Full disclosure, I will graduate as a certified health coach from IIN in March 2022. Which is exactly why I feel like I’m qualified to tell you why everyone needs a health coach! For starters let’s talk about what a health coach is.
What Is A Health Coach
Think of a health coach like you would think of a basketball coach. Health coaches are there to support you, consider us a wellness mentor in your life. Health coaches cheer you on and encourage you through your health goals. We can can support you by sending healthy recipes (like these!) or just listening when you talk through your new career goals. Some coaches work in group settings while others give one-on-one support to their clients.
Is Health Coaching about Losing Weight
Health coaching isn’t about losing weight (unless that’s your goal!). Coaches don’t prescribe diets or subscribe to rules around food and lifestyle. As a Integrative Nutrition Health Coach I focus on bio-individuality. Health coaching in the bio-individuality perimeter means we understand that everyone has unique needs when it comes to diet and lifestyle. Through a unique process of coaching sessions your health coach will help you identify what works best for your body. This is information you can use for a lifetime of wellness!
What is an Integrative Health Coach
Integrative health coaches (like myself) focus on a whole body approach to health and wellness. While nutrition is very important, integrative coaches take it a step further by coaching clients on “primary foods”. This refers to areas in your life such as relationships, spirituality, career, physical activity and environment. We believe that an imbalance in your primary food could lead to an imbalance in your secondary food (nutrition). Finding balance in the primary food areas can certainly influence secondary food choices in a client’s life, leading to overall whole body wellness.
how do health coaches work
Health coaches work in person, on zoom and sometimes over the phone. It really depends on what works for the client and coach. In my health coaching program I start with a free consultation. This is where we go over your health history which is like a client intake form. Following the consultation clients are invited to sign up for my six month coaching program. Clients meet with me on the same day and time every two weeks for six months. During the coaching session we will talk for 45 mins to an hour and you’ll leave with 2-3 suggestions to implement until our next session!
The goal of a health coach
As a health coach I can say without a doubt my goal is to help my clients see that they are all they need to be healthy! I want to empower my clients to live happy(ier) and healthy(ier) lives for years to come. My goal as a health coach is to leave a lasting impression on my clients so they walk away with sustainable health habits. No more yo-yo diets, no more “failing”, no more feeling unsure of what to eat or how to move your body.
Health Coaching is The future
I firmly believe health coaching will lead the way to a much needed change in our healthcare system. When people are educated and empowered to take control of their own health they can make better choices for their wellbeing. Healthier people visit doctors and hospitals less. When this happens they can spend less on hospital bills, giving them more financial (and life) freedom! Health coaches have the potential to lessen the burden on doctors and nurses by helping people that may be headed for preventable diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Why I decided to become a health coach
In 2019 I was pregnant with my 3rd baby and suffering anxiety like I had ever experienced before. My pregnancy was complicated and eventually my daughter (healthy now) had to be delivered pre-term because she had stopped growing. She had a week stay in the NICU and lingering health complications for the next three months. Fast forward three months after Harley was born and we relocated our entire family across the country. Not surprising the first week there I started breaking out in full body hives. I ended up seeing the most amazing integrative doctor in CA and we learned that I had high levels of mold poisoning. The next two years were rough, detoxing was hard on my body and I had to work really hard to clear the mycotoxins. Long story long, she changed my life. I learned so much about what my body needs and became so in tune with it after working with her. She inspired me to help other people with their health and wellness and that’s why I decided to pursue health coaching.
How to get a coaching session
If you’re interested in a coaching session with me, fill out this form and we’ll be in touch to schedule your consultation!
Stay Well!
XOXO- Amanda
I might consider getting a health coach one day. 🤔 it sounds like a good investment in myself
Hi Lily-Anne! Truly a form of self care. I’m here if you need anything 🙂 Stay well!
I found it helpful when you cleared with us that health coaching isn’t just about losing weight since it will help us identify the unique needs of our body when it comes to diet and lifestyle and help us with them. I haven’t been in the best of health lately since my work sometimes makes me lose sleep or skip meals. I’ll have to consider getting a certified health coach to consult with soon and improve my lifestyle.
Hi Elina, yes! It’s so important for us to put our focus on all factors that affect our health such as sleep, stress, water intake etc. Nutrition is important as well, but not necessarily as “lose weight”. Hope you’re doing well and I’m here if you need anything!