Have you ever felt that you're just not clicking with your coach or fitness program? Or have you caught yourself blaming everything but the real issue? Trust me, you're not alone. In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on one of the biggest barriers to success in any coaching relationship: value alignment. Discover how your mindset and habits could hold you back and learn what to shift to achieve your fitness goals.
I'll break down the types of clients that I, with over 15 years of coaching experience, find the most challenging to help. This episode is a game-changer for anyone seeking long-term success in fitness or personal growth.
In this episode, we cover:
- How a victim mentality can sabotage your fitness journey and why personal accountability is crucial for progress.
- Why relying solely on a coach or external factors for motivation won't get you long-lasting results.
- How sticking to the basics can lead to sustainable success and why novelty isn't always your friend.
- Why straightforward communication between client and coach is critical and how dishonesty can derail your progress.
- The importance of being open to new approaches and why clinging to past routines can keep you from moving forward.
Research shows that fitness success isn't just about the right workouts or diet plans—it's about mindset and how we interact with those guiding us. So, if you've ever felt stuck or not making the progress you expected, this episode is your wake-up call.
By looking honestly at the behaviors and mindsets holding you back, you'll align better with your coach and pave the way for genuine, lasting change.
Progress requires personal accountability and a willingness to find solutions.
As we start a new year, it's the perfect time for self-assessment. Are you ready to stop being your own worst enemy and start embracing true accountability and growth? What was your biggest takeaway from this episode? Message me on Instagram to let me know, and tell me what topics you want to hear more about or who I should have on the show. Let's keep this conversation going and set ourselves up for the best year yet!
Related Episodes
Fitness Without Shame: How to Prioritize Your Health Goals Over Society’s Standards
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Thanks for joining us on the Unfiltered Fit Life podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple and Spotify to help us reach even more women ready to simplify their fitness journey so they can lose weight, regain their confidence, and feel sexy AF!
More about the Unfiltered Fit Life podcast
Ever wish you had a fit and straightforward BFF with over 15 years of experience to help you filter through all the information regarding fitness, nutrition, and life?
That’s exactly what you’ll get when you listen to the Unfiltered Fit Life Podcast.
Join Former Bikini Olympia Champion, mom of 2, and fitness coach Nathalia Melo each week as she shares fitness, nutrition, and life tips to help busy working moms simplify their fitness journey so they can learn easy and simple strategies on how to lose weight and feel sexy AF.
After helping over 5000 busy working moms, Nathalia has found the blueprint to fitness, nutrition, and life success, which she will be sharing in this podcast: actionable tips that will help busy working moms be more present at work and at home.
This show is for you if you realize that nothing good comes from your comfort zone and are ready to challenge yourself to achieve great things. Follow Unfiltered Fit Life wherever you are listening to join us each week for a splash of sass, humor, and a whole lotta truth.
The podcast transcript for this episode of the Unfiltered Fit Life podcast follows
[Nathalia Melo]
Hello, hello there, fam! Welcome to another episode of The Unfiltered Fit Life Podcast. I’m your host, Nathalia Melo, and today, I’m pulling back the curtain to talk about something just as important as the strategies I teach.
As we approach the end of the year—a time when many people start thinking about fitness programs and coaches—I thought it would be helpful to have a different kind of conversation. Last year, I shared an episode about what to look for in a fitness coach. This year, I want to flip the script and talk about the types of clients I don’t work with.
Before we dive in, let me make this clear: this isn’t about judgment or harsh criticism. It’s about alignment. Over my 15 years as a coach, I’ve learned that the most successful coaching relationships are built on shared values and mutual respect. And today, I want to share the five types of clients that aren’t a good fit for my coaching program—and why that’s actually a great thing.
Shoutout to Our Amazing Listeners
Before we jump into it, I want to give a huge shoutout to everyone who’s been leaving reviews for the podcast. We’ve reached 21 ratings on Apple Podcasts—thank you so much for your support! My goal is to hit 30 reviews by the end of January (gotta aim high, right?).
If you’ve been listening and enjoying the podcast, it would mean the world to me if you could take two minutes to leave a review. That’s how we spread the word and help others find this podcast. Now, let’s get into today’s episode.
Why This Topic Matters
As much as I’d love to help everyone, I’ve learned that not everyone is the right fit for my coaching style. Just like in personal relationships, professional relationships work best when there’s alignment in values, communication, and expectations.
Here are two big lessons I’ve learned as a coach:
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I’m not for everyone—and that’s okay.
Not everyone will vibe with my approach, and that’s perfectly fine. Accepting this has made me a better coach and has helped me focus on working with people who are truly ready to grow.
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Misaligned values make progress nearly impossible.
If our values and expectations don’t align, we’ll always be speaking different languages, and progress will be slow or nonexistent.
With that said, here are the five types of clients I can’t coach—and why.
Type 1: The Perpetual Victim
This is the person who constantly blames external factors for their lack of progress. It’s always someone else’s fault—work is too busy, their kids have too many activities, their partner isn’t supportive, or their hormones are out of balance.
Here’s the thing: life is hard for everyone. There will always be challenges—whether it’s a demanding job, a sick family member, or a million other things. The key to success is personal accountability.
You don’t have to have it all figured out, but you do need to be willing to say, “Okay, this is what I’m dealing with. What can I control, and how can I move forward?”
If you’re constantly living in a victim mindset, you’ll stay stuck. Change starts when you own your journey, even when it’s messy and imperfect.
Type 2: The Motivation-Seeker
Some people rely entirely on external motivation to get things done. They think, “If I just had a personal trainer standing over me, I’d finally work out.” Or, “If someone keeps me accountable, I’ll finally eat better.”
Here’s the problem: motivation is fleeting. It’s not sustainable. Real progress comes from building habits and routines that work even when motivation fades.
If seeing your life, health, or confidence decline isn’t enough motivation, having someone cheer you on every day won’t solve the problem either. A coach’s job is to guide and educate, not to babysit grown adults.
Motivation is important to get started, but what keeps you going is your why—the deeper reason behind your goals.
Type 3: The Novelty-Chaser
This person is always looking for the next shiny thing—new workout plans, fancy diets, or trendy supplements. They believe that results come from constant change, but in reality, results come from mastering the basics.
If you can’t commit to the foundational habits of fitness—strength training, balanced nutrition, and consistency—it’s going to be tough to see long-term success. Michael Jordan didn’t become the GOAT by switching up his practice every week. He mastered the fundamentals through repetition and discipline.
You can add novelty in small ways—like trying a new gym or buying cute workout clothes—but the core of your routine should stay consistent.
Type 4: The Uncoachable Know-It-All
These are the people who think they already know everything. They’ve been working out for years or have read a bunch of fitness articles and believe they don’t need guidance.
Here’s the truth: if you already knew what to do and how to do it, you wouldn’t be stuck.
Being coachable means being open to feedback, willing to try new approaches, and ready to unlearn habits that aren’t serving you. Growth requires humility and a willingness to learn.
If you’re resistant to change or unwilling to trust the process, coaching won’t work.
Type 5: The Dishonest (aka “The Delulu”)
Honesty is the foundation of any coaching relationship. If you’re not honest about your food intake, workouts, or struggles, it’s impossible for a coach to help you.
For example, if you tell me you’re eating “perfectly,” but you’re actually sneaking in untracked snacks or oversized portions, we’re not addressing the real problem.
This isn’t about judgment—it’s about creating solutions. If you’re honest about your challenges, we can work together to overcome them. But if you’re dishonest (or sending me stock photos of meals from Google… yes, that has happened), I can’t help you.
Final Thoughts: It’s About Alignment, Not Judgment
These five traits—victim mentality, relying on external motivation, chasing novelty, being uncoachable, and dishonesty—are all barriers to long-term success.
This episode isn’t about shaming anyone. It’s about self-awareness and reflection. If you see yourself in any of these traits, ask yourself:
- How can I take more ownership of my journey?
- Am I truly open to learning and trying new things?
- What habits or mindsets do I need to change to see real progress?
Coaching is a partnership, not a one-way street. When both coach and client are aligned, that’s when the magic happens.
A Quick Recap
Here are the five types of clients I don’t coach:
- The Perpetual Victim – Blames external factors and avoids accountability.
- The Motivation-Seeker – Relies on external forces to stay consistent.
- The Novelty-Chaser – Obsessed with trends and avoids mastering the basics.
- The Uncoachable Know-It-All – Resistant to feedback and change.
- The Dishonest – Hides the truth about their habits and struggles.
[Nathalia Melo]
Thank you so much for listening! I hope this episode gave you some valuable insights and a chance to reflect on your own journey. If you enjoyed this, please leave a review—I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Until next time, take care and keep crushing your goals. Bye for now!
