You’re sitting at your desk in your office.
The phone is ringing.
Everyone is pounding away at their keyboards.
Someone is using the printer right next to you (even though there’s a much quieter one three desks away).
Your annoying coworker won’t shut up about his vacation.
The clock finally strikes 5:00.
As you speed walk out of there, the only place you want to go is home. You’re too tired to go to the gym or the grocery store to pick up some healthy food.
Achieving any of your wellness goals without support is proving to be way harder than you first thought.
That’s why virtual health coaching has exploded in the 2020s.
If there’s one thing these past few years have taught us, it’s that now is the time to create healthy habits.
Virtual health coaching will help you crush your health goals on your own schedule.
What is Virtual Health Coaching?
Virtual health coaching is the most convenient way to work on your weight loss goals or any other health goals that you have. By finding a virtual health coach, you’ll be able to stay in the comfort of your own home instead of having to drag yourself to in-person coaching sessions.
Your virtual health coach can use a variety of different ways to connect with you. Most virtual coaching sessions will use some sort of video platform like Zoom. Others will use phone calls or text messages to support you throughout your weight loss or health journey.
A health coach is a professional who works with you on creating an action plan to achieve your wellness goals. Whether you want to lose weight, improve your relationship with food, or create a holistic, healthy routine for yourself, virtual health coaches can guide you.
The credentials of virtual health coaches vary. You want to make sure that you’re getting the best possible help out there. To do that, make sure that you choose a certified health and wellness coach.
A certified health and wellness coach isn’t just trained in ways that you can lose weight. They can help you develop healthy habits related to stress reduction, nutrition, fitness, sleep routines, and other healthy lifestyle changes.
The Benefits of Virtual Health Coaching
As a health and wellness coach, I personally prefer virtual health coaching as opposed to in-person coaching.
Now, I may be a little biased here but driving isn’t my favorite thing in the world. Making a living online allows me to show up to my coaching sessions in a more relaxed state. And when I’m more relaxed, I’m better able to help my clients learn about ways to improve their own well-being.
So if you’re like me and want to limit your driving, virtual health coaching is the way to go. You might already have to drive to work or school. Being able to skip driving to your health coaching appointment could work wonders for you to reduce stress.
If you’re an introvert or have trouble opening up to people, virtual health coaching might make you feel more comfortable. When you’re not face-to-face with someone, you might find it easier to be more open and honest (especially if you have social anxiety).
Although your virtual health coach will most likely have their camera turned on during a session, you can opt to leave your camera off. This could help you relax a bit more so that you can focus on building lifestyle habits for better health.
Working with a virtual health coach can be a game-changer for people living with chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia or multiple sclerosis. Since there’s no need to drive anywhere, virtual health coaching is more accessible for people with mobility issues.
In addition to working with your doctor or other healthcare professionals, a certified health and wellness coach can help you with nutrition, stress management, and physical activity. All of those areas can make a huge difference in chronic disease management.
Working with a virtual health and wellness coach also puts you in control of your own schedule. As you navigate your wellness journey, life doesn’t stop being life. There are so many different things pulling for your attention that sometimes you lose the motivation to make healthy choices.
Whether it’s stress from work or family or stress from a never-ending to-do list, a health coach can help you through it. And being an online health coach removes one more barrier in your way.
Yes, you still have to set aside time to meet with your coach. But you don’t have to factor in extra time to drive to and from your health coach’s office.
You can squeeze in a coaching session while waiting for your laundry to finish. Or while waiting for those delicious roasted veggies to come out of the oven.
How to Vet a Good Virtual Health Coach
If you’re not near a major city, it can be tough to find a good health coach. Depending on where you live, the options can be pretty limited. But it can be just as tough to find a good online health coach. You don’t have the benefit of going to this person’s office to get a feel for them.
Most health and wellness coaches are all in when it comes to improving your overall well-being. But remember, you’re making an investment in your health journey. Whether it’s for weight loss or finding support for your mental health, here are some tips for finding a good health coach.
Certifications
I recommend looking for a coach with the designation, NBC-HWC (National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach). There are good coaches out there without this certification, but if a coach has this credential, you can be sure that they’ve received the necessary training.
To keep their certification active, every 3 years all health coaches need 36 CEUs (Continuing Education Units). Health coaches cannot keep their certification without keeping their training up-to-date.
By attending health coaching classes on a continuous basis, you can rest assured that your health coach is keeping up with the latest tools to help you with your wellness goals.
Also, before coaches even get to sit for the national exam, they have to attend an approved coach training program. Once they’ve passed the program, they need to have a minimum of 50 coaching sessions under their belts.
So with a NBC-HWC, you’ll be partnering with someone who has a ton of knowledge and experience to guide you along your health and wellness journey.
Ways to Talk to Your Health Coach
Since you’re seeing an online health coach, you should ask yourself what makes you more comfortable.
Do you prefer attending your coaching sessions over phone calls? Or do you prefer Zoom or some other video platform? If your health coach has an app, how user friendly is it?
However you choose to attend your coaching sessions, make sure that the technology isn’t a barrier for you. After all, health coaching is about improving your well-being. The last thing you want to do is struggle with technology before a session.
Reviews/Testimonials
Reviews are your friend. If your potential health coach is listed on Google, read through all of the reviews. Hopefully, whoever you’re considering partnering with comes highly recommended by past clients.
Reading past reviews is also a great way to find out if that health coach specializes in areas like nutrition or exercise science.
Although all certified health coaches have training in fitness, nutrition, positive psychology, and more, it’s a good idea to see if your health coach has any other credentials.
Let’s say you want to focus on weight loss through upping your fitness level. It would be a huge bonus if your health coach also had training through NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) or some other organization.
Consultations
If you’re looking to improve your health, chances are you’re already willing to spend a bit of money. But no one wants to feel like they’re not getting what they paid for.
Most health coaches will offer a free consultation (usually about 30 minutes). The point of a consultation is so that you, as a potential client, can get a feel for the health coach. And vice versa.
If all you want to do is lose weight through cutting calories, you might not be interested in a health coach that specializes in helping clients work through their relationship with food.
So during your consultation, be open and honest with your potential health coach. Their job is to support your well-being. So don’t be afraid to look elsewhere if you feel like their program won’t be a good fit for you.
Group Coaching vs One-on-One
Some coaches offer group health coaching in addition to one-on-one sessions.
If you’re inspired by how other people have improved their nutrition or made fitness part of their lifestyle, then group coaching would be great for you.
Health coaching works best when you have a good support system. When you don’t feel alone with your health challenges, you’re more likely to keep going through the hard times.
Feeling supported can work wonders for your motivation.
My Experience as a Virtual Health Coach
As a health and wellness coach, I’ve only ever worked virtually. And I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Let’s start with the “small” reasons. First, I hate driving. If I could snap my fingers and magically be wherever I need to be without driving, I’d be ecstatic.
But let’s go a little deeper than that. If I wasn’t a virtual health coach, I never would have been able to meet any of my clients. All of my clients live in a different state. Not that I can’t meet any clients in my home state, but online the net is cast much wider.
I’m also able to connect with my clients in their own environment. I don’t plan on doing any house calls so getting to meet my client’s pets online is the next best thing. Nothing breaks the ice better than my client’s adorable dog trying to join the coaching session.
Being a virtual health coach also allows me to see what resources my clients have available. If I have a client that’s more hands on, they can set up their phone or laptop in their kitchen. Then, instead of just talking about the healthy food they’d like to prepare, they can show me.
Helping my clients practice wellness in their own lives goes well beyond just weight loss. I take a holistic approach. So the more I know about my clients lives, the better we can create a plan together.
Being a virtual health coach also helps me take my own health more seriously. It’s easy to forget your coach training when you’re so focused on helping others achieve their goals. I celebrate with my clients when they reach their fitness goals or have managed to meet their goal of meditating at least once in the past week.
Working virtually has given me more control over my schedule so that I can keep my well-being a priority too. The better I take care of my own physical and mental health, the more capable I am of guiding my clients.
Key Takeaways
A virtual health coach could be just what you need to start your health and wellness journey. There are so many benefits to attending coaching sessions virtually instead of in-person.
If weight loss is your goal then a health coach can help you do that healthily and without depriving yourself. But a health coach isn’t limited to helping you with weight loss. They have the skills to take a holistic approach to helping you achieve your health and wellness goals.
If you choose a certified health and wellness coach, you know that their training and education is top-notch. So look for a coach with the designation, NBC-HWC (National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach).
As we try to balance our careers, our families, friends, and other responsibilities, it’s way too easy to put our own selfcare on hold. By partnering with a virtual health coach, you’re giving yourself the freedom to explore the possibilities to create a vibrant and healthy life.
