Health Coaching is a relatively new profession which focuses on
helping people making positive changes in their health, physical, mental
and emotional lives, that they have not been able to do for themselves.
Its about people deciding that the personal cost for not making some
changes has become too high. They are willing to trade pain for gain —
so to speak. Here are ten “pain for gain” reasons to hire (or become) a
health coach.

1. Health Coaching and Weight Loss

One
of the most challenging (and discouraging ) behavioral changes that
people try to make is losing weight and keeping it off. We are all aware
of the health risks associated with being overweight. Many people have
been on the weight loss and gain it back yo yo ride for years. What can
make the difference and break this vicious cycle is a trained
professional to guide you how to take it off and keep it off. This can
be done with a few key lifestyle changes which are easier than you might
think especially with the support of a health coach. What would it mean
to you to lose 20-40 pounds and never gain it back. Visualize yourself
at your ideal weight. What does that feel like? What does it look like?
See yourself there now. Feels great doesn’t it?

2. Health Coaching and Eating Habits

A
second behavior change that is tied to and often more challenging than
weight loss is our eating habits. We love to eat ( and eat and eat and
eat) And most of us are addicted to some form of junk food. Mine is
chocolate. How our lives could change if we could make a few basic
improvements in our daily diet. More energy, better sleep, less illness
because of a boosted immune system, healthier skin, look better, feel
better. So how do we do it. A health coach can introduce and effective
program that makes sense and is easy to do if you are motivated to make a
few changes and reap the rewards.

3. Health Coaching and Stress

Stress
can literally destroy people’s lives. The pace today is hectic and
people are paying the price. Marital break ups, illness, child abuse,
addictions, mental ill health, low self esteem, the list is endless. The
price is high and robs us of a quality of life.. We live a fast paced
life with multiple responsibilities. Learning to manage stress can
literally save your life. What a different life you could lead if you
could tame the tiger and learn to channel stressful events so they
worked for you rather than against you. A health coach can show you how
to do that.

4. Health Coaching and Positive Relationships

Positive
nurturing relationships are vital to a healthy life. How well we get
along with others including our own family often will determine our
level of emotional and mental health. Lots of people are challenged in
this area because they have not learned the social skills it takes.
Ongoing conflict with people at work or at home can and not knowing “how
to fix it” can really compromise your quality of life. The solutions to
these kind of difficulties are easier than you might think. There a few
“learnable” skills that can make a huge difference in your
relationships. Ask yourself what it would mean to you to have much more
positive and enjoyable communication and relationships with someone at
work, your family, your spouse or your kids. Health coaching can make
the difference.

5. Health Coaching and Communication Skills

I
hear this all the time. ‘We can’t communicate, we argue all the time,
he/she doesn’t listen to me, we’re not on the same page, i wish i could
tell him what i think, I just don’t know what to say. Perhaps one of the
greatest failures of our educational system is not teaching basic
communications skills, how to connect with people, how to listen, how to
say what you think or feel so people will listen. Probably the #1
reason for failed relationships is people not knowing how to communicate
effectively with each other. There are basic effective easy to learn
talking and listening skills that would resolve most misunderstandings
and health coaching can teach you them easily and quickly.

6. Health Coaching and Exercise

Exercise.
A four letter word for some. The fact is just a little more routine
exercise in our daily lives could have a significant impact on our
health. I like to walk and jog and lift light weights. It could be bike
riding, swimming or flopping on the floor during commercials and doing
some light stretching. A lack of exercise can ruin your health. A health
coach can get you started towards a more active existence and help you
stick with it long enough for it to make a significant difference. Go
for it.

7. Health Coaching – Preventative vs. Curative

A
distinct advantage of health coaching is that it is preventative as
opposed to curative. Would you rather have someone help you prevent
diabetes or some other debilitating disease or visit a doctor to get
treated after the fact. That is the choice a lot of people are facing
but the point is you have a choice and if you don’t choose for yourself,
life will choose for you. Make a wise choice and choose the path of
prevention. You will reap the rewards of better health and health
coaching can get you there.

8. Health Coach – Being a Role Model

Be
a trend setter, be a role model for others. Just think of the impact
you could have on other peoples lives especially those you care about
most. What if because of changes YOU made your mother, father, sister,
brother, child or friend made a significant change in their health. What
would that feel like? You often see people make dramatic changes after
the heart attack. Well those same changes can be made right now and have
the effect of preventing a disastrous heart attack or stroke. What if
because of the changes you made it prevented a family member or friend
from having a serious illness. This scenario is quite possible. Because I
have started to run on a regular basis both my kids and my wife have
started walk/jogging. What a thrill for me. Who knows how that will
benefit them in the years to come. So be a trend setter in your family.
Your family will love you for it and you will feel great about yourself
for doing it.

9. Health Coaching and Self Esteem

A
lasting benefit of health coaching is how you feel about yourself when
you succeed at making important changes in your health. This is because
of the positive feelings and feedback you get from family and friends (
and when you look in the mirror ). You’ve lost weight and people notice
and comment. You’re not as stressed out and it feels good. You have more
energy and you are more active. You’re sleeping better and you look
more rested. Your relationship with your spouse and kids has improved.
People around you will often mirror your mood and energy. You’re more
fun to be around, not as irritable, short tempered or demanding. Your
doctor notices and commends you for your efforts. You just feel good
about yourself and you’re not going back to the way it was. Never!!

10. Health Coaching – It Could Be For You

One
of the things that happens for some who go through health coaching and
derive significant benefits from it, is they get exposed to the process
and see how much it benefits others and how it could be a powerful
change agent for people ‘stuck in the muck’ and suffering the
consequences. It can often influence them enough to consider being a
health coach themselves. Health coaching is a rapidly growing profession
and is open to most people as an income choice, part time or full time,
who have a genuine interest and desire to help others. Not to mention
that the average hourly for a session ranges from 100 to 200 dollars for
a session. A rather ‘healthy’ income.

So in summary, these are
just a few of the benefits for hiring ( or becoming ) a health coach.
Decide that you deserve excellent vibrant health and if you can’t
achieve it on your own or would like to speed up the process consider
hiring a health coach. A healthier, happier life awaits you.