How a Health Coach Can Make a Difference

What is a Health Coach? 

When our members receive their Health Action Plan from their medical provider, it can be overwhelming to know where to start or even how to begin to implement the recommendations given. A health coach provides them with the support they need to narrow the focus on what matters the most to them and simplify the process for getting started. Here are a few examples of how our members have benefited from working with a health coach: 

Nutritional Behavior Coaching 

There are two common scenarios that come up with our members who participate in the Nutritional Behavior Change Program: 

1. Not enough calories 

After keeping a food diary for a week or two, many of our members find their caloric intake is not even reaching their recommended Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR), which is the bare minimum required for their body to function without any activity. Over time, this can have a negative impact on their overall health, and often leads to an inability to be able to manage their weight goals. Once it has been determined this is their situation, the health coach helps them brainstorm ideas on how to increase their caloric intake.  

For some, it may be looking into how to begin incorporating more calorie-dense foods into their diet. This way they are not increasing the overall amount of food they are eating, which many find a challenge. For others, the focus is more on planning their meals more consistently. By working with the health coach to create a plan for more consistent meals and meal planning, many find it simple to increase their caloric intake to meet their nutritional goals.  

2. Not enough protein 

After keeping a food diary for a week or two, many of our members find their protein intake is not at the recommended quantity based on their health goals and activity level. This macronutrient is necessary for the body to build and repair muscles and bones, in the making of hormones and enzymes, and as an energy source. Too little protein over an extended period of time can have a negative impact on their overall health.  

Working with a health coach, our members who find themselves in this situation are able to brainstorm how to gradually increase their overall protein intake. For some, it may be as simple as increasing the quantity of protein they are already eating. For others, it may be finding new sources of protein to add into their meals.  

Improved Sleep 

Sleep can be integral to overall health and well-being. For our members who struggle with getting enough sleep or getting quality sleep, working with a health coach can be critical to personalizing a plan to create better sleep.  

When it comes to sleep duration, our members work with a health coach to determine which adjustments to their bedtime or morning routines. From there, the health coach helps them design a plan to gradually create the desired behavioral changes needed. With the guidance and support from their health coach, our members have been able to create personalized and consistent sleep routines. 

For others, stress may be the biggest obstacle towards getting quality sleep. Working with our health coach to manage stress through HeartMath or other mind-body practices, our members in this situation have been able to learn to better manage stress so that it no longer has a negative impact on their quality of sleep. 

Better Boundaries & Time Management 

Sometimes, the biggest obstacle towards implementing the recommendations in a member’s Health Action Plan is the feeling of not having enough time or energy to make the changes needed. By working with a health coach to learn how to create better boundaries around their time, many of our members have been better able to create the space they need to be able to focus on their health and wellness goals.