Everyone needs a team. As a health coach, you can become an expert in multiple areas: nutrition, behavior change psychology, fitness and athletic performance, stress management and recovery, and more. However, no matter how many certifications you earn, you’ll invariably encounter clients with progress-blocking problems you don’t have the skills, training, expertise, or legal right to solve. Here’s the thing… You may not be an expert at fixing marriages, treating GERD, or counseling someone with an eating disorder, but someone else is. Here’s where a healthy referral network comes in. By conne ..read more

I was 13 when I went on my first diet. I had been struggling with my weight for about six years, and my obsession with how I looked was starting to dominate my life. I only had two to three shirts that I felt comfortable in. The only thing that mattered was that they didn’t make me “feel fat.” Even those chosen shirts were always under my West 49 sweater, for extra coverage. The cherry on top of this presentation was my slouched shoulders—a defense mechanism to protect against exposing my “man boobs,” the body part that had dynastic reign for being my biggest insecurity. The way I viewed my bo ..read more

There’s been a growing shift in the fitness, health, and wellness industry. The promise of “immediate results” will probably never lose its sparkle. But, as a good portion of our population (hi, Boomers!) moves into their “silver” years, conversations around optimizing lifespan (how long you live) and healthspan (how long you live with a high quality of life) are also on the rise. People are more interested than ever in longevity, which, these days, means the combination of a long lifespan and a long healthspan. (Historically, longevity and lifespan were synonymous.) Trending too is the concep ..read more

If you live in a larger body, sometimes it feels like you can’t win. If you don’t lose weight, people will criticize you for being “lazy,” “unhealthy,” or “lacking willpower.” But if you take medication to help you, you’ll be criticized for “cheating” or “taking the easy way out,” even if you’ve tried for decades to manage your weight through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes (sometimes extreme ones). In this article, we’ll be talking about a highly contentious group of medicines—GLP-1 receptor agonist drugs such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound ..read more

Reviewed by Brian St. Pierre, MS, RD Once you decide you want to work with a health coach, finding the right one goes beyond checking off a list of qualifications. How do you know if you’ve found the best health coach for you? What are the qualities of a good coach besides the obvious credentials? We’ve listed some traits to look out for when choosing a health coach. Essentially, it all boils down to how the two of you “vibe.” You should find someone you get along with and trust, someone who seems to truly “get” you and is as invested in your success as you are. Let’s dive deeper into what all ..read more

Reviewed by Brian St. Pierre, MS, RD We all make thousands of decisions every day, large and small. What to have for breakfast. Whether or not to exercise—or when. Which project to tackle first at work. More coffee or not. After a while, it’s only natural that decision fatigue sets in. Decision fatigue can happen to anyone—but it’s especially disruptive when you’re trying to change old habits and make new (healthier) choices, but you lose steam by 10 AM. Let’s take a closer look at what decision fatigue is, what causes it, and how to shake it off so you can continue to make good, intentional c ..read more

Reviewed by Brian St. Pierre, MS, RD Once you decide you want to work with a health coach, finding the right one goes beyond checking off a list of qualifications. How do you know if you’ve found the best health coach for you? What are the qualities of a good coach besides the obvious credentials? We’ve listed some traits to look out for when choosing a health coach. Essentially, it all boils down to how the two of you “vibe.” You should find someone you get along with and trust, someone who seems to truly “get” you and is as invested in your success as you are. Let’s dive deeper into what all ..read more

Reviewed by Brian St. Pierre, MS, RD You can learn everything on your own… right? In other words, between books and free online articles and videos, what’s the point of working with a health coach? Well, there’s a few points… A health coach offers unique knowledge and insights that can help you in ways you can’t necessarily get on your own. They fill in the nutritional and exercise gaps you may overlook, make sure you’re adhering to your intentions, and suggest solutions (and moral support) when you hit inevitable obstacles. In fact, hiring a health coach may be one of the best decisions you c ..read more

Reviewed by Brian St. Pierre, MS, RD A personalized fitness and nutrition program is the antidote to one-size-fits-all, generic advice. If you’re tired of trying programs that just don’t fit with your lifestyle or preferences, a personalized program may be what you need to get—and stay—on track. We’ll explore what a personalized coaching program includes, as well as the many health and wellness benefits you can enjoy when you follow one. What does it mean to have a personalized coaching program? In a personalized coaching program, you work with a health coach who tailors a plan to fit your uni ..read more

Reviewed by Brian St. Pierre, MS, RD From hitting a wall with your workouts to stalled weight loss, plateaus can occur at any stage. But all that hard work hasn’t been for nothing. Plateaus, although frustrating, can be useful. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what causes them, how to push through, and when to consider embracing the plateau and shifting into maintenance mode. What is a plateau in fitness? A plateau refers to a period of time where you feel like you’re no longer making progress. For anyone who’s been actively pursuing fitness for a while, you know the signs: maybe y ..read more