"My physical life is upside-down," our friend, Alison*, said when she called to explore coaching with us.

"I want to change my habits and get back to the health-filled, dynamic life I used to live,” she continued. After an in-depth discussion, we agreed that accomplishing this would mean eating in a way that leads naturally to weight loss and wellness; de-stressing; and exercising regularly.

As many of you know, it can be easy to want a healthier lifestyle or a more balanced life, but putting it into action is another matter. From losing weight and managing stress to improving relationships or budgeting better, working with a coaching professional can be your solution to manifesting your self-improvement vision.

From information to transformation

How does coaching work? Perhaps the key “success ingredient” of coaching is that it helps you redesign and transform your life by helping you decide, plan, implement, and stick to what you want to accomplish. In this way, you are empowered to turn information and collaboration into life-transforming changes. Along the way, you:
• consider your options
• plan to make changes
• turn thought into action
• steer around obstacles
• stay focused
• use your resources…and more

In other words, throughout the coaching process—whether you’re deciding on goals, plans, actions, or long-term maintenance strategies—you and your coach co-create what is best for you and how to accomplish it. Throughout the process, as you make yourself the priority and advocate for what you want, you’re empowered to develop your self-efficacy and confidence so that you can maintain changes for a lifetime.

Deborah Kesten, MPH, and Larry Scherwitz, PhD, are certified wellness and cardiac coaches, who specialize in preventing, halting, and reversing overeating, overweight, and obesity and heart disease.
They are also international lifestyle and nutrition researchers and award-winning authors. Visit them at www.Enlightened-Diet.com to learn more about them and their Coaching and Optimal Eating programs.