Aspen Club and Spa

Many people are confused by the term life coaching and wonder just what a life coach does.  Life coaching is just one element of the growing industry of coaching.  In addition to life coaching the industry encompasses business and executive coaching, health and wellness coaching, relationship coaching, energy coaching, weight loss coaching and many other coaching disciplines.  Life coaching, as probably the broadest form of coaching, is the least understood because of the many different approaches, accreditations, and circumstances in which it is used.  In fact the entire industry draws scrutiny from the loose or lack of credentials and certifications needed to hang a shingle and begin a life coaching practice.  In my interpretation, life coaching simply provides you a facilitator to take you from where you are to where you want to be.  A coach is someone that pushes you to define your goals and then reach them by making the necessary changes in your life.

Within the broad category of life coaching is the more specific discipline of health coaching, sometimes referred to as wellness coaching.  This discipline of coaching usually attracts health and fitness professionals who through certain elements of positive psychology coach people toward achieving their health goals.  These goals often include, weight loss, lower stress levels, more energy and overall improved fitness.  Through my involvement with the Aspen Club and Spa and our branded health coaching product Aspen Life Coaching I have spoken with and interviewed many coaches who have successfully coached clients to improved health.  From my experience, the confusion around the terms life coach, and wellness coach make having a free initial consultation a critical part of any coaching program and reputable companies such as Aspen Life are happy to offer them.

When looking for a life coach, a health coach or any coach it is important to look for qualifications and certifications to ensure that you are working with a capable professional.  One important credential is an ICF (International Coaching Federation) certification.  The ICF is a nonprofit, individual membership organization that exists to build, support and preserve the integrity of the coaching profession through programs and standards supported by the individual membership.  An ICF certification ensures that a coach has received very specific coach training, has achieved a designated number of experience hours and has been coached by a mentor coach.

With the seasons changing and summer nearing the subject of weight loss seems to be on the minds and tongues of many.  Whether trying to lose weight to look good in a swimsuit, increase energy or improve health many people are searching for any diet secret, workout program, or nutritional supplement that will help shed the pounds.  The number and variety of weight loss programs available to people interested in losing weight is staggering.  In fact a quick internet search of “weight loss program” yields millions of results.  Navigating through the quick fixes and gimmicks to find a weight loss program that works must be a daunting task.  One novel approach to losing weight that seems to be gaining traction is idea of hiring a personal coach, sometimes referred to as a health coach or wellness coach or life coach or weight loss coach.

Whether speaking with a coach by phone, over the internet, or in person, coaching is a powerful means for effecting lasting change.  After speaking with many coaches and undergoing a health coaching program myself I can see the implications for applying such a process to a weight loss program.  Unlike a fad diet or quick fix, coaches help you define your short and long term goals, devise a strategic plan for how to achieve those goals and help you track progress and deal with obstacles along the way.  Continuing contact with your coach keeps you motivated and accountable for achieving the vision that you develop.  In fact one of the most common motivations for contacting a health coach is weight loss.  Often the people that hire a coach are tired of the gimmicks and have had very limited success with other weight loss programs.  The coaches I have spoken with have been very successful at coaching their clients to weight loss and have even found that success has carried over to other areas of their client’s life.

Surprisingly many coaches that I have spoken with prefer to coach their clients via the phone and web.  The dynamic is less distracting than a face to face encounter and more convenient for the client.  In fact many coaches have never seen their clients in person and have clients from all across the country.  If you are sick of quick fixes and looking for a weight loss program that works while creating a lasting life transformation you may want to consider getting yourself a coach.