What is a Health Coach and Why You Should Hire One
You thought about it. You considered it. You wrote down the contact information. And then decided you needed to lose 10 pounds before you hire a coach. You just need to eat better first, and then you’ll hire the coach. If you can just get past the chronic pain and fatigue, then you’ll start making better lifestyle choices.
This sounds familiar, right?
There are a lot of reasons that keep people from investing in a health coach, whether it’s a lack of money, time, commitment, or motivation (or all of the above) that are your barriers to achieving your goals. And there is a commonly held belief that you need to have your act together before you deserve to invest in yourself. It can be overwhelming. And with an autoimmune disease, losing weight is much more complicated than simply upping your visits to the gym.
I get it, coaches are an investment. Yep, money. But here’s the thing with money: When you pay, you pay attention. And that is why hiring a health coach is a very valuable investment. It’s not a one-time experience like going to the movies or a theme park. A great health coach will teach you skills you need to have autonomy over your health and all the facets that come with it, including your autoimmune disease.
Having an autoimmune disease is a unique situation and requires a health coach who has first-hand experience living--or caring for someone--with an autoimmune disease. Whether you want to lose weight, reduce your medication, or feel good enough to have a social life again, a health coach can give you more specific guidance on the many factors to consider with an autoimmune disease: exercise (in)tolerance, inflammation, medications, and the body’s circadian rhythms.
Let’s back up a bit and discuss what a health coach is.
A health coach is an individual in whom you invest your time, finances, and trust to fill the gaps between the healthcare industry and your lifestyle--the bridge between your medical team and long-standing change. They coach you to bring the two worlds together for a happier and healthier life.
I remember sitting in the doctor’s office with my mom on the day I received my Lupus diagnosis in 2008. The rheumatologist came in and said, “Daniela, your labs indicate that you have Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Aside from taking a few medications each day, you should live a normal life. Here are some pamphlets with more information about Lupus along with your prescriptions. The nurse will be back in a few minutes to help you check out.” And then left.
Ummm what?
I was left with a stack of papers and an even bigger stack of questions. I was 16 years old and given a lifelong diagnosis. Somehow the idea of having Lupus and a normal life did not make sense to me. Although another story for another day, I assure you that what followed my diagnosis was anything but a normal life. Everything was different. My family and I struggled to navigate between chemotherapy, school, sports, medications, food, fatigue, friends and so much more.
While those first years were incredibly hard in many ways, I learned a lot about navigating an autoimmune disease, even things my doctors never told me. But it took years to figure out what worked for me and what did not. And after experiencing the freedom that came with a personal health plan, I knew I wanted to be a health coach for other individuals living with an autoimmune disease.
A health coach can help you take the information given to you by your doctor and apply it to your life. “Improve your diet and get more sleep.” Yeah, that sounds nice in theory. But how? A health coach is the link to creating a shift in your mindset and behaviors that ultimately helps you to create change.
Now that you know what a health coach is, let’s discuss why a good one is worth every penny.
Clear direction. If you lack clear direction and intention, you’ll quickly find yourself on the road to failure. A coach will not simply tell you what to do; they will help you build a road map to get there. Each person is unique, and there is no such thing as “one-size fits all” when it comes to wellness. Your health coach will help you build a plan that is attainable for you, makes you feel confident, and increases your self-sufficiency. Sustainable change is about taking small step after small step that eventually leads to your destination, your goal. And even after you’ve met your goal, you’ll know exactly what you need to do to maintain your gains (or losses).
Accountability. A coach (and the fact that your money is on the table) will hold you accountable to follow through on your actions. You are much more likely to exert the additional effort to follow through when you’ve told someone else about your goals and action plan. You coach is someone who will check in with you--yes, even when you don’t want to hear from them.
Personal attention. There is nothing like having your own cheer team in your corner, someone who is 100% invested in you. Change is difficult: mentally, physically, and emotionally. Think of your health coach as your own emotional support team. They affirm your concerns, frustration, and struggles. And they also remind you that you are not alone.
Your money speaks volumes. As I mentioned earlier, when you pay, you pay attention. Let’s be honest, when you embark on free trial or even win free training packages, you are less likely to follow through. Why? Because you have nothing to lose. But when you invest your money, there is a higher chance you will take action.
The bigger expense may be “business as usual.” According to the Center for Disease Control, “As a nation, 86% of our healthcare dollars are spent on the treatment of chronic diseases.” That is a lot of dollars. And you probably have medical bills and expenses that could reach up and scare all the angels in heaven. So while you might be hesitant to add one more bill to the pile, investing in a coach will help you regain control of your health and save yourself a lot of medical visits and expenses in the long run.
While not all diseases are preventable, there are many chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes that are--with lifestyle choices that promote health: whole foods, movement, stress management, sleep, etc. And even in the case of non-preventable diseases, such as Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Hasimoto’s disease, healthy lifestyle choices will improve a person’s quality of life, reduce symptom intensity, and even delay disease progression.
Ready to hire a health coach?
I know a great one ;) Click HERE to schedule a free consultation and find out if health coaching is the right step to help you off that struggle bus and get you on the road to victory!
