What is a Health Coach?
Search “Health Coach” on the Internet and you will find general definitions as well as a variety of more specific definitions based on the service provider’s perspectives and offering. I will express my perspective and intentions as a Health Coach below:
The goal of a Health Coach is to help change behaviors that have a negative impact on their client’s health and longevity. The client is empowered to better manage the lifestyle choices they make, which affect their overall health. Eating, drinking, smoking, exercise, sleep and other habits are examples of activities that are addressed. Motivation and accountability are also the benefits of working with a Health Coach. Some health coaches may call themselves “transformation coaches”, “wellness coaches” or “lifestyle coaches.”
People may choose to work with a Health Coach when they are ready to take action to make some type of change. They desire a life where stress is more easily managed, where they are in control of their weight, and fitness (the condition of being physically fit and healthy) becomes a daily interest. They believe their quality of life can be improved by making healthy lifestyle changes, but have not yet been successful on their own, to either make the changes necessary, and/or sustain them.
The Health Coaching process assists client through initial resistance and on a path of heightened awareness and interest in making health a daily choice-for life. The goal is to help the client become self-sufficient, to where they no longer need a coach. Once on their own, many clients will meet with their Coach on an as needed basis when challenged with continuing to practice what they have learned, or as a preventative to help them stay aware and accountable.
Weight Loss Coaching
Quick fix diets are designed to deliver fast weight loss results rather than teach us how to live healthy lives long term. We learn to follow the specific guidelines of the diet (no carb, shakes instead of food, pre-packaged foods that are portion/calorie controlled, etc.). They don’t teach us how to change our lifestyle by replacing unhealthy habits with new healthy sustainable ones, and so, when we reach our goal and stop, we don’t know what to do next other than what we did before the given diet.
I believe by implementing simple, gradual, sustainable improvements in the way we think, the way we eat and the way we move, we can make lasting changes in our overall health. As a result, we make a positive difference in the lives of others.
Nutrition and Exercise
To accomplish sustainable weight loss, these are two critical elements. We have to pay close attention to how we fuel our body and how much we move it.
Nutrition:
Eating well does not have to be complicated or boring. In fact, it can be simple and delicious. The topic of nutrition can get confusing with so many different suggestions available on what we should do. Our goal is to stick with the basics to nurture our body with good, clean, wholesome foods. We learn to be mindful of our choices and take ownership of our actions.
Nutrition for Weight loss
Think: “How can I get the most nutrition value from the least amount of calories?”
Exercise:
A healthy whole body requires regular exercise, which does not need to be complicated or painful. In fact, it can and should be enjoyable. If it’s not, then we need to evaluate our plan and make changes accordingly. Cardiovascular and resistance work will be implemented at appropriate levels on an individual basis.
Exercise for weight loss
Think: “How can I move more?”
