When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, it always seems the hardest part is that first step. As humans, we often hear ourselves saying, "I'll start eating better... tomorrow." or "I'll join the gym... next week." It's very easy for us to put off until tomorrow what we can do today. On top of our procrastination, individuals are also very good at justifying their choices or coming up with excuses.
The general population knows that the second piece of cake does not serve them, but because they're under so much stress at work, they justify it by saying they deserve it. Our mind is a powerful weapon, and at times it can be our own worst enemy. On top of that, even if someone does take that first step in achieving their goals, after a week or two, they often fall back into old habits. For many people, big health changes are challenging to sustain. This is where health coaching can come in handy.
Goals
As health coaches, we can help a client get laser-focused with the goals they're trying to achieve. For example, someone might set a goal to lose weight. While this is a great goal to work towards - it's very vague. Coaches help individuals set sincere goals, goals that are measurable, attainable, and realistic. Also, if a person is having a hard time meeting their goals, a health coach can help them reassess. Rather than quitting or giving up, we can help our clients revamp goals, so they're more achievable for their lifestyle.
As health coaches, we are not here to preach. We're here to guide people into making healthy choices that work for their body and lifestyle. This is called bio-individuality. For example, someone might decide to try intermittent fasting. Let's say that after two weeks, they begin to struggle. Their energy levels are low, and they feel deprived, stressed and frustrated. While intermittent fasting has many health benefits, it might not be the right fit for them. Coaches can identify these things and help steer a person in a new direction.
Accountability
Accountability is something else health coaches assist in. Having someone to hold you accountable for goals is very motivating. Daily, weekly, or bi-weekly check-ins make people responsible for their words and actions. Health coaches become the biggest cheerleader in a client’s corner, and who can't benefit from that?
More than just diet & exercise
Lastly, a big misconception of health coaches is that we only focus on food or losing weight. While diet is part of what we explore, we also look at other areas of our client’s lives (careers, stress levels, sleep patterns, relationships, finances, physical activity, and spirituality). A person could be eating whole foods and consider themselves "healthy", but if they are riddled with stress, that will negatively manifest in their body, which can ultimately lead to many health issues.
Health coaches are just another tool in the tool-box. We help people step back and look at the big picture. If someone has a tack stuck in their foot, they don't take ibuprofen to dull the pain. They find the tack, and they remove it. This is the approach for health coaching. Find the root cause and resolve it. Don't cover it up with a quick fix.
Health coaching is a powerful and growing movement that stretches much farther than just diet and exercise. It’s about goal setting and accountability. It’s about taking a step back and looking at the big picture. It is a growing industry that is providing big results for countless people and their communities.
Are you ready to take the journey?