My Client Marena Just Gets It - Part 2
Dang it, Marena.
I had just finished writing an article about my client’s incredible progress and hit “publish.” Then I checked my email one last time before signing off.
And what do I see?
Another gem from Marena—better than the last.
I actually said out loud, “Come on! Do I go back and rewrite the article? I can’t leave this out.” But then I realized—her insight deserves its own spotlight.
So here we are. Marena, thank you for this.
Here’s what she said:
“I try to do every workout. lol I try to think about it like this: ‘I made a monetary investment in my health, I need to make the effort to work on it—and it’s better for me compared to multiple doctors appointments.’ lol It’s also easy because you literally put all the workouts in for me. I just have to show up. You literally tell me what to do. I just have to follow. Which is the easy part. I watched this video and it was like ‘choose your hard’—it’s hard to be overweight and unhappy (which I used to be), but it’s also hard to be healthy and make better choices. So I choose the hard that makes me happier.”
In one paragraph, she nailed three powerful truths:
An underrated reason my online fitness clients actually get results (that most coaches don’t admit).
The relief of having someone else guide you through the process.
Why lasting change depends on choosing the right kind of hard.
An underrated reason my online fitness clients actually get results (that most coaches don’t admit).
It’s not because they’re the most motivated.
Or the most disciplined.
It’s because they have skin in the game.
When you commit financially, it changes how you show up.
You stop treating workouts like a “maybe”...
And start treating them like a meeting you can’t miss.
Add real accountability—someone checking in, tracking your progress, calling you out when you slack—and failure becomes a whole lot harder.
It’s not about willpower.
It’s about building an environment where success is the default.
Marena said it best—she made a monetary investment in her health, and that simple choice made it easier to follow through.
My clients win because they stop relying on motivation, and start embracing a system that makes progress inevitable.
2. The relief of having someone else guide you through the process.
Most people don’t need another free workout. They need someone to take the mental load off their plate.
Nutrition, workouts, recovery, progress tracking—it’s a lot. And when life gets messy (which it always does), they need someone who knows how to adjust the plan without losing momentum.
That’s why people sign up.
They’re tired of second-guessing every decision
Wondering if they’re eating enough, too much, or the right things
Wasting time doing random workouts that don’t actually build anything.
Coaching gives them a roadmap—and a human to guide them when the road gets bumpy.
And when that coach has been doing this for 8+ years. Has worked with hundreds of people (with nearly as many success stories). And studied enough—and cared enough—to become a physical therapist.
You can feel pretty dang confident that the guidance you’re getting isn’t random. It’s earned.
They stop spinning their wheels. They stop starting over. They finally start moving forward.
3. Why lasting change depends on choosing the right kind of hard
“Choose your hard.”
That one line from Marena says it all. Sure—it’s hard to work out after a long day.
It’s hard to meal prep.
It’s hard to spend money on coaching.
It’s hard to stretch yourself when life already feels full.
But here’s what’s also hard:
Dealing with low energy every day
Avoiding mirrors or photos because you don’t like what you see
Feeling out of control with food
Not knowing what your bloodwork will say at your next physical
Wondering if your habits today are leading to a longer life—or a shorter one.
Carrying the stress and shame that comes from constantly starting over
That’s the long-term hard. And it doesn’t go away on its own.
Marena gets this now. She’s not just working out—she’s reclaiming control.
That’s why I do this.
Not just to help someone get beach lean. Not just to help someone add 30 pounds to their bench press. That stuff is fun. But it’s not the mission.
The mission is helping people break the cycle. Helping them trade short-term discomfort for long-term freedom. Helping them build a body—and life—they’re proud of.
Because when you choose the right hard…You change everything.
Final Thoughts
Marena’s journey shows us what’s possible when you choose the hard that leads to real change.
It’s not about motivation or willpower alone—it’s about commitment, accountability, and having a plan that works for your life
If you’re ready to stop guessing and start moving forward, just like Marena did, I’d love to help.
👉 Click here to apply for coaching
Let’s make your progress inevitable.
Best,
John
3 Steps You Can Take
Apply for coaching - If you’re ready to start, you can fill out a coaching application here (it takes 90 seconds or less). Best case, you change your life. Worst case, I’ll help you draw up a road map to get closer to your goals.
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Keep learning - You can check out my other articles here. Nobody asked me to, but I’ve spent a ton of time researching everything from artificial sweeteners to saturated fat to testosterone and more, so you don’t have to.
