The Teacher's Guide to Transformation: How to Be Coachable and Get Results with Barb Svab
Discover how women over 40 achieve real fitness results by becoming coachable. Learn mindset shifts, habits, and transformation tips with Marilynn & Barb Svab on this episode of Get Sculpted.
Feeling stuck in your fitness journey or wondering why results always feel out of reach?
You’re not broken—you just need a new approach.
In this episode of Get Sculpted, Marilynn is joined by her assistant coach, Barb Svab, to share why true transformation requires more than just workouts and meal plans. It requires a coachable mindset. As two former teachers turned fitness coaches, we’ve seen firsthand how the skills that made us effective in the classroom — patience, breaking down big goals into smaller steps, and meeting people where they are — are the exact same skills that help women transform their health and confidence.
Whether you’re facing the all-or-nothing cycle, stuck on the scale, or frustrated by quick fixes that never last, this conversation will help you approach fitness like a student of your own journey: curious, open, and ready to grow. We’ll show you how to turn effort into results without guilt, burnout, or chasing perfection.
Here’s what we cover:
Why women over 40 often struggle to get results (and how to break the cycle)
The key mindset shift that turns effort into lasting transformation
How being coachable accelerates weight loss and confidence
The difference between having information and having a true coach
How to overcome perfectionism and start celebrating small wins
Why consistency beats intensity every single time
We believe fitness is more than reps and routines. It’s a process of learning, unlearning, and growing, just like in a classroom. When you shift from trying to “do it all” alone to letting yourself be coached and supported, everything changes.
Asking for help isn’t a weakness—it’s a strength. It means you’re advocating for yourself and ready to grow.
-Coach Barb
So if you’re ready to stop doing it all alone and finally create the results you deserve, hit play and take the first step toward your 2.0 self.
Your turn: DM us @getsculpted.ca with one habit you’re committing to this week, we’d love to cheer you on!
And if this episode resonated, leave a 5-star review so more women can stop spinning their wheels and start transforming with confidence.
Meet Barb Svab
Barb is an assistant coach with Get Sculpted, helping busy women transform their bodies without extremes or restrictions.
Barb has worn many hats over the years—including broadcasting, acting, and now coaching in the health and fitness space. A lifelong fitness enthusiast, she’s completed half, full, and ultra marathons over the past 20+ years. However, despite her dedication, she was still searching for answers regarding how her body responded to all the effort. After getting certified and working with a coach, everything clicked—learning how to fuel her body to match her physical output properly. Now, as an assistant coach with Get Sculpted, she’s passionate about helping others find that same balance and breakthrough.
Connect with Barb
Connect with Get Sculpted
Thanks for joining us on this episode of Get Sculpted! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify to help us reach even more women ready to cut through the noise and get the real deal on fat loss, muscle building, and what it really takes to build their 2.0 sculpted self inside and out.
This podcast is brought to you in partnership with Leah Bryant Co.
More about the Get Sculpted Podcast
Welcome to Get Sculpted, the podcast designed for women ready to transform their bodies and level up their lives with science-based strategies and actionable advice.
We dive into the essentials of fat loss, muscle building, and metabolism optimization by helping you work smarter, not harder.
This isn’t about quick fixes or fad diets; it’s about creating sustainable habits and stacking wins. We’ll help you fuel your body, strengthen your mindset, and build your 2.0 sculpted self from the inside out.
We’re your hosts, Jordanna, Marilynn, and Tijana. We have over 20 years of collective experience in the training, nutrition, and body transformation business, with over 1000 transformations and counting.
Ready to get stronger, more empowered, and embrace a healthier, more resilient you? Join us every week and start sculpting the life you deserve!
The unedited podcast transcript for this episode of the Get Sculpted podcast follows:
Barb Svab [00:01:03]: Thank you.
HOW TEACHING SHAPES EFFECTIVE COACHING
Marilynn [00:01:04]: I feel so honored, so excited to have you. So, for our listeners, if you don't know already, Barb and I are both teachers. In fact, she is still in a teaching role while also being an amazing coach with our team. And Barb and I have both spent many, many years in the classroom working with students of all ages. Both before we shifted to the world of health and fitness coaching. And we talk about this all the time. But what's really wild is just how much coaching and teaching actually have in common. So this episode is not just about our journey.Marilynn [00:01:37]: Although you will hear a lot about the journey from teaching to coaching, it is for you. As always, if you have struggled with staying consistent, if you have ever felt like you're failing at your goals or you're just trying to figure out how to be more coachable in your own transformation. We are breaking all of this down today in our conversation, talking about mindset motivation, how to get out of that all or nothing cycle, and how you can be a student of your own journey…
[This section continues into discussion on why teaching skills matter, the transition to coaching, compassion, and shaping the learning journey for clients.]
WHY CUSTOMIZED COACHING BEATS ONE-SIZE PROGRAMS
Barb Svab [00:05:21]: Absolutely. I think, you know, the background in teaching and already working and supporting others just goes hand in hand with being a coach and gives you a lot of patience and a lot of compassion…Marilynn [00:06:48]: Absolutely. And I think you hit it on the head as well. Like, I mean, I have strong views. We won't go into that in this episode. But why cookie-cutter programs don't work for people long term…
[They discuss chunking goals, celebrating process over results, and why transformation requires meeting women where they're at, not cookie-cutter rigidity.]
CELEBRATING THE JOURNEY: MINDSET, CONSISTENCY & OVERCOMING SETBACKS
Marilynn [00:09:29]: Because you know what, it sounds cliche, but it's true. The journey is the reward…Barb Svab [00:10:36]: You know, like I would with my students. It's not failure, it's learning, right? Like, there's no such thing as failure. You're showing up, you're trying, you're trusting the process, and this is all a learning experience…
[This section includes how to support struggling clients, the importance of reframing setbacks, and building belief in clients so they see themselves as successful.]
WHAT MAKES SOMEONE COACHABLE? BUILDING PARTNERSHIP & TRUST
Marilynn [00:15:35]: Okay, let's switch gears a bit, because now I want to really talk to the listener and talk about what it means to be coachable…Barb Svab [00:16:30]: You know what? I think something that's really, really important is someone who is willing to try, even if they're scared of the process, unsure of the process, they are willing to try. You need to be open to feedback, too…
[Discussion includes the real definition of coachability, why communication is key, and how commitment and trust—not perfection—drive results.]
HOW WOMEN OVER 40 CAN BREAK FREE FROM PERFECTIONISM & SELF-SABOTAGE
Marilynn [00:18:24]: So I know a lot of women, though, they feel nervous. They really feel nervous, and maybe even sometimes ashamed to ask for help…Barb Svab [00:19:00]: Well, I think you know what I wanna say. Most of us have probably been there, so we totally understand where she's coming from. We all have struggles. It's normal…
[Barb shares insight on fear of failure, vulnerability, and why asking for help is a strength—plus how to move beyond perfectionism.]
THE MINDSET SHIFT THAT LEADS TO TRUE TRANSFORMATION
Marilynn [00:23:22]: Again, we don't coach unicorns. We coach real women, like our listeners. Okay, last thing I want to get into is let's talk now to the listener about how they can be their own best student…Barb Svab [00:23:58]: You see, I think when they realize how important it is to be consistent, you know, being consistent and realizing that it's a process and it's a journey. And there are no quick fixes out there…
[They emphasize growth mindset, reframing all-or-nothing thinking, reflecting on what’s working, and celebrating non-scale wins like confidence and strength.]
STARTING YOUR OWN FITNESS TRANSFORMATION JOURNEY
Marilynn [00:29:00]: But this is for the woman listening right now who wants to be a better student of her own journey…Barb Svab [00:29:20]: I think they really need to be honest with themselves. Like, you know, I spoke about how they need to be vulnerable when they come to a coach. They need to be vulnerable with themselves as well…
[Advice on getting started, prioritizing yourself, taking small steps, and the multi-generational impact of women putting themselves first.]
Marilynn [00:32:56]: They just have to show up. And to the women listening right now, we hope that you're leaving this episode feeling encouraged and a little bit more empowered to be the student and the success story of your own transformation…
If you love today's episode, don't forget to hit subscribe and leave us a review and tag us on Social Getsculpted ca…
Marilynn [00:34:21]: Thanks for tuning in and we'll catch you next time on Get Sculpted. Until then, remember this getting sculpted isn't about working harder, it's about working smarter.