A personalized approach to nutrition begins by understanding one’s goals. Everybody is different – one person might want to lose weight, while another may want to get better sleep or build muscle. Goals paint a picture of what success looks like, and it’s important to step back and examine what we really want to achieve.
A wellness evaluation can help define these goals. It is one of the tools Herbalife Nutrition independent distributors use to coach their customers. By asking questions and learning their pain points, distributors can help their customers define goals and milestones, while also customizing plans based on their specific needs.
What Is a Wellness Evaluation?
What we eat and our lifestyle choices influence our health, energy levels, and general wellbeing. A wellness evaluation is a tool that helps assess where a person currently stands in terms of nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle.
First-time customers can benefit from a one-on-one coaching session – either in person or online – where the distributor asks a series of questions, or alternatively, helps them fill out a wellness profile.
Our distributors use the education, tools and constant training that our experts provide – on topics such as nutrition, physical activity, and coaching – to help their customers make this self-evaluation.
Having a written or digital profile is a great starting point. Customers can refer back to it, compare, and track their progress. It establishes a baseline, which is the starting point in any personal wellness journey.
Common Questions in a Wellness Assessment
Our distributors, as coaches to their customers, use these types of resources and materials to facilitate better self-examination and set achievable goals.
In a one-on-one coaching session, a distributor might go over their wellness profile, or may start with these questions:
- What are some of your health or fitness goals?
- How much water do you drink in a day?
- How much sleep do typically get?
- What are some habits you would like to develop in the next few months?
If the primary concern is weight loss, a coach may go into a different set of questions, such as:
- What have you done in the past to lose weight?
- When have you tried to lose weight before, and what has worked for you?
- What hasn’t worked for you?
- Why do you think it has been difficult for you to achieve your goals?
- How ready are you to make changes in your diet and lifestyle?
Why Having a Personal Wellness Evaluation Matters
By asking these questions, our distributors are encouraging openness and honesty. It moves the dialogue beyond short-term objectives and can lead the conversation to defining long-term goals. It also helps identify small changes that can help their customers overcome challenges they may have faced in the past when embarking on a wellness journey.
Openness and honesty also establish a good working relationship built upon trust. This empowers our coaches to tailor programs that suit their customer’s specific needs, whether that goal is weight loss or to adopt habits that will lead to a healthier and more active lifestyle.
Susan BowermanM.S., R.D., CSSD, CSOWM, FAND – 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.