Why I’m here & an intro to what a health coach is

Here. we. are. 

I’ve been feeling inspired to share more about my health & wellness journey for a LONG time, but have honestly come up against a lot of limiting beliefs: 

• Nobody will care.
  
  
• I’m not a good writer.
  
  
• I’m a designer, I should focus on design.
  
  

But honestly… wellness is something I’m soooo incredibly passionate about (if you know me, you know this). Learning everything from how to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, to tuning into my cycle, to implementing successful habits around food & exercise is something I am working on daily. And sharing what I learn and what has worked for me with other friends & family who are interested lights me up — because I know the tiniest changes have the power to change peoples’ lives. 

I’m going to put this out there front and center: I AM NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL. But if my wellness journey has taught me anything, it’s that WE are the ones that have the power to change our circumstances when it comes to living our healthiest, happiest lives. WE have the power to learn things that we aren’t being taught in our 5 minute, “are you covered by insurance?” doctor appointments. WE are the ones that need to feel empowered to advocate for ourselves in medical settings to avoid medical gaslighting and quick short-term “fixes.”

Another big thing to put in all caps: I AM NOT PROPOSING THAT YOU STOP GOING TO THE DOCTOR. Modern medicine is fkn amazing, and it’s a huge part of the health & wellness equation. But because of the way our healthcare system is set up, it’s just not the WHOLE equation. 

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way… let me explain what I AM here to help with. As a certified Health Coach & self-proclaimed wellness girlie, my goal for this platform is to: 

• Share well respected, brilliant people that I’ve learned from. There is SO much zero-cost-to-consumer info out there that brings medical research and science to us in language we can understand. Despite what some may say, we can and should be “doing our own research” so that we can make healthy lifestyle changes and be our own advocates in medical settings.
  
  
  
• Debunk the misconception that wellness is an expensive, woo-woo, privileged thing to care about and show you how it can actually transform your life. (I’m not denying my privilege… just sharing that wellness is NOT about $12 green juices or $200 massages, and absolutely can and should be accessible to all).
  
  
  
• Share things that have worked for me, with a big emphasis on how small habits have changed my life, in hopes that it will inspire you to make changes that make sense for you and your goals.
  
  

And finally, you may be thinking: what is, exactly, a Health Coach? 

A Health Coach is someone that helps guide you on your health & wellness journey. It’s an industry that is still quite new, but I truly think having a Health Coach alongside your doctor is the way of the future. 

Health Coaches are meant to be used as a support system when navigating health & lifestyle changes you want to make, whether those changes come by recommendation of a doctor or are things you are working on on your own.

For example, a doctor may tell you your pre-diabetic and to cut back on your carb/sugar intake. A doctor’s expertise and job is to run the testing and give you the diagnosis. They do not have the time (nor is it in their scope of work necessarily) to COACH you through HOW to actually cut back your carb/sugar intake. We all know advice like this is easier said than done, and can sometimes even feel condescending from a doctor. Therefore, a Health Coach would be a valuable resource in helping you navigate how to implement healthy, sustainable habits in your life to help regulate your blood sugar… so that next time you go back to the doc, your situation has improved. 

Other common examples:

• You’re unhappy with your weight but know that focusing on your looks or fad diets is not going to work. You work with a health coach to lose weight in a way that feels sustainable and GOOD for you.
  
  
  
• You’re working with your OB on ways to optimize your fertility. She mentions a laundry list of things you can be doing, but it’s quite overwhelming. Your health coach helps you to prioritize the most important things and put those into practice.
  
  
  
• Your therapist suggests there may be a link between your anxiety and your diet. She suggests you work with a health coach to make dietary / lifestyle changes that will improve your anxiety. 
  
  

Again – Health Coaches ARE NOT doctors, therapists, nurses, dietitians, etc. They are exactly what they say they are: coaches. A support system. And just like a sports coach doesn’t actually get on the field and play for you, they’re not there to do the work FOR you. Instead, they guide you on the path that will work for you.

With all of that said (and in case you couldn’t already tell) I’m so passionate about the power of wellness and the future of Health Coaching. The rest of this blog is dedicated to helping you eliminate all-or-nothing thinking when it comes to wellness (bye fad diets & long workouts) and make lifestyle changes that feel aligned with YOUR life & goals. I’m so, so happy you’re here.