Kevin Neeld — Hockey Training, Sports Performance, & Sports Science

Sports Nutrition Tip: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Today I have another awesome sports nutrition tip from Brian St. Pierre, who authored the Nutrition Guide for my new program Ultimate Hockey Transformation. Enjoy! – KN

Tip #2: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Have you ever missed out on accomplishing a goal or task because you were overwhelmed? Maybe you had too much information to sort through or tried to do too much at once.

If so, I’d like to share a powerful principle with you – one that can increase your chances of success.

And not just a little. If you apply the principles discussed here, your chances will skyrocket from less than 35% to greater than 80%.

That’s the difference between: “maybe this will work” and “this is totally gonna happen.”

The principle I want to share today is one that I use very comprehensively with my own clients.

And the principle is called: habit based coaching.  So, what is habit-based coaching?

Well, it’s the commitment to a single, but immensely important idea: Focusing on less helps you achieve more.

What it all comes down to is this. In a world full of distracting “technologies”, “novelties”, “cutting edge resources”, and “gadgets”, one thing ALWAYS rules: the application of basic habits.

Research and experience with thousands of clients – “regular” folks, high school athletes, and professional athletes alike – has taught me that this is the best approach.

The key is to go slow and steady for long-lasting success.

  1. Select only one habit at a time. You can choose any habit you want, whatever you think will have the biggest impact on your life. Or follow the monthly tips that will follow this one. Simply choose one habit per month (at most every 2 weeks).
  2. Write this habit down. Put it on post it notes, or use iPhone reminders to help you do it each day.
  3. Tell people you are doing this habit. This helps to provide social support, and social accountability.
  4. Track your consistency daily. It’s not about perfection, simply progress over the long haul. You won’t get it 100% right every single day, and that is okay. Just aim to get better day by day, with the occasional hiccup, until you have that habit down pat.
  5. Only then do you move on to your next habit.

Slow and Steady

Image Credit: OneSocialMedia.com

I know this may sound slow, or even boring. It is definitely more exciting to make big sweeping changes.

But here’s the thing – those big sweeping changes rarely last. There is too much change all at once, and nothing sticks. Instead, by just making one change at a time, you allow for that new habit to simply become what you do everyday.

Then, and only then, you add on a new habit. Before you know it, you will have radically changed the way you eat and think, will be fitter, healthier and performing at a higher level, and doing so in a sustainable manner.

So remember, slow and steady wins the race. Practice one new habit at a time, and you will change your life.

-Brian St. Pierre, MS, RD, CSCS, CISSN, PN1

P.S. For more information on how to get a copy of Brian’s incredible hockey nutrition resource, click here: Ultimate Hockey Transformation

Brian is a Registered Dietitian and received his Bachelor’s in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Maine, where he also received his Master’s in Food Science and Human Nutrition. He is a Certified Sports Nutritionist as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

Brian worked for three years at Cressey Performance as the head Sports Nutritionist and as a Strength and Conditioning Coach, working with hundreds of athletes and recreational exercisers of all types. During this time, he also authored the High Performance Handbook Nutrition Guide, Show and Go Nutrition Guide, Ultimate Hockey Nutrition and dozens of articles for publication.

Nowadays, he works closely with Dr. John Berardi as a full-time coach and a nutrition educator at Precision Nutrition. In particular, working closely with our elite athletes and fitness professionals. As part of the Precision Nutrition mission, he helps to deliver life-changing, research-driven nutrition coaching for everyone.

Please enter your first name and email below to sign up for my FREE Athletic Development and Hockey Training Newsletter!

Get Ultimate Hockey Transformation Now!

Year-round age-specific hockey training programs complete with a comprehensive instructional video database!

Ultimate Hockey Transformation Pro Package-small

Get access to your game-changing program now >> Ultimate Hockey Transformation

“Kevin Neeld is one of the top 5-6 strength and conditioning coaches in the ice hockey world.”
– Mike Boyle, Head S&C Coach, US Women’s Olympic Team

“…if you want to be the best, Kevin is the one you have to train with”
– Brijesh Patel, Head S&C Coach, Quinnipiac University

Kevin Neeld

Kevin Neeld Knows Hockey

Kevin has rapidly established himself as a leader in the field of physical preparation and sports science for ice hockey. He is currently the Head Performance Coach for the Boston Bruins, where he oversees all aspects of designing and implementing the team’s performance training program, as well as monitoring the players’ performance, workload and recovery. Prior to Boston, Kevin spent 2 years as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the San Jose Sharks after serving as the Director of Performance at Endeavor Sports Performance in Pitman, NJ. He also spent 5 years as a Strength and Conditioning Coach with USA Hockey’s Women’s Olympic Hockey Team, and has been an invited speaker at conferences hosted by the NHL, NSCA, and USA Hockey.