Will Health Coaches Shape the Future of Health Care?

It's certainly not unusual for me to hear those questions "So what do you do?" or "How can you help me?

Health Coaches are sometimes referred to as "change agents," because we'll help you implement transformation in your life. Here's an example: I always ask every new client what they're "wake up" problem is--you know, that thing that eats at you, whether you're tossing and turning at 2:00 AM or rising at 7:00 AM.

My client said she was unhappy and frustrated that she had gained over 65 pounds in a relatively short time and, no matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't lose it. So we took baby steps, first getting her blood sugar balanced, teaching her how to eat healthfully even with little or no time, showing her the most effective way--for her body--to exercise at the gym. She didn't know how to read food labels, so off we went on field trips to the supermarket and health food emporium.

After about seven sessions, however, what we uncovered was her ROOT problem, a severe time management problem. That problem affected every single thing in her life, from how she ate to how she managed her career. Needless to say, she had no such thing as work/life balance.

I ran into her recently and she was glowing. Everything changed instantly, she said, once we figured out what the real problem was. To quote the old cliche, "knowledge is power." Once she understood her problem, she knew how to handle it--and then rid herself of it once and for all.

What health coaches DON'T do is:

• Send you away with a list of so-called good and bad foods. Everyone reacts differently to a food, so what could be a good food for you for could be poison to ME.
• Leave our program open-ended with no end in sight. Starting with day #1, we'll write down and discuss your goals and challenges. Midway through your program, I review them to see if you're on track--or if we need to reset in order to reach them within your timeframe. '
• Mask issues-we get to the root of the problem, so you can get rid of it once and for all.

Many feel that health coaches will shape the future of health care. One is Dr. Mark Hyman, who's also a guest lecturer at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition from where I graduated.

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Irene Ross, CHHC, AADP is a certified nutrition and health coach.  She works with people to get them off the diet roller coaster so they can live a lifetime of balanced health, wellness, weight and energy.

Author of the forthcoming book, 25 Ways to Fire Up Your Day:  Increase Energy, Get More Done in Less Time, Balance Your Life, her website is:  www.irenefross.com

Is Your Nutrition Prepared for a Storm?

I was just watching the news and, on the weather report, there was a discussion of the build-up of Hurricane Ernesto.

Now, I live in the New York City area where hurricanes rarely happen, but we did experience Hurricane Irene last year--and was that ever an eye opener. When the supermarket was finally re-opened, I noticed that sugary, highly processed foods--like certain peanut butters, canned spaghetti and salty soups--were completely sold out. The freshly-baked breads weren't touched, and got stale from sitting around--but those packaged breads, with a list of ingredients we can't even pronounce, were gone.

I really smile everytime I think of this: My friend, Pete, probably won the prize for the unhealthiest weekend fare--he told me he lived on those $2 convenience-store burritos all that weekend.
Then, of course, we had that infamous Halloween Weekend snow storm.
So let's try to be a little better prepared this time. Your cabinets and freezer should have:

• Beans. Can be either dried or canned but, if canned, please rinse thoroughly.
• Brown rice, Quinoa, Buckwheat or some other grain.
• Frozen veggies. Of course, fresh is best, but that may not be possible--if you're confined or stranded for days, they'll only wilt and spoil. Case in point: When I was able to visit the store last year after Hurricane Irene, all the produce was brown and wilted. Yuk! And where is the nutrition in that? Just check the label to be sure you're only getting vegetables and water, and you should be okay. If possible, try to get "flash frozen" because that means it's frozen the minute it's picked.
• Frozen fruit. You can find good organic varieties at Trader Joes and in Whole Foods and even some supermarkets.
• Nut butters. The healthy varieties, please! You can always have it with some sliced apples or celery for a nutritious snack.
• Dark chocolate. Yes, you read correctly. Dark chocolate, as long as it has 60%-80% cocoa, is a Super Food; if it contains another Super Food, the gogi berry, well, you'll probably never taste anything so good. It should be a very small piece, like the size of a candy kiss--but it will probably also satisfy your need for some comfort food.
• Yogurt: All yogurt is considered a Super Food, but I like Greek, because the thick and creamy texture makes me think I'm eating ice cream. Mix it with another Super Food, pumpkin, and you have a powerful, nutrient-dense snack. You can find 100% pure pumpkin (not the pie filling!) in most supermarkets.
• Olive oil.
• Pasta (In a pinch, you can make a pasta topping of broccoli, sauteed in olive oil and garlic.

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Irene Ross, CHHC, AADP is a certified nutrition and health coach who helps people instantly double their energy so they avoid that mid-morning or afternoon slump, get more done in less time and balance their lives.  She is author of the forthcoming book:  25 Ways to Fire Up Your Day:  Increase Energy, Get More Done in Less Time, Balance Your Life.

For more information on Irene, and to sign up for her newsletter (and receive the free e-book, Sugar's Sour Story), visit:  www.irenefross.com.

How Do You Push Back the Clock?

It doesn’t matter if you’re one of the 79 million baby boomers in this country–of if you’re in your 20s. We all want to find ways to prevent and reverse the signs of aging.
While scientists may have found a possible link to aging–the telomere (for more on this, go to: http://irenefross.com/blog/2012/07/telomeres-and-the-link-to-aging), there are five very critical points that everyone, without fail, should keep in mind when trying to reverse the aging process.

• Nutrition: Everyone should consume plenty of fruits and vegetables; they contain not only vitamins and minerals, but antioxidants—the substances that destroy free radicals.

The most important thing is to start your day off right with a healthy breakfast, to maintain your energy, regulate your blood sugars, and continue to make wiser choices throughout the day.
“I begin my day with a healthy, whole grain breakfast of oatmeal and fresh fruit,” says Faith Hope Consolo, renowned real estate broker and “Queen of Retail” who favors high-quality, fresh ingredients. “Thereafter, it’s pretty much vegetables and lean protein, including a lot of fish.” .
“I stay away from complex carbohydrates that are not whole grain, said Linda Alexander, president of Alexander Marketing, a full-service public relations firm. She explained that, although her diet is largely plant-based, she will sometimes eat organic meat and wild-caught fish.

• Exercise: Exercise releases endorphins, which make you feel better and can reduce stress. Everyone has their own particular favorite, whether Pilates or Zumba or Inten-Sati –and there’s been a lot of media attention lately about the anti-aging effects of yoga. Joschi Schwarz, Creative Director and Co-Owner of the Joschi Yoga Institute in New York City, says “Yoga keeps your muscles and joints flexible, and gives you a fit body and an active mind. A regular yoga practice, including breath work (Pranayama) , increases blood circulation and the amount of oxygen throughout your body and your brain, therefore helping to delay the signs of aging.

Schwartz continues: “Especially the inverted yoga postures have an anti-aging effect and reverse the effect of gravity, firming our facial muscles, giving you a natural face-lift and glowing skin.”

• Supplements: They should never be used as a substitute for good nutrition but, rather, to fill in the gap, since today’s soils are usually depleted and foods often contain hormones, chemicals and artificial ingredients, it’s vital to fill in the gaps with good supplementation. Make sure you look at delivery systems—some create easier absorption by the body than others—and be sure it’s approved by an independent, third-party auditor.
• Skin care: “The latest research shows that skin actually ages itself,” said anti-aging specialist Dr. SteveTsoutsouras. “All skin contains an enzyme called Arnox that produces free radicals; everyone has it. The skin aging process actually begins in our 20’s and, as we get older, cells don’t turnover as fast, elasticity and moisture lessens, and the skin takes longer to heal itself. So when we don’t take care of our skin—whether it’s smoking, drinking to excess, or being less-than-thoughtful about skin care products, it accelerates the aging process even more.

New York City Acupuncturist Sandy Root., Sandy Root, L.Ac., MSTOM, says her firm, Root-Acupuncture, specializes in facial rejuvenation—a natural, painless and effective way to eliminate fine lines and diminish larger wrinkles, reduce double chins and drooping eyelids and improve muscle tone.
“It’s not just superficial treatment, because it balances the internal body. In fact, studies have been done showing it increases collagen and skin elasticity,” Root says.

• Self-care: Research shows the positive effects of massage and meditation. Everything feeds us whether or not it’s on our plate; the connection between mind-body-spirit is undeniable.

Gladys Murphy is a NYC-area Resonance Repatterning™ Certified Practioner who says, “ Resonance Repatterning is a system that allows us to lose weight so to speak. We identify and transform unconscious patterns, limiting beliefs and old negative feelings that show up as the challenges that we experience in our daily lives. The patterns live in our cells, and in every aspect of our physical, mental, and emotional beings.” Murphy explains that the patterns hold energy and, once released, the person experiences a shift, feeling more energetic and calmer.
New York City real estate sales associate Sandra Manley, summed it up perfectly: “If I were talking to a co-worker, friend or whatever, what is the one piece of advice I’d give them to help turn back the clock? I would tell them to have fun, wherever and whenever possible – laugh, play, spend time with people who make you happy, travel, learn new things, and enjoy life at every opportunity.”
Want to hear a guided meditation from Deepak Chopra? Click here: http://irenefross.com/blog/2012/07/pushing-back-the-clock-five-pillars-of-anti-aging

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Irene Ross, CHHC, AADP is a certified nutrition and health coach who works with people to help them instantly double their energy so they avoid that mid-morning or afternoon slump, get more done in less time and balance their lives.
Author of the forthcoming book, 25 Ways to Fire Up Your Day: Increase Energy, Get More Done in Less Time, Balance Your Life, she sees people on an individual or group basis. While she will see people on a face-to-face basis, she finds that most clients prefer phone or Skype because: 1) They can do it in the convenience of their own home, office or wherever–no commuting! 2) Sometimes it’s easier for them to be more open if they know there’s not a set of eyes on them.
To sign up for Irene’s FREE twice-monthly newsletter, click here.

Irene also designs employee wellness programs; have your HR executive e-mail Irene at irener@eating4achieving.com to schedule a complimentary 45-minute employee health workshop.