Misconceptions of what a Health & Wellness Coach ACTUALLY does

This is NOT meant to be a rant post. This is meant to dispel some misconceptions as to what I and all Health & Wellness Coaches ACTUALLY do to help our clients. Sadly, I know for a fact that these falacies have held people back from seeking the help that will get them "over the hump".

Misconception #1:

"When I get in better shape, then I'll come see you"

My career has brought me to a more holistic place in how I work with people, however movement and physical activity are still a part of a healthy lifestyle. When I hear this, I seriously cringe. Also when I hear this I know, I will NEVER see this person. How do I know this? Because in my 25-years working with people, there isn't even one time when someone has said this, that it actually happens. Probably for the best.

You know what the even sadder part of that mindset is; What does it even mean?? How do you know when you're "in shape"?? What's the measurement you're using to gauge whether or not you're "ready to come see me"?? That's right, there isn't one, because it makes ZERO sense!

This is the EQUIVALENT of saying;

"I'll hire a golf pro to help me with my swing, once I get a better swing."

"I'll hire a piano teacher as soon as I can play some scales and a few songs on the piano."

"I'll go see a physiotherapist once this injury goes away."

If you're laughing at how ridiculous this sounds right now, I'm with you! It's a TOTAL misconception of HOW a Coach can help. As a Health & Wellness Coach, my JOB is to HELP guide, support and educate you so you FEEL GREAT and CREATE THE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE that works for YOU at ANY level of health!! To make it worse, the clients I LOVE to work with the most are the ones who don't know where to start, feel like they're "out of shape" and feel lost with the whole "get healthy" thing. My job is to also help bring some light to the ridiculous things we say and think in regards to our health, such as "when I get in shape". A Coach will help YOU define what that means to YOU, and THEN will help YOU get there.

Misconception #2:

"I don't want you to tell me to stop eating 'x'"

This misconception is partly due to how nutrition professionals used to work. It would be an "eat this, not that" approach (which is only ever temporary). When I discuss nutrition with my clients, it's no different than how I approach coaching their deep health. I'm a firm believer in finding YOUR balance and being REAL with yourself.

Food is great! And we live in an era where we not only have an abundance of choice, but we have some REALLY great food to eat! Why would I tell you to STOP eating a food that YOU enjoy, that makes YOU happy and that YOU want to have?? That would mean, we're working to make me (your coach) happy. But it's NOT about ME, it's about YOU when we work together.

Where a Coach DOES help in this case, is to help you be real with yourself. We'll look at things like;

Is this food being eaten in a mindful way or a compulsive way?

How do you feel after you eat your favourite food?

How often do you eat your favourite food?

Is eating this food, in this way helping you towards your goals?

How can this food still be a part of your lifestyle, without negative impacts on your wellbeing?

What foods do you like right now? What foods do you totally NOT like right now?

None of it has me pointing my finger at you like you're 4-years old and saying "Don't you touch that!". That's NOT coaching. That's parenting or being an old school "drill sargeant". Neither is my job in working with you as a client. A coach is going to help you be realistic with yourself and help you figure out ways TO incorporate your favourite foods into your lifestyle, while creating the health and lifestyle you're seeking.

Misconception #3:

"If you tell me what to do, I'll do it"

I've written on this one before, and I'll continue to push to get this OLD-SCHOOL mentality out of my clients (and potential clients) heads. THIS is a temporary solution, NOT a sustainable lifestyle change. And no offense, but NO YOU WON'T. That's not me calling you a liar, that's me being REAL because I've worked with clients for a QUARTER CENTURY now who ALL start with the best of intentions.

As a coach, I'm going to provide professional experience, information, guidance, support, accountability, mindsets etc that we will work TOGETHER on to create positive shifts in your health and wellbeing. Ultimately, WHAT YOU DO with that information and guidance is UP TO YOU.

Clients start with a coach, with the VERY best of intentions and 9/10 times a coach will hear, "I'm willing to do whatever I need to do to reach my goals". The first week or so may go well and the client lives up to that statement. Once the second week hits though, the 'honeymoon phase' is over. Life happens (as it ALWAYS will). The client begins to realize nothing magical has happened yet and that when they have to get this kid to soccer, run to the bank for an appointment and not forget groceries on the way home (after a stressful day at work), what they're coach "told them to do" slips down the priority list.

Working with a Health & Wellness Coach, is a process that helps YOU be real with YOUR priorities. The coach and client also work together with tools, strategies and mindsets that will allow YOUR (the client's) health habits to REMAIN a priority EVEN WHEN life gets hectic. Coaching also helps clients be REAL with themselves - Sometimes, life IS busy and doing LESS is okay! There are typically YEARS of misinformation and mindsets that need to be shifted in order for the client to GET OUT OF HIS/HER OWN WAY. Learning to NOT beat yourself up over a "not so perfect" week with your health habits, it's a BIG part of coaching and a BIG part of client success.

Misconception #4:

"Your plan / program will 'fix me'"

One of the first things I do with clients who have this mentality is help them realize they're NOT broken. They don't need to be "fixed". As a coach, I'm going to help them understand that in many cases we were NEVER taught how to create a healthy lifestyle, manage stress and prioritize our health. We've HEARD these things over the years, but we've heard them without guidance as to HOW to make it happen.

No matter how experienced a coach is, his/her program or plan for you is NOTHING magical. Your coach doesn't LIVE inside YOU, doesn't experience what you experience in the way you experience it and is NOT an expert on YOU. YOU ARE! A coach, over time is meant to help YOU RE-LEARN the innate trust in YOURSELF and will guide you to LISTEN to YOUR own body above ALL THE NOISE that's out there today.

A coach, from experience in working with all kinds of people over years / decades will develop a foundation. A place to start for you. Ultimately though, you AND your coach are experimenting. You're a combination of scientist and detective. You work with a plan / program / approach for a set period of time. Together, you assess what went well, what didn't go so well, what can we progress or regress, what can we completely set aside for now etc... Humans and LIFE are both so amazingly complex, that there truly is NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL recipe. A coach will help you understand this. Which in time will help you realize how much bullshit is out there!

"Do this plan and your life will change in 8-weeks!"

"4-weeks to 6-pack abs if you do this program"

"Eat this, not that" or "do this, not that"

"THIS way of doing things is THE way"

You're NOT broken and needing to be fixed. And you don't need to keep searching for a cookie-cutter plan that promises amazingly, magical, life changing STUFF. You NEED to be supported and guided in building YOUR healthy lifestyle, that meets you where you're at NOW and takes into consideration YOUR DAILY routines and responsibilities. In REAL LIFE, those things change. They're in constant flux. Just like you are! Which means "this ONE special plan/program" MAY work for a bit, but as your daily life shifts, it may not. It's about BUILDING the SKILLS and PRACTICES to LIVE HEALTHY, not spending energy to seek "the ONE plan to rule them all".

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If you want to learn more about how Health & Wellness Coaching can help you and your lifestyle habits, visit our website here:

https://www.zenergywellnessstudio.com/wellness-health-habits