What Health Coaching is Not + Let’s Talk About Brain Health

Hi there, and Happy Friday! I hope that you all have some awesome plans for the weekend. I have some fun fitness related plans that I’m looking forward to (more on that later)!

So guess what? I only have a few more lessons and an exam left at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and then I’ll be a certified health and wellness coach! I can’t believe how fast this whole year of school has gone. Last weekend IIN had live sessions in NYC, and while I couldn’t be there in person (hopefully one day I can make it to a weekend of live lectures!), I was able to live stream some of the weekend’s lectures. All I have to say is that this school is full of amazing, inspirational students and teachers. I have just been soaking it all in, and I’ve truly enjoyed my experience at IIN.

In case you haven’t heard, I’ve opened up my health coaching services to the public, and I offer free consultations! Please check out my health coaching page for more information, and feel free to shoot me an email at nicole@foodielovesfitness.com. 

I’ve noticed when I talk to friends & family about health coaching, it’s sort of a foreign concept to them. I totally understand, as wellness coaching is definitely new-age healthcare and something that most people are not too familiar with. With that being said, I wanted to clear up a few of the misconceptions that people have about health coaching. My health coaching program does NOT entail:

• Me telling you what to eat and creating some strict plan

….though it does involve us figuring out together what foods work best for your body, identifying food allergies and sensitivities, and crowding out unhealthy foods when possible. Holistic thinking says that when given the chance, the body can heal itself by itself. I’m just there as your health coach to help you figure out what needs healing, and how we can do it through diet and lifestyle shifts.

• Me creating a detailed meal plan for you to follow

….though it can involve cooking demos, pantry makeovers and recipe samples with instructions on how to make things at home.

• Us ONLY discussing topics surrounding food and diet

….sure, diet is something we will most certainly cover, but through my health coaching program, we also look at the overall picture. What’s your stress level like? How do you like your job? Have you cultivated healthy relationships, or is that a source of unhappiness in your life? We call these factors primary food, and they are all things that can take a big toll on your health.

I also wanted to share with you guys some info that I found really interesting from a recent IIN lecture about brain health. It was given by Daniel Amen – a physician, double-board certified psychiatrist, nine-time New York Times bestselling author (Sounds like an awesome overachiever, am I right?!), and expert on applying brain imaging science to everyday clinical practice. Here are some points that caught my attention during his talk:

• With no cure on the horizon, Alzheimer’s is expected to triple in the next 25 years.
• Obesity puts people at a high risk factor for over 30 medical illnesses, including brain illnesses like depression and Alzheimer’s.
• Your brain uses 25% of the calories that you consume, making it the most metabolically active organ in the body.
• Factors that accelerate brain aging include drug and excessive alcohol use, obesity, sleep apnea, smoking, hypertension, a poor diet, high stress levels, lack of exercise and surrounding yourself with an unhealthy peer group.
• 22 studies have found that as your weight increases, the physical size and function of your brain decreases.

That last stat really blows my mind. This means that by following what those in the wellness field call the SAD diet (the Standard American Diet), people are decreasing the function in their brains… As obesity rises, our brains are quite literally getting smaller. Say what?! 

You might be thinking, so how can I preserve my brain health and stay sharp for the long haul? The short answer is nothing but common sense healthy living recommendations: eat a healthy, nutrient-rich diet (that’s why we refer to some eats as ‘brain food’!), get daily exercise, and surround yourself with uplifting people that enrich your life!

So the next time you’re bummed out that you’ve been exercising but haven’t lost weight, or when you repeatedly have a choice between a greasy cheeseburger or an antioxidant-rich salad, just remember, not only is your mood and weight affected by your habits and choices, your brain will thank you later for making healthier decisions too!

Tell me… Is brain health something you think about often? Do you have any questions about health coaching?