Things I learned from Charles Poliquin

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/10/2018 (2629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Last week, I learned of the death of one of my mentors.

Charles Poliquin was a strength and conditioning coach from whom I learned a ton about exercise physiology, health and wellness and nutrition. Charles was a colourful character, and never minced words. It’s been several years since I took one of his courses and I didn’t always agree with everything he said.

However, when I heard of his death, I realized just how much I learned from him and how much of what he taught me is still relevant in my day to day work.

Here are just a few of the things I learned from Charles from which you can draw insight:  

• “Learn more to earn more.” This advice was specifically geared to health and strength coaches, but I think it can apply to just about anyone. There is a tendency to glorify the hustle and grind, to see busyness as a badge of honour. Charles encouraged us to set aside time every day to slow down, learn new things and hone our craft.

• “Meat and nuts for breakfast.”  One of the best ways to feel more even keeled throughout the day and maintain good body composition is to control blood sugar and manage insulin levels. Charles’ meat and nuts breakfast accomplishes exactly that. By starting off the day with a meal of healthy proteins, healthy fats and fibre, and omitting the sugars and starches, we can feel more satiated and avoid the mid-morning energy slump. This sets us up for making better nutrition decisions for the rest of the day.

  • “Exercise gratitude as much as you exercise your body.” Simple gestures that change your mindset can have a huge impact on your physical health and performance.

Taking two minutes to write down a few things you are grateful for before bed is one of those keystone habits that has a powerful snowball effect. Those two minutes can improve the quantity and quality for your sleep, which creates a health snowball effect.