A functional health coach takes a holistic, whole-body approach to improving one’s health and overall well-being. They understand that there is more to weight loss than diet, exercise, or the sole use of weight loss drugs, and consider all aspects of health when coaching clients.
This article explores what a functional health coach is and how one may help you to achieve optimal health.
A Personalized Approach
One of the defining characteristics of a functional health coach is an individualized approach. They understand that each person is unique with their own set of needs. To overcome the challenges they bring to the table, they must create their own specific goals.
Sessions are client-centered, discussing steps that have been taken, insights, highs, and lows. Adjustments can then be made to promote the greatest chance of achieving success based on the client’s body, lifestyle, and preferences.
Remember, this is not a one-size-fits-all idea nor does it focus on one area of wellness.
Root Cause Analysis
A functional health coach looks at the bigger picture in an effort to try to uncover the problem. They take the entire medical history into account, as well as current life situations, stressors, and overall health. This gives the coach a starting point for creating a plan.
It is much easier to get to the root cause of an issue and find ways to cure it than it is to continue treating the symptoms. That’s why they take a deep dive into a client’s health to determine any potential underlying issues, such as chronic inflammation, hormone imbalances, or nutrient deficiencies.
For example, taking a GLP-1 for weight loss may help a client achieve great results now, but finding the root cause of health concerns can lead to greater chances of long-term success down the road.
Lifestyle Modification
Diet and exercise are two major pillars in a wellness journey. After all, the body needs to be nourished properly and movement is essential. But these are not the only things that need to be addressed to achieve health goals.
Learning how to deal with stress, getting quality sleep, and ensuring nutrition levels are on point all play a role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A functional health coach will take all of these things, and more, into consideration.
Empowerment
Functional health coaches teach their clients. No matter how much one may try to make a wellness journey simple, it is not black and white. And the more one understands how to make the right decisions the better they are able to make choices that align with their health goals.
These coaches are well-versed in all things health. They have a deep understanding of nutrition and how movement impacts the body. They also have the resources to offer solutions to lifestyle factors and various issues that arise.
Simply stated, a functional health coach will provide all the information and tools necessary to empower their clients to reach their health goals along the way.
So, How Does a Functional Health Coach Work?
Working with a functional health coach means sharing the history of your health and talking openly about where you are today with things like lifestyle habits, nutrition, and fitness. They can then take this information, assess it, and develop a personalized plan to achieve wellness goals.
Nutrition, fitness, sleep, stress management, and more all are vital for reaching optimal health. A functional health coach will provide ongoing support and help clients maintain accountability as they progress through their plan.
Finding long-term success with your health is hard to do alone. A functional health coach can help.
