to Stop Eating on Autopilot
- https://nadege-saysana-coaching.kit.com/6befe89d5b
Step 3: Let’s Connect!
Let’s chat 1:1 about your goals:
- Website: www.TheCravingsCoach.fr
- Instagram: @Nan.Saysana.Coaching
- YouTube: Nadege Saysana Coaching
- Email: nscoaching@outlook.fr
- Book a Free Crave Control Call:
- https://calendly.com/nadege-saysana/consultation
Nan (short for Nadège) used to be an English teacher in Paris, but now she helps people feel better about food and their bodies. She knows what it’s like to struggle with eating too much and feeling like food is in charge. She’s been there, but now she’s in control. Nan is a trained Life and Weight Loss Coach who is certified from The Life Coach School and Corinne Crabtree’s No BS Weight Loss University.
Nan used to eat when she was stressed, but now she doesn’t binge or snack mindlessly anymore. She eats what works for her and still enjoys her favorite foods, like chocolate. She believes you should enjoy life!
At 50, Nan did something she never thought she could do—she became a bodybuilder! She lost three dress sizes and feels strong, healthy, and happy. She wants to stay fit and live a long life, just like her grandmother, who’s 106 years old!
For over five years, Nan has helped people stop overeating, beat cravings, and reach their goals. She helps them feel proud and in control, no matter what. Nan’s approach is simple, kind, and focuses on changing the way you think. Her clients stop overeating, lose weight, and feel healthier without guilt, shame or strict rules.
Nan lives in Paris with her sweet cat Eva, her husband, and their two kids who speak both French and English. She believes that change can be easy and fun if you have the right mindset and small, healthy habits. When she’s not coaching, she loves to walk around Paris, lift weights, read, and watch The Big Bang Theory with her family. Nan’s goal is to help everyone create a life they love.
Connect with Trista:
Ready to go deeper? Book your free confidence audit and discover how to finally break through the patterns keeping you stuck in your business and life. Your next level is calling - will you answer? Book your call here.
Instagram: tristaguertincoaching
Website: www.tristaguertin.com
LinkedIn: Trista Guertin | LinkedIn
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Welcome to This Daring Adventure podcast where we work on bridging the gap between where we are and where we want to be in order to live a bigger and bolder life. In this podcast, we will provide inspiration, tips, and skills you need to make your life the adventure you want it to be. Here's your host, mindset mentor, and life coach, Tri
Trista:Hey everybody. Welcome back to This Daring Adventure. Today I'm thrilled to welcome someone very special to the podcast, Nan Saysana. Nan coached me back when we were both in Self-Coaching Scholars with Brooke Castillo. We are both certified coaches from the Life Coach School, and it was such a joy to catch up with her for this episode. Nan is a certified life and weight loss coach, as I said, trained through the life coach school, and she's also completed Corinne Crabtree's No BS weight loss university She lives in Paris and after years of struggling with food and her body, she's completely transformed her relationship with both and now helps others do the same. So in the following conversation, we dive into what it really takes to stop overeating, how to break free from the food guilt, and why mindset, not willpower is the secret ingredient. We also talk about NAN'S inspiring journey from emotional eating, being a teacher to becoming a coach, and then a bodybuilder at 50. It's a great story. You're going to love Nan's kind, simple, no shame approach to creating healthy habits and living a life you love. So let's get started. So welcome Nan. Thank you so much for joining me on This Daring Adventure. How are you?
Nan:I'm good, I'm good. Thank you so much for inviting me. This is so fun.
Trista:It's good to see you again. I know. Nan was my coach at Self-Coaching Scholars or The Life Coach school. And you were a coach for several years there, right? So, yes. So many times, many times you coached me and, and I miss that. and I really appreciate all the work that you did there, and it was always extremely helpful. So maybe tell us a little bit about yourself and how you started and how you got into coaching and where you are now.
Nan:Right. Well, thank you so much for the opportunity. So, well, I think I, I was always interested in thinking thoughts, mindset, except that I didn't know, really there was, something like coaching at the time. But I remember, in France, because I'm French and I'm, I live in Paris, in France, when you are in the in the senior, year, at high school, you have to go to take a class, which is philosophy and so thinking and great thinkers in history and I love that. I really love that. and then, I also, became, an English teacher, so completely unrelated to that. But I was, while I was, working and I had everything, I had always desired a husband, two kids, and so on. My life seemed to be perfect, and yet I felt miserable, and that would translate into me binge eating. Almost every day. and that means, well, having a full lunch and then followed by a full brownie, a whole brownie, and then dinnertime. And then I, I would, I was thinking about food nonstop. I was snacking, binge eating on the regular, and that made me really feel miserable and I didn't understand what was going on. And that went on for 30 years since I was a teenager until I, I discovered coaching. And so that. I kept looking for a solution. I kind of realized that dieting was actually not helping, but it, it was the only thing that was available or the only thing that seemed to be. Trendy. So I would try different diets and nothing worked. It actually made it worse. And then one day, I don't remember exactly how, but I started listening to Brooke Castillo's podcast as I know, the life critical. And, immediately I was hooked, but I was hooked. And at the same time, it seemed too weird that. Because basically she was saying that if I was doing something like binge eating, it was because of the way I was feeling, because of the way I was thinking. and it felt right and wrong at the same time. And I remember listening to her podcast and then thinking, yes, that's great, but that's weird. And stopping and then going back to it again. And then, yes, that was really relevant and that that made sense. But still, it felt weird. So I remember, going back and forth several times until I finally. Sat down and listened to the whole thing, the whole series that was available at the time, and starting really studying because that's my thing. I like to go all in. So I would take the transcriptions of the podcast and really underline what I, what made sense and think about what I was thinking, and ask myself questions and answer questions. And I noticed I was changing as I was doing that I understood. I. More and more what was going on. And I noticed also I was changing, my behavior was not the same. So that was, the proof is in the eating or the pudding or something like that. It just like, oh, coaching is definitely working for me. This is for me this, there's something wonderful there. So that's what's, that's what got me into coaching.
Trista:I love that because I had this almost similar experience in terms of finding the podcast, Brooke's podcast. I remember. I actually started downloading it like I, I subscribed and downloaded, I think it was 2015. But. I will tell you, I never really paid attention. It was one of these things, you like, you go through and you subscribe, subscribe, subscribe. And so I was, getting these podcasts but not really paying attention to what was going on until the summer of 2017. And I was so frustrated. I was in a relationship, I was so frustrated and just didn't know what to do with myself. And I thought, I need to just calm down and I need to figure this out. And so I thought, okay, I'm gonna listen to a podcast and I'm going through and I find Brook's podcast on emotional adulthood. And I sat there on my balcony and listened to this and it changed. Everything for me. And that's really the beginning of the story for me. The same way, like I started listening to all the podcasts and then in 2019 I finally joined her Self Coaching Scholars membership. And the rest is history. But, and this is what's inspired me to have my podcast as well. Yes. Her podcast was so helpful to me. I don't know whether this podcast is helpful to, it's, it, but it's a lot of fun. it's a lot of fun and it gives me that opportunity and I just thought I was so inspired by her and all the work that she did that mm-hmm.
Nan:Oh yeah,
Trista:right.
Nan:Transformational. Yes, definitely. That's so good.
Trista:Yeah. Yeah. And so you became a coach. When did you become a coach?
Nan:Right. So just like you, I started with Self-Coaching Scholars, I think it was in 2017 when, when it started. So for those who don't know it, Self Coaching Scholars was the membership that she had. She opened in 2017 and I didn't join the first month, but in April. And, I. Went all in again. And I didn't know, 'cause I learned so much with the podcast. I didn't know there was even more to learn, but I loved it. It was really so good. And I kept thinking, well, I want more. I want more. This is really good and I'm really changing and I'm noticing everything. I, I would love to have more. And, well maybe the next step is what she's offering too, is the certification program, except that at the time it was only, live and you had to go to california or Texas, and I still lived in France and I was still a teacher. So when she was offering this, it was either in January or in September, which I, nope, I couldn't, I couldn't go. So it felt impossible until in 2018, in summer 2018, I, she first, launched the first online certification program and I was just like, oh, this is for me. And I was just thrilled when I saw the her promotion. And even though it was far beyond, in terms of money, it was far beyond anything I had invested in before, 'cause it was $18,000 at the time. It was just, I never spent that much on me. In France, education is free, we were extremely lucky. So $18,000 that was in heard of for me, and yet I did it. I did it immediately and I felt good about it because this is really what I wanted. And so I went all in, in certification program. My group was amazing, the best student ever. And and we had the best, of course, instructor, also, which was, Bev Aaron. She was amazing. And I remember telling my colleagues at the time when I was still an English teacher in Paris and telling my colleagues, well, I'm studying this. This is really good extra. And I remember one colleague at some point saying, oh, so you're studying coaching, so are you planning to change career? Are you becoming a coach? I was like, no, I was really surprised. Why? Why would he think that I'm just studying? It never occurred to me that yes, there was an end, which was an end result, which was getting certified as a life coach. So the next step would make sense to be a life coach, but it never occurred to me. But he planted that tiny seed in my brain and. Throughout the year, I kept thinking, oh yeah, maybe, maybe, maybe. And I was certified. So in, in March, at the end of March in 2019. And at the same time, the Life Coach school, the Self coaching Scholars membership was looking for coaches. and so I thought, well, why not? Let's, let's give it a try. So I applied, I got in, I was really amazed and I was thrilled. And then I thought, oh, okay, so now I have two jobs. So, okay, let's do both together. And and I was really, I had a very good time, but also it was really exhausting because I had to go to my high school to teach English and at the same time, take care of my kids, take care of my house, and, and coach. So in the evening, at the weekend, I. I had the best time ever, but it was really draining. And I know some people don't see it like that, which I totally understand, but COVID happened at the same time. And for me, for that particular aspect, it was a relief because then I didn't have to go back and forth and I could stay home and rest a little bit. And, but at the same time, I knew this was not sustainable, that I had to make a choice. And so I knew. That. Yes, I loved teaching. I really loved my students. I really loved transmitting something, seeing something happen for some of them. But I knew that whenever I was coaching something would happen in the client in front of me more often than for my students. And so I chose coaching. And so in 2020 September, 2020, I resigned as a teacher and I've. A full-time life coach ever since. Wow. And I just love it.
Trista:That's amazing. Wow. Good for you. Okay. Yeah. And so when did you start your own business?
Nan:Well, at the same time, because. I, I first started actually as, as an English teacher, coaching French people who wanted to speak English, who knew how to speak English, but who were not confident in actually opening their mouth. And because of. All the thoughts they had about themselves, about their lack of vocabulary and so on. I started with this because as an English teacher, it felt the thing to do. I felt legitimate, but deep down also, I was still struggling, with binge eating, with overeating, but I knew that I. Once I figured this out, this was also something I really wanted to help people with. So I started this, first as a, an English teacher, and then I moved on to the overeating, the emotional eating, the compulsive eating, niche that I'm helping with today.
Trista:Okay.
Nan:It was at the time too. Yeah.
Trista:Interesting. And so, you began bodybuilding as well, I understand,
Nan:right? Yes.
Trista:So tell us about that.
Nan:Yeah, so I turned 50 last year and I think that when I turned 49 I thought, okay, there's something I want to do. I'm going to, I want to live a long life, so I need to do something to take care of this future self, this future me. I want her to be in the best shape possible. One thing you need to know is that my grandmother is 106. We celebrated on 106, birthday last March.
Trista:Wow.
Nan:And she, of course, she's limited physically, but you can talk to her. Everything she says makes sense. So I'm thinking, okay, if I live just like her to 106, I want to give my body the best opportunity to. To be mobile, to be autonomous, to be flexible. And so I thought, well, building muscle is something I always love doing in my own little set, but never taking it fully to, It was just a hobby, but I never challenged myself to grow muscle to get stronger. And so I did, and I'm still doing it. and I love lifting weights and feeling strong and, yeah, and it's challenging and I love thinking, oh, now this is this. That used to be so hard. Now it feels so easy. This is an amazing feeling when you think, oh, I've, I've come so far. And so I love doing that.
Trista:Yes, yes. And, and physically like that. I think it's interesting, especially if you haven't done that before in your life. I, for years I wanted to run, and I'd always done a little bit of running, but I had this idea in my head that I wanted to do a marathon. And I never did a marathon, but I figured out that I could do a half marathon because I learned you, you can do like a run walk marathon, right? Yeah. Like you don't have to run the whole thing. And, but I really feel like that decision I. And physically doing that. it just, it changed me on so many levels, but physically just taking you to, to that next level. And once you've done something like that, I just think I. It just changes your whole perspective about yourself Yes. And about what's possible. And it really does take you to the next level because like somehow along the lines, like I, I physically became stronger and even though, I might not run consistently. As I did before, I know that I sort of broke through that barrier so I can, I could do it again and more. I don't know if that makes sense, but it Oh,
Nan:totally. Yes. Challenges change us and the best because we realize, yes, we can do more than we were used to doing. And that's a, it's really basically stretching out of our comfort zone and realizing that. We can expand that comfort zone. And, yes, there's this little bit of discomfort when you try something new and you don't know what to do, what to think, what to, but then it becomes a routine. And I think, I don't know about you, but I find that it's getting easier and easier. I get faster and faster through the, all the phases instead of thinking, okay, I want to do this, but I don't know how. And it's just like, no, I go through confusion and and I get to do it more and more.
Trista:Yeah. And, and to me it's like now when I look at things, it's not so much whether I can do them or not, it's just, okay, do I wanna do it? because I know that there's work involved and I know there things, but it, I spend less time thinking about whether I can do it. Okay. And more, do I want to do it? Like, what do I want to do and how do I want to spend my time? and how do I wanna fund? But I don't question my. Right ability. My, my capacity, I guess it is. Yes.
Nan:You know, isn't it amazing that we can do anything we want
Trista:Right. At this age? And this is the thing, and are your clients mainly in midlife or are they all ages? I.
Nan:Most of them actually Yes. Are, yeah, you're right. I think the youngest one may be, must be around 35 or something like that. Okay. I'm not even sure. Okay. And maybe the oldest one. Oh yeah. Maybe the oldest one is 72 or something like that. But most of them are around, yes. the forties, their fifties. Yes. And, and they want more out of life, which is exactly what I want them to have.
Trista:Yes, yes. Because that's what I've been focusing on. Like I've been focusing on women in their forties and fifties who seem to reach this age. Mm-hmm. And are going through some sort of transition, wanna make that change, feel like they're sort of treading water, but know that. They can do more, they can be more, they can feel more that they're capable, that they're meant for more and helping them to go to that next level and to mm-hmm. And to reach that, which I think is so important, especially at this age, because I feel, I always say we're just getting started. Like, there's so much Right. We have so much living to do.
Nan:Exactly. Which is so different. I remember her having a client and she knew it was a belief, it was a limiting belief, but she. Was still believing it.
Trista:Mm-hmm. But
Nan:she was saying that it was like when one, once a woman is passed 40 years old, it's like, the due date of a yogurt, it's, she's expired. And I, it felt horrible, but I know so that, yes. Some people in society think that way. That yeah, once you are a certain age, you are no good. Which is so untrue. So true. It's
Trista:true. It's true. Yes. I think there are a lot of changes. And I think definitely I. the way we, I want to say, engage or participate in certain areas of our lives or with certain people or in certain areas. I think there is a shift and there is change, but there's such a, an opening up. Yes. Of so much more. Right. And we're able to leave behind all of the, because all of that's been done, right? Like, you've got the education, you've got, you've had the career, you've, had the relationships, you've got the house, you've got the kids, whatever it is you wanted or didn't want, whatever it is. And that's okay, that's done. Hmm. And now this, there's this wide open. Expanse ahead of us. 'cause we've, we could live for another 50 years, like you said. or more. Yes. so what's possible and there is anything is possible. Really. Yes.
Nan:And I love that idea that we can choose of future instead of, settling or hoping or wishing. It's just no. Let's create it. It's, and it's really bru tears model. It's instead of, focusing on the circumstances and hoping that they come to us and they look this way and No, let's create it, let's focus on the results. Pipeline of the model and take the steps to be that person, to be that version of us, to get what we do want.
Trista:Yes,
Nan:so, so empowering.
Trista:It is, and it's always about being intentional and being deliberate. Mm-hmm. And whether you're choosing, or Yes. What you're thinking or what you're feeling. I was talking to someone this morning and talking about regret and to me people have the same sort of idea, like with motivation or discipline or regret. It's like it's somewhere. Out here and it's going to, somehow like, oh, I hope I don't regret that. Yes. I'm like, no, listen, you have the power. You have so much more power than you realize to choose whether you're motivated, whether you're disciplined, whether. you're experiencing regret or disappointment and what is it, and really learning those tools and skills that you have so much more power than you possibly realize right now.
Nan:Yes, and knowing that regret is a choice, you get to choose. You can decide ahead of time, do I want to feel regret later on, or do I choose that? Nope. Regret won't be an option because I'm going to choose that it's worth it. Whatever, whether I achieve the goal or not. Yeah. I'm going to choose that. It was definitely worth it, whatever it is that I do. Yeah,
Trista:I know. So powerful. It, it does, it does, it really changes everything so. In terms of working with your clients and the binge eating mm-hmm. Do you have a specific program that you take them through or certain pillars of your work? what have you created for your clients?
Nan:Yeah, so I've created a course, I'm currently recording it, and it's really taking them through the, the steps and it's, I like to use three words to the, the first one would be to decode their cravings when they want to, to binge. Or when they binge, it's because they had this craving or this urge or this compulsion to eat. And so decoding the craving is the first step, which is to actually understand what was going on in their mind, what were, what were the thinking that created that, that craving. So that's what I call decoding the craving. And then we dissolve the craving. And by dissolving I mean that we, we process the emotion and it can be the craving, but it can be also the underlying emotion, too. Because when we are craving something, we are looking for something to feel better. We're looking for food. We think food can make us feel better, but if it, if we want to feel better, it's probably because we're not feeling so good. because perhaps we're feeling frustrated or annoyed, or. Or sad or something. And we, that's why we turn to food. So we can dissolve the craving, but we can also dissolve the regret, the disappointment, the frustration, all those emotions by simply feeling them. And I have a process, to actually dissolve those emotions. And then the third step is declining food. That is to say, saying no to food. But very often people are used to saying no to food, but it's in with willpower, and white necking it, forcing themselves to say no. Like, no, no, I shouldn't. But basically it's. Then thinking, I want this food, but I can't have it. And that feels terrible. That feels like deprivation restriction. And, and the problem with that is that very often it leads to the other side, I want this food and so I will have it. And so it's really this, this, shift from restriction. No, you can't have this to, oh, I'm going to have anything I want. Like a rebellion. Yes. I call it the diet pendulum. It's just like you're moving from restriction to rebellion, on and on, and it's never ending. And the problem is that it trains your brain that this is the way you behave, going from restriction to rebellion, and it becomes a habit. And that's terrible because then you feel you have no control of that. It's a habit. You are powerless. But there's a third way, which is what I teach my client, which is. Instead of thinking, I don't want this, no, I want this food, but I won't have it. Or, I want this food and I will have it. The third way is to actually think, I actually don't want this food because then if you don't want the food, you're not going to have it. So I teach them how to go there, which of course doesn't happen in an instant, but. We go there. It's fascinating because then we see what was behind the, the binge eating or the, the snacking or whatever it was that was bothering them. They get to learn more about themselves and what's driving them and what they do want in life and how they, their relationship with pleasure is like, and there's so much there. So it's so good to see them realize what's go, what was going on, and give themselves what they really want. And it can be simple just like taking a walk or, petting a cat or something like that, but giving themselves more pleasure throughout the day so that they don't feel like a pressure cooker at the end of the day, that needs so much pleasure all at once.
Trista:Mm. Yeah, because I know. Certainly food- it fills a huge void. Really. and there's so much, well, first of all, there's so much emphasis on, there's so much focus on it and it really can become that treat, that excitement that reward and we do this for years and years, so yeah. It's interesting because I feel like to me there, there's certain aspects like how do you, I. How do you move from okay. having that ice cream or that chocolate bar or whatnot to going to having that walk and making think, because it's, to me it's not comparable. It's not comparable. Right? Mm-hmm. and I know for myself, food has been such a reward.
Nan:Mm-hmm. For
Trista:so many years,
Nan:And it's good to know that for you, food equals reward,
Trista:right? 'cause
Nan:basically food is fuel for the body. But of course, it's not just that because we, it's a socially constructed, it's full of other things like reward, treat, and we've been taught ever since we were little, that food can be the solution to any issue. Like you scrap your knee will have a cookie or your board will have a, have this, and so of course it makes sense that we linked food to not just hunger, but also all sorts of emotions and. But that's something that we learned. And anything that we learned can be unlearnt. It's like anything we build can be destroyed if we want to. And so the question would be, well, when you're looking for ice cream and you're not hungry and you know you're not hungry. then it means that you're not looking for, nutrients. You are looking for something else, and you can just pose and ask yourself, okay, what am I looking for? What would I love to feel while I'm eating the ice cream? When, when I'm finished with the ice cream, what do I want to feel in terms of emotion? Not in terms of sensation, in terms of hunger or fullness or, but really in. is it happiness? Is it, rewarded as you said? And if that's so well, I just need to realize, and it's going to come slowly, maybe, but surely I just need to realize that food can never make me feel rewarded. If I wanted to hear somebody tell me comforting words and they didn't, ice cream can't either. Comfort me, but I can give myself the comfort that I need. So by, telling myself, well, you did a good job even if nobody said it. You did a good job or you did your best and maybe that's what I'm looking for in the ice cream. Maybe that's something else. And maybe I'm looking for stimulus and ice cream show is contains sugar and that can stimulate the brain. Mm-hmm. But is that the form of stimulus that I'm looking for? Will I feel more energized if I eat the ice cream? Yes. Perhaps, in the next few minutes because of the sugar and so on. But after that, we also know that there probably is going to be a sugar crash, so what kind of energy do I want? Is that this form of energy that I do want? Or is it really emotional? And if that, so how can I give it to myself so I can tell myself something? But if I need simply relaxation, what else could really benefit me? Not just in the moment, because that's the problem with food. It feels good in the moment, but then there's the. The aftermath and then we can tend to feel guilty and regret as we talked about, and then that's not pleasant at all. So is there something else that I could do that would help me feel better, not just in the short term, but also in the long run, and that's when maybe the walk or calling a friend or playing a game. Could be another option, but then I need to change. I need to see what was driving me to the ice cream. I need to decode those thoughts. and I can dissolve the emotion that was leading me to the ice cream and I can take something else, take another action if I want. It's still possible to eat the ice cream, but just knowing what's going on. Sure. That is empowering.
Trista:Right. And I imagine too, it's also a challenge to just slow yourself down and go through that process at times. Especially because I feel like there's this, frenzy sometimes if you're like ice cream or a chocolate, you see something and it all happens very quickly, right?
Nan:Yes, absolutely. Yes. I like to see, so I'm French, so we, the accordion is a, is an instrument that we do play in France. I don't, some people do, but I like to see the model just like an accordion. Sometimes it's stuck and so it seems as if that it's this time of the day, very often end of the day and all of a sudden you realize you are eating ice cream and so as if it's an accordion that's stuck. in just one piece then what we do in coaching is that we develop the accordion of that best space and so that we can see the different steps. Yes, it's nighttime and yes, you are, you are eating the ice cream, but what was between those two steps, those two different moments, and there's a thought and there's a feeling that they do to take this action. So that can be interesting. But you are right in the moment. It's very hard to slow down. So very often we start after the facts and it's okay. It's just one step. You notice, oh, I ate the ice cream again when I didn't want two. So what was happening? It's okay to do it afterwards, but I also love, so I, I'm being coached by Sarah Arnold Hall. I don't know if you're familiar with her. She's amazing. I think another amazing coach. And the other day she was saying, well, let's think of what you are feeling a bit reluctant to do as your favorite activity. What if this was your favorite activity? So I've decided that, yeah, I'm just like anybody else, and when I notice that I want to reach for the chocolate, this is my thing, of course, I want to go straight to the chocolate because I know that if I explore my thoughts, then I probably won't get this reward of chocolate. So I'd rather, rush and get the chocolate. But what if slowing down, pausing was actually becoming my favorite activity now and then that makes it fun. I. To slow down to notice what I'm thinking. Doesn't mean that I deprive myself from having the chocolate, but I I'm going to have a different experience with it. And I love to slow down indeed and also slow down when I eat, because if I want to feel good with the chocolate or the ice cream or whatever, then let's enjoy it. Let's really take our time and savor each and every bite because if I do think it's pleasurable, well, let me enjoy it.
Trista:Yeah, I like that That's very helpful. And the other thing you, I don't know whether you do any visualization as well, right? Because I was trying to think, I was speaking to a client the other day, and I can't remember the exact circumstance, but usually what I recommend to them is, in the moment, You don't want to necessarily be reaching for a new thought or, trying to do something different when you're already in it. So I recommend practicing ahead of time, choosing how you want to think, how you want to feel. So in this circumstance, let's say, ice cream at night, after dinner, watching tv. Going through that visualization. Okay. What do you want to think if that craving or that urge comes up? How do you want to feel? And can you visualize yourself going through that process and, Choosing the outcome that you want. Right? Oh, I,
Nan:totally agree. No, I love that idea. And, yes, and I see the benefit of visualizing when you are not in the moment. Because if it's not the evening and you're not exhausted after a long, stressful day, then it's going to be. You are going to be more available mentally, emotionally speaking to do that. And also I love that there's science to back it up that I remember listening not so long ago about somebody who was talking about basketball players and they had three group of, three groups of basketball players. One, they didn't ask them to do anything. A second one, they asked them to train and to practice and get better at, I don't know, putting the ball in the basket, I suppose. And the third group, they didn't ask them to train, but they asked them to visualize, visualize themselves putting the ball in the basket. And what they realized after the study was that the people of course who practiced physically were, getting better. I think it was 34% or something like that. And the people who didn't practice. Physically, but in the head, I think they were at 33% progress. So that's huge. And it means that the brain learns even when we are not actually doing it. It doesn't tell, it can't tell the difference between when we are actually doing something, when we are thinking about doing something. And I don't know about you, but sometimes I have very vivid dreams and throughout the day, the next day I'm thinking, was it real? Was it not real? I get confused. And it's the very same with visualization. We get confused, but in a good way. Yeah. And we solidify, we train our brain to think this new way, so that it gets even better, faster, easier, when it's the evening and we're exhausted extra.
Trista:Yeah. Yes.
Nan:Yeah. Wonderful.
Trista:No, there's lots of good work to be done for sure. Oh, yes. And I appreciate that and I love the work that you've been doing, and thank you so much for sharing all of this today. And I also want to mention that I also have started a new podcast called Ask A Coach, and Nan was episode one. She shared an excellent piece of advice for new coaches. So I was thrilled to have you on as a guest there. And I will link, include the link to that program as well in the show notes because if you're a coach, you're definitely going to want to check out and listen to episode one of Ask A Coach with Nan. So thank you very much for your participation there and to wrap up and to close out here, what are you excited about? Is there anything you're working on, anything coming up that you're are excited to share?
Nan:Yes, what I'm really excited about, a webinar that I'm doing on Tuesdays, every Tuesday I'm doing the webinar, but, I'm just, I like love this idea of kaizen, this Japanese philosophy, which is you do it again and again and it's just like the basketball players basically, you just keep on improving each time you do it. And so every Tuesday I do this webinar So I'm keep tweaking it and make it better and better. And so you're very welcome to join me if you want. The topic is to stop overing now without the guilt, without the shame, without the idea that we are going to restart. Start again. Start all over on next Monday. And really, talk in detail about all those tools that have, we've mentioned today, and it's, I think it's super fun, okay. You're welcome to join.
Trista:Thank you. Yeah, well, maybe we can put the link in the show notes as well so people can find that easily and that's great. Okay. Good for you. Every Tuesday. That's amazing. Excellent.
Nan:Lot of fun. Just like it was a lot of fun to speak with you today. Thank you so much.
Trista:My pleasure. Thank you for being here. And yes, it was a pleasure to have you, so. All right. Take care. Take care.
undefined:Thank you for listening to This Daring Adventure podcast with your host Trista Guertin. We hope you enjoyed the tips and conversations on how to get excited about life Again, as always, you can head to tristaguertin.com for additional resources and to book a one-on-one coaching session. You can also follow Trista on Instagram at tristaguertincoaching. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. Thanks again for tuning in and we'll see you next time.