Work in Progress

Chris Ballantyne
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Fitness

A decade clawing my way to success in law and finance, whilst trying to stay strong and fit in the process. I made it to my dream roles: a top US law firm and the trading floor at Deutsche Bank. Then I decided to leave and follow my gut. At first I helped others transform their health and fitness. But leaving law threw unexpected challenges my way, which led to a big personal discovery. Our sense of self worth. The psychology behind high achievement. Our deeper emotions and patterns, and how they can stealthily sabotage our entire lives. I now help lawyers, execs and other high performers restructure how they train, eat, think and live, so they can come off autopilot and get a body and mind to match what they have on paper. This is straight talk from someone who has lived that world. Expect enthusiastic discussions on: Getting results with minimal time and maximum chaosTraining, nutrition and lifestyle on long hoursClient dinners, deal dynamics and travelA curveball proof mindsetPerfectionism, self worth and all or nothing thinkingEmotional confidence beyond physical confidenceWhy fear is often a dirty fuelAllowing yourself to be successful beyond just workInoculating yourself against health misinformationMy own story, wins and failuresThis podcast is for you if: You're winning on paper but know there is moreYou're putting the effort into your body but not seeing the returnYou refuse to accept that long hours make it impossible to get a body and mind to match what you have on paperThis podcast is not for you if: You have no interest in being your best versionYou're happy to stay in love with excuses and identities that weigh you downWelcome. I'm honoured to have you here. Chris If you ever have any questions on the podcast: you can contact me directly on instagram @_ballantyne / https://www.instagram.com/_ballantyne Work with me: https://zavqq9pe1sd.typeform.com/to/JYw3isVm

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Nutrition Red Flag: Your Diet Has a Name

    If your diet has a name, it's usually a red flag. In the legal and finance world we operate on facts. If something doesn't sound right, we test it until we get to the truth. But when it comes to our own health, it's easy to run on the wrong set of assumptions. You put the effort in, don't see results, and start to believe your metabolism is broken, your body is broken, or age has got the better of you. In this episode I break down why there's nothing special about any diet with a fancy name, and the principles that actually matter. Why "eat less, move more" is like telling a trader to buy low and sell high. How your body uses carbs, fat and even muscle as fuel. Why a surplus from any food ends up mostly as body fat. Why an energy deficit doesn't mean weight loss on the scale, and how you can even gain weight while in one. And why you need to detach emotionally from the scales. WORK WITH ME I help lawyers and high performers restructure the way they train, eat, think and live, so they can come off autopilot and finally get a body and mind to match what they have on paper. Apply here: https://zavqq9pe1sd.typeform.com/to/JYw3isVm CONNECT WITH ME Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ballantyne YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chrisballantyne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-ballantyne

  2. Oct 9

    5 Gym Time Savers for Lawyers & Slammed Professionals

    Time is always the biggest hurdle people mention to me when it comes to why they aren't in the shape they want. "I don't have an hour, so I can't train." It feels good to say. But how long does good quality training actually take? In this episode I break down how lawyers and other slammed professionals can get real results from 20 to 30 minutes on the gym floor, even with a turbulent schedule. I share how I trained every morning while working at a US law firm in London, plus the exact time savers I use with my clients. We cover: Why the one hour rule is a mythThe one thing that actually drives results: hard sets per weekBuilding your training around your life, not the other way roundFinding your windows and making logistics work for you5 time savers: supersets, combo sets, drop sets, rest pause and myorepsThe 5 most common mistakes busy people make in the gymChapters 00:00 Time is the biggest excuse 00:24 The one hour myth 01:44 What actually matters 02:28 Build training around your life 04:02 Find your 20 to 30 minute windows 04:23 Pick the most convenient gym 04:45 My morning routine in the city 07:31 5 time saving techniques 08:21 Supersets 09:52 Combo sets 10:27 Drop sets 11:35 Rest pause 11:57 Myoreps 13:30 5 common mistakes 17:26 Key takeaways 19:53 How I help Work with me: https://zavqq9pe1sd.typeform.com/to/JYw3isVm Instagram (DM me here): https://instagram.com/_ballantyne YouTube: https://youtube.com/@chrisballantyne LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/chris-ballantyne

  3. Oct 7

    The 5 Pillars I Coach to Get Life Changing Results Despite Limited Time & a Demanding Job

    On paper, you're doing well. The title, the money, the career. But your body and mind haven't kept up. In this episode I break down why most high performers stop getting results. It isn't discipline. It isn't time. It isn't motivation. You put the work in, you don't see a return, so you stop. I walk you through the 5 pillars I coach my clients on, including CEOs, senior partners and founders (all with hectic jobs, busy lives and limited time): Intelligent TrainingFueling for PerformanceA Courageous MindsetEmotional ConfidenceEnvironment for GrowthGet these in place and you finally get a body and mind to match the career. Chapters 00:00 What a body and mind to match your career isn't 02:14 Why you're not getting results 04:11 The 5 pillars 04:54 Pillar 1: Intelligent training 10:10 Pillar 2: Fueling for performance 15:02 Pillar 3: Courageous mindset 18:45 Pillar 4: Emotional confidence 20:02 Pillar 5: Environment 22:36 How to implement 23:51 Get in touch Work with me: https://zavqq9pe1sd.typeform.com/to/JYw3isVm Instagram (DM me here): https://instagram.com/_ballantyne YouTube: https://youtube.com/@chrisballantyne LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/chris-ballantyne

    The 5 Pillars I Coach to Get Life Changing Results Despite Limited Time & a Demanding Job

  4. Oct 6

    Rejected 40 Times. Got the Dream Job. Then Left. Why?

    This podcast very nearly didn't happen. My inner perfectionist managed to frustrate the process for a year. In the first episode of Work in Progress, I tell my own origin story. How I got here. Going from a state school kid in the North East with a "gifted" label, to teenage lostness, to the City, to building my own business. Along the way, apparent "failures" kept turning out to be the best thing that ever happened to me. We cover: The rejections that sent me to Cyprus at 22, and how a split second decision shaped my whole life Being at the centre of the Cyprus banking crash, and how it set up my career in restructuring UK and US firms, then the trading floor at Deutsche Bank. On paper, the perfect path I never dreamed of Resigning, and why I left How I was scared and it took meeting a hollywood idol to insulate me from the fear. The first bad month in business, and slowly discovering out my self worth was tied to external results and had been for a long time. Why high performers go "all or nothing": 100% feels safe, 0% feels safe, 50% feels off What Work in Progress really means, and why the work on yourself is never "finished" If you're putting the effort in but not seeing the results, or not feeling the way you want to feel, this one is for you. WORK WITH ME I help lawyers and high performers restructure the way they train, eat, think and live, so they can come off autopilot and finally get a body and mind to match what they have on paper. I work with high performers around the globe, from senior lawyers, to unicorn founders, to those taking some time out. Apply here: https://zavqq9pe1sd.typeform.com/to/JYw3isVm CONNECT WITH ME Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_ballantyne YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chrisballantyne LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-ballantyne

  • 4 Episodes

About

A decade clawing my way to success in law and finance, whilst trying to stay strong and fit in the process. I made it to my dream roles: a top US law firm and the trading floor at Deutsche Bank. Then I decided to leave and follow my gut. At first I helped others transform their health and fitness. But leaving law threw unexpected challenges my way, which led to a big personal discovery. Our sense of self worth. The psychology behind high achievement. Our deeper emotions and patterns, and how they can stealthily sabotage our entire lives. I now help lawyers, execs and other high performers restructure how they train, eat, think and live, so they can come off autopilot and get a body and mind to match what they have on paper. This is straight talk from someone who has lived that world. Expect enthusiastic discussions on: Getting results with minimal time and maximum chaosTraining, nutrition and lifestyle on long hoursClient dinners, deal dynamics and travelA curveball proof mindsetPerfectionism, self worth and all or nothing thinkingEmotional confidence beyond physical confidenceWhy fear is often a dirty fuelAllowing yourself to be successful beyond just workInoculating yourself against health misinformationMy own story, wins and failuresThis podcast is for you if: You're winning on paper but know there is moreYou're putting the effort into your body but not seeing the returnYou refuse to accept that long hours make it impossible to get a body and mind to match what you have on paperThis podcast is not for you if: You have no interest in being your best versionYou're happy to stay in love with excuses and identities that weigh you downWelcome. I'm honoured to have you here. Chris If you ever have any questions on the podcast: you can contact me directly on instagram @_ballantyne / https://www.instagram.com/_ballantyne Work with me: https://zavqq9pe1sd.typeform.com/to/JYw3isVm

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Ballantyne
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Chris Ballantyne