"When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied." - Herophilus
A healthy lifestyle includes daily exercise, proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and effective stress management. If any one of these areas is compromised, it can affect the foundation of our health, resulting in negative health outcomes. And while most people claim they value health, many are struggling to honor that value consistently. Diet books, trendy diets, and fitness fads have never been more abundant, yet still we are getting fatter and sicker. Overweight and obesity rates are nearing forty percent of the population, preventable diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes are on the rise, and health care costs are skyrocketing to the tune of 20 percent of our GDP. The quick fix, one-size-fits-all approach to getting healthy through dieting isn't working. The health and wellness industry has let us down.
Health and wellness coaching is a comprehensive and collaborative process between a qualified coach with a health and wellness background and a motivated client that encompasses discovery, problem-solving, action planning and the development of ongoing support systems for the purpose of ensuring clients achieve their desired health behaviors and/or outcomes not just for a finite and often short period but for the rest of their lives. Areas addressed include nutrition, fitness, stress management and adequate sleep with a special emphasis on nutrition and fitness. Coaching is about making sustainable long-term and long-lasting changes that lead to better health, more energy, more fulfilling relationships with family and friends, and a more productive life in general. Coaching is a process that helps you reach your full potential.
The coaching process is designed to:
identify core values as they relate to healthy behaviors
guide clients as they define their health vision and desired outcomes
assist clients as they establish preliminary short-term and long-term health and wellness goals
brainstorm and facilitate strategies for meeting these goals
advise clients as they explore their support network, barriers to change, motivation and self-efficacy
collaborate to create a concrete yet flexible action plan
provide ongoing support, guidance, accountability and structure as client implements the action plan and works toward and ultimately achieves goals
Who benefits from coaching?
Anyone who has a health or wellness goal can benefit from coaching. That said, some individuals probably have more to gain from the intensive support offered through the coaching experience. For this reason, if any of the following apply to you, coaching might be a worthwhile investment.
You struggle to lose weight
You are a chronic yo-yo dieter
You have special health concerns like prediabetes, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis or other chronic disease process
You feel overwhelmed by all the confusing and conflicting information out there
You have difficulty making lasting change
You are determined to succeed and willing to put in the work it takes