How A Coach Can Help You Achieve Your Goals
In my wellness practice, many of my clients come to me with weight and body image issues; some just need some motivation and guidance for every day exercise and fitness issues. It's the Law of Attraction, I believe, because I was really overweight at one point and took the steps to get to a healthy lifestyle. I went from being bedridden, paralyzed on and off, to walking on a track and eventually becoming a Personal Trainer and Life Coach. Of course, if I can do it anyone can and I think that's the energy I send out into the Universe.
My clients know I'm humbled time and time again because even though my priority is on being healthy, I am human and events such as my dad's illness and some other events played a part in a weight gain for me recently.
When my clients come to me with issues ranging from anorexia to bulimia to being addicted to food, I help them to make breakthroughs. Though I've never been anorexic or bulimic, I do have a food addiction. It is what I used to comfort, medicate and sometimes even numb myself. It's my addiction of choice I guess you can say.
I pick food instead of some other bad habits. I work very hard on keeping it in control and have learned to direct my energies elsewhere when the urge comes along to eat out of stress or to indulge inemotional eating habits, but again, not always because I am human too. My mom had an eating disorder so I lived with it all of my years growing up.
I've trained and coached people who were underweight and needed to gain, morbidly obese people and others in-between; I also coached people who were at the top of their game and wanted to get better.
In my last article, I spoke of fear and it also plays a role in this area: different issues but still some fear. Some of my clients are afraid to lose the weight or gain the weight.It all ties in.
In order to lose weight, we must also work on the weight on our mind. If we are carrying the world on our shoulders it adds up in weight too. Stress is a big contributor to weight gain. It's amazinghow some of my clients work on a specific issue or free themselves from their normal thought process about their body or weight and the weight begins to come off.
The one concept some people don't always understand is there is no one specific healthy eating plan for everyone. Our bodies are all different. Our exercise programs also vary from person to person.Everyone needs to find what works for him or her, personally.
I think the reasons people choose to hire coaches or personal trainers are:
- To change their mindset in relation to food and exercise
- Help them get motivated
- Accountability
- Knowledge
- Consistency
- Monitoring
- Support
Sometimes individuals go on a diet that is very restricted or very low in calories and with that, unless under a physicians care, it's not healthy and it is a D I E T which means you can break it or go off track or cheat on it. A healthy eating plan is the way to live; a plan for life, one that you start with lower calories in a healthy way and then increase the calories when you are maintaining for life.
Some of my best tips for someone on a weight loss plan are:
- Begin with positive affirmations Love who you are now!
Recite affirmations such as "I am eating healthy and feeling fit". "I am moving forward in my weight loss goals". "I am consistent and focused in my goals". Something to that affect but in your own words. - Set Short-term goals so they are not as overwhelming.
Set one week and or one month instead of one year or 5 lbs and 10 lbs instead of 80. Each time you reach your goal set a new one. You can havea long-term goal but don't focus on that. Baby steps. - Pay attention to why you are eating.
Are you hungry, bored, sad, mad, happy? Find something healthy besides food to replace the food when you are just eating for reasons other than hunger. Take awalk or dance to music or read. Do something!
There are many things to look at: eating habits, patterns and most importantly why you want to lose weight. Is it for you or is it for someone else. I discuss many different body image and self esteem issues and find a plan that's right for my clients.
Remember we are all different and what works for your friend may not work for you. Start thinking about what you want from a healthy lifestyle. How will you look, act and feel? Take control; you deserve it! If you are interested in working with a coach or just have a question, I'd love to hear from you.
Copyright © 2011 Marion Licchiello-Lenz
Marion Licchiello-Lenz is a Writer, Self Empowerment Coach and an Intuitive Coach. She blogs for the Poughkeepsie Journal about getting motivated,staying positive, and getting fit.
In addition, you can find her as a feature writer at Country Courier magazine. Her weekly articles follow her accomplishments, trials and tribulations with being,getting and staying healthy - mind, body and spirit.
For coaching sessions or intuitive readings (with or without coaching and guidance), or if you have any questions feel free to call Marion at (845) 596-2990
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