25: Avoiding Hard Things Makes Life Harder

In this episode, I break down why returning to sport after injury isn’t just physical, it’s neurological.Using Karl Friston’s Free Energy Principle, I explain why the brain resists uncertainty and how that shows up as hesitation, fear, or lack of trust in the body.I walk through how building physical capacity and mental distress tolerance helps update these predictions, and why gradual exposure, from gym work to full gameplay, is key to restoring confidence.

In this episode, I explore the concept of distress tolerance. What it is, why it matters, and how building it can transform both your training and everyday life.I break down how distress tolerance shows up in the gym, from pushing through challenge to staying present when things feel uncomfortable, and why these moments are key opportunities for growth. You’ll learn how training your body also trains your mind, helping you respond to stress with greater control and resilience.I also dive into the connection between distress tolerance and the nervous system, explaining how your body processes stress and how you can work with it, not against it, to improve performance and recovery.Finally, we introduce the Goldilocks rule, finding the “just right” level of challenge that stretches you without overwhelming you. This balance is where real progress happens.Whether you’re new to training or looking to level up your mindset, this episode will give you practical insights to help you stay grounded, push your limits, and build lasting resilience.

After receiving a message from a client about recurring left knee pain that flares up during stressful times, this episode explores why the body often returns to the same place when tension builds.I explain how the body stores tension, why certain areas become more prone to pain, and how the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system responses can influence recurring pain patterns.If you’ve ever noticed old aches returning when life gets stressful, this episode will help you understand why.

This episode is as a guest appearance on the Dis & Co podcast as the very first guestThis is all about arriving at coaching, what came before and I how I see coachingI'm not trying to teach anything in this podcast or make any points but there are plenty of nuggets along the way

We all avoid things.Hard workouts. Cold. Tough conversations.But every time we dodge something difficult, life feels heavier and we seek comfort and distraction.In this episode I break down how stress, avoidance, and resilience actually work inside the nervous system.Plus how simple tools like cold exposure, cardio and sled work rewire your tolerance for discomfort.If you want life to feel lighter, start here.

What REALLY happens during a fast?We break down insulin, fat burning, ketosis, autophagy, training, nervous system regulation, and the supplements that support it.Simple. Practical. Science you can actually apply.

What if your scattered mind, pain, or anxiety isn’t a flaw but an adaptation?In this episode, I dig into Gabor Maté’s book ‘Scattered Minds’ on Attention Deficit Disorder and early attunement, and how the body holds the key to healing.Featuring some stories and lessons from years of nervous system coaching.

In this episode I talk about the link between physical training and the impact it has on our mental health - how pain can take over our mental space and how we can use training to change thatIf you'd like to see how I can help you message me 'INFO' on instagram @coachgaters

Our envinments have a huge impact on who we are and how we show upThis is episode is about the 3 levels of enviroments we encounter and how we can go about managing them

The hardest part of any nutrition plan is sticking to it. Are you sabotaging yourself? Are others sabotaging you? There are 4 things in this episode to consider