Welcome to the Glenn Macintosh show. I'm Glenn Macintosh author YouTuber developer transformational online programs. You can do all over the world and psychologists who is super passionate about eating physical activity Weight and Body Image, please join me for inspiring conversations with world leaders as they share innovative ideas based on the latest scientific evidence.And they're rich personal experiences. We dive deep exploring all of the subtleties. So you understand exactly how to make peace with food find joy and moving your body Embrace a positive body image and generally just kill it at life. You'll also hear some podcast of all parts of my Q&A video series Thursday therapy and a bunch of other cool stuff. I know you'll love whether you're tuning in for yourself.Your health professional looking to better support those you serve welcome to the Glenn McIntosh show. This episode is brought to you by the missing piece ebook a free ebook written by yours. Truly. I wrote The Missing peas as mindset is often the missing part of the puzzle when it comes to your eating physical activity and Body Image. It's a great intro to the power of psychology and I give you my seven favorite hacks to quickly transform your relationship with food physical movement and the body you live in You can download it at the longest website in the world. Www dot weight management psychology.com a you and just wait for the lovely pop up the come up or you can get it directly at www.weiu.net achievement. Psychology.com a u /v - missing - peace - ebook. It's a Really easy read people absolutely love it. And I know you will too. So make sure you head to the website and download your free ebook today. Today's podcast features the one and only Louise green. I love this podcast. It was the first one I've ever done and I found myself in the middle of the conversation thinking I really love doing this and I know you're going to get so much out of it. I did get a little excited. So you might have to bear with me talking a Touch Too Much and break. Bringing the conversation to strange areas like poodles and all sorts of stuff. But that's why I started the podcast bring these real and amazing conversations that I'm having with people straight to you so you can hear them and I'm sure you're going to feel like you're just there with us Louise is such an inspirational and intelligent woman the way that she thinks about Fitness and diversity in Fitness messages is really thought-provoking. And she's a great example of someone who's really on the same page as we are but extends beyond our work into a niche that she does just so well, there's a great quote in there about trainers being like people who clean your gutters and one stage we get really deep as she shares her experiences and a wonderful tip on how to avoid the temptation to focus too much on weight loss. It's a really great interview. So here it is. is So ladies and gentlemen for the first ever interviewee. We have a really special guest. We got Louise green who is a fitness activist a global coach, which we're going to talk about and the author of this fantastic book called Big fit girl. I love this book. My clients absolutely love this book and you can get it in bookstores all the world around for the past decade Louise has been disrupting the fitness industry. Leading this counterculture movement to for women to unleash their inner athlete at every size. So we're going to talk a lot about that and through her work has been honored as one of the top trainers to follow by Self Magazine and five Canadian women boldly changing the World by women of influence Louise is on a mission to change the fitness industry and to widen the gap on what it means to be healthy and fit and she encourages women to Define themselves. Through endorphins not weigh ins which I absolutely love and her message is Amplified through her online coaching programs, which were going to talk about her speaking engagements and through the media. So Louise appeared on the Steve Harvey Show, which would have been really cool. I imagine UK is BBC and ITV and Australia's Morning Show. So that's where I saw Louise and I kind of instantly fell in love with her. And I know that you will too. So without any further Ado. Let's get to talking to Louise and maybe also her dog who wouldn't leave the room. Thanks for being on the show Louise. Oh, thank you so much for having me. I'm super excited to be here now weird question to start you off. I think it's so important that people see us health professionals as people not just these kind of perfect. It beings, so can you tell me a little bit about your dog? I think it's just good to see you as a real person. What sort of dog do you have? What sort of dog white might we be hearing from later on I have an English bulldog. His name is Henry and he is the most stubborn animal I've ever met good man. I was trying to get him downstairs. So he wouldn't interrupt our conversation. But when he decides he doesn't want to do something. He's not doing it. I like it. Very good. Hey, you know that reminds me, but I don't know if you've seen and that that poodle science video. I don't think so. Okay and everyone listening if you just get on YouTube and look at poodle science, it'll come up it comes from the Australia the the association for size diversity and health. It's a little YouTube video and this is just reminded me. This is so much what we're talking about. What what they talked about in the video is that people are not all these skinny little pretty Poodles that some of us are Terriers and some of us a master of sin. It's not about trying to make a Mastiff into a little poodle. It's about making a Mastiff the most healthy Mastiff that it can be and so our all different shapes and sizes and about kind of Embracing Health and well-being and success at all shapes and sizes. Now, I know that that law is a language that you speak and you've had a really kind of interesting. Testing approach to seeing your health and fitness in a new way. So can you tell us a little bit about that? I think that I have basically I started out in my own fitness journey in a larger body and you know through my own personal experiences kind of built a business on it. And so I started to kind of put out there what I was feeling. I was feeling a little bit sidelined. I was feeling that the fitness industry wasn't that approachable for me? And when I actually built up the courage to engage in it, I felt that a lot of trainers didn't understand how to work with my body. And so I just kind of created a business that was built on that experience and Shirley I couldn't have been the only one and it turns out I wasn't it. I think that probably you would be in the majority because it sort of seems to me like I do a fair bit of work here in Australia Training Fitness professionals and it sort of seems like Like most of their training is geared towards people who are probably younger people who are in smaller bodies and and they're sort of that they're not really in most circumstances really taught. Well how to deal with the bulk of people in the world that don't have those sort of bodies exactly. I was having that exact conversation with the women that I coach about an hour ago, and basically Trying to let them know that it's not necessarily that trainers don't want to rise to the occasion of their clients is that they're simply not taught how and I think that's an absolutely great Point Louise is because I've had the exact same experience. I think that sometimes and maybe sometimes for good reason trying is get a bit of a bad rap because they there maybe not so great at working with people who are in larger and heavier bodies and maybe not so great at working with people who are are not so comfortable. Comfortable in the the fitness Arena but my experience of them is that they're they get into the job because they are super Keen to learn and there that they they just want to help people and I think that's why it's so good to have people like you out there who can show them a different way to to do what they really want to do is help people. Absolutely, and I you know, I was I'm very pleased to hear that you're involved in the education process of trainers because it's something that's very lacking here in North America because we're we have one Paradigm that's being taught and we don't really have other voices within that Paradigm kind of speaking a different language. Yeah. Yeah. So I mean now is to Louise we probably have, you know, a lot of our audience or just the general Career interested in Health Fitness eating weight body image, but we also have a lot of a lot of fitness trainers and a lot of dieticians and psychologists that follow works a lot of health professionals. What would you say, you know, if you could give one piece of advice to to Fitness professionals who are looking to move into this space and become a bit more weight and size inclusive that are probably not trained that way what would you say to them? Well, I think the first piece of advice that I would give is that not everybody is there it's not their main objective to get bikini body ready. In fact, most people are kind of beyond that. They are more looking for things like better Mobility better energy levels reducing medications, you know, just living life with more ease and so, you know, It's not about let's let's burn off as many calories as we possibly can to get you into a size. Whatever dress I know are sizing systems different so I won't quote sizes. Yep, but you know, it's not everyone's goal to to do that. And so I tend to focus more on. Yes, if if you were lighter, you would probably have better Mobility. So let's focus on your Mobility not getting you on a scale every week and focusing on weight loss. So it's and of a bit of a flip turn on the objective and then also, you know to really try to put yourself in the person's circumstances and position and have some compassion for that. So, you know, really try to think about what it might be like to move around in a 300-pound body and and what it might be like to just do squats and lunges, you know often that are being prescribed by trainers. When they're just highly inappropriate for the person's body type. Yeah. Yeah. It's a really really interesting one. I we have a we call it Monday movement here in Brisbane our size diverse personal trainers run like a weight inclusive exercise group and it's been running for a little while now and they finally let me come but they made me wear a 20 kilo weights vest and the experience of it was completely different. It wasn't you know that the guys ask me afterwards and said Then what was that like for you? Is it harder on your muscles words that you know, you more fatigued and I said yes, yes, but it really sort of it turned exercises that might have been a workout not only into something that was a bit harder, but it was kind of it felt almost a bit dangerous at times. I had to watch my joints and my hips and it was a really care for me. It's to sort of have that experience ago. Wow, this is it it really fundamentally changes things. Doesn't it? Absolutely and not only that the cardiovascular earlier does I mean when you're when you're doing squats With that much extra weight on your body like it jacks up your heart rate. So you're not only fatiguing the muscles and the joints but you're also your heart rate is up quite a bit and it just makes the overall experience so much more difficult. Yeah, and it's a really good point and I think Louise, you know, that's a really good tyke arm for any Fitness professionals is to actually really kind of walk yourself through your whole practice, you know, the way that you greet clients the way that your gym or Your exercise environment is set up the exercises you do the way you talk to them everything. I remember Louise. I was lucky enough to host a workshop a few years ago for Linda bacon now and she asked all of us. It was about probably 220 psychologist in the room, and she said look guys, I want you to go through an audit of your environment and see how kind of fat friendly your environment is and I got to admit though as I was highlighting my Absolute ignorance because I kind of thought I do this full time this eating weight body image stuff. These are my clients. Yo, yo dieters who are always in larger bodies. I thought I've got this down and she said no, I want you to go and look and and there was some pretty significant adjustments that we made to our office after that. I had to go and look and think well, you know what my chair is actually it fits the people but it's actually not that comfortable if you get someone who in our language weighs over 200 kilos. I'm not sure what that is in. In in pounds and so we went and got a new chair and I've got an upstairs office. It's only a few steps up to it. But those few steps actually made it really uncomfortable for people to get up who had knee injuries or weren't very fit and it made the start of our conversations a bit like a like, you know how people interview athletes after the after they've run like a 200 meter race and it was a bit uncomfortable. I thought wow, this is sort of stuff that I've been doing it practicing in this space for maybe five or six years and really I didn't realize the person's experience. I think that's a great thing for people to kind of walk themselves through the way they work with people and really yeah and you you said tying. Also Louise it was I think really really interesting that because I think that we sort of live in a culture that we're told that we want weight loss and it seems like having that like that bikini body that you say is the like that's the key to health and fitness and success but it seems like what you're saying is that rather than try and Target like something like Mobility or Target Fitness through the vehicle of weight loss you work with people to kind of tackle that directly if you want to get more mobile. Let's work on getting you more mobile. If you want to get fitter. Let's work on improving your Fitness not see that as having to happen through weight loss. Well, I see the weight loss as a by-product so you It is it's an added benefit that often happens when somebody starts to introduce regular physical activity and healthier eating into their lives, but it's not the focus because I work I work solely with women. Yep, and there are so many women the majority that tether their value to their weight. Absolutely. Absolutely. So can I ask you a question coming from someone who you know, probably not. 90% of the people I work with are women. How do you help people actually D emphasize the scales and actually take the focus off the weight and view it as a byproduct of being a healthier fitter person because I think that I see in my practice a lot of people who are kind of almost give lip service to that idea because they know the way that I work. That's all. Yeah Glen know. I know that it's not about the weight that will just happen, but then they get really upset if they're not losing weight or they kind of feel like it's not Working if the white doesn't come off as fast as they want. How do you actually help people kind of live that that that ideal that they are much more than the number on the scales and that that that their size and shape doesn't Define them. I realized our big question. It is a big question in my I actually no longer working with people in person. But when I was we just never weighed people for one and now Now with the women that I coach online, there's no weighing component to the program. And the other thing I wanted I always want to know from somebody is what is your definition of working? Because a lot of people will say especially when they're using this scale as a measurement of success this isn't working because we know that it is difficult to lose weight. So often if that is the measurement then each week, you know, it'll it'll be very small. Increments of weight loss if it's being done healthfully and so I want to know what does working mean to you before we even start. So what would what would success mean to you? So, you know get an idea of the list of things that would equal success for them and and to try to steer them in a way of how do you want to feel so so really not about what do you want to weigh? But how how do you want to feel in your life and and kind of look at those those measurements of success? And then as we move along they will start to feel that way because we know that exercise and and eating healthfully makes people feel good. So normally they'll say I want to feel more comfortable in the body that I have. I want to have more energy are I want to sleep better at night. I you know, I have sleep apnea. I don't want to use the machine anymore those types of things we tend to hit those marks. Hers because we're not tethering it to a scale. But at the same time there is often a byproduct of weight loss and sometimes there isn't sometimes there is no no measurement of weight loss but yet they're reducing medications or they just have an all-round better life. Yeah. Yeah, so it's sort of something that you don't dine almost promised the weight loss if I get it as a by-product then fantastic, but it doesn't become the focus your kind of really setting a holistic goals. Yeah much more so I mean you and I both know that for consistent weight loss there has to be quite a focus on nutrition. And so that will depend on the individual. Yeah. It's a really it's an interesting thing that I feel like when you were talking about say, you know helping someone get off their their sleep apnea machine or Become fitter or feel better in themselves. I almost feel like those goals are a lot more achievable for people. I think that's easier than than weight loss. And I think that's a good thing. Well, I remember, you know dieting for many many years and the people would whip out a chart that I was supposed to fall within and a body mass index and what they were telling me I should weigh was probably what I weighed when I was 13 years old, and I just remember Oh thinking God, that's overwhelming. That's a large amount of weight that I have to lose in order to be defined as successful. And so especially when you've got people that are 200 kilos like saying to them, you know, optimally you need to lose, you know, 200 pounds or 150 pounds. It's just an enormous amount of You know same so hard doesn't it when you say that soon as so hard and the other thing healthful weight loss is you know, it's not as sexy as it's sold it's sold as drop 3 dress sizes in 30 days. And so when you actually tell people in order to lose that hundred and fifty pounds in a healthful way, it actually should probably take you a year to two years. That's not very sexy. That's that's I don't want to hear that. Yeah. It's and it's an interesting one, isn't it? Because that It brings me to another question that that that I've got for you. Is that that you know often I think what I say to people is that what I'm going to to sell to you in sessions is not sexy slow change where you're actually creating new habits. That's not sexy the results. You will get in a year from now 18 months from now two years from now that's going to be really really sexy. So how and I think you do a great job at this I've seen a bit of your marketing. How do you make these? He's you know that people feeling better and empowering themselves to unleash their inner athlete. How how do you make that sexy in a world where it's sort of like, we you know people like you and I we don't have the biggest marketing tool that there is fast easy weight loss, you know, we can't we catch up with our marketing consultants and they almost they love us for a lot of reasons were pretty good clients. I hope but but then they kind of bang their heads against the wall and just say why don't you just like mention Law, so why don't you just mention fast while it like you're losing so many people how do you you know, because I think that's a really tough thing to help engage people in a world where you don't have that that big powerful marketing tool. I think that there's definitely an audience of women that have been stuck in diet culture for years upon years upon years and spent thousands of dollars that are ready for another Paradigm. And so what I'm saying to them is it's not it's not sexy. But it I make it sexy in that it is finding your, you know, power and freedom to take back Fitness and own it and do it in a different way. And really Unleash the Power Within and then all kinds of benefits come from that, you know, I will say and I don't know if this is a cultural thing, but the women that I coach from Australia really struggle with it. Hmm it really the women. Yeah. Oh, yeah. What do you think? It is about the the girls from Australia that you notice the the telling me that there? They are bombarded with diet culture regularly whether it be in the office lunch room. There's food policing there's everyone's restricting. I don't know exactly what the climate is therefore for a diet culture. But from the women that I'm coaching, it sounds like it's quite strong and that the body positive movement as far as being a little bit more self excessed acceptance accepting and loosening the reins on that are not as Liberal, so to speak as maybe in North America. Yeah, I think well, you know without having any anything to necessarily compare it to most of our clients that we see are in Australia here in Brisbane, but also some online clients but most of them are are in Australia at least and I think we do diet culture brilliantly. Well, yeah, it's just it is amazing and it is it's actually it's one of the the biggest challenges that I I have and I feel like in my sessions I'm constantly helping people remind themselves and relearn this idea of body positivity and it's interesting. I asked asked our Facebook group for anyone who's interested in joining our Facebook group. It's the longest name Facebook group in the world. It's the psychology of eating movement Weight and Body Image Facebook group will provide the book details in the show notes with the group actually renamed He chose because it used to be the weight management psychology group. And then we decided for a few reasons that that wasn't the name that we wanted to have. And so we asked the groove to rename it gave a bunch of options and they felt like that was the best one because some people are really interested in eating. They don't care less about their way. We have some bariatric surgery clients in there who are who are you know, that's a, you know, typically a weight loss surgery then we have people who are just in it for mostly interested in the psychology of exercise. And so we of all sorts of people. But anyway, that's the group but that was actually II told them that I was going to meet with you. They were super duper excited. But but they had some questions for you and I think the the main theme of the questions there was a lot of different questions but a few of the guys Liz and learn are and Fiona particularly, they really ask that question. They said look, can you ask Louise? How do we do this and it funnily enough? I think all three of them are from Australia they said how do you develop this this body positivity in a culture? That is so white bias like some of the things I said is how do you ask you if you if you experience shaming do to your body and how do you deflect that and support your own psyche to believe in yourself linear said, how do you maintain a positive body image or confidence when those around you? Don't IE hearing? Others body shame hearing people who are smaller than you talk about being quote unquote fat. Fiona said, how do you talk to yourself? When it when you're around those people that have been your greatest triggers for fear and self-loathing. So I think it is it is a really massive barrier here in Australia that that very pervasive diet culture. So what advice do you have for these guys always so within my coaching programs I kind of People just start to change their sphere and so, you know change change the messaging that they're getting and that and that can be hard and this is where the ladies that I coach from Australia really struggle. They say I'm fine when I'm in the group, I'm fine when I'm out doing the things that I do, but when I'm around friends and family and co-workers, it's Relentless. So I you know, I really think that if you can have positive influences in your life that are talking a different talk and it will be hard especially if you are in that environment and and you're living in a culture that's especially so but to go to social media and to seek out there are many social influencers that are super body-positive, you know athletic maybe they're not athletic but their their fashion base that are really disowning the their body that they're in there. You know, they're trying to live their best life in the in the body that they have being the healthiest that they can be and really feeling your inbox with that and people like yourself like they you know that you know health professionals are probably the biggest culprit as far as you know, weight bias information. So, you know finding the health professionals that aren't such as yourself and your team and and really To surround a sphere of people whether it be online and Offline that are that are speaking a new paradigm. I absolutely love that. I absolutely love that. I think that it's it is you know, it's so hard to be the the fish swimming in the opposite direction. And so you need to be sort of finding a new current of fish that are swimming in a similar direction to you before you can really develop that that really deep felt subconscious sense of Acceptance of yourself. So let's go quickly. I think on that note. How do people find you on Instagram because I just looked at just your name Louise green. Is that the best way? Yeah Louise green. The actual handle is Louise green underscore big fat girl and you can follow me to guys. It's Glenn Macintosh with a double end dad was generous to Macintosh is spelled the weirdest way to spell Macintosh has three ways and Is that the least common it's micek int? Oh, sh who else do you like in the the Instagram World Louise that that that a good body positive follows? I like a dietitian down here Fiona Sutherland the mindful dietitian. I also really like Isabel Fox and Duke. Yeah, as any other ones that you could recommend that that people because I love that idea of widening the the sphere or moving into a different sphere anyone else that you really love that we should follow. One of my favorites is Myrna Valerio, and she is she's on Instagram as the Myrna Vader and she is a plus-size ultra-marathoner. Wow, incredible. You know, I'm very much really love the work of Terran, bro. Said he was in Australia who's done the documentary Embrace Love Tara. Jessamyn, Stanley is another Yogi. That is very body positive. I mean, I'm certainly happy to send you a bunch of influencers for people to kind of widen their sphere if they're looking for more body positivity in their life who are listening will put put all of those in our show notes because I think that's really cool. There's been a couple that I haven't heard of their Myrna Valerio. She sounds amazing. So yeah, I think that's really good advice. As you know, there are these almost these little subcultures these little pockets of people who are thinking a whole new way about those things and you really need to connect with them. So I love that advice now that actually brings me to another question Louise. What about because I think that you know, sometimes I find say for example in my practice and anyone out there, you know, who is in this sort of On diet body positive kind of space. We have our own little pockets of doctors and dietitians and trainers and everything that speak our language, but often I will get people who are you know, they're seeing a trainer who's not one of our trainers or they're seeing a dietitian who's who's not one of you know, one of the ones that we know and you let's stick with trainers because that's mainly your area. What would you say to the zillions of people out there who are you know, working with a trainer currently and finding these things, you know, I get this all the time with my clients to find me at the you know, the trainer might be kind of sort of a little bit into these ideas and a little bit accepting but really still coming from that weight bias kind of perspective how like, how can people talk to their trainers about what's going on for them? I think it's you know, ultimately I always say this to people and I think I wrote about this in the book as well as that there tends to be a bit of a hierarchy with a client and train a relationship often clients, especially if they feel that they're overweight feel that the trainer knows everything. There are the absolute picture of Health. They've never had a cookie and that there's this bit of hierarchy going on and I always say to people that I want you to think of your trainer as somebody like you would hire a somebody to come clean your gutters. So there's Mickey there's no he knows way more about life than I do. Yep. It's a simple person for higher. Right and you're going to kill that person exactly how you want your gutters cleaned. Yeah. I love that. Why do we become so apprehensive when it's a trainer relationship to stand up we would like that person that we've hired uh-huh to work with me. So I think that's fantast. I want the people to to recognize that this is you're the boss you're hiring this person and you will dictate to that person how you want to be treated. Yeah. I love that. That's what I said in my client says was your the at the end of the day you're paying them. So you gotta get it like you like it and I find that the funniest thing because we have this this interesting way of doing it in. In our out with our trainers is that I refer my guys to one of our size diverse trainers Grayson or Wendy and then that you know, Grayson and Wendy are kind of trained to to you know to to work with people and make them feel comfortable and and work in a way that that people who are larger and heavy art are comfortable with and then the client comes back in and they say to me I say, how did you go with Grayson and they say, oh really? Yeah great. Fantastic and I say, what did you hate and they kind of look at me like well, can I say that and I guess I really didn't like this and that but the even in that environment where I've kind of set them up there working with a different trainer. They still don't necessarily feel completely comfortable to say. Hey, I really like doing this or hey, this is feels a bit uncomfortable for me or a bit unsafe then we feed it back to our trainer, but it's you know, it's almost that the people really need to do a lot of that heavy lifting themselves in that that trainer session and go. Hey, this is I'm the boss of the trainer I'm paying the Like any kind of consultant? I love that that that sort of like a metaphor of someone to you getting to clean. The gutters are clean the yard and say hey this is this is how I want to be trained. Yeah, you could have every right you have every right to ask and you know, it doesn't have to be confrontational. It doesn't have to be demanding. It's just hey, this is how I want to be treated. I don't I don't thought I you know, I will best respond if we do it XYZ. Yeah. Yep, and then I suppose then it becomes once you're absolutely like why you went to you're communicating politely and in you know in the fashion that's right for you with the person that comes at natural progression. Can they sort of grow and learn with you or or do they kind of stay stuck in their ways and that can that kind of helps you understand whether they're the best trainer for you? Absolutely and I also want to encourage people, you know, I had a time to go through an interview process, you know, if you're looking to hire a con. Actor for your home, you would probably want to get some references and look at their past work. And you know, cuz I what I really try to avoid happening for people as a bad Fitness experience because most people have had those and then if they finally build up the courage and and to go back into the gym and then they have another one, you know, I've worked with women that have said, you know, I haven't I haven't come to the gym for 10 years because I had this one experience that really was Difficult for me and and and so I try to get people to not have that bad experience before going and and really suss out. If is that trainer the right person for you beforehand and you have every right to ask questions and due diligence and check their bio. And and you know, the trainer wants to know what's a good fit to yeah. Absolutely, you know, if they are someone that just wants to kind of smash you into the skinniest fittest person, then they're probably not going to be that happy. Training you if that's what they fundamentally believe. I absolutely love that idea of the interview process because you know Louise is a psychologist. I do see that the damage that that causes not only to your relationship with exercises having a bad experience, but just just to you psychologically and I think that if you do get someone that's been burned a few times that they're being brave enough to expand and grow and be brave and take that deep breath into to you know, get going back into that movement for a then the last thing you want to have is for them to get burned again and it'd be another 10 years before that. They're going to start again. I think Glenn as far as you being a psychologist like I'd almost go as to as far to say that people have Fitness trauma where they've where they've either been berated in high school or you know pushed as a from a parent parent or a coach or you know deep in Psychology and I'm not a psychologist. So I like to pretend I'm one once in a while, but there's trauma there. It's not just oh if they had a they had a bad experience. It was so bad that they never went back for a decade. Yeah. Absolutely. I think that I think that's totally totally fair to say that it becomes and that's where I think that people can you know people who are going to to look to start moving more maybe, you know listening to us as inspired some people to get out and start moving, you know, the any advice I would give would Would be to kind of be gentle with yourself and acknowledge and I think that a lot of people do have maybe as bad as trauma, but if not a very deep seeded negative attitude towards moving their body a fear at least and I think that's really important for people to recognize because often that shows up as ambivalence. I'm just I'm lazy or I'm not motivated. But if you dig underneath know you've actually been really scarred by some of your experiences with exercise. Italy now speaking of that Louise I wanted to ask you because I think we're having a really real talk here. One of the other questions that came from from a couple of our online group members was this sort of this understanding that and Helen was as a good example who mentioned this had how do you really let go of those nagging thoughts those self-doubts? You know, I'm sure that that in your, you know, maybe not so much now but at times at least in your history you you've You've had these doubts about well, maybe I should just go back to trying to lose some weight. Or maybe I'm you know, this body positive thing is just something I'm telling myself or the all of these sorts of things that that my clients have. How do you stay steadfast to your message in difficult times? I think for me I just play the tape and by saying tape I've really dated myself. Yeah, like, you know playing it out. Like don't get me wrong. There are still times where it's like keto diet that sounds good. You know that that you still are tempted because we are being pushed with, you know, quick results and you know, like what I'm training for something I sometimes. I think this would be so much better if I were, you know, ten pounds lighter and I know how I can do that and blah blah blah, but just really playing it out. I've done this. I know it doesn't work. I you know, it ends up in a cycle. It only puts me back further from the actual goals at hand. I absolutely love that. So you when you supply the type what you made it and I use that as I type with my clients all the time. I'm like, they're like Glenn CD MP3, but but So that makes me feel a lot better. I think you know, it's sort of walking yourself through if I've done this four five six times. I kind of know how this is going to go for me and you can sort of preview it and stop it like that kind of almost like a sliding doors moment ago. Okay. Yes, the diet marketing does psychology better than Freud it will be very alluring there will be the next thing as you've got the keto there. We've got Kido to intermittent fasting. Is Big here at the moment? But but I think that I think that just taking that pause point to kind of go. I know how that has. I know how that's worked for me and develop what I call diet resilience that ability to have that that those thoughts go all what I'd like to do that and then kind of talk yourself through. Hey that hasn't worried before. It's probably not going to work for me again, and there will be a lot of my clients over the next couple of weeks here. During the words play the tape. I'm going to be telling them about this conversation and just saying this is this is a really good thing to do and I really thank you Louise for being authentic with me and asks, and I think it's I think it's so powerful for people to realize that that getting to a place of body acceptance and positivity doesn't actually mean that you never have any unhelpful thoughts. I see clients who I think that Going, you know, they're so far along the journey and then they have a little slip back for a week or two or even just a day and they think I mustn't be fixed yet in the thin it's I think it's good for people to know. No, it's actually normal, you know, we've grown up in a diet culture. So how could you not have these thoughts from time to time but it's a really good way to deal with them. And I love what you said diet resilience. I think that that's that's a really great term to live by for sure. Sure, but yeah, you're combating the message every day with a new one and it will be difficult. Yep, I think and I think that's actually really empowering for everyone who's listening to realize that it's you know, we're not going to sell you a similar message that the diet industry would sell you you do this for three weeks and you'll be completely cured of any unhelpful thoughts around your body. It's like this is this is work. But if we work you will absolutely 100% definitely get there. And I think it's work. That sticks. Yes. Yeah, it's worked. Yes. Absolutely. Once you learn this stuff through your own experience. You don't unlearn it exactly. Yeah fantastic fantastic. So now you have to tell me about. Oh, I really really want to hear about your online programs. But first you have to tell me about the collaboration that you're doing with diabetic living here in Australia because I heard about that. So what are all the details of that guys who are who haven't Haven't heard about diabetic living will provide the details in the show notes is a great magazine it it has lots of really cool recipes. I particularly like it because it's a Health magazine that doesn't have a lot of weight bias in it, which is actually a rare diamond and I'm sure that's why you've sort of chosen to do some work with them. So tell us the ways about about the work with diabetic living Australia. Yeah. I did an interview with them in their last issue and then they came back and they said They said that they would like to kind of showcase what I'm doing. So we did a partnership for my online coaching program called Unleashed and in the issue that is the current issue. So I guess it's amazing issue. They have a coupon in there for Australians if they if they're interested in doing the program and I also really love that magazine like the recipes in there. Are there fantastic. Well, I think it's a great magazine and even if you don't have diabetes, it's just a very helpful magazine to have on on the coffee table. Yeah, there's some really nice recipes in there. Yeah. So the promotion is through their magazine is we're launching a coaching program on May 28, and they have partnered with us in the magazine to offer, you know, an incentive for people for their readership. Fantastic fantastic and you and I were going to have to talk light a little ways about whether we can do a similar thing because I have a feeling that I'm going to really like this sound of your online progress. So tell us tell us about the the online programs I think online is is so obviously it's so massive these days. We've you know, we've had online programs now for we're in the fourth year of having them and I think it's one of the coolest things when you can experience someone from Norway or someone from Canada and they're getting your ideas. You've never actually met them. I think it's the coolest thing in the world and and and I think that the diet industry know. How to do things on math so it's so cool that people in the non dieting space is starting to do it. How does it all work? So it's a six-week program. And basically we do have women from all over the world joining and it's a combination of physical fitness. So there's 17 Progressive different exercise formats that people can do so very beginner up to more advanced. But it is also more about tackling the mental aspects of moving. So, you know, an example of one thing that we talked about is just becoming more assertive in your life and creating space for yourself because that's no I over the years of training women in person. I was noticing that this woman is not doesn't have boundaries. This this person is not somebody that can say The people and I'm not saying that on the whole of every person I've worked with but it was a common theme. So we talk about things like that that are really we talked about the things that are affecting people's ability to incorporate Fitness into their life. Yeah on a regular basis and that was just one of them. So there's a whole mental component to it where we also do online coaching calls every week and people jump on before this call. I was on my call with the with the ladies we had you know, the Aliens and the people from USA and Canada and you know, it's a really cool program to connect with women that are looking for something different. Yeah, that's so good to hear that. You have that support because I think that that's something especially in the online format. It is good for people to know that they can come in and get some some actual support some conversations around this stuff to keep you kind of engaged and keep you keep you progressing through the program. Hm, and obviously I was going to ask you a question before but you've already kind of answered it as you know. How hard do you do you encourage people to push themselves, but you have these sort of 17 levels of activity that can help people kind of find that that where the where the right starting point is for them and go from there. Yeah. I mean I work with people that have difficulty getting up and down off the ground which is a common thing theme thing that I we make sure that there's modifications so that they don't have to but then I also worry work with people that you know were once quite athletic and have kind of put it on the shelf for maybe five years and come back and you know, all that muscle memories waiting for them. And and and so there's a real range but yep, but what's interesting is that we're all coming from different parts of the world, but we're all speaking the same language isn't that interesting? So you sort of finding that you're definitely not the only one you're not the only one even in your local area. There are people women all around the Who are experiencing this these challenges and I think you're right. When you said before that that people are really ready for something new. It's you know, people have who have done the old thing five six seven times. They're kind of they're sick of it and they're ready for a Fresh Approach. Yeah, they're sick of being a failure. They want to be successful in their life and they want something that actually works and as a psychologist, obviously, I love the mindset aspect. That's what you know the work. I'm doing with these Fitness. Is here in Australia, I'm doing it because I think that regardless of whether people are trained in and or not. You have to be half a psychologist to do your job and that stuff is so important you can show people the exercises and you can show them how to do it in a way that's right for their body. So they feel comfortable and empowered to do it. But if they don't feel like you said for example, like they can be assertive enough to carve out that time then it's never going to happen. So it's always that combination of the physical. Movement and the mindset not from my experience as a psychologist and working in this space. I think that the long term is the name of the game long-term habit change and that's where the mindset becomes so effective or say a six week program. Like, you know, I'm sort of in my head and you tell me if I'm totally highlighting my ignorance, but I'm thinking a six-week gym challenge. I call them lose as much weight as he can and regain it all with interest challenges versus versus You know that the movements that people are going to get in your program that are going to be much more sensible and and suit their body more. I imagine they're probably going to enjoy a more. So that's a that's a massive benefit. But then also you've got this element of the mindset which kind of for me I guess adding those important mindset elements turns a six-week program into you know, this can be like a Kickstart for changing the rest of your life. You're actually not just focusing on the had. But those mindsets that they're going to help those habits stick. Absolutely and I call it that I call it a Gateway like it's a gateway to you know, I was telling the women on my call today. I don't expect you to be doing my videos ten years down the road. This is a gateway of foundational Fitness and better mental health to move forward so that you can go in your life and do whatever you want. I absolutely love that. It's sort of just opening them up to the world so that Naked this world of movement and health and fitness so they can then sort of take it and run with it. Absolutely. Oh, that's so fantastic Louise. I feel like I feel so great after talking to you. I feel like you're almost doing like you're doing for fitness trainers what I'm trying to do for psychologists and I think that's just so darn cool. Yeah, we need to take this show on the on around the world. We totally totally do now. Is there anything anything that I have missed because my brain is spinning wildly, and I'm just so excited to listen to this back and just get all of the little golden ingots out of this. But is there anything else that you want to say to any of the people that are listening? I think that we really covered a lot but I just want people to know that you know, they're worthy of feeling good and and And to feel good as is about surrounding yourself with the right people and finding movement that works and the right professionals to help you and and there's no shame in any of it. Absolutely. Absolutely and I think guys, I'm sure that our audience will agree that they've got another great online coach in you. So thank you so much for so generously sharing your time with us, and we wish you all the very best and I know that Will will be in contact much more in the future sounds fantastic. Thank you so much for having me. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoyed the interview as much as I did for anyone who wants to go a step further with the ways which I would totally recommend you. Do we have a special offer for anyone listening to this podcast. You can go to www.hsn.com and psychology.com dot a you /lu he's green follow the links and sign up for her Unleashed program the fully online six-week program. Designed to help you Unleash Your Inner athlete at any shape or size. I did manage to navigate discount just for you guys listeners to this podcast can get 10% off by using the coupon code Glenn. That's GLE double M because Dad was generous the program. It's unbelievable. Some of our team tried it last year and they absolutely loved it. So not only do you get some amazing. Raising training that suited to where you're at by someone who gets it, but also you get Louise's wonderful energy and support which I think is just as important. Thanks for being with me on the Glenn Macintosh show. I'm yours and a great relationship with moving your body and I'll look forward to seeing you really soon.
Many people feel they’re too fat to get really fit…which is what Louise Green believed until she had a transformational personal experience. Her journey lead to authoring the book Big Fit Girl and helping women all over the world of ALL shapes and sizes unleash their INNER ATHLETE. In this thought-provoking interview Louise & Glenn discuss: - Louise’s English Bulldog Henry (and what he has to do with size diversity). - Changing how we view success (weight loss is just a by-product). - Glenn doing a weight-inclusive workout wearing a 20 Kilo weights vest! - Separating your worth from your weight. - How slow change is not sexy (but finding your personal power is). - That Australian women “do diet culture brilliantly”. - Cultivating a positive body image in a culture of body shame. - Surrounding yourself with body positive influences (and who to follow). - Reversing the hierarchy of power with your trainer. - Feeling completely comfortable to give your trainer feedback. - Communicating with your trainer to get the best results. - How to interview trainers to find the right fit for both of you. - The impact of bad fitness experiences (and how to avoid them!) - Overcoming fear of getting moving. - Getting rid of nagging self-doubts and dealing with negative thinking. - Audience questions from Liz, Lanair, Fiona & Helen. If you feel like you need a helping hand to unleash your own inner athlete, why not try Louise’s 6-Week Fully Online Fitness Program UNLEASHED! Visit www.weightmanagementpsychology.com.au/louisegreen, follow the links, and don’t forget to use the coupon code “Glenn” for 10% off. Links from Video: Download “The Missing Piece” Ebook:  https://www.weightmanagementpsychology.com.au/the-missing-piece-ebook/ Poodle Science Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H89QQfXtc-k Psychology of Eating, Movement, Weight, and Body Image Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WeightManagementPsychology/ Louise’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisegreen_bigfitgirl/ Mirna Valerio Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/themirnavator/ Taryn Brumfitt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodyimagemovement/ Jessamyn Stanley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mynameisjessamyn/ Glenn’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glennmackintosh/ Diabetic Living Magazine: https://www.diabeticliving.com.au/ Louise’s Unleashed Program: https://gmack.krtra.com/t/8E7mMnwQToZa Want free vids, all the podcasts, articles & special offers? 