Health Coaching
04/06/14 08:33
I first heard about Health Coaching when I was a Dietetic intern in 2002, and I remember thinking to myself, “Why would anyone pay for that?” I was still inexperienced enough to believe that the skills of a dietitian were most needed in a medical center where patients had complicated diets as a result of chronic disease.
Jump forward seven years when I started working for a corporate wellness program. Until that time, I, myself, still did not value the skills I had. I mean, doesn’t everybody know they need fruits and vegetables? I felt this way until one particular afternoon sitting across the table from a President of a very important department discussing how to incorporate fruits and vegetables into her extremely busy, hectic life. WHAM! I honestly felt like Wile E. Coyote when he had just had a brick dropped on his head by the Roadrunner. I had been missing the mark, just like Wile E., all this time.
The idea of eating healthy is easy, but changing habits, planning meals, grocery shopping efficiently, cooking, using leftovers, and doing it all within a reasonable amount of time is extremely difficult for most people. That particular moment changed my life and my mission, and it also changed my view on Health coaching.
Health coaching is not about being told what to do. Any good sports coach knows that the more an athlete is told what to do, the more that athlete resists the instruction. Health coaching involves listening to where the client is at, guiding them towards the next step in their health goals, and assisting to structure a plan to get there. Making healthy changes is a process that requires the learning of new skills. Once learned, the individual can continue to make progress without the continued need for coaching. Nothing makes me happier than hearing a client tell me they are done with me!
I now see that Health Coaching is a very necessary profession, and it is work that I take very seriously. If you still are not convinced that it could help you, ask yourself these three questions:
Have you had successful weight loss in the past only to regain it?
Do you feel in control of what you eat most of the time?
Is exercise in place on a regular basis?
If you said no to any of these questions or if you feel like your life could use a little more balance, health coaching will help. There are many health coaches out there, so I would advise finding a true credentialed health professional. Many Registered Dietitians offer Health coaching services, so look for the “RD” or “RDN” behind their name. Quit living in limbo and contact me, your health coach, today to find the balanced health you’ve been seeking.
Blog written by Niki Kubiak, RD, CSSD Director of Nutrition and Health for Infinite Sports World. Find her and more information at www.infinitesportsworld.com.
Jump forward seven years when I started working for a corporate wellness program. Until that time, I, myself, still did not value the skills I had. I mean, doesn’t everybody know they need fruits and vegetables? I felt this way until one particular afternoon sitting across the table from a President of a very important department discussing how to incorporate fruits and vegetables into her extremely busy, hectic life. WHAM! I honestly felt like Wile E. Coyote when he had just had a brick dropped on his head by the Roadrunner. I had been missing the mark, just like Wile E., all this time.
The idea of eating healthy is easy, but changing habits, planning meals, grocery shopping efficiently, cooking, using leftovers, and doing it all within a reasonable amount of time is extremely difficult for most people. That particular moment changed my life and my mission, and it also changed my view on Health coaching.
Health coaching is not about being told what to do. Any good sports coach knows that the more an athlete is told what to do, the more that athlete resists the instruction. Health coaching involves listening to where the client is at, guiding them towards the next step in their health goals, and assisting to structure a plan to get there. Making healthy changes is a process that requires the learning of new skills. Once learned, the individual can continue to make progress without the continued need for coaching. Nothing makes me happier than hearing a client tell me they are done with me!
I now see that Health Coaching is a very necessary profession, and it is work that I take very seriously. If you still are not convinced that it could help you, ask yourself these three questions:
Have you had successful weight loss in the past only to regain it?
Do you feel in control of what you eat most of the time?
Is exercise in place on a regular basis?
If you said no to any of these questions or if you feel like your life could use a little more balance, health coaching will help. There are many health coaches out there, so I would advise finding a true credentialed health professional. Many Registered Dietitians offer Health coaching services, so look for the “RD” or “RDN” behind their name. Quit living in limbo and contact me, your health coach, today to find the balanced health you’ve been seeking.
Blog written by Niki Kubiak, RD, CSSD Director of Nutrition and Health for Infinite Sports World. Find her and more information at www.infinitesportsworld.com.