How Couples Transform Together - Chris Chandler part 5

Ever wondered why some people succeed in their fitness journey while others struggle? Our conversation with Chris, a successful CEO and business owner, reveals the deeply personal side of health transformation that goes far beyond physical changes.

The discussion opens with a candid exploration of gender differences in fitness journeys. Chris explains how hormonal factors create unique challenges for women compared to men, especially during different life stages. This biological reality demands greater perseverance, making the achievements of female clients particularly meaningful to him as a coach.

What sets this episode apart is the powerful insight into how couples can transform together. Chris shares how training alongside his wife created a competitive yet supportive dynamic that propelled them both forward. "We're both super competitive, so we feed off each other, push each other, and also lift each other up," he reveals. This partnership approach stands in stark contrast to the friction that often occurs when only one person in a relationship commits to change.

Perhaps the most profound moment comes when Chris articulates the true source of lasting motivation. "If I'm not proud of me, then the rest of it doesn't matter," he shares, explaining how internal validation ultimately drives sustainable change. His perspective on creating new habits, addressing the root causes of resistance, and moving forward despite inevitable setbacks offers practical wisdom for listeners at any stage of their wellness journey.

Ready to transform your own health and wellbeing? Listen now to discover how finding your authentic motivation could be the missing piece in your fitness puzzle. Then share your own experience – what finally clicked that made your health journey stick?

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Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome to Lifestyle Strength

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to Lifestyle Strength, your guide to mastering health and well-being in the real world.

Speaker 2: 0:05

I'm Ariel, a massage therapist with over a decade of experience in holistic health, and I'm here with Lucas, a seasoned fitness coach, who's transformed the lives of hundreds in Northwest Arkansas.

Speaker 1: 0:14

We're here to share real stories and expert insights about embracing a healthy lifestyle while balancing the everyday hustle. Join us as we explore practical ways to achieve wellness and thrive amidst life's challenges. I'd say it's a little more broad for men, just because physically like, it's way easier on them right to change, right like men can go up to 55, 60, then it's pretty. I mean anyone, anyone who does the work, I mean you're gonna change. Sure, women have a much more difficult time because of the hormonal shifts that happen from 35, 45, 45, 55, 55, 65. Our world is not conducive. There's so much that's affecting that hormonal balance.

Speaker 1: 1:20

It's a really difficult thing for me as a coach. I can understand how hormones work scientifically'm. I'll never. I can understand how hormones work scientifically, but I will never get it. Yeah, they'll never get it Like they experience it Right. And so I'm very grateful for the women who do stick around, who do really awesome results and, you know, who put their faith in me to help them and they're willing to continue doing it Right. That means a lot. It means a lot more from them, because the guys is like you can, you got it so easy and you got it way easier. So I don't hear it. Like no, there's literally no excuse. Like you don't want to hear me complain about a workout we did.

Speaker 2: 1:58

No, I mean no, there's it's.

Speaker 1: 2:05

It's a way way more difficult, but no, I don't. I don't think there is a a magic age. Like everyone has a time in which it just it hits them. Yeah, and it doesn't matter. And you shouldn't feel bad if you, you know, if you started thinking about it when you were 35 and you just turned 40 and you haven't taken actually shouldn't feel bad that you didn't do it when you were 35, like who cares? Just do it today. Yeah, I love the mentality just just do it today, because the worst that could happen is that you stay the same tomorrow. Right, that's the worst, right that can happen. But if you just do it today and then wake up tomorrow and you do it again and then you do it again, you're gonna see change. Yeah, I mean, we're all creatures of habit too, so if you create a new habit that you're going to do it, then it's, it becomes easy.

Speaker 1: 2:54

Yeah, I think that's the hardest part is, people don't want to change their habits, and then, I mean, that's part of the thing I've realized too is like you change your habits eating habits, sleeping habits, everything, exercise habits Then it all works. You get these new habits that are great for you and then you just repeat them yeah, that's really simple. Yeah, it doesn't have to be all at once either. Right, you know you can. It's it can be a lot. You know, if you're not used to juggling a lot of things like, that's why it's been even more impressive. You know that, that that y'all have done it. I think part of your, the, the secret to your success, is y'all doing it together. I know, as as in being being very clear on your vision as a couple and as a family, um, and how you operate in your day to day. I think that has been a huge key for you both. We're both super competitive, so it's like you feed off. You've seen that. You see that when we do certain things feed off each other, you push each other and you also lift each other up, uh, which is really important.

Speaker 1: 4:01

Most people don't you, they don't have that. Yeah, even even if both of their even both of them as spouses are doing training, um, it's, it can be kind of separate, because the struggles that one person have may not be the same struggles that another person has. Yeah, um, oftentimes I'd say more often than not it's only one of them is doing it and working on themselves. And that's even harder because, you know, like the mouse is like, well, what the hell? I don't feel like I need to make this change and I want to keep eating what I've been eating. Yeah, and that was me.

Speaker 1: 4:42

That might be worse too if that person doesn't seem unfit or unhealthy. Right, you know, especially like I've coached a lot of women. Worse, they have a hard time and they're putting all this effort in and their husband is like just like semi-active, semi, like kind of yeah, still drinks, but like hasn't gotten big, or yeah, you know. And then there are problems. There's health problems that are going to come later down the road. Yeah, you know, visually, yes, it's hard.

Speaker 1: 5:12

Yeah, I would say that that was us before. We started this together and I'm so grateful that she said, no, we're gonna do this. And I was like, I mean, once I was on board, I was like so grateful for for that. Yeah, you know, it was just a great turnaround and um, yeah, I mean, we, we're, we're competitive with each other. Um, she's a great cheerleader and I want to be a great cheerleader for her at the same time, and that's, I think, like you have to want to do that stuff, I think, in your marriage, and even like relationship with anybody, it's like you have to be intentional about it and I think that's that's a big change too. It's like you know, realizing she needs support, just like she's supporting me, and that you know and knowing how to do that, yeah, and that's you navigate it. I mean, gosh, we've been married a long time now and it's like it's like it goes by so fast, but it's like, gosh, it's like it goes by so fast, right, but it's like it's like, you know, she's my person, she's she gets me and I know that she gets me and she calls me out, which is awesome, and I need that, yeah, in my life. I think most of us could use it, especially men we can need. We need a good woman to stand behind us and go hey, don't do that, or hey, go down this path. It's great. Yeah, like you're doing. Awesome, be talking about that.

Speaker 1: 6:23

This morning, I was talking about that with a client of mine and you know, see, we were talking in regards to how she's always asking her husband and I'm guilty of this too. We're like, you know. She asked me like do something. Like, oh, yeah, I'll do it. Yeah, it's like she asked me like five times I still haven't done it. Later, yeah, and I it finally clicked with me.

Speaker 1: 6:45

Then it was based off a conversation we had in the day about it's not like it's how it's communicated sometimes that maybe, maybe that's the secret don't tell them to do something. Like don't tell them like hey, and like go do this. Nobody wants to be micromanaged. Yeah, I was like give them shit for not doing it. Yeah, like put the pressure, make him, put the pressure on himself to do it right and you'll get whatever you want. Because that's how I am. I'm like I don't want, don't tell me what to do. Yeah, like I don't want to be told what to do by anybody. Yeah, but if you make me feel bad for not doing it or I'm like, oh man, she's called me out, yeah, then I'm gonna do it because I don't want to seem like, yeah, I don't seem like a sissy. Yeah, yeah, and that's right. So that was funny that that came up, because that was based off a conversation we had yesterday.

Speaker 1: 7:39

So, chris, what would you say, wrapping up here? What would you say to somebody, maybe a dad, another fellow CEO, business owner, or even a couple who you know they're thinking about making a change. Maybe they're listening to this and and just searching for answers. They don't already go yet. What would you say to them? Well, first of all, you got to figure out how to want it. Um, we talked about that earlier.

Speaker 1: 8:08

Um, we all have different reasons for wanting something. We all have different motivations. Uh, find what motivates you and use that as your fuel to you know, change your life. Um, I think we all need fitness in our life. We all need and when we say health, I think we always think doctor health, it's no, it's mental health, it's our physical health, it's our strength, it's our, our physical health, it's our strength, it's our, our will, it's. There's all these things involved with it that we don't think about as much. So it's like, it's like be able to self-examine. Um, think about how you can improve, why, why you want to improve.

Speaker 1: 8:50

I think once you get down to the root of your problems, it, it and really kind of bring out like, hey, this is why I want to do this, or really change your life, then the rest of it's easy. I think, once you get started, you just got to figure it out and we're all so different, we all have these different life experiences and some had such a tough childhood and such a tough upbringing where some people had a great one and you have all the support system you need. And it's like finding in both scenarios we have to come to the same realization that there's motivation behind it. What are we here to do? What are we? Are we trying to get out of this? And? And then, once you find it, magnify it so like like for me it was I needed the motivation, I needed a push, and then, once I got the push, I figured out you know how I can improve myself and it really helped me feel the rest of it and now I'm improving, hopefully, my family and our business and my relationships and just everything. It's just really changed. I mean, it's so like fulfilling.

Speaker 1: 9:51

I guess once you like you look back and go I'm so proud that I did that. Yeah, like that's the thing. It's, like I've figured and go I'm so proud that I did that. Yeah, like that's the thing. It's like I've figured out how to make myself proud of me. Not be proud, you know, I don't. You've always grew up like oh, your parents are proud of you, or your grandparents or your family, or a spouse, whoever it's like, if, if I'm not proud of me, then the rest of it doesn't matter. I gotta be proud of myself for what I'm trying to accomplish, or what I'm accomplishing, what I'm working on, and it's like the self-awareness, the realization that we're all humans, we're going to screw up, and it's how we get back up and keep rocking and keep moving forward. There's the motivation right there. That's just you gotta, you gotta, you gotta keep moving. That's what I'll say, chris. Well said Well. Uh, thanks for calling the podcast, thanks for joining us. Sure, I loved it. And thank you guys for listening. We'll see you in the next one.