Grace to Move Forward | Health Coaching with Weight Challenges
It may be odd for a Health Coach to embark on a health journey for weight loss. Well, I'm here to say that life happens, and health, fitness, and wellness professionals are not immune to weight challenges at some point in their lives. Some health professionals go through life just life without any weight worries or challenges; however, I'm not one of those health professionals. I've had a few ups and downs, but I've always stayed within a healthy weight range. This has now changed and if you're wondering how I got here, see my blog article Wellness Journey - Journey Back to Health, where I take a pretty deep dive into the contributing factors that caused me to gain weight. I'm now ready to get back in there and reclaim my health and myself again. I'm ready to begin my second weight loss journey and I'm taking a new approach! Before I explain my new approach, I want to provide more context on why I’m starting now.
This year was different for me. I didn't make a list of goals that I wanted to accomplish the next year as I usually do while approaching New Year's Eve. 2023 was indeed a hard year for me, and I took a hit mentally and physically. Facing bullying, discrimination, and harassment on the job wreaked havoc on health. Filled with intense anxiety, again, food was a source of comfort. Not only did food provide comfort, but it also provided ease. Dining out provided comfort, relaxation, and a false sense of peace. However, it hindered my health progress and stifled my health and wellness career. I would often feel embarrassed to tell people I was a Health Coach. After all, who wants to take any advice from someone who can't maintain a healthy lifestyle themselves? Something that I truly enjoyed, helping others reach their health goals, was hindered, due to insecurities and a lack of confidence in myself and my abilities.
Good news, I no longer feel this way. Some former alcoholics now help other alcoholics. There are former drug addicts, who provide comfort to those who are suffering from the addiction. Some unhealthy doctors work with unhealthy patients daily, providing health advice, to those who need it most. So, what makes me any different? I still have the knowledge that I've learned throughout my journey as an ACE Certified Health Coach, Personal Trainer, and Behavioral Change Specialist, and I would like to continue helping others meet their health and wellness goals. The good side of being on the other side of great health is that I know what it's like to struggle with weight management. There are times that I feel tired, fatigued, achy, and afraid of movement. There are times when my energy levels are drained from the excess weight, and I simply cannot bring myself to work out. There are exercise moves that I have trouble performing now. I can now relate to what it feels like to be on the other side. Even better news, I'm now ready to approach my weight loss and get to the other side.
My weight loss journey will be different in many ways. First, about 5 to 6 years have now passed and my body has changed. Not only has my body changed, but my overall life and lifestyle have changed. From relationship to career. I'm not completely the same person. This is good and bad. Life itself can change you, but it doesn't mean you like all the changes. So, I'll keep the good changes, and work on removing changes that no longer serve me purpose and are not beneficial for my health. Since my life is different, I will need to approach my weight loss differently.
I hope this blog article provides more context regarding my health coaching and health journey challenges. There may be some of you who are in the same boat or going towards a similar path. It's okay to give yourself grace, start over, and continue or renew a passion. At any point along the way. Where are you in your health and wellness? Are you a health, fitness, or wellness professional that has gotten off track? Or are you simply in a place in life where you want to start over in your health or weight loss journey? Whatever it is, wherever you find yourself, let’s get to the other side together!
I will discuss my approach to my second weight loss journey in my next blog article.
Until then, be true, be balanced, be well.