What is a Health Coach?

Learning how to properly take care of our bodies and souls is something that impacts every aspect of our lives.  What we choose to eat, and whether or not we manage to get enough physical activity affects the way way we feel, the quality of our sleep, and even the quality of our relationships.  In other words, it is all connected. 

Most of us know what it is we need to be doing to stay healthy-eat more vegetables, drink more water, avoid eating too much processed and/or junk food, exercise, getting enough sleep, etc.  The challenge comes with actually doing what we know we should be doing.  The list of potential obstacles that many people face is endless, particularly when faced with one of the many lifestyle related diseases and disorders that modern lifestyle has created for us i.e. type 2 diabetes.  This is where a good health coach comes in.

Enter...the Health Coach: A health coach is a mentor and guide who has been trained in holistic health coaching to help clients reach their own health goals by helping to devise and implement positive, sustainable lifestyle changes.  Our role is not to work with the client as a medical professional, but to assist with troubleshooting any obstacles that  may present themselves as the client moves toward their goals.  It is like having an accountability partner, someone who is able to offer feedback, and also offer sound advice when your habits may be moving you further away from your goals.

How does it work?  The first thing to do is to contact the health coach: the easiest way to do this is through my webpage: http://naomi.liveeditaurora.com/

Once I get your contact information, you will be sent a "health history" form.  This is completely confidential, and provides information that will establish where you are now, and what it is that you are hoping to achieve i.e. improved energy.  Once the health history form is returned to me, we arrange a time to discuss the form, and your goals, either in person, over the phone, or even through Skype/face time.  Sessions are an hour long, and occur once every two weeks.  

Will I have to follow a strict diet?  Following a strict diet is not a requirement (or even necessary) for most people.  As a health coach, my role is to guide people to implement lifestyle choices that work well with their individual needs and physical bodies.  I am trained in the many different dietary methodologies, and can offer suggestions if asked.  These changes take time, and I will be with you as you implement them into your lives.

Working with a health coach is an extremely rewarding experience.  To follow through with goals feels fantastic, and can impact us in so many positive ways.  If you have further questions, please leave a comment, or visit my webpage! 

http://naomi.liveeditaurora.com/

Eating healthy on the go...

Having spent most of my life in Michigan, I am well accustomed to extreme winters; and by 'accustomed', I mean that I basically hibernated from December-March.  About 4 years ago, I decided enough was enough, and vowed to find some fun outdoor activities that would force me out of hibernation.  Fitness wasn't the problem, I was getting plenty of exercise swimming and practicing yoga-INDOORS.  The problem was regular bouts of seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D), most likely attributed to staying inside most of the time.  Natural lighting and spending time in nature does wonders for our brains-so outside I went!
Cross Country skiing was the first pursuit; I visited Stoney Creek, rented a pair of skis, and off I went!   I loved it so much, learning that going outdoors in the winter was do-able as long as you dress appropriately for it!  My next challenge, was to take up snowboarding...something I never thought I would be able to do.  Flash forward a few years, and my husband Matthew and I are now living in Colorado, spending as much time as possible playing outside in all kinds of weather.  One thing that venturing up into the mountains for our various pursuits has taught me is to PLAN AHEAD.  We have climbed mountains without proper clothing, leaving us ill equipped for fast changes in temperature and sudden storms, ample water, and even enough food!  We learned fast, and today, when we know we will be heading up, I begin prepping a day or two ahead of time.  Today was no exception.

The plan is to head up to Vail or Beaver Creek tomorrow, as the mountains are finally getting some much needed snow.  We like to get an early start, so the more I can accomplish ahead of time, the better! This is how my day began:

1. Make my smoothies-I have a condition that has warranted the necessity of making several lifestyle and dietary changes.  I often have a smoothie in the morning that typically consists of almond milk, berries, spinach, avocado, protein powder, cinnamon, and cacao.  
2. Make a breakfast casserole for Matt-he sometimes enjoys the same smoothie that I drink, but it is also fun to make something savory that I know he would enjoy!-http://easyrecettes.com/bundt-cake-breakfast-2/
3. Make a big pot of veggie soup-https://www.pinterest.com/pin/435652963937984627/
4. Make a large salad/salad dressing-https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376191375119168010/
5. Make tuna wraps for an extra meal "just in case"-snowboarding burns a lot of calories, particularly when you plan to stay all day, it is better to have too much food than not enough!
6. Make a simple dinner for this evening (fish tacos-yum!)-https://www.pinterest.com/pin/376191375118294598/
7. Fill up water bottles/and or camel backs

Making these meals obviously took quite a bit of time, but it meant that I didn't have to sacrifice my health by eating convenience foods at the resort, and it also saves us a lot of money.   A huge bonus, was the extra servings that could be frozen and used on a later date.  Don't get me wrong, it can be fun to splurge a little by enjoying a restaurant meal at the resort-but it is nice when it is by choice, and not necessity.  Even if I am in "detox mode", I am still able to enjoy myself if I plan ahead of time-we just pack up the food into a large cooler, and off we go!

Obviously, meal planning isn't just for those interested in outdoor adventures in the mountains.  Many people plan out (and some even prepare) their week's meals on Sunday afternoon, to avoid having to figure out what to make for their meals when they are hungry, tired and sometimes stressed out.  I believe that this is one of the biggest reasons so many people struggle with their weight; convenience foods and restaurant foods are often high in calories, and the portions are more than what most of us needs in one sitting.  A simple guideline to determine how much food to put on your plate, simply visualize two of your fists worth as a portion.  If you still feel hungry after that amount, consider these couple of tips to ensure that you are digesting your food properly: 1. Drink a tall glass of water 15 minutes prior to eating, and 2. Chew your food really well-as in 30 or more times per bite!  With few exceptions, restaurant portions can literally be cut in half (or shared).

Does anyone have any tips for staying healthy when traveling for work?  This is a question I intend to tackle, since I am asked this frequently.

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