Two years ago I had no idea what a health coach was! I had seen the title used in various places but I didn’t know exactly what it meant. Once I decided to use my health journey to help others I started researching how to spread the message and health coaching certification programs started popping up. I was intrigued so I looked into several schools and eventually ended up enrolling at IIN or the Institute for Integrative Nutrition which is based out of NYC.
According to The Institute for Integrative Nutrition a certified Health Coach is a supportive mentor and wellness authority helping clients feel their best through food & lifestyle changes by tailoring individualized wellness programs to meet their clients’ needs.
What makes a health coach unique?
A health coach uses an holistic approach to wellness. According to dictionary.com holistic medicine is characterized by the treatment of the whole person, taking into account mental and social factors, rather than just the symptoms of a disease. With a holistic approach in mind Certified Health Coaches customize a program to help their clients set and follow through on health and wellness related goals incorporating factors such as home environment, relationships, joy, career and finances.
What a health coach is not:
Someone who sells a product.
I see this so often and as someone who paid a generous amount and spent countless hours studying for a full year it’s a little discouraging to have people use the title health coach just because they sell a weight loss product.
A dietitian
A dietitian is an expert in food and nutrition to help manage disease. They receive a batchelors degree, complete an internship and get licensed in the state they practice in. Unlike a health coach, a dietition can recommend specific dietary guidelines based on the individual’s needs.
My Health Coaching Philosophy
In school we are encouraged to narrow down our audience to a target market. This can be diabetes, weight loss, autoimmune disease, etc. I knew early on that my passion was to help fellow moms on their health and wellness journeys. With that in mind I have customized the curriculum at IIN to apply to mothers who are trying to incorporate health and wellness goals while juggling all of the other areas of motherhood.
Most women are looking to loss weight and gain more energy but they are often focusing on the wrong areas. Diet and exercise are both important in a health journey but if they are the only areas we are exploring we aren’t going to see good results at least not in the long term. As women our bodies are very different from males. We hold onto weight (or lose too much weight) when our hormones are out of balance and guess what messes with your hormones?
If you guessed chronic stress then you would be right! Cluttered homes, hectic schedules, toxic relationships, out of control finances and/or lack of self care is causing women chronic stress. Our bodies are stuck in fight or flight mode and our hormones are all out of balance because of it.
I want to help you create balance in your lives. Life is tough sometimes but we can choose to live with less stress and more joy!
How can a health coach help you?
If you are struggling to stay committed to your health and wellness goals, a health coach can help you set practical goals and give you the support you need to achieve them. Each health coach brings a unique experience to their coaching practice so be sure to find someone who is a good fit for your personal goals.
