The Wellbeing Manager Interview

21/02/2007

Paul Stephen Lubicz - The Wellbeing Manager Interview

This month I have the pleasure of interviewing a good friend of mine, and fellow Perth boy who I met through personal training in London. He is the owner of 'The Wellbeing Manager', known as the Sunday Times Guru, and Author of 'Body Conditioning for Men'. Paul's clients include A-list celebrities and international royalty.

Craig: What is your approach to assisting clients in achieving their health and fitness goals?

Paul: First I want to understand them - what makes them tick, what goes on in their life (and that's everyday life - the truth), what drives them, what pushes their buttons, what do they like to do; they are the most important questions I can ask. I spend a lot of time shutting up and listening. Listening is very powerful, as it's important for me to really get someone and for them to get me as we are a team.

C: How big is the mental approach in terms of success?

P: A lot of people are so hard on themselves, and they set hard tasks - like they are committing pennants, so I allow them to take a bit of that stress away. I want to create a framework and functional routine. Consistency, not perfection, is the motto. What I specialise in is helping people feel good about themselves - and that is so valuable. When I can allow people to see the their own beauty they might just be a little less hard on themselves and then work from there, which is a lot more beneficial.

C: You see your role as more than just a stereotypical personal trainer who takes people through workouts - it seems you take on more of the facilitator or coach role, would you agree?

P: I definitely work people hard, but I do it in a way that is not beating them up or has in no way, shape or form negative attachments to it. It's really positive and I really want them to develop a healthy relationship with exercise. But the relationship I am really concerned about is the relationship with themselves, because if you have the same relationship with yourself it is the same you have with everyone else. Working on that is a big one with me.

C: What are the big mistakes people make at the moment in terms of moving towards optimal health?

P: Doing things they don't like just for the sake of achieving a media-driven stereotypical image, so I really encourage people to think and feel what's right for them. But there is definitely a framework to work within. I don't think there is any one eating plan or strategy that is all encompassing. I like to take bits and pieces from many strategies like for example eating low glycemic. I also think someone is better suited to more protein than carbohydrates, or vice versa, eating ph neutral anti-inflammatory, raw food, food combining, there's lots of things that are really positive.

For me I am only as good as the people I surround myself with. That's why I use the best nutritionists that are specific for that person, the best suited to communicate with a client. People matching people is more important. I have stopped being a nutritionist a long time ago; I just worry about movement and introducing people to the person that will have the most profound effect on them.

C: Now you have just created a new free health website called "The Lifestyle Guide". Can you explain your thoughts behind creating this and how it came about?

P: The whole idea of supplying a number of different options for someone to achieve their goals on a personal level was the first step. I want to touch as many people as I can in regards to giving them the gift of wellbeing - through providing information. So I created something they can choose to take what they want from which has turned into an amazing tool. I had 80 articles in the beginning and then I approached all the practitioners I work with, and from here it has continued to grow beyond my wildest dreams.

C: What sorts of topics are covered in the lifestyle guide?

P: I asked myself what are the major things people came to me for; it ranges from poor digestion, insomnia, bad backs, weak core, weight loss, detoxifying, nutrition, supplementation, lifestyle tips, just to mention some. They are all subjects I thought were important - real life subjects but covered from many angles. I love east and west philosophies, indigenous and ancient cultures, the way they approach wellbeing, and also modern day science. The aim is for people to have as many tools to become there own wellbeing manager.

C: Thanks Paul, I really appreciate you taking the time to chat. I thoroughly recommend checking out the lifestyle guide as it is jam packed with articles on a big range of topics from a range of expert practitioners.