What does a health coach do?

Simple! Health coaches are part of the movement dedicated to reversing the physical inactivity epidemic. A health coach helps educate and motivate people to adopt healthy, long-term, sustainable behaviors to improve their health. They coach people to create a life that avoids so many lifestyle illnesses and health conditions.

So whether you want to start exercising more, eat more nutritious meals, stop smoking, or just have more energy, a health coach can help! And don’t worry– you won’t be judged. Health coaches want to help you feel better and live a longer life with more vitality. We focus on positive changes that add value to your life.

A health coach works to facilitate holistic healthy lifestyle changes through three areas: physical activity, nutrition education, and behavior change.

How does it work?

Working with a health coach begins with a holistic assessment of your lifestyle. Lack of time is the most frequently reported reason for why people don’t exercise.  Health coaches work to help clients understand how to realistically include movement in their days. Health coaches are not necessarily personal trainers (and vice versa). Read more about how a health coach is different from a personal trainer here.

There is also discussion about your support systems. In order to maintain positive changes long-term, you need reliable support systems. Sometimes this involves suggestions for altering high-risk behaviors. While this sounds really scary, it can mean changing a simple habit like snuggling on the couch with your sweetie, while watching TV and eating a bowl of ice cream every night.

Coaching behavior change is the heart of a health coach’s job. Using psychological methodologies, the health coach helps clients evaluate their starting point. From there, the coach can introduce small mindset shifts to set off a snowball effect of positive change.

Another role of the health coach is guiding goal setting. Depending on the client’s starting point and desired main goal, the coach helps clients set goals related to fitness, nutrition, self-care, and overall wellness. The health coach ensures that goals are realistic, appropriate, and achievable for the client. Strategic planning and goal setting is an essential step to help you get where you want to be.

Weight management coaching includes a blend of psychology, fitness planning, and nutrition evaluation and education. Health coaches have advanced study in both the psychology of weight management as well as the science of physiology. This unique blend places health coaches as central figures in fighting the obesity epidemic. If you’re wondering why your metabolism is slowing down, a health coach can help you understand all the variables. (And what you can do about it!)

Where can I find a Certified Health Coach?

• Medical offices- particularly those inclined to functional medicine or holistic practice
• Corporate wellness programs
• Community centers
• Private practice

Many health coaches are fitness and wellness professionals who want to further their education to better serve their clients.

Thinking of hiring a health coach?

Make sure you grab my guide with ten questions to ask during the interview process. Making sure you and your health coach are a good match is key to your success. Start off on the right foot with my insider’s tips!

If you’re interested in discussing my health coaching services, please fill out the form below for a complimentary 15-minute call. I would be honored to be your health coach.