Why Willpower Doesn't Work for Weight Loss and What to Do Instead with Marc Lebert
Fitness innovator Marc Lebert on self-image, behavior change, and why willpower isn't enough for lasting weight loss on this episode of Get Sculpted.
Prefer audio? Listen here!
If you've ever done everything "right", followed the plan, logged the workouts, tracked the food, and still felt like something wasn't sticking, this episode is going to hit differently. Because the missing piece might not be your program, but your self-image.
Coach Marilynn sits down with Marc Lebert, Canadian fitness innovator, educator, entrepreneur, and founder of Liebert Fitness, for a conversation that goes far beyond reps and sets. Marc has spent decades in the fitness industry, and along the way, he discovered something that changed everything about how he coaches people: your self-image and weight-loss results are more closely connected than most fitness programs will ever tell you. If the picture you hold of yourself on the inside doesn't change, lasting change on the outside is going to be an uphill battle, no matter how much willpower you throw at it.
This is a conversation about what's actually running the show beneath the surface. About the unconscious programs and habits that keep you looping back to the same behaviors. About why internal dialogue and self-belief matter as much as any nutrition plan. And about what it really means to rewire your relationship with your body from the inside out.
Here's what we cover:
What neuro linguistic programming (NLP) is, and why Marc credits it with transforming how he coaches and how he sees himself
Why most people will keep doing what they've always done, and the simple but powerful reason that's not a willpower problem
How your self-image shapes your fitness results, and why changing that internal picture is the real work
The surprising connection between body dysmorphia and self-love, and what Marc learned about his own relationship with his body that changed everything
Why telling yourself "I want to lose weight" might be working against you, and what to say instead
How limiting beliefs and fitness are connected, and how unconscious programs quietly sabotage the goals you consciously want
Why willpower doesn't work for lasting change, and what to build instead
The role of breathwork, journaling, and small daily habits in behavior change for fitness, and why starting simpler than you think is always the right move
Why happiness doesn't come from getting leaner, and what Marc says is the real starting point for any transformation
This episode is for the woman who keeps finding herself back at square one and can't figure out why. It's for anyone who's ever felt like they're trying hard enough but still can't seem to make it stick. And it's for the woman who's ready to stop fighting herself and start building something that actually lasts.
"A lot of times, people, for lack of having a lot of control over other aspects of their life, think, if only I could beat my body into submission, then I'll be happy. And in reality, you'll get to a certain point, and you'll still be searching for that happiness. That's an inside job. It's not something that comes from getting leaner or more fit" — Marc Lebert
After listening to this episode, take a moment to notice the story you've been telling yourself. Not the one about what you need to do differently, the one about who you are. Because if Marc's message lands the way it's meant to, you'll walk away understanding that the real work isn't in the gym. It's in that internal picture you carry everywhere you go. Start there, and build the vision. If you're ready to work with coaches who understand that lasting transformation is never just physical, head to getsculpted.ca/contact, we'd love to support you.
Meet Marc Lebert
Marc is a Canadian fitness innovator, entrepreneur, and educator whose passion for strength and movement has transformed the way people train. With a background in personal training, psychology, and martial arts, he founded Lebert Fitness and created signature tools such as the Lebert EQualizer®, the Buddy System™ and the Stretch Strap™—gear that’s now used by trainers, gyms and performance centres around the world.
Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Marc blends his expertise as a Certified Personal Trainer, neuro-linguistic practitioner and strength & conditioning coach (including a history as a national level Taekwondo competitor) to deliver high-energy, results-driven training, and to lead seminars and educational courses globally.
His mission? To make fitness accessible, effective and fun for everybody!
Connect with Marc Lebert
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This podcast is brought to you in partnership with Leah Bryant Co.
More about the Get Sculpted Podcast
Welcome to Get Sculpted, the podcast for women who want to gain muscle and lose belly fat, improve their metabolism, and create real results using science-based fat loss strategies and practical coaching.
We go beyond quick fixes and fad diets to give you sustainable fat loss, strength training for weight loss, and fitness tips for women who want results without burning out. You’ll learn how lifting weights supports fat loss, how to train smarter instead of longer, and how to build habits that fit your lifestyle. Think less about guessing, more about clarity, and about progress you can maintain.
Whether you’re getting started or focused on building muscle after 30, this podcast gives women the tools to lose fat, gain muscle, and feel stronger, without relying on endless cardio or restrictive plans. We emphasize fat loss without cardio extremes, so you can train with confidence and consistency.
We’re your hosts, Jordanna, Marilynn, and Tijana, fitness professionals with over 20 years of combined experience and 1,000+ client transformations. With a strong focus on helping women 30 and older, we specialize in strength training, improving metabolism, and weight training for sustainable, realistic weight loss.
We’ll cover questions like:
Can you build muscle and lose belly fat at the same time?
How does strength training support weight loss?
What’s the best way to lose fat without losing muscle?
What’s the best way to lose fat without relying on cardio?
How can lifting weights improve my metabolism?
Why am I not losing weight even though I’m working out and eating healthy?
How can I stop yo-yo dieting for good?
If you’ve been searching for sustainable fat loss, women’s nutrition, and weight training that actually works, you’re in the right place. Join us every week for practical guidance, honest conversations, and tools to sculpt a stronger body and a more confident life.
Connect with us on Instagram at @getsculted.ca
The unedited podcast transcript for this episode of the Get Sculpted podcast follows:
Mindset, Behavior Change, and NLP
Marilynn [00:01:06 - 00:01:59]: [00:01:06] Because, yes, Mark has decades of experience in the fitness industry, but he has a deep background in mindset work, self image, behavior change, and neuro linguistic programming, also known as nlp. [00:01:18] And I think this is an important conversation because so many women are trying to create physical change because. [00:01:22] But they're still battling the same internal patterns and beliefs that are keeping them stuck. [00:01:26] So one of the things that Mark talks about is how a person's fitness level is shaped by how they see themselves. [00:01:32] So if you see yourself as fit, healthy, and capable, that internal picture is going to influence the actions you take and the standards you hold. [00:01:38] But if your self image doesn't change, it can be really hard for lasting change to stick. [00:01:44] So today we're talking about why change can feel so hard even when you really want it, why willpower is often not enough, what NLP actually is, and how your self image may be shaping more of your results than you realize. [00:01:56] So after all that, without further ado, Marc, welcome to the Get Sculpted podcast. Marilynn [00:01:59 - 00:02:01]: [00:01:59] I'm so excited that you're here with us.Marc Lebert’s Journey in Fitness
Marc Lebert [00:02:02 - 00:02:02]: [00:02:02] Thank you.Marilynn [00:02:02 - 00:02:11]: [00:02:02] So excited. [00:02:03] Welcome, welcome. [00:02:04] So for anyone in our audience who's meeting you for the first time, why don't you start by just telling us a bit about the work you do?
Marc Lebert [00:02:11 - 00:02:23]: [00:02:11] It's a little bit of everything, really. [00:02:13] I started out, you know, in the fitness business in Geez, when I graduated from university I had two job offers. [00:02:21] One was to work at square one.
Marilynn [00:02:23 - 00:02:24]: [00:02:23] Oh, I didn't know.
Marc Lebert [00:02:24 - 00:02:38]: [00:02:24] Security. [00:02:25] Yeah. [00:02:26] I was going to be Paul Blart, mall cop and. [00:02:30] But they didn't have segues, so I picked the other job offer I had that day, which was a small fitness club by the airport called Curzon's.
Marc Lebert [00:02:39 - 00:02:51]: [00:02:39] And for 825 an hour, I vacuumed folded towels and did access control and signed up members and watched the gym floor. [00:02:47] And that's kind of where I cut my teeth. [00:02:49] And from there, I just started training people.
Marilynn [00:02:51 - 00:02:52]: [00:02:51] Oh, my gosh.
Marc Lebert [00:02:52 - 00:02:58]: [00:02:52] Yeah, it's wild, eh? [00:02:53] Many years ago, when you said, I been in the business a while, you basically are just saying, he's old.
Marilynn [00:03:01 - 00:03:04]: [00:03:01] No, it's experience. [00:03:03] You've got lots of experience.
Marc Lebert [00:03:05 - 00:03:06]: [00:03:05] That's right.
Marilynn [00:03:06 - 00:03:10]: [00:03:06] I love that. [00:03:07] So, yeah, you've definitely been in the space for a long time, that's for sure.
Marc Lebert [00:03:10 - 00:03:33]: [00:03:10] Absolutely. [00:03:11] Yeah. [00:03:12] So I went from there to just training people in their homes, and then I went from there to developing a piece of fitness equipment that I launched and brought to market, and then from there to the club space. [00:03:23] So done just about everything and still, you know, have my hand in teaching classes and personal training and running the business. [00:03:31] Lots of fun stuff.
Marilynn [00:03:33 - 00:03:44]: [00:03:33] I love it. [00:03:34] And so, I mean, it has been years. [00:03:35] You've got such an incredible story. [00:03:37] What has kept you passionate about fitness and movement and helping people? [00:03:41] Because all these years later, you're still so into it. [00:03:43] So what's kept you passionate?
Marc Lebert [00:03:46 - 00:04:06]: [00:03:46] It's true. [00:03:47] And I was just telling the story the other day about my dad, who taught high school French for 35 years in the same classroom. [00:03:55] And I asked him that question one day. [00:03:57] I'm like, how on earth could you possibly be in the same. [00:04:00] That's a long haul. [00:04:01] And he just loved. [00:04:02] He loved people and personalities and he loved coaching and teaching. [00:04:06] So it's Every semester was new. [00:04:08] Same here, you know, new members, new personal training clients, new adventures with the fitness product. [00:04:13] So just always enjoying, you know, working with people.
Marilynn [00:04:17 - 00:04:32]: [00:04:17] I love that. [00:04:17] And I mean, that's kind of what brought us together. [00:04:19] So that's the thing. [00:04:20] These experiences are amazing. [00:04:22] So, okay, I want to go a little bit deeper now about, like, NLP and mindset and personal development work, because you've got the fitness side, the physical side, but how did that become part of your path?
Discovering NLP and Personal Development
Marc Lebert [00:04:33 - 00:05:02]: [00:04:33] Yeah, it's an interesting story because I think, you know the saying, when the student is ready, the teacher will appear. [00:04:40] I was training a client one day and she had this pamphlet and it was to take an NLP course. [00:04:45] If she would have showed that to me five years earlier, I probably would not have been open to it. [00:04:49] But I was like, that's really interesting. [00:04:50] But at the time we're going back, oh, my goodness, 25 years ago. [00:04:55] And at time it was like 2,500 bucks, something like that. [00:04:57] And I'm like, I can't afford it. [00:04:59] So I was telling all my clients about it, and I really want to take this.Marc Lebert [00:05:02 - 00:05:28]: [00:05:02] I think it'll make me a better trainer. [00:05:05] And one day I'm just in the bat in the gym, just shooting hoops there. [00:05:08] They had a basketball court at one of the pharmaceutical companies I worked at. [00:05:13] And, yeah, one of my clients came in. [00:05:15] I'm like, oh, I'm not training her right now. [00:05:17] Other came in, and all my clients came in at the same time. [00:05:20] And I'm like, oh, my goodness, what is this, an intervention? [00:05:24] They handed me a card. [00:05:26] Inside the card was a check for the price of the course.
Marc Lebert [00:05:28 - 00:05:32]: [00:05:28] Yeah, Seriously? [00:05:29] Yeah, just. [00:05:31] I still get the feels from that.
Marilynn [00:05:33 - 00:05:34]: [00:05:33] That is so amazing.
Marc Lebert [00:05:35 - 00:06:15]: [00:05:35] Isn't that awesome? [00:05:35] Yeah, I still have the card today. [00:05:37] Yeah, it's in my office hanging up on the wall. [00:05:39] And what's really interesting is that what I thought the course was going to be to make me a better trainer. [00:05:45] It was really what I learned was it was all about kind of like, I'm not going to be able to teach anybody in the weight room if I don't spend time in the trenches. [00:05:53] So the course was more about just dealing with my own stuff and working on my own behaviors and internal dialogue and limiting beliefs, all these things, and it was fantastic. [00:06:04] So, yeah, I took that NLP course so many years ago, fell in love with kind of like the study of NLP and using to coach clients and run seminars. [00:06:13] So, yeah, it was quite the journey.
Understanding Autopilot and Habit Change
Marilynn [00:06:16 - 00:06:25]: [00:06:16] Okay. [00:06:16] I've known you for a while. [00:06:17] That's the first time I've heard that story. [00:06:18] That's so beautiful. [00:06:19] I love that so much. [00:06:21] And you're so right. [00:06:22] They knew that you were ready for it and the opportunity was there. [00:06:25] I love that.Marilynn [00:06:26 - 00:06:47]: [00:06:26] We were having a recent conversation, and you actually said something that really stayed with me that I wanted to kind of talk about. [00:06:32] You said that most people will continually do what they've always done. [00:06:36] So I want to dig into that because I think it's a really powerful way to describe why people get stuck. [00:06:41] So let's unpack that a little bit. [00:06:42] What did you mean when you said that that people continuously do what they've Always done.
Marc Lebert [00:06:48 - 00:07:34]: [00:06:48] Yeah. [00:06:48] I think it's a really simple and powerful statement. [00:06:51] Most people will continually do what they've always done. [00:06:54] And if you just sit back and digest that a bit and think about it, it's like, how do I interact with people? [00:07:00] What are the things that I do on a regular that I seem to just do remotely and don't really put much thought or effort into it. [00:07:06] And if you go back a little further, if you look at the conscious mind, the conscious mind is what we're thinking about, what we're taking in through our senses. [00:07:15] So, you know, if I direct your conscious attention to the feeling of your butt on the chair, you're like, oh, my conscious mind's thinking about my butt on the chair. [00:07:22] And all these things that we take in through conscious mind create unconscious programs. [00:07:28] And these programs are written so that we don't have to do things every day over and over again.
Marc Lebert [00:07:34 - 00:08:00]: [00:07:34] For example, you don't wake up in the morning and have to learn how to brush your teeth. [00:07:38] Again, it's just an unconscious program. [00:07:41] And as powerful as that tool is, it can override almost everything so that we just remotely do things without giving it any conscious attention. [00:07:51] And we can't do EMS unless we get out of the ones we're currently running on, right? [00:07:56] Yeah. [00:07:57] So the idea behind generally do what they've always done.
Marilynn [00:08:00 - 00:08:07]: [00:08:00] It's that autopilot. [00:08:02] Right. [00:08:02] That, like, people are going to struggle because it's this autopilot that they're on. [00:08:06] That's so true.
Marc Lebert [00:08:07 - 00:08:46]: [00:08:07] And if they're on autopilot, in order to make a change, we need to put a break and change the programming. [00:08:16] So it's not like it's nose to the grindstone. [00:08:18] It's not like it's willpower, because willpower can't be used as a crutch to the same old programs. [00:08:23] We have to rewrite the programs. [00:08:24] And that takes conscious attention. [00:08:27] One of the best ways you can simply shift your conscious attention is to be present, take a deep breath, and just open up your vision and open up your mind and open up your attention. [00:08:41] And we don't do that during the day. [00:08:43] Think about the last time you just took a deep breath.
Marc Lebert [00:08:46 - 00:08:54]: [00:08:46] You know, it's such a relaxing and rewarding feeling, but also gives us a moment to contemplate, what loop am I in right now and what do I need to change that?
Marilynn [00:08:54 - 00:09:37]: [00:08:54] That's a really good point. [00:08:55] I remember I was working with a breathwork coach that we had on our team, and she actually said, it's amazing how many People don't know how to breathe because, like, it's just like an automatic response that our body has, but we don't give much thought to it. [00:09:09] But it can be one of the single most grounding practices that we do is to just stop and breathe, to get out of that autopilot loop. [00:09:17] So I think that's really, really important. [00:09:19] Okay. [00:09:20] This is a kind of another area I want to go to, because for a lot of women that we work with, life is very full. [00:09:25] Like, they're very stressed, they're very overwhelmed, and they almost never slow down long enough to be able to do this, to actually notice what's going on. [00:09:32] So do you think stress and overwhelm make this even worse? [00:09:36] Like, when we're living in autopilot?
Stress, Overwhelm, and Mindfulness
Marc Lebert [00:09:38 - 00:10:10]: [00:09:38] A hundred percent. [00:09:38] And a lot of times when there's people that want to incorporate fitness in their life because they know for their health and wellbeing, it's really important to add something else. [00:09:48] But just it's overwhelming thinking about adding something else. [00:09:52] So maybe we can do a little addition by subtraction. [00:09:56] Right. [00:09:56] So rather than adding anything, why don't we just slow down once in a while and just breathe? [00:10:02] Just breathe. [00:10:03] That right there is going to give us a chance to ground. [00:10:06] Like you said, most of us habitually breathe high in the chest.Marc Lebert [00:10:11 - 00:10:32]: [00:10:11] Right. [00:10:11] And stress breathe. [00:10:13] So just relaxing and breathing will give us a moment to, A, relax and B, get a little more energy and C, open up, eventually an opportunity to add something else, but just stop doing too much and just breathe. [00:10:28] If you have control of your breath, you have control of your life.
Marilynn [00:10:33 - 00:11:17]: [00:10:33] We've used this technique to help some of our clients with that, like emotional eating and cravings, because again, there's a lot of places on a fitness journey where. [00:10:41] And in life where autopilot takes over and having them just take that pause, even if it's for 30, 60 seconds, to just breathe and create a pattern interrupt. [00:10:50] So that way it kind of interrupts the pattern of like, I want the food, I eat the food. [00:10:54] And a lot of them have said to us how powerful that is, and they didn't even realize that they were on autopilot. [00:11:00] So slowing things down. [00:11:01] Absolutely. [00:11:02] It plays a huge role in how successful you are. [00:11:05] So I think this kind of segues into a really good place I want to go next, which is a deeper conversation about nlp, because for a lot of people listening, they may have never even heard the term before, or they've heard it and don't actually know what it's all About.
Introduction to NLP
Marilynn [00:11:18 - 00:11:24]: [00:11:18] So let's start simple. [00:11:19] Can you maybe tell us if someone's never heard of NLP or wants to know more about it? [00:11:23] What is it exactly?Marc Lebert [00:11:25 - 00:12:02]: [00:11:25] So NLP is an acronym for Neuro Linguistic programming. [00:11:29] So neuro, the neurological system. [00:11:32] Linguistic, like the language that we use, which is very powerful and sometimes we don't give it much thought. [00:11:39] And also our internal dialogue and the programming. [00:11:41] And the programming is kind of what we were focused on a bit earlier there just. [00:11:45] We're constantly running on a series of unconscious programs that were written and will always kind of rule run the show if you don't change them. [00:11:55] Almost like show my age here, the floppy disk in the computer, you know, you take it out, put a different one in, run a different program.
Marilynn [00:12:02 - 00:12:04]: [00:12:02] So I know what that is.
Marc Lebert [00:12:04 - 00:12:49]: [00:12:04] Yeah. [00:12:05] Neuro Linguistic Programming was created by two gentlemen who did a deep dive into studying some of the best psychologists and the best therapists in the world. [00:12:14] And why are they getting better results than other therapists? [00:12:16] Why are there patients getting better results? [00:12:18] So they really created a series of rules, a series of techniques that revolved around that. [00:12:25] So it was just basically modeling and finding out how these things work. [00:12:30] And what's really interesting is that most of these things, you know, when you have a little bit more understanding of, you know, how the mind works and you have a little bit more understanding of things, like you were just talking about gap control, just consciously giving yourself a moment to see if that's really something that's important to you or not.
Marilynn [00:12:49 - 00:12:49]: [00:12:49] Yep.
Marc Lebert [00:12:49 - 00:13:02]: [00:12:49] So patience and time and all these things that we start to incorporate is really what NLP is about. [00:12:56] It doesn't have to be anything formal, you know what I mean? [00:13:00] Like, I don't need to sit down and talk about.
Marilynn [00:13:02 - 00:13:03]: [00:13:02] Right, right.
Marc Lebert [00:13:03 - 00:13:16]: [00:13:03] My life is. [00:13:03] And relive all that past trauma. [00:13:05] Not that that stuff's not important, but sometimes it's just counterproductive to focus on it. [00:13:10] And we can shrink that down and open up a little more of a story of a movie around where we want to go.
NLP in Fitness, Health, and Behavior Change
Marilynn [00:13:17 - 00:13:28]: [00:13:17] Okay, so then, I mean, this is actually a perfect segue as well. [00:13:20] How then do you feel NLP connects to, like, fitness, health and behavior change, speaking specifically to the type of people, to the women who. [00:13:27] Who we work with, let's say.Marc Lebert [00:13:29 - 00:14:12]: [00:13:29] Right. [00:13:29] Yeah. [00:13:30] And again, it just works for every area of life. [00:13:32] So whether your goals are fitness, weight loss, relationships, making more money, your work, work, life balance, you can use it for all of these things. [00:13:42] And I believe that, you know, most of the people that I've trained Over the years they have goals to lose weight basically is what most people are looking to do. [00:13:51] Unfortunately, the problem with that is, is that when you start to understand how the mind works, the mind is very literal. [00:13:57] So when I say I want to lose weight, my mind instantly makes pictures of light in the back of the legs or a beer gut. [00:14:03] And for lack of any other directive or vision, your unconscious mind is going to seek out that as a result.
Marc Lebert [00:14:12 - 00:14:45]: [00:14:12] Right? [00:14:12] So your, your mind doesn't work on negative. [00:14:15] Okay, If I say if I get in a cab and the cab driver says, where do you want to go? [00:14:20] And I say, well, whatever you do, don't take me to the airport. [00:14:23] And he's going to be like, well, where am I going to take this guy? [00:14:26] I don't know. [00:14:26] Not the airport though. [00:14:28] So he's going to go to the airport, right. [00:14:29] It's only in direction if he does. [00:14:32] So when we say I want to lose weight, your mind can't make a picture of a lose, but it can make picture of weight, right? [00:14:38] So it doesn't work on negatives and it's very specific. [00:14:43] So just little tricks like that are so powerful.
Marc Lebert [00:14:45 - 00:15:00]: [00:14:45] And then if you look at like Weight Watchers, right. [00:14:50] They did some NLP stuff, but even the name Weight Watchers means I'm always watching my weight instead. [00:14:55] It could be Thin Gainers would be a way better name, right. [00:14:58] Language is so important. [00:14:59]
Marilynn [00:15:00 - 00:15:00]: [00:15:00] Right.
Marc Lebert [00:15:00 - 00:15:15]: [00:15:00] Call ourselves Thin Gainers and then that becomes more of an internal picture. [00:15:06] I'm getting to a certain point, not losing weight. [00:15:08] Losing weight is the worst thing you can say. [00:15:11] Chasing something to lose, right. [00:15:13] As opposed to dinners.
Self-Image and Internal Dialogue
Marilynn [00:15:15 - 00:15:31]: [00:15:15] It's interesting way of framing it, definitely. [00:15:18] So I mean we talk about that internal dialogue, right. [00:15:21] And self belief and all of that. [00:15:23] So kind of going in that direction, like the way someone talks to themselves or sees themselves, right. [00:15:28] How do you feel that then influences what they do day to day?Marc Lebert [00:15:32 - 00:15:39]: [00:15:32] Well, I mean literally everything that you do is a direct result of what you're thinking. [00:15:37] So if I said to a trainer, how do you know what your goals are?
Marilynn [00:15:39 - 00:15:39]: [00:15:39] Right?
Marc Lebert [00:15:39 - 00:16:08]: [00:15:39] And it's really the answer is really simple by what they're doing. [00:15:43] And they might not know it, but the programs that they. [00:15:46] And the way they're talking to themselves is just creating more of the same. [00:15:51] So again, I'm not trying to wait that I am fit, I am strong. [00:15:56] You want to talk as if it already exists today. [00:15:59] It sounds awful, but like you're just continually lying. [00:16:02] You're lying to rewrite that self conscious program that Self image. [00:16:07] So I am fit, I am strong.
Marc Lebert [00:16:08 - 00:16:11]: [00:16:08] And then getting a lot of detail around it.
Marilynn [00:16:11 - 00:16:11]: [00:16:11] Right.
Marc Lebert [00:16:11 - 00:16:40]: [00:16:11] Programs require a ton of, like I said, your conscious attention, your butt on the chair. [00:16:17] So we have to write about it and think about it and talk about it in a way that is directly what you're trying to get, not what you're trying to avoid. [00:16:25] Most people talk in one of two ways. [00:16:26] What they're trying to avoid or what they currently have. [00:16:29] But they're not talking. [00:16:31] And by talking I mean internal dialogue as well and writing things down about what is going to happen. [00:16:37] So that is the key. [00:16:38] That is where the real discipline takes place.
Marc Lebert [00:16:40 - 00:16:48]: [00:16:40] It's not like you have to go struggle and strain in the gym non stop. [00:16:44] I'm going to want to do it when my self image says that's the type of person I am.
Why Willpower Isn’t Enough
Marilynn [00:16:49 - 00:17:06]: [00:16:49] Okay. [00:16:50] So then, I mean this kind of goes into the. [00:16:52] I was going to ask about willpower. [00:16:53] Right. [00:16:53] Like why people do rely on willpower, but they kind of keep stuck in the same patterns. [00:16:58] So I feel you kind of answered this, but I guess that speaks to why willpower alone, it's not enough for lasting change. [00:17:04] Right. [00:17:04] Because it's not really addressing what's inside.Marc Lebert [00:17:07 - 00:17:24]: [00:17:07] No. [00:17:07] The willpower wanes. [00:17:09] It'll last two days, two weeks, two months, but it will wane. [00:17:12] The old images will always run the show. [00:17:15] They take over. [00:17:15] They almost like a little elbow on the ribs. [00:17:18] Are you sure you wanna do this? [00:17:19] And you have to keep saying yes, this is the direction I'm going now. [00:17:21] So it's just staying consistent with the new messaging.
Marilynn [00:17:25 - 00:17:42]: [00:17:25] Okay. [00:17:26] I love that. [00:17:26] Yeah. [00:17:27] Cause the truth is a lot of people do rely on willpower or that's what they feel they need. [00:17:31] Like we've actually had clients say to us, like, I just don't have the motivation or the willpower. [00:17:35] And you're right. [00:17:36] That's a very external thing that comes and goes. [00:17:38] In fact, I always say your willpower is not going to be there when you need it.
Marilynn [00:17:42 - 00:17:48]: [00:17:42] It's especially not going to be there when you need it. [00:17:44] Right. [00:17:45] It never feels like it is. [00:17:46] That's a really good point for our listeners.
Motivation and Vision
Marc Lebert [00:17:48 - 00:18:14]: [00:17:48] Motivation is such an interesting word because a lot of people will say, I just need more motivation. [00:17:53] Like I'm going to magically look under the couch pills and find it. [00:17:56] Like change and Cheetos, you know, you're not going to just find motivation. [00:18:00] Most people will continually do what they always done unless they're sufficiently scared. [00:18:05] So I just had a heart attack. [00:18:07] I'm Going to eat better. [00:18:08] I'm going to quit smoking, drink more water, start exercising regularly. [00:18:12] And that's only short term.Marc Lebert [00:18:14 - 00:18:56]: [00:18:14] I used to train a cardiologist and he had patients that luckily survived a heart attack. [00:18:17] And then a week later, we're like back to the same old habits. [00:18:21] So sufficiently scared, but the one to get pulled is sufficiently excited. [00:18:26] We have to get very excited about our vision, our dreams and our goals. [00:18:30] And that just requires discipline at staying on top of that vision and build that vision. [00:18:36] You know what? [00:18:36] The most motivated person in the entire world is the bride. [00:18:40] Because her vision is so strong and she built it up for so many years. [00:18:44] I see the family there and the dress I'm wearing and everybody's watching me go down the aisle and the flowers and the pageantry and the beauty and to see her husband to be and these amazing things.
Marc Lebert [00:18:56 - 00:19:14]: [00:18:56] This is a vision that she's had for so long that if I train someone who's getting ready for the wedding, I literally, as soon as they slow down, I just have to hum, here comes a brush, here comes brush. [00:19:07] And they're like, right. [00:19:09] So that is the power behind proper internal storytelling.
Body Dysmorphia and Self-Acceptance
Marilynn [00:19:14 - 00:19:30]: [00:19:14] Wow. [00:19:15] I never thought of it that way, but that's very true. [00:19:18] Right. [00:19:18] Because it's so tangible. [00:19:19] That vision is so real. [00:19:21] I love that analogy. [00:19:22] There was something else you shared at like one of the events that we collaborated on and it's actually stayed with a lot of our clients. [00:19:29] I think I mentioned this to you.Marilynn [00:19:30 - 00:19:47]: [00:19:30] We've had many clients repeat this, but you spoke about your own experience with body dysmorphia, which I think is super interesting in general. [00:19:38] But also, I'll be honest, like as a male sharing that with our female fitness community, it was really powerful. [00:19:43] So would you be open to sharing a little bit more about that experience?
Marc Lebert [00:19:48 - 00:19:50]: [00:19:48] Sure. [00:19:48] Yeah. [00:19:48] I don't know what got into me that day. [00:19:50] What was I thinking?
Marilynn [00:19:52 - 00:19:53]: [00:19:52] It was great. [00:19:53] You were great.
Marc Lebert [00:19:53 - 00:20:32]: [00:19:53] Yeah. [00:19:54] I think sometimes, you know, women don't always understand that men have the same struggles when it comes to, you know, the messaging that that's been put out there by the media. [00:20:04] I have to look a certain way and I have to be muscular. [00:20:07] If I don't get there, then that means I'm not worthy. [00:20:10] Right. [00:20:11] And I would all my self worth on how big and strong I could get. [00:20:16] In reality, what I started to do when I, when I studied NLP and work with my coaches is that loving your body, you start there first, it's not getting anywhere. [00:20:25] So as soon as I saw I started loving my Body, I started doing the things necessary to make it healthier and stronger.
Marc Lebert [00:20:32 - 00:20:50]: [00:20:32] But even more than that, what you're looking out of is what you're looking at. [00:20:36] So when I started having self love, then I looked in mirror and go, oh yeah, he looks pretty good. [00:20:41] But before that I. [00:20:42] All I saw was a skinny wimp that would never amount to anything. [00:20:46] It's, it's interesting how it's just a simple. [00:20:48] Just like that can be so dramatic.
Marilynn [00:20:51 - 00:20:59]: [00:20:51] Totally. [00:20:52] And do you feel like that experience of yours has changed the way you connect with people and coach people and teach people, like, how you relate to them?
Marc Lebert [00:20:59 - 00:21:23]: [00:20:59] Yeah, 100%. [00:21:01] Yeah. [00:21:01] I mean, most people are experiencing that in some way. [00:21:03] They don't love their body. [00:21:05] In reality, that's 1000% where you need to start. [00:21:09] If I stay in a group fitness class, which I do once in a while, not very often because they're there to train hard, not maybe have a lesson in psychology, but I'm like, who loves their body? [00:21:16] And nobody puts up their hand. [00:21:19] Hardly anybody. [00:21:20] Guys and girls, it's like, but it moves us.
Marc Lebert [00:21:23 - 00:21:37]: [00:21:23] And we're here on the planet doing such amazing things and, and it gives us ability to hug our kids. [00:21:28] Like, honestly, it's, it's funny how the messaging in the media has been so strong and captured us to buy things and do things in order to feel some self worth when reality, it's inherent already.
Emotional Struggles and Physical Change
Marilynn [00:21:38 - 00:22:11]: [00:21:38] Yeah, no, that's a good point. [00:21:40] And you know, it's interesting because a lot of people, I would say, are thinking they have to fix something physically. [00:21:45] Right? [00:21:45] Like, and honestly, Mark, that's the same with the clients that come to us. [00:21:48] Like, they come for the, the weight loss goal or they come for the physical, which we get them, trust me, we get them to their goals. [00:21:54] But it is often something deeper. [00:21:56] There is a struggle that's more emotional or, you know, more mental, and that shapes their behaviors. [00:22:01] So can you speak to that how like this struggle might actually be an emotional struggle, but then it shapes their behaviors. [00:22:09] How does that kind of factor in that emotional struggle?Marc Lebert [00:22:12 - 00:22:47]: [00:22:12] Yeah, no, it's so true. [00:22:14] A lot of times people, for lack of having a lot of control over other aspects of their life, they think, if only I could beat my body into submission, then I'll be happy. [00:22:22] And in reality, you'll, you'll get to a certain point and you'll still be like searching for that happiness, you know, and, and that's an inside job. [00:22:30] It's not something that comes from getting leaner or more fit. [00:22:33] If that's Truly your goal and that's part of, you know, an overarching image that you have for yourself, then that's great. [00:22:40] I mean, I feel happy that I'm disciplined and I. [00:22:43] And I feel happy doing my strength training and I feel happy working out. [00:22:46] That's fine.
Marc Lebert [00:22:47 - 00:23:24]: [00:22:47] But my happiness doesn't rely upon that. [00:22:50] There is a lot of emotional things that people need to address. [00:22:53] And you know, to be perfectly honest, we can go right back to the beginning of this. [00:22:57] Breathe and start to connect with your body. [00:23:01] If we don't slow down and if we don't start to feel and unravel some of those emotions, no matter what we do, we're not going to be able to address that part of it. [00:23:12] And addressing emotions is such an important part of our health. [00:23:16] Because holding the motions in creates body tension, muscle tension, which not the kind of muscle tension you want. [00:23:22] It creates bad habits.
Marc Lebert [00:23:24 - 00:23:36]: [00:23:24] We hold it down with alcohol and food. [00:23:26] So if you do want a fitness goal, you say you want to fit in school, then addressing that emotional part of it will help you to get rid of a lot of your bad behaviors.
Advice for Getting Unstuck
Marilynn [00:23:37 - 00:24:06]: [00:23:37] Yeah, so true. [00:23:38] I think that's such an important reminder that a true transformation is never just physical. [00:23:43] The mind and the body are so intricately connected. [00:23:47] I believe you can't work on one without the other. [00:23:49] That's like a pillar of get sculpted is that it's a whole transformation. [00:23:52] You are a whole person, mind, body, soul. [00:23:55] So with that in mind, I want to bring it back to the woman who's listening right now who feels stuck. [00:24:00] Because a lot of the, a lot of our listeners, a lot of the women we work with, they do come to us and they feel very stuck.Marilynn [00:24:06 - 00:24:10]: [00:24:06] They feel like they fall back in the same patterns. [00:24:08] Where would you tell them to start?
Marc Lebert [00:24:10 - 00:24:52]: [00:24:10] The first thing they should know is that they're not alone. [00:24:13] We all feel stuck sometimes. [00:24:15] And I think there's probably two or three things that are low hanging fruit and have immediately and enormous kind of impact. [00:24:26] First and foremost, take time during the day to close your eyes, take a deep breath. [00:24:32] Most of our brain runs on our visual system and we get absolutely exhausted. [00:24:37] So some deep breathing, closing our eyes will give us a little bit more energy. [00:24:41] We need energy to have conscious attention. [00:24:44] It's really hard to stay consciously aware of what we're doing and building something new if we're exhausted and the unconscious just runs.
Marc Lebert [00:24:52 - 00:25:18]: [00:24:52] You've seen people walk through the grocery store and are not even aware of anything. [00:24:55] You could just take their purse if you want, or just out of it. [00:24:59] So breathe physiology first hydration. [00:25:03] If you're tired, you are dehydrated, I can guarantee you trulates and salt and not just water. [00:25:09] So breathing, patient meditation. [00:25:13] And a lot of people get freaked out by meditation. [00:25:15] Enough time to add one more thing. [00:25:16] It can be with your breathing.
Marc Lebert [00:25:18 - 00:25:30]: [00:25:18] Just do a minute, a day, two minutes. [00:25:20] And what I think is the most important, not just thinking about what our next vision story, that poll, we have to write it down. [00:25:29] So start writing.
Power of Writing and Practical Strategies
Marilynn [00:25:31 - 00:25:41]: [00:25:31] Yeah, I was going to ask you about that because I know that I've done some sessions with you and you talk about writing exercises being so powerful. [00:25:37] So maybe talk to us a little bit about that. [00:25:39] Why is that such a powerful part of this process?Marc Lebert [00:25:41 - 00:26:10]: [00:25:41] I'm not sure exactly why it's so powerful, but I do know that writing takes thoughts that temporary and fleeting and makes them more permanent. [00:25:51] It's almost like our antenna to the unconscious mind. [00:25:54] A, it's very cathartic in a lot of ways and B, we start to write down the details around how fit I am. [00:26:04] So that is where the stories start. [00:26:06] And then you just keep building on it. [00:26:07] Every day you add a little bit more and a little bit more and a little bit more.
Marilynn [00:26:11 - 00:26:45]: [00:26:11] I love that. [00:26:11] And that's a good place, I think, to start because it's all connected. [00:26:14] Like I feel like there's for myself, my brain's always running, right? [00:26:17] It's like even when I don't realize it, there's like that narrative constantly going on. [00:26:21] And I love journaling and writing for this reason because it allows me to kind of get out of my head, into my body and out on paper. [00:26:28] And also when you see it written down, it's staring back up at you. [00:26:31] Like it makes it more real, more tangible. [00:26:34] So I love that. [00:26:35] And I think all of these strategies that you've given, like the breathing, hydration, the writing, all of this gives people something that's doable, right, Instead of overwhelming.
Marilynn [00:26:45 - 00:26:59]: [00:26:45] Because change can be very overwhelming. [00:26:47] And so I think that this is really, really helpful for our listeners. [00:26:50] So if you could leave our listeners with one message about like change, self image or becoming more intentional, what would that message be for them?
Final Thoughts and Takeaways
Marc Lebert [00:27:00 - 00:27:49]: [00:27:00] I would say that you believe that it's possible. [00:27:05] And what I mean by that is, is that sometimes we stuff and we go to AI and we say, what do I need to do? [00:27:12] And it says, well, you got to do five minutes and create a habit and all that stuff. [00:27:16] The belief I am the person who does this. [00:27:19] Well, if you start writing every day, you're going to write about how great you are writing every day. [00:27:24] You're going to write about I'm really prioritizing protein and hydrate every day. [00:27:29] And that becomes the more you practice that rather than a full hour in the gym and beat yourself up with a high intensity interval training session, let's just start with a simple thing. [00:27:40] Every morning I get up, I do my check in and my self care and every night before bed I do it. [00:27:48] This is non negotiable.Marc Lebert [00:27:49 - 00:28:01]: [00:27:49] And then from there you can build on, add a little bit during the day, work with you guys and enhance your fitness levels. [00:27:56] So just again just. [00:27:58] And keep it simple. [00:27:59] Keep it simple. [00:28:00] I'm simple, simple, stupid.
Marilynn [00:28:03 - 00:28:25]: [00:28:03] We love something practical that our listeners can take away. [00:28:06] So that's something actionable that they can start right now. [00:28:08] Even if like you said it's like 60 seconds even start with that. [00:28:11] Practice in the morning, make it part of your self care routine. [00:28:14] We also talk about like a wind down routine at the end of the night before you go to bed. [00:28:18] All of these things, they're so practical and so applicable. [00:28:21] So I love that this was such a great conversation. [00:28:23] I learned new things in this conversation.
Episode Wrap-Up and How to Connect
Marilynn [00:28:26 - 00:29:08]: [00:28:26] So I want to thank you so much for being here and for sharing so openly. [00:28:30] What I love about this conversation is that it really does bring us back to something very important which is that lasting change is never just about the physical. [00:28:39] It's not just about the workout plan or the nutrition plan or knowing what to do. [00:28:43] It is about your vision, your self image, how you see yourself. [00:28:47] And like you said, it's about awareness. [00:28:49] It's getting out of that autopilot and understanding the patterns and those internal stories that are showing up every day shaping what you do. [00:28:56] And, and I think for so many women listening, especially the ones who are frustrated that they keep ending up in the same place and they can't figure out why because they're trying to rely on willpower and motivation. [00:29:05] This is super important, right? [00:29:06] You don't need to push harder.Marilynn [00:29:08 - 00:29:44]: [00:29:08] We always say work smarter, not harder. [00:29:10] Sometimes the real work is actually slowing down and becoming more aware and more intentional to see what's driving your behavior. [00:29:17] So after listening to this episode, take that moment to reflect. [00:29:20] Start building that vision. [00:29:23] See what's come up for you where. [00:29:24] Think about like where are you running on autopilot? [00:29:26] What old belief is maybe influencing your choices? [00:29:29] And what would it look like to practice one small moment of conscious attention this week or even today? [00:29:36] So Mark, for our listeners who want to connect with you and learn more from you because you are a wealth of knowledge. [00:29:41] After this conversation, where can they find you? [00:29:43] What's the best way to connect with you?
Marc Lebert [00:29:45 - 00:29:58]: [00:29:45] The easiest way is just on Instagram through Iber Fitness. [00:29:48] You can reach me through you guys, of course. [00:29:50] And I think, you know, at some point, if we maybe do some coaching together and maybe there's something up our sleeves, who knows?
Marilynn [00:29:58 - 00:30:17]: [00:29:58] Absolutely. [00:29:59] Absolutely. [00:29:59] We love collaborating with you. [00:30:01] You're amazing, and our community adores you. [00:30:03] So if this episode resonates with you, please share it with others. [00:30:06] Because like I said, Mark is a wealth of knowledge and you always post such great content. [00:30:11] So even if you're not on there all the time, you're posting some great stuff. [00:30:14] And definitely send us a message because we can connect you with Mark as well.
Marilynn [00:30:18 - 00:30:23]: [00:30:18] Mark, thank you very much for being here. [00:30:20] A big, big thank you so much. [00:30:21] So excited that you joined me today.
Marc Lebert [00:30:23 - 00:30:25]: [00:30:23] Thank you so much. [00:30:24] That was awesome.
Marilynn [00:30:26 - 00:30:31]: [00:30:26] Awesome. [00:30:26] And we will catch you on the next episode of the Get Sculpted podcast. [00:30:30] Take care. [00:30:30] Bye.