Every once in a while, Iâll have clients who struggle with their weight say something along the lines of âYouâre not fat, so you donât know what itâs like to be fat. Thereâs no way you can help me.â
It hurts a bit to hear that. Itâs like saying: in order to be helpful, psychiatrists should have experienced the same emotional troubles as their patients, or that a caring and understanding doctor canât help if they havenât experienced a patientâs illness or pain.
When clients say something like this, I like to put them at ease by reminding them that I see myself as a partner and a wellness coach.
The Relevance of Wellness Coaching
I like the term wellness coach; it sounds motivating and positive. And whether someone is helping you to improve your fitness routine or make better food choices, coaches share the same goals.
Wellness coaches encourage and inspire you. They want you to succeed and perform at your best. They know that the effort is more important than the outcome, and that the desire to do well comes from within.
They also know that mastering a skill is a process, and that youâre going to make mistakes along the way â which is not only okay, itâs expected. Most importantly, a coach works with you â as a partner who shares your successes and helps you work through the times when youâre struggling.
Inspiration Comes in All Shapes and Sizes
There are different kinds of wellness coaches, and they all offer help in different ways. For example, professional coaches â that would be someone like me â serve to educate their clients, help them find ways to meet their goals, and offer support.
Even someone like your walking partner could be a coach â a peer coach. The two of you currently share the same health issues and goals and you offer support to one another to help you meet those goals.
Then there are the wellness âmentorsâ â theyâre ones who have already overcome their particular health issue and are successfully managing it. Someone who has lost weight and kept it off serves as a mentor and role model â and gives hope and inspiration to those who are struggling.
At Herbalife Nutrition, we have many stories of our independent distributors who serve as coaches and mentors to their customers. They create a trusting relationship with their customers, help them establish their goals, and offer product guidance to help support them along the way.
Being Open and Honest about Your Goals
Coaching is about developing a relationship of mutual trust and openness. Based on this, a distributor can really get to know their customersâ motivations and goals, thus mentoring them throughout their journey.
I give much of the credit to all my clients for teaching me how to successfully play my part. Theyâve opened up and shared their struggles with me, which has given me a good understanding of what theyâre going through â which, I believe, puts me in a reasonably good position to help.
What it comes down to is this â we have wellness coaches all around us. Your doctor, who explains your particular health concerns to you and offers advice and support. Your dieting buddy, who âtalks you downâ when youâre about to eat something you know you shouldnât. And, if you work with a distributor, he or she can provide you with products and guidance that support your fitness and nutrition goals, help keep you accountable and motivated.
Even if someone hasnât walked in a mile in your shoes, it doesnât mean they canât be of help. Coaches come from all walks of life, and a good coach is someone who understands the game â even if theyâve never actually played it.
Susan BowermanM.S., R.D., CSSD, CSOWM, FAND â Sr. Director, Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training
Susan Bowerman is the senior director of Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training at Herbalife. She also serves as the Vice Chair of the Dietetic Advisory Board (DAB). As a registered dietitian, she educates distributors about our global nutrition philosophy and is responsible for developing nutrition education and training materials. Bowerman earned a B.S. in Biology with distinction from the University of Colorado and an M.S. in Food Science and Nutrition from Colorado State University. She is a fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and holds two board certifications as a specialist in Sports Dietetics and in Obesity and Weight Management. When she is not busy teaching and writing, Susan enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and gardening. Her favorite Herbalife products include Simply Probiotic and Herbalife Formula 1 Healthy Meal Nutritional Shake Mix Banana Caramel.