Working with a health coach: the benefits and results

Why I felt I needed to work with a health coach

The main reason for me working with a health coach wasn’t weight loss (although to be fair, I was at the point of considering buying bigger supermarket leggings).  My main reason was that I felt I was inauthentic to my own mission in life of inspiring others towards a life of health and vitality.

I also felt tired and couldn’t motivate myself to think about nutrition, exercise or healthy living after investing so much thought into it for others. I could stick to my meditation, but the rest of my time was prioritised on everyone else.

Yet logically I knew this was the exact opposite of what I wanted.

I knew if I ate better I would have more energy and that I would feel great right to the core. I knew because I had felt that before. Yet I couldn’t do it at this point in time. That is why healthy lifestyles are simple, but not easy to obtain.

I had got to the point where I had been putting in so much time in to helping others to get healthier, while struggling with my own stress of dealing with my daughter Tora’s diagnosis, that I didn’t prioritise my own health. I had been reaching for those stress reducing, ‘quick fix’ comfort foods, while not having time to exercise and spending long hours sat at my computer writing. Before I knew it even my ‘comfies’ weren’t comfortable any more.

I knew if I ate better I would have more energy and that I would feel great right to the core. I knew because I had felt that before. Yet I couldn’t do it at this point in time. That is why healthy lifestyles are simple, but not easy to obtain.

Now it might seem bizarre that I considered spending money on a health coaching programme, given my background in health and lifestyle medicine. I’m constantly reading the latest nutrition studies and I’ve exercised all my life, I also live with a crossfit coach. Surely I could reach my goals by myself?!

Obviously not.

(Otherwise my ‘before’ photo wouldn’t look quite so wobbly.)

Choosing a health coach

So I needed to take action. I needed a coach who would hold my hand to the flame and hold me accountable. I also needed to take things back to basics and just follow someone else’s guidance.

Effie was the perfect choice for me.

Before anyone wonders, if I wasn’t already overloading Coach Caron’s plate with work I would of course have worked with her, but I needed someone outside of my immediate working environment. Effie is not only a beautiful person, she speaks with knowledgeable authority on both nutrition and exercise.

She is the true embodiment of talking the talk and walking the walk.

Just look at her photos; proof enough.

What happens when you work with a health coach

At the start Effie listened to me and what I was struggling with, and we agreed goals. She put in some manageable action points and was always on hand for support via WhatsApp.

I followed her advice as best I could, and I soon felt better and more like myself.

Each week we would speak on the phone and review my achievements. She is such a positive soul and always turned any of my negative statements around. Her recipe plans are beautiful and her workout app is fantastic, complete with helpful instructional videos!

I have to admit, measuring out food so I could weigh it in order to track calories on https://www.myfitnesspal.com was a huge mission to start off with, but things soon become familiar as inevitably, we all tend to eat fairly similar things on a cycle. I kept a table updated with my daily calories, protein intake, steps, exercise, sleep, energy levels and monthly cycle.

I weighed daily. This allowed me to track the variation across the weeks and recognise a pattern be that related to hormones, hydration, intake or exercise. It was helpful to gain this overall perspective and learn how to be really in tune with my body. 

The results after 12 weeks working with a health coach

Start of week 1: 67.6kg

End of week 12: 61.7kg

I’m back to feeling like me. My comfies are comfortable again. I feel energised, healthy and strong. I felt comfortable in a bikini in front of my friends. I am motivated to carry on and am keen to work with Effie again as I think she can help anyone to reach their potential.

My aim with my Revive Prescribed programmes is to help people thrive; Effie enabled me to thrive again. I will be forever grateful for her leading me back to my path of longevity and vitality.

Yours in health and happiness