Introduction

Have you ever wondered why it’s so difficult to make some lifestyle adjustments you know will be good for your health? You’re not alone! In this age of information and technology, we all know what to do to be healthy. The resources are all around us and within our reach – books, articles, websites, videos, lectures, webinars, etc. We are constantly being reminded to improve our diet, exercise often, get enough sleep, and avoid stress. All of this information can be overwhelming, and somewhat confusing and can paralyze many people from taking steps to better their health.

The journey to a healthy life need not become daunting. When unclear about where or how to begin, a coach becomes your go-to person, your guide, your partner, and your cheerleader, helping you navigate seamlessly. From life coaching to personal development, fitness, health, and wellness coaching, the benefits cannot be overemphasized and a good coach will adopt a holistic approach to setting objectives and creating a structured and supportive framework to ensure you get the result you desire. 

Benefits of Health Coaching

Whether you want to lose weight, improve your diet, reduce stress, quit smoking or improve your overall self-esteem, a health coach can help you succeed. Think of them as your behavioral change expert working with you to overcome all obstacles on your path to health and wellness. There are numerous proven benefits of health coaching. Health coaches will help you to:

1. Improve Your Diet

Diet is a must when one desires a healthy lifestyle. Studies have shown that people who have a health coach tend to eat more healthy foods compared to people who don’t have a coach. Health coaches can help you navigate challenging dietary changes and ensure you eat a balanced diet regularly. Whether you want to avoid gluten, eat fewer refined carbs, eat more fruits and vegetables, or eat out less, a health coach is there to help you reach your goals.

2. Understand and Manage Your Health Better

By taking into account your unique preferences, circumstances, challenges, family history, lifestyle habits, and other specific health concerns, your health coach will help you understand your body better and work with you to develop tailor-made plans to enhance your overall health and well-being. They understand your uniqueness and will also provide the much-needed information and accountability you require to meet your goals.

3. Become More Physically Active

Health coaching will help you engage in physical activities more often. In fact, research shows that those who receive health coaching are more likely to move more than those who do not. This is especially true for senior citizens and is beneficial for preventing chronic disease and improving independence as they get older. Exercise is one of the best ways to stay healthy and a good coach will incorporate it into your health journey.

4. Boost Weight Loss

Being healthy requires maintaining a healthy weight, gaining or losing weight as the case may be. If you’re looking to shed or gain some pounds, health coaching can help you do so by focusing on diet and lifestyle changes and keep you motivated. Usually, the goal is to aim for progress and not perfection. Changes will occur over time, not overnight and the accountability your health coach provides will go a long way to helping you stay the course.

5. Lower Your Cholesterol and Blood Pressure

From diet and lifestyle changes to managing visits to the doctor, lab test results, and medications, improving your health can be a daunting task. Your health coach will make recommendations based on your test results. Whether it’s limiting refined carbs, adding more foods rich in fiber, recommending certain supplements, or increasing physical activity, they create a suitable plan for you that will work optimally, and suggest modifications as deemed appropriate.

6. Improve Your Blood Sugar Levels

Controlling your blood sugar levels need not be an uphill task. A health coach can help you manage that. It is said that people who receive health coaching have greater metabolic control, efficiency, and improved knowledge compared to those who do not. Several diabetic patients have expressed interest in receiving further coaching after seeing improvement in their blood sugar levels when they received coaching sessions even over the phone.

7. Live a Better Quality of Life

Making changes is a lot easier when you have someone close by rooting for you. Your health coach is your accountability buddy. The support system and regular check-ins they provide can help keep you focussed on your goals. They understand how you feel and what you’re going through and they won’t give up on you. Their presence in your life is priceless and the payoff is very well worth it in all ramifications including reducing hospital visits and medical expenses.

What to Look for in a Health Coach

By now you are already fired up to get yourself a health coach, having listed the benefits above, which are by no means exhaustive. Almost anyone can call themselves a health coach but you would want to go for someone who is credentialed and has expertise in this regard, having gone through formal training or education – for instance, someone who is a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). This indicates that they have had proper training.

You may also ask your healthcare provider for a recommendation and contact your health insurance to check if the service is covered and that they have a list of approved providers. Whoever you end up with, make sure you’re comfortable enough and have a good rapport with them.

Conclusion

Accomplishing your health goals can be very challenging without a great strategy and a great support system. Health coaches can assist you in overcoming all barriers and making the switch to a healthier lifestyle a reality.