While the popularity of health coaching has been constantly increasing, it is a relatively new and less understood profession. Yes, we hear celebrities or top influential business people are working with one and raving about the benefits, but what are they exactly? Read on to find out more.
A bit of statistics on chronic illness numbers in UK
According to the research conducted in UK, 61% of us are struggling with a chronic condition that fall into one of the categories:
Diabetes
Obesity
Autoimmune conditions
Heart disease
They are classed as lifestyle-related diseases and our healthcare system is struggling to cope with constantly increasing numbers.
88% of us understand that lifestyle is the main cause of the chronic disease and want to take control of our health, but only 18.5% of us feel confident to do so by themselves. And that is no wonder.
We may have perhaps tried numerous diets that seemed to do wonders for others to only gain the weight back, we have committed ourselves to the exercise routines which, although started with a great promise, just didn’t stick.
And shall we even go into how confusing nutritional or habit change advice we find online may sometimes sound? It is no surprise at all we feel overwhelmed with where to start and, most importantly, how to make the healthier choices last.
We are all unique and so is our personal version of healthy
One of the very first things you can expect in working with a health coach, is their focus on you as a unique individual. There is only one of you on the entire planet with your life experiences, habits, purpose, work that you do, your mindset… the list goes on. So why would you be expected to follow the general understanding on what healthy is?
Your coach helps you uncover what has been stopping you and slowing you down in achieving a better health and empowers you to build your own personal roadmap to whole health and wellness.
What other benefits does health coaching provide?
Health coaches are the experts in supporting lifestyle and behaviour change using coaching techniques and can help you with:
Optimising your diet
Managing your weight
Reducing stress
Establishing an exercise routine
Managing chronic health conditions
Most importantly, fitting those healthier habits into your everyday life (that is again, very individual) without feeling deprived to make lasting changes.
Is there evidence that health coaching works?
In his article on Harvard Health Blog, Peter Grinspoon, MD, concludes: ‘Coaching is effective for people managing a variety of health conditions. According to a recent study, coaching “results in clinically relevant improvements in multiple biomarker risk factors (including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and cardiorespiratory fitness) in diverse populations.” Coaching has also helped improve health-related quality of life and reduced hospital admissions in patients with COPD.’
Is Health Coaching right for me?
Living day-in-day-out with the continuing health issues or illness is exhausting. If you experiencing weight issues, fatigue, poor sleep, brain fogs, pains and aches but feel frustrated and disheartened about the ‘sacrifices’ you have to make to be healthier, consider working with one.
Do a little research first to find out more about a few. I strongly suggest looking into a coach that belongs to a professional association. UK Health Coaches Association, that I am a member of, ensures that a Health coach is a graduate from a training programme meeting Association’s robust professional standards, holds an insurance, commits and adheres to the Scope of Practice and upholds a Code of Conduct.
The relationship between the client and the coach is a special one. It is a safe space with no judgement where you will dive deep to shift deep-seated blocks to make sustainable life changes. At difficult times, your coach is your biggest cheerleader who always knows you are capable of any change you can imagine. Take some time and get to know your potential coach, ask questions, have a conversation to truly feel whether it is the right person to work with.
Working with me
Like most Health Coaches, I offer a free initial (Clarity) session before enrolling into a programme. Make use of it! Yes, it is free, but it is not a sales call as you may expect. The investment and description of the programme is available to you at any time on my website taking any guessing work away.
This conversation serves us in getting to know more about where you are and where you would like to be, whether health coaching could be an answer and, lastly, whether we would be a right fit to work together.
Every Clarity call has been invaluable to my clients, it is after all a stand-alone coaching session delivering powerful breakthroughs. If you would like to learn more, head to this page.
Got any questions? Do not hesitate to get in touch with me via hello@ingridasadie.com