I am a certified health coach, nutrition coach, personal trainer, and group exercise instructor, among other things, and I usually sign more personal training clients than anything… And that’s because I think most people are confused as to what a health and/or nutrition coach is and does and how one can be helpful.
So let’s talk about what I can do and how it could help you on your wellness journey.
What is a Health Coach?
Just like other types of coaching, an ethical and qualified health coach will have education and certification in health coaching. Health coaches work with individuals who feel “stuck” or would benefit from a lifestyle change (especially if you’ve been diagnosed with a new health condition). However, lifestyle changes are often difficult for most people and successful changes are incremental and slow. A health coach can work with an individual to make progress on the lifestyle changes that are logical, safe, and effective.
As a health coach, I help you take a look at all areas of your life—not just the physical and nutritional aspects. Through holistic lifestyle choices in the areas of movement, nutrition, sleep, recovery and regeneration, emotional awareness, and stress management, a health coach supports gradual change geared toward the client’s overall wellness goals.
What is a Nutrition Coach?
First let’s quickly tackle what a nutrition coach is not and what he/she cannot do. A nutrition coach is not a dietitian and cannot prescribe meal plans. It is unethical and technically illegal in most states to write meal plans for someone when you are not a registered dietitian.
Now, what a nutrition coach can do is guide clients toward optimal nutrition choices for health- and wellness-related outcomes. This type of coach has the tools and resources from evidence-backed nutrition science to teach clients how to develop long-lasting weight loss and healthful nutrition habits.
In other words, nutrition coaches help clients take a look at what their current nutrition habits are, evaluate what could be changed and why, and create a realistic plan on how to create those changes and stick to them.
How Do You Work with a Health/Nutrition Coach?
You could meet on the phone, Zoom, or in-person with your coach as regularly as once a week or as infrequently as once a month. I work with clients on Zoom and conduct 30-minute sessions. If you have a serious goal/lifestyle change that needs to be mad, I suggest meeting with a health/nutrition coach once a week and tapering back as time goes on.
Why? Because we all need more help, support, and accountability at the beginning of a new journey. That’s when things are the toughest.
I have a lot of people think, “That’s cool, but I’m good. I can do this.” And then they jump on a fad diet or do well for a week and then fall off the wagon. It happens often and it’s not because you can’t do it, it’s because you don’t have the proper foundation, mindset, and tools to set yourself up for change and success. Which is where a health and nutrition coach comes in. We help you create goals and action plans that will work for YOU based on YOUR life, YOUR goals, and YOUR current state.
With that being said, I would love to work with you if you have a wellness goal that you genuinely want to achieve. Reach out anytime: kelsey@thrivewellmi.com
