Nutrition – Steroid Fitness https://steroidfitness.com Know more, Feel better Sun, 19 Jul 2026 17:27:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 Sabja Seeds – Benefits, Nutrition, And Side Effects https://steroidfitness.com/sabja-seeds-benefits-nutrition-and-side-effects-2/ Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:04:58 +0000 https://steroidfitness.com/sabja-seeds-benefits-nutrition-and-side-effects-2/

Sabja seeds, also called tukmaria or basil seeds, are black seeds that look a lot like chia seeds and offer immense health benefits.

They are native to India but different from the holy basil- also called Tulsi. Sabja seeds are rich in protein, essential fats, carbs, and are packed with fiber.

Sabja seeds are very hard and cannot be  consumed raw. So, they are best consumed after soaking in water, which makes them more gelatinous.

Sabja seeds typically come from sweet basil i.e.Ocimum basilicum, which we commonly use as seasoning. As they come from the sweet basil plant, they are commonly referred to as sweet basil seeds.

The benefits of sabja seeds in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine have been known for a while. However, we have recognized its benefits only in the recent past.

  • Benefits of Sabja seeds
  • Sabja seeds for weight loss
  • Sabja seeds side effects
  • Recipes
  • Summary
  • Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

Nutritional information of Sabja Seeds

Research shows that the nutritional composition of basil seeds varies depending on where people grow them. Evidence suggests that 100 grams (g) of basil seeds from India contain:

  • carbohydrates: 42 g
  • energy: 473 kcal
  • fats: 25 g
  • protein: 20 g
  • fibre: 40.5 g

The main minerals contained in 100 g of basil seeds are:

  • iron: 2.27 mg
  • magnesium: 31.55 mg
  • zinc: 1.58 mg

Research also suggests that 100 g of basil seeds from India contain roughly 473

calories — or around 61.5 calories per tablespoon (13 g).

6 Proven Health Benefits of Sabja Seeds (Basil Seeds)

Sabja seeds have a lot of benefits which include the following:

1. Basil Seeds Aids Weight Loss

Rich in alpha-linolenic acid, sabja seeds are known for their weight loss properties. As they are full of fiber, they keep you full for a long time, prevent unwanted cravings, and aid in weight loss.

2. Basil Seeds Controls Blood Sugar Levels

It slows down the metabolism of your body and controls the conversion of carbs into glucose. It is even considered to be good for type II diabetes patients.

3. Basil Seeds Helps Relieve Constipation and Bloating

Sabja seeds naturally detoxify your body by regulating smooth bowel movement. It contains a volatile oil that helps in relieving gas from your gastrointestinal tract and acts as a stomach cleanser.

4. Basil Seeds Helps Treat Acidity and Heartburn

Sabja seeds help to neutralize the acidic effect of HCL in the body, which can bring relief from acidity and heartburn. This is because we consume the seeds after being soaked in water, the water content helps soothe the stomach lining and relieves you from the burning sensation.

5. Basil Seeds Good for Skin and Hair

We can accomplish Sabja seeds’ benefit for the skin by adding crushed seeds to coconut oil and applying it to the affected area. This helps in treating skin ailments such as eczema and psoriasis. It also has numerous other benefits like regularly eating the seeds helps your body to secrete collagen, which is required to form new skin cells.

It is proven that Sabja seeds are beneficial for maintaining healthy hair as they are full of iron, vitamin K, and protein that is needed for long and strong hair. Also, the antioxidant properties present in them also benefit your skin and hair.

6. Basil Seeds Helps Cure Cough and Cold

Yet another sabja/basil seed’s benefit is its antispasmodic property. These seeds soothe the spasmodic muscles and help them relax. The antispasmodic property helps to control whooping cough and also aids in strengthening the body’s immunity system.

Basil seeds are a rich source of minerals that are essential for your body to stay healthy. 

Sabja Seeds (Basil Seeds) for Weight Loss

These seeds play an important role in ayurvedic medicines that relieve conditions that include high blood pressure, cholesterol, depression, type II diabetes, and metabolic imbalances.

A recent discovery said that these seeds can keep you feeling full and thus avoid unwanted binging. Basil seeds for weight loss have gained immense popularity recently because of the consistent and reliable evidence.

How it works is, sabja seeds swell up and release digestive enzymes when soaked in water. Upon consumption, these digestive enzymes suppress your appetite and help reduce unwanted cravings.

Basil seeds are loaded with fiber, which keeps you feeling full for a long time and thus prevents you from unnecessary overeating by reducing your appetite.

These seeds are high in nutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus, along with other multivitamins. They are also rich in alpha-linolenic acid, which stimulates the fat-burning metabolism in your body.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that daily consumption of linolenic acid results in fat loss.

How to use sabja seeds for healthy weight loss?

They are packed with nutrients and are one of the best ways to lose weight without falling short of the essential nutrients that your body needs. They are most effective when consumed after soaking them in water. When you soak these seeds in water, the water makes them translucent and soft.

To use basil seeds for weight loss, soak one/two teaspoons of the seeds in a cup full of warm water and consume them directly after fifteen minutes. You can also sprinkle these seeds in salads and soups, or mix them with lemonade or green tea.

Side Effects of Sabja Seeds (Basil Seeds)

You can consume sabja seeds however, one must be careful as it may react with other medications. Though these seeds pose little to no threat and almost all individuals can tolerate it, we suggest that you consult a doctor or nutritionist prior to eating.

If you consume these seeds in limited quantities, they do not pose any threat. But an overdose of these seeds has some side effects. The daily recommended dosage is not to exceed a tablespoon, though it might vary from person to person.

The side effects of these seeds include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, acne, acid reflux, headache, abdomen discomfort, loss of appetite, and such. They can also cause low blood sugar in some people.

Most healthcare providers do not recommend sabja seeds to pregnant women and even children, since children could choke on the seeds if its mixed well in water. They are believed to reduce the estrogen level in the body, and thus is not recommended for pregnant women.

As basil oil and extracts can slow blood clotting, it is not recommended for consumption if you have recently had surgery or are wounded. If you have a scheduled surgery, you must stop using basil at least two weeks before the surgery because the side effects of them vary from one person to another. We recommend you consult with your healthcare provider before consuming them.

Sabja Seeds Recipes

Sabja seeds offer a lot of health benefits. But soaking in water and consuming them may prove to be boring. To make these seeds interesting, try out some of the recipes below.

1. A twist on the Lemonade

Ingredients

  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Chilled water (ice cubes optional) – 2 glass 
  • Strawberry syrup – 3 tablespoon 
  • Sabja seeds – 2 teaspoons 
  • Mint leaves roughly torn – 4 to 5
  • Pinch of salt for each glass (optional)

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves: 2

Preparation

  1. Wash and soak the seeds in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes.
  2. Strain out the excess water and keep it aside.
  3. In a jar, add strawberry syrup, lemon juice, and chilled water. Mix well.
  4. Add the strained seeds, stir and transfer to a chilled glass.
  5. Add the mint leaves and salt.
  6. You can add ice cubes and serve them chilled.

You can also use rose syrup, any fruit-flavored drink instead of strawberry syrup, or if you want a healthier alternative without the added sugar, simply add the seeds to any fruit juice. Sabja seed with coconut water not only tastes good, but it is also the best way to cool your body during summer.

2. Sabja seeds porridge with mixed fruits

Ingredients

  • Unsweetened almond milk – 400 ml 
  • Ground cinnamon – ¼ teaspoon 
  • Sabja seeds – 2 tablespoon 
  • Bananas sliced- 2 
  • Dates pitted – 2 
  • Chopped mixed fruits – 2 cups 
  • Pinch of salt

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2

Preparation

  1. Wash and soak the seeds in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain out the excess water and keep it aside.
  2. In a blender mix banana, unsweetened almond milk, dates, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Blend them to form a thick paste.
  3. Stir in the seeds and let them sit for at least 10 minutes.
  4. Serve the sabja porridge in bowls, topped with mixed fruits.

**You can add more almond milk to alter the consistency of the porridge.

Summary

Sabja seeds are known for their benefits that add value to your life. They not only help in keeping your skin and hair healthy but also offer several other health benefits that are required to maintain a healthy life.

We must note that though Basil seeds have a lot of nutritional benefits, you must consult a doctor before adding them to your diet.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What are the benefits of eating sabja seeds?

Sabja seeds or the sweet basil seeds are great as a natural body coolant, helps in weight loss, regulate blood pressure, relieves acidity and bloating. 

Q. How to consume sabja seeds to lose weight?

The best way to take sabja seeds is to soak a tablespoon of them in a glass of water for about 15 minutes. You can simply drink the water with soaked seeds or add them to lemon water or in buttermilk, milk, or your desired juice. Since these seeds are high in dietary fiber, they help a person feel full and satiated. The gelatinous seeds create a feeling of fullness and help in keeping away cravings, thus helping in weight loss.

Q. Can we take Sabja seeds every day?

Yes, you can consume sabja seeds daily.

Q. Do Sabja seeds help reduce body heat?

Yes, these seeds work as natural coolants and reduce body heat. Have them in a glass of cold milk in order to help reduce body heat.

Q. Are sabja seeds good for thyroid?

Sabja seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which maintain good metabolism, helping in proper functioning of the thyroid gland.

Q. What are the side effects of Sabja seeds?

Raw sabja seeds can cause choking. The high fiber content of sabja seeds may cause digestive side effects like bloating or diarrhea. Excessive intake can also lead to digestive issues.

Q. What is sabja called in English?

Sabja seeds are popularly known as sweet basil seeds in English. 

Q. Is Chia Seed the same as sabja?

No, chia seeds are different from sabja seeds. Chia seeds are tiny black and white seeds derived from a desert plant Salvia hispanica and sabja seeds are tiny black seeds derived from sweet basil plant, also known as holy basil. 

Q. Which is better: chia seeds or sabja seeds?

Chia seeds and Basil seeds both offer tremendous nutritional benefits. Though they come from two different plants, they look somewhat similar and have similar nutritional benefits. So, to choose which one is better, can vary from person to person.  

Q. Who should not eat Sabja seeds?

Sabja seeds should not be consumed by people post surgery, as they slow blood clotting. Pregnant women and children can refrain from eating sabja seeds in their drinks or desserts as sabja seeds fluctuate hormones and induce contractions in pregnant women. As for children, there are possibilities that they may choke on them.  

Q. What is the best time to drink sabja seeds?

You can add overnight soaked sabja seeds in the morning in your detox drink or along with your smoothie bowl. However, traditionally sabja seeds were consumed before meals considering they are appetite suppressants and great for weight loss.

Q. Can we drink sabja seeds on an empty stomach?

Yes, you can consume Sabja seeds on an empty stomach as it’s recommended as an ingredient that has antioxidants and can be added to your morning detox water.

Q. Are sabja seeds heat or cold? 

Sabja seeds are a great natural coolant and known to reduce body heat. Ideal for summers, the seeds can be added to any juice or infused water of your choice. 

Q. Are Sabja seeds good for hair growth?

Sabja seeds are beneficial in reducing hair fall and promoting hair growth because they are loaded with iron, vitamin K and protein.

Q. Are sabja seeds good for skin?

Yes. Packed with antioxidants and flavonoids, sabja seeds improve skin texture and reduce wrinkles and fine lines. It is also known to treat skin infections. 

Q. Are Basil seeds good for menstruation?

Yes, Basil seeds help improve the regularity of menstruation while reducing menstrual cramps. 

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Are Fitness Trackers Worth It? Tips From Precision Nutrition https://steroidfitness.com/are-fitness-trackers-worth-it-tips-from-precision-nutrition/ Fri, 23 Jan 2026 09:21:01 +0000 https://steroidfitness.com/are-fitness-trackers-worth-it-tips-from-precision-nutrition/

Every day, Lina wore a ring that continually monitored her heart rate, sleep quality, and activity levels. Most evenings, she excitedly examined its data.

“It’s amazing. It changed my life,” she told anyone who asked. “You should totally get one!”

Jeron? He was a different story.

He, too, used a device to track his sleep. But the more his smartwatch revealed, the more he tossed and turned.

Lina and Jeron are among many people who use devices to track weight, body fat, running speed, steps, calories burned, calories consumed, heart rate, body temperature, respiratory rate, brain waves, and more.

Thanks to modern technology, we can know more about ourselves (and our clients) than ever before.

But does everyone benefit from so much information? 

Who will respond as Lina did? And who will respond like Jeron?

In this article, you’ll find answers to those questions, as well as:

Data and gadgets are cool. But depending on context and perspective, they have the potential to help or hurt a person’s health efforts.

Here’s how to know what’s right for you (or your clients).

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Data points help people understand how they’re doing.

Let’s say someone wants to improve their health. To reach that goal, they might decide to replace their nightly ice cream with a piece of fruit.

To see if that change is working, they could measure:

  • a behavior, such as how often they’re doing the action. For instance, they might track how often they ate fruit instead of ice cream after dinner.
  • an outcome, such as their cholesterol level or blood pressure. Outcomes can either be objective (like bloodwork) or subjective, such as someone’s stress or energy level.

Either way, the information is a progress indicator, helping assess whether a change is actually working.

But is tracking progress always a good thing?

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5 surprising truths about data tracking

Truth #1: Different types of people thrive on different types of data.

Some people respond great to data.

Other people, however, can become anxious.

Rather than seeing their weight, heart rate variability, or sleep quality as a way to judge the effectiveness of what they do, some folks view these metrics as a statement of who they are.

When someone takes data personally, they might step on the scale and feel hopeless, thinking, “What’s wrong with me?”

Or they’ll look at a sleep-tracker and think, “My sleep sucks—I must be broken!”

A PhD candidate at Colorado State University, Kayla Nuss, MA, MS, PN1, has focused much of her graduate research on the relationship between data trackers and motivation to exercise.

Based on her findings as well as research by others,1,2 she says people are more likely to take data personally if they:

See the behavior they’ll track as a chore, making comments like, “I have to do this to lose weight.”

✓  Don’t feel they have a choice. Someone might say, “I don’t want to exercise, but my doctor told me I have to.”

Do the behavior to avoid feeling guilty. In other words, they exercise because they don’t want to feel bad about not exercising.

(You’ll learn more on how to help people see data differently a little later.)

Truth #2: A measurement is only useful if it helps you make a decision.

For many people, wearable devices offer a fun diversion and satisfy curiosity.

Without an action plan, though, devices are interesting, but not helpful.3

Consider the difference between:

  1. Someone who tracks their mile splits to see if their new training plan is improving their running speed.
  2. Someone who tracks their mile splits because their watch does it automatically (so why not?).

The first person will eventually be able to make a decision: Keep following the same training plan—or talk to their coach about making an adjustment.

The second person has only a bunch of numbers—and possibly some frustration. They may even become overtrained if they continually push themselves to beat their mile splits, without following a training plan that ensures adequate recovery.

Truth #3: Some trackers spit out inaccurate data.

The reliability of a tracker, research says, depends on a number of factors: the part of the body it monitors (finger, wrist, arm, chest), the tracker’s algorithm, the sensors used, and the activity being monitored.4,5

The least accurate progress indicators include:

Distance: Though technology has improved in recent years, some trackers overestimate your distance when you move at faster speeds, and underestimate your distance at slower speeds.

Trackers with GPS technology are usually more accurate than ones without it, though dense tree foliage and tall buildings can interfere with GPS signals.6-8

Sleep quality: Sleep trackers tend to overestimate hours slept and sleep efficiency, and underestimate the number of waking moments.9,4

Calories consumed: Generally speaking, calories are tough to measure, regardless of the tool. As a result, the calories listed on menus and food labels can be off by as much as 20 percent.10 (And that’s not the only thing that throws off calorie counts, as we detail in this infographic: The surprising problem with calorie counting.)

Calories burned: Trackers that estimate your calorie burn often do so based on laboratory averages, with large margins of error (around 10 to 23 percent).11,4 (Read more: The problem with tracking calories burned.)

Consumer fitness trackers are off by about 30% for total daily calorie expenditure. And for aerobic exercise, the devices show errors between 9% and 23%. Here’s what that looks like for a 300-calorie workout.

Now, if someone’s using a tracker merely to get a sense of a general trend or pattern, this lack of accuracy may not matter so much. But if they’re basing important decisions on these readouts? Problems develop.

Let’s say someone’s watch reports that they burned 400 total calories during a run. So they think, “Yay! I ran hard. Now I can eat 400 extra calories.”

Not so fast.

First, they might think they are eating 400 calories, but really consume as many as 480, thanks to that wishy-washy calorie math.

Second, also due to wide error margins, they may have really burned as few as 320 calories.

Finally, the numbers shown on the device aren’t all extra calories burned by the activity itself.

Anytime you see “calories burned,” it also includes the number of calories you use through normal, resting metabolism—and would have burned whether you ran or sat completely still. (For a 180-pound person, for instance, that resting metabolic rate is about 1.2 calories per minute.)

End result: They can easily end up eating 160-plus calories beyond what they expended.

Truth #4: High-tech trackers do motivate some people—for about three months.

When many people get a new smart device, they become absolutely obsessed. They wear it all the time. They study their data. They try to beat their step, mile, or speed counts.

It all works like magic.

Until it doesn’t.

“We humans get bored super quickly. We buy a fancy gadget thinking it will solve all our problems, and use it every single day for a few weeks or months,” says Kate Solovieva, MA, Pn2, a Precision Nutrition master coach.

“But then we take it off that one time in the shower. Or the battery dies, and the charger is in the other room, so we toss the gadget in our underwear drawer. For now. Two years later, we’re looking for a charger for our NEW fancy gadget, and find the old one in the drawer, and think… ‘Oh yeah!’”

Researchers call this the novelty factor.12,13 By the end of a year, only about 10 percent of people are still using their trackers, one study found.14

Truth #5: High-tech trackers can demotivate some people.

This is especially true of trackers that come with preset goals, such as sleeping a certain number of hours or walking a certain number of steps a day.15

When someone continually falls short of the goals the tracker sets, they can feel discouraged. Not only do they stop using the tracker, but they may also give up trying to improve the activity they were tracking, says Nuss.

“For some people, the tracker is the right tool. For others, it’ll lead to a persistent feeling of, ‘Geez, I suck.’”

How to know if data tracking will help your client

When it comes to data, there are basically three types of people:

  • People who benefit from a lot of data
  • People who benefit from some data—but who don’t need a heck of a lot of it
  • People who can be harmed by an overemphasis on data

Here’s how to figure out which category a client falls into.

People who benefit from a lot of data tend to:

✓  Be numbers-oriented. These clients often have engineering, actuarial, or accounting mindsets.

✓ Have more advanced goals. This includes elite athletes, bodybuilders, models, and other people who get paid based on how they look or perform. For them, a slight variance is the difference between placing first or 10th.

✓ See data as information—nothing more. Regardless of their profession, the numbers don’t define them. They aren’t part of their identity. For them, data can be helpful—because they can view it as just that.

People who benefit from some data tend to:

✓ Have simple goals. They want to look or feel better, to get in shape, or feel more energetic, among other things. And, while some data definitely will help them to progress, they don’t need a ton of it.

✓ Don’t get overly wrapped up in the numbers. An unexpected occurrence (like sudden weight gain) could bum them out, for sure. But with a little coaching, they’re able to turn their focus away from “That sucks” and over to, “Okay, that’s interesting. What should I try next?”

People who can be harmed by an overemphasis on data tend to:

✓ Have an unhealthy obsession with food and/or fitness. These clients can become so fixated on the numbers that they can’t think of anything else.

✓ Have unclear core values. When clients don’t define how a goal aligns with their deeper values, they never feel good enough—no matter what the numbers say. Think: The person who always wants to lose five pounds, no matter what they weigh.

✓ Have inaccurate or miscalibrated standards. Many recreational exercisers, for instance, beat themselves up for not having elite performances. They don’t have a realistic sense of what to expect.

✓ Be anxious about the activity they plan to track. Rather than feeling motivated by a sleep tracker, they might toss and turn even more.16

✓ Have perfectionistic thought patterns, aka “not-good-enough-itis.” When talking about a measurement, they insert themselves into the story. Failing to meet a timed workout goal quickly becomes “I’m slow” or “I suck” rather than “I’ll get it next time.”

✓ Be so competitive that they get injured or overtrained. Rather than take an off or easy day, they might try to get in more steps, beat their previous personal best walking time, or destroy the competition during the Workout of the Day.

Help clients use data effectively.

It’d be great if all clients saw measurements merely as a way to test the effectiveness of their action plan. But that’s not how a lot of people start out.

Here’s how to help clients view data as feedback.

Define progress.

Add specificity to hazy goals like “lose fat” and “get strong.”

Lose fat might become “get my body fat percentage below 25 percent.” And “get strong” might become “be able to get up off the floor while holding one of my grandchildren.”

Also, tie those specifics to a deeper value by asking, “Why?” over and over. (See our 5 Whys worksheet for specifics.)

The conversation might go like this:

Coach: That’s great that you want to get stronger. Could you tell me a little more about that? Why is that a goal for you?

Client: Well, I used to feel strong and now I don’t. I want to feel like I used to.

Coach: Great answer! Let’s dig even deeper. Why do you want to feel like you used to feel?

Client: Well, it kind of sucks being this weak. I used to be able to do things easily. Take groceries. It wasn’t always hard for me to carry the bags into the house. Now it is.

Coach: That’s really insightful. Why do you want those activities to feel easier?

Client: By the time I’m done with my shopping and errands, I’m so exhausted I can barely stand up, let alone hang out with my grandkids. I don’t want to be the grandma who can’t do anything. I want to be right there with them.

Coach: Bingo! Keep that strong grandma image front of mind. It’ll help keep you motivated. Now, let’s take a look at some ways to measure your progress.

Talk about how you’ll measure progress.

Nutrition coaches work with clients to create an initial action plan, based on what the client needs to do to get to where the client wants to go.

Then they break that plan down into one small, specific action to try—say eating one extra serving of veggies a day—and come up with a way to test it.

The test might track behavior, looking at how consistently the client ate an extra serving of veggies. Or the test might track an outcome, perhaps how energetic the client feels each day.

Either way, it’s testing the action—and not the person doing the action. 

To explain all this for a client interested in fat loss, you might say:

Coach: I know your goal is fat loss, but I’m not too concerned with whether you’re losing weight right now. For the first several weeks, we’re going to work on a few foundational skills that’ll help make changing how you eat feel a lot easier. It’s similar to investing now for a big payoff later.

Client: So…. I don’t need to weigh myself right now?

Coach: Actually, if you’re comfortable with it, it’d be great if you would. Tracking your weight will help us to get a better idea of your true baseline. Does that sound okay to you?

Client: Yeah, I think so. But I really want to lose weight now.

Coach: I get it. It’s really hard to wait, but it’ll be worth it. Scale weight can fluctuate a lot, so it helps to look at the trend over time opposed to just one point in time. Just know that if the trend isn’t moving downward over time, we’ll work together to determine the reason and then tweak the original plan.

Client: Yep. I can give that a try.

Coach: That’s great. And if you can’t, that’s okay. If this brings up negativity for you, we can switch to a different tracking method. Okay?

Client: Yup. Got it.

Focus on patterns.

No one improves in a consistent linear fashion. Usually, it’s a two steps forward, one step back process. An athlete might crush every single workout one week, lag the following week, only to return week three to hit another personal best.

See the chart below for a visual for someone interested in fat loss.

Graph showing how body weight fluctuates overtime.

The following conversation shows how you might help drive this home.

Client: Ugh, my weight is all over the place! I gained 4 pounds in one day. How is that even possible? This is stressing me out.

Coach: I hear that. It’s actually totally normal for your weight to vary from day to day. My weight has gone up by as much as 5 pounds in 24 hours based on my hydration status alone. So let’s not worry about a number from just one day. Let’s pay attention to the overall trend.

Client: How does that work?

Coach: Well, we want to look at patterns—and use those patterns to make decisions. For example, when one of my clients stopped eating dinner in the dining room and instead started eating in front of the TV,  their weight trended up over time.

Another client struggled to sleep at night whenever they drank two cups of coffee instead of just one. In other words, we’re not looking at just one occurrence. We’re looking for a trend. Does that make sense?

Client: Yep, got it. That thing you said about coffee? Totally me.

Consider using a different tracking method.

If a client becomes more anxious despite your efforts to help them see measurements as feedback, it’s time to make some changes.

You might:

Ask your client to collect data, but not look at it. For example, some smart scales can be programmed to send data to the coach, but not display a weight to the client.

Run an experiment. Suggest your client part ways with an anxiety-producing tracking method for two weeks. During their break, they might track differently (or not at all).

Instead of using a sleep tracker, for example, they might track an energy rating, and sleep quality. Or, rather than trying to hit a specific heart rate during a workout, they could use Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE).

After two weeks, reassess. Did their anxiety go down?

Empower your client. You, as the coach, don’t have to know all the answers. So rather than immediately suggesting a different tracking method, you could put it back on your client. You might ask any of the following:

“I’m hearing that the scale is bringing up a lot of anxiety for you. Totally understand. I’d love to explore this a little further if you don’t mind. What other methods might we use to measure how you are doing? What do you think will work?”
“From the outside, it doesn’t seem like this tracking method is working for you. Would you agree? Is there another way of tracking your progress that you think might work better?”
“So your workout performance is trending down. And it sounds like you feel personally attacked by the numbers. That’s okay. It’s quite normal actually. But I’m curious how you feel about leaning into the opposite. What’s good about finding out this information? Is there a way you can use this data to your advantage?”

Don’t make it about you.

As much as possible, try to resist any urge to convert clients to your personal tracking solution.

Sure, your favorite tracking method might work great—for you.

And it might even help many of your clients.

But there will always be someone who doesn’t fit the mold. 

“As a coach, always consider that the opposite of your experience is possible,”  says Solovieva.

“If a smart tracker is the best thing that ever happened to you, be open to the idea that it could be harmful to someone else. And if trackers send you to a dark place, understand that they could actually work really well for some of your clients.”

In other words, know your personal bias, keep an open mind, listen deeply, and encourage clients to be a part of the decision-making process.

That way you’ll help clients discover the best tracking method for them—whether that entails lots of data or hardly any at all.

References

Click here to view the information sources referenced in this article.

If you’re a coach, or you want to be…

You can help people build sustainable nutrition and lifestyle habits that will significantly improve their physical and mental health—while you make a great living doing what you love. We’ll show you how.

If you’d like to learn more, consider the PN Level 1 Nutrition Coaching Certification. (You can enroll now at a big discount.)

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