I work as a health coach within a weight-loss and wellness clinic, and have for almost two years now. Previous to this endeavor, I coached exclusively women in one-on-one lifestyle programs aimed at gradual changes over time – with a six month commitment from each client. Knowing both sides of the “wellness-coin” at this point, I know a few pros/cons from both angles.
The obvious appeal of a weight-loss focused program is the fast results. Within the VitaLife program, our clients achieve an astounding average of 20 pounds of weight-loss within a 40 day period. Wow, right?! It’s almost miraculous, especially when you consider that the loss happens not with any shakes, pre-packaged meals, snack bars, shots/drugs, or surgical intervention. So what’s the schtick? How does it happen?
Whole clean foods….with temporary restrictions.
There is no way to achieve dramatic loss quickly without dramatic change.
So, the benefit is: fast loss! Yay! Also – most people end up feeling AMAZING once they rid all the toxic crap from their diet and begin to hydrate from the inside out over the span of 65 days. The drawback is: you give up a lot of things for a short period of time to force your body into fat burning.
Now, I hate restriction. I hate feeling like I “can’t” have anything I want to have food-wise. And there are lots of healthful foods that are not included in the program, simply due to the science of making the body shed fat fast. This type of program works really well for many, but where they fail is when/if they are not ready to make notable changes to their diets and lifestyle in the long-haul once the program is done.
You cannot keep doing the same thing over and over (diet-wise: i.e. junk food) and expect different results than you’ve already had (weight-gain and/or health struggles).
So what’s the other option for health coaching and wellness? It’s the trifecta of long-lasting, and true change: Slow Progress + Time + Consistency. As a coach, this is my bread and butter (delicious, and I always crave it for myself and others!). As a mom/wife/woman, this is where I reap the most benefit personally: when I commit to changes that are gradual, buildable, measurable, and sustainable over time. (I like a checklist and a plan – anyone else?)
“Weight” is something that can be manipulated with drastic behavior changes for a short time, but HEALTH is something that comes from “tending your garden” so to speak: to first culture nutrient-rich soil, plant individual seeds, and give them time, sunlight, water, and a climate to flourish.
I am a certified holistic health and wellness coach, meaning I see individuals as complex and unique, and each dealing with different goals, challenges, and physical realities. In order to really see change happen in your life — the kind of change that keeps you fulfilled, happy, motivated, and empowered — you need to be able to assess what your goals are, what challenges are in place currently, and how to physically and mentally commit to the change over long periods of time.
Consistency of your behavior and mentality over time is what changes everything.
So what are the pros of a long-haul approach to wellness coaching: You get to keep flexibility in your lifestyle (without so much restriction), and you build stackable habits over time that are more likely to last in your lifestyle. And the cons? Well, it takes time, and you may not *see* the “results” as clearly (like a number on the scale) or quickly as you want.
I’m a radically different person today than I would have been had I not committed to changing my health and wellness at age 22. Your impetus toward change may be different from mine – and for some, it starts with a fast-fat-loss type program… but what matters over everything else is your decision to change, and to make it happen over time.
The fitness coach I’m following lately – Hannah Eden – does a good job of reminding me that the journey is never over in terms of fitness and health. Once one goal is met, then it’s time to set another and another and another. It’s through constant challenge over time that we grow, and become stronger not only physically in the gym, but also mentally in our lives. (*Disclaimer: some who are prone to mental illness or eating/exercise disorders may not be able to healthfully take this approach.)
Last year, I committed myself to the new “journey” of being an Athlete. While I have been relatively fit and active in various ways and intensities for the past 10 years (I’ve run five half marathons, done lots of different group classes over the years, gone through body-building programs and challenges, etc), I want to continually push myself into new athletic feats.
My recent endeavors have been focused on HIIT – with plyometric movements, kettlebells (this is all new to me), and animal-flow style body-weight training. This type of exercise is about metabolic conditioning, to maximize fatigue in a short 30-45 minute workout. It’s effective! Below, you’ll see the effects of about 15 months of consistent resistance training and metabolic conditioning. It’s minimal difference on the scale (+/- 5-7 pounds), but major difference in recompositioning and body fat. This type of change happens slowly, progressively, over time, with consistency. (Oh, and a clean plant-powered diet!)
Not a before / after… just progress/change over time: November 2019 – Jan 2021
Whatever your goals are now, take time to really focus on the pros/cons of how to approach them, and recognize that either way (fast weight-loss or slow change), you’ll need to commit to yourself for the long run to really see the pay off. If you want some support, a good ass-kicking, a cheerleader, and/or a guide for the road, you know how to reach me. :-)
You’ve got this. Now take a step!
– Whit
