Growth vs fixed mindset approach to nutrition. A “fixed mindset” assumes that our character, intelligence and creative ability are fixed traits in which cannot be changed. Fixed mindsets believe that talent alone leads to success and effort is not required.
A “growth mindset” thrives on challenge and sees failure as a challenge to learn and cultivate more knowledge. Growth mindset people have an underlying belief that their learning and intelligence can grow with time and experience. When people believe they can get smarter, they realize that their effort influences their success, so they put in extra time, leading to higher achievement.
How does this relate to nutrition? Out of these two mindsets, we start to develop behaviors and relationships with both feeling success and failure.
Someone with a fixed mindset who approaches macro tracking might find some immediate obstacles with being successful. They are challenged by learning how to make the numbers work and feel defeated at the end of the day when they didn’t meet their goal. This normally leads to clients trying to find a way to blame the “program” for the educational barrier instead of finding a way to learn and understand how to make it work for their lifestyle. If an obstacle in front of someone with a fixed mindset, they see it as proof they cannot achieve what they were striving for.
However, compare this to someone with a growth mindset who is striving to better themselves, they will take any obstacles or failures as an opportunity to learn. It may be difficult, but they are willing to take the challenge and find a way to make it work for them, ultimately leading them into success with their nutritional goals.
Here is an example of what our coaches see from our long-term clients during weekly check-ins. There is a difference from women with a fixed mindset vs. a growth mindset when learning how to track macros:
Fixed mindset: You had a bad week and you check-in telling your coach how difficult this week was along with words like ‘I suck, I just don’t know if I can do this’ Or ‘This is too hard’, As a coach it is my job to help you understand the roadblock, make small behavior changes and help you overcome that obstacle in the week ahead.
Growth mindset: Compare this to if you had a suboptimal week but you finish the check-in telling me what YOU could have done differently, what you learned, what you think you can change next time, now we have an entirely different tone, mood and we are looking at things from a positive light.
Always look to push yourself. Invite the challenge. Invite failure. It is only going to make you a better and more proactive you. Our coaches are here to help you with your nutritional goals. It’s not just about the number on the scale, dialing in your nutrition with a coach can do so much more. The best diet is one where you don’t even realize that you are dieting. Sometimes the smallest changes yield the biggest results. Need help with your nutrition? Our coaches are taking on long term clients who are ready to make the biggest change in their health and relationship with food.
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