“Why hire a food & body coach?”
There is a plethora of options when it comes to getting support around your eating and lifestyle.
All these options leave us wondering, “ Should I hire a nutritionist or a registered dietitian? What about a health coach or a food & body coach?” Choice is always good. However, when it comes to choosing the right support systems, things quickly become overwhelming.
As a food & body coach, I’m obviously biased towards my take on food. However, the way you eat, drink and think is a complicated issue, not to be thrown around lightly. And yet that’s exactly what we do when we jump into one diet after another, hoping for weight loss, self-acceptance and confidence–only to see it all crumble when the restricting and soul-sucking diet stops working.
Food & body coaching is an unbelievably transformative process and as such, requires you to find that one person you totally gel with. When you first talk to a potential coach, visit their website, or read one of their articles, you’ve got to feel an instant zing that says, “This person completely gets me. I’m in!”
Sounds pretty awesome, right? I know.
Here is my quick and dirty guide to why, if you want to change your food, your body and your life, it’s best done under the supportive wing of a food & body coach:
A coach will finally give you real answers: Each one of my clients comes to me with a list of questions they can’t seem to get a straight answer on: “Should I eat meat?” “Is vegan the way to go?” “Do I need vitamin D?” “What’s the deal with coconut oil?” “Is microwaving safe?” The list goes on and on. We live in a time of incredible access to information, which unfortunately also leads to grandiose promises and misinformation. We also love to think that because the topic is food, we should know already know all there is to know. Wrong! A food coach flushes out all the confusing nutrition misinformation you’ve read, seen on the news, or heard from your coworkers, and helps you figure out the nutritional needs of your unique body.
A coach reframes the way you think: Women often approach their bodies in aggressive ways, hoping that a strict diet will create slim thighs or intense exercise will produce a flat stomach. How well do you respond to aggressiveness in other areas of your life? Most of us immediately shut down and become scared, overwhelmed, nervous or aggressive ourselves. Not good and certainly not the way to create change in your body or life. A food and body coach helps you understand that the end goal isn’t just weight loss, more energy or finally “being perfect,” but rather a joyous, fully-engaged life that feeds you–mind, body and soul.
They meet you where you are at: There is no “right way” of eating for everyone, and a food and body coach knows that. This is not a knock on nutritionists and dietitians. However, their job is to make you a rigid meal plan according to what they think you must eat and send you on your way. Food and body coaching is about finding the eating style that’s right for you and your lifestyle. Granted, eating homemade, organic food for every meal would be great, but for most of us, it’s just not feasible. Having a coach who can meet you where you are at and challenge you to take your wellness to the next level instills trust, comfort and the tools for lasting change.
They get “under the food” with you: If you just want a meal plan, please hire a nutritionist. However, I know you think more deeply than that. You also know that the way you eat and think about your body cannot be fixed with 1/2 a cup of carrots and 2 tablespoons of hummus. A food and body coach gets “under the food” and gently questions what truly nourishes you. When you are able to discover what sets you on fire and what’s keeping you from it, the need to numb out with cookies or fill the void with cake melts away.
What you eat is the foundation of your life, and if you aren’t digging your food or your body, it’s not because you need to try harder. The truth is that you simply need a different way, a more inspiring road. And there’s no rule that says you’ve got to find and travel it alone.
Jamie G. Dougherty, Food & Body expert and founder of JamieLiving.com, empowers overwhelmed, mission-driven women to get their bodies onboard for their big plans. She has been featured on Martha Stewart Radio, Crazy Sexy Life and ABC’s View from the Bay, is the author of a wildly popular blog and is the creator of the Frickin’ Rad Fall Cleanse. To learn more about Jamie’s upcoming cleanse and other programs, sign up for her free updates at JamieLiving.com.
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