Ep 38: From Victim to Victor: Reclaiming Your Identity & Breaking Fitness Plateaus w/ Will Ballanger

In this episode of ResistingBeta: The Men’s Health Podcast, host Andrew Bontz interviews guest Will Ballanger, Royal Navy Senior Physical Training Instructor, father, husband and proud advocate of honest hard work. Passionate fitness myth debunker and general S&C smartypants.

Summary:

Will Ballanger, a Royal Navy physical training instructor and online fitness coach, joins Andrew on the Resisting Beta Podcast to discuss how lifting, supplements, and overcoming plateaus can help achieve fitness goals and reduce anxiety.
Andrew explores Will's personal experience with anxiety and depression and how he has navigated through them.
Will shares his personal journey of experiencing anxiety and depression, losing his identity and regaining it through fitness, and how his story resonates with many men facing similar challenges.
Will offers advice for men who have lost their athletic identity due to stress and adult responsibilities, emphasizing the importance of taking small steps to regain physical fitness, rebuild confidence, and prioritize self-care.
Will advises men who are struggling with their mental health, particularly stress-related anxieties, to seek help before reaching a crisis point, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing their well-being and not being ashamed to ask for assistance.
When Will sought help, he acknowledged the importance of seeking assistance for his mental health and recognized the need to take action, emphasizing the societal misconception that asking for help is a sign of weakness, particularly for men.
When seeking help, Will reached out to a trusted friend, which provided validation and reassurance, and later sought professional assistance through a physician to address his mental health struggles.
Andrew asks how Will's journey has impacted his ability to help others with their physical fitness goals and earning the nickname "Big Will."
Will believes that while exercise, healthy eating, and avoiding alcohol are important for mental health, for him personally, he had to take an abrupt and high-intensity approach to get back in shape and regain his identity as a gym advocate and exercise professional, but acknowledges that this may not be suitable for everyone and encourages people to find what works for them.
Andrew asks how to help men improve their bullshit detector in the health and fitness industry to avoid conflicting and misleading information and achieve better results.
Will advises men to be cautious of the supplement industry and avoid relying on supplements for fat loss, emphasizing the importance of energy balance through proper nutrition and exercise.
Andrew asks how to differentiate between online fitness trainers who just look the part versus those who actually know how to coach to success, with the rise of Instagram influencers and the importance of finding trustworthy professionals in the industry.
Will advises being cautious of fitness trainers who ask for a large upfront fee and emphasizes the importance of building a relationship to determine if the trainer is the right fit, regardless of their appearance on social media.
To navigate plateaus in weight loss, Will emphasizes the need for understanding why we store fat and making changes in energy expenditure or intake, while maintaining relentless consistency and staying true to the chosen course of action.
Bodybuilding focuses on aesthetics and appearance, while CrossFit emphasizes performance and functional training, with a potential for aesthetic improvements. The choice depends on whether one aims to primarily look better or achieve both fitness and performance goals.
To replace minerals lost through sweat, focus on a well-rounded diet with adequate micronutrition and consider using electrolyte supplements as an insurance policy.
Andrew and Will discuss what it means to be a man, with Will stating that a man is someone who is sure of himself and knows where he's going in life, and gives homework for men to write down their goals and create a plan with measurable steps to achieve them.
Andrew expresses appreciation for Will's insights and acknowledges the challenges he has faced in his personal journey. He honors Will's dedication to self-improvement and leading others in improving their health and bodies, recognizing the importance of discipline and strength in men's lives.

Conclusion:

In this episode of the Resisting Beta Podcast, Andrew talks to Will Ballanger about his personal journey with anxiety and depression, and how fitness helped him regain his identity. Will offers valuable advice for men who have lost their athletic identity and are struggling with their mental health. He emphasizes the importance of taking small steps, seeking help when needed, and prioritizing self-care. Will also discusses the importance of being cautious of conflicting and misleading information in the fitness industry, and offers tips for navigating plateaus in weight loss. Overall, the episode provides valuable insights for men looking to improve their physical and mental well-being.

7 days home work:

Day 1: Reflect on your athletic identity and how stress and responsibilities have impacted it.
Day 2: Take a small step towards regaining your physical fitness and rebuilding confidence.
Day 3: Prioritize self-care by incorporating one activity into your daily routine.
Day 4: Seek help if needed and challenge societal misconceptions about asking for assistance.
Day 5: Build a support network by reaching out to someone you trust and sharing your journey.
Day 6: Evaluate fitness trainers by looking beyond their appearance and asking important questions.
Day 7: Set specific and measurable fitness goals, and create a plan with actionable steps to achieve them. Review regularly to stay on track.

Follow :

https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-ballanger-447952123

Quotes :

"Regain physical fitness, rebuild confidence, prioritize self-care." - Will Ballanger
"Seek help, break the misconception, prioritize well-being." - Will Ballanger
"Caution: supplement industry, focus on energy balance through nutrition." - Will Ballanger
"Build a relationship to find trustworthy fitness trainers." - Will Ballanger