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May 12, 2026 33 mins

What if your client wants to lose weight—but you don’t coach weight loss?

In this episode, I’m giving you the exact tools and mindset shifts to navigate that moment with confidence and compassion.

You’ll learn how to coach through the desire to lose weight—without gaslighting your client or abandoning your non-diet values.

We’ll explore where this desire comes from and how to respond in a way that builds trust and drives real behavior change.

You’ll learn:

  • Why the desire to lose weight is a thought—not a fact
  • How to uncover what’s really behind your client’s weight loss goals
  • The truth about “putting weight loss on the back burner”
  • What to say when a client says, “But I need to lose weight”
  • Why intrinsic motivators create lasting health changes
  • The one question that changed my life—and how it can shift your client’s journey too
  • A free script you can use in your next client session

Mentioned in the show:

1. In a study of midlife women, those exercising for weight loss walked 2.5x less than those motivated by stress relief or energy (Segar et al., 2006). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21884579/

2 People who exercised for well-being reasons (e.g., better mood) stuck with it 1 year later.

Those who exercised for appearance or weight loss reasons did not maintain the habit. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30314419/

The Groundwork: https://program.stephaniedodier.com/groundwork

Non-Diet Coaching Certification Waitlist: https://www.stephaniedodier.com/non-diet-coaching-certification/

Free Guide - What to Say When Clients Want to Lose Weight: https://www.stephaniedodier.com/guide

Weight-Neutral Coaching Training: https://www.stephaniedodier.com/shop/

Work With Me: https://www.stephaniedodier.com/work-with-stephanie/

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