What is a Health Coach?

A health coach bridges the gap that doctors, personal trainers, and registered dietitians don't have the time or resources to fill with their patients and clients. What does that mean exactly? If you have ever walked out of your doctors office knowing that you need to get healthier but you weren't given any direction, that is where I come in! I work with you to find and address the health, lifestyle and fitness barriers that get in the way of your goals. I will guide you to achieve these goals so you can finally lose that weight, gain muscle, prevent disease, manage stress, transform your health and live a fuller, more balanced life (or whatever your goal may be)!

A health coach has strengths in the knowledge and skills related to anatomy, kinesiology, exercise physiology and a broad scope of practice in nutrition, including energy balance, macronutrient intake, food sources of specific nutrients, nutritional information, food and hydration strategies to control appetite and for performance improvement as well as communication skills and behavior change techniques. 

A health coach is a wellness expert and supportive mentor who helps motivate you to make positive health choices through education and lifestyle behavior change. Through effective communication I help to implement small changes at a pace that is comfortable for you so you can meet your health goals for life-long results and well-being. There is always something that will work, the trick is finding what works best for YOU. No matter the concern, I listen to your struggles and help you navigate around the world of contradictory nutritional advice, get around your barriers and experiment with finding what works for you specifically. 

Wellness is a full integration of physical, mental and spiritual well-being. It is a complex interaction that leads to quality of life. If you come to me with one specific problem that you want to address, I help you to explore all the other overlapping dimensions of wellness as part of the process. As you start to transform you develop an awareness and gain more concrete tools to work with as I continue to provide education, support, stability and empowerment. 

I don't promote one specific diet or way of eating. Instead, I listen to your needs, your habits, your lifestyle and help you come up with the best plan of action. Maybe you need to gain more energy, lose a little weight, manage your stress or sleep better, whatever it is...I am here to guide you! If it is out of my scope of practice, I will help you find an appropriate practitioner who can help.

How do I do health coaching? I help in whatever way works best for you. Here are some examples of what I do, but I am always looking for new ways to reach others!

• One-on-one health coaching sessions via meetings in-person/video conferencing/phone calls/online chats/email/text
• Personalized goal setting, support, action plan and resource recommendations
• Unlimited email/text support 
• Goal accountability
• Customized activity strategy
• Maintenance plan
• Step-by-step online programs
• Weekly menu planning
• Grocery list creation & ordering
• Grocery store tours
• Recipe inspiration and modification
• Fridge and pantry clean outs
• Cooking demos
• Cooking lessons
• Public speaking
• Corporate wellness consulting
• + more!!!

If you are ready to make some life-long changes, please e-mail me at elenamccown@gmail.com. I can't wait to work with you!