frequently asked questions

1. What is Health Coaching?

Health coaching is becoming recognized as a new way to help individuals "manage" their own illnesses and conditions.

Health coaching is a process of guiding another to "discover" and address their own ambivalence to health behavior change. Health coaching gives healthcare providers a framework by which they can assist someone to identify issues, beliefs, and concerns that may hinder or support his/her lifestyle change or responsibility for health that lies ahead for the individual. Health coaches utilize goal setting, identification of obstacles, and use of personal support systems.

The relationship between the coach and coachee is a partnership focused on the overall health outcome goals as defined by healthcare practitioners and the coachee.

"Health coaching is the practice of health education and health promotion within a coaching context, to enhance the well-being of individuals and to facilitate the achievement of their health-related goals.

Health coaching is a practice in which fully trained health professionals apply evidence-based principles and techniques from Health Psychology and Coaching Psychology to assist their patients to achieve positive health and lifestyle outcomes through attitude and behaviour change.”

Source: Stephen Palmer, "Health coaching to facilitate the promotion of healthy behaviour and achievement of health-related goals", Int. J. of Health Promotion & Education, Vol41 No. 3, 2003 91-93

2. How does health coaching differ from traditional patient education?

The traditional approach to patient teaching and education is one that directs information to the patient. In essence, the goal is to have the patient do the things prescribed for them to do. Healthcare professionals have the knowledge about disease processes, exercise guidelines, special diets, and medications that must be imparted to the patient and caregivers in many forms: booklets, pamphlets, audio CD's. These materials are provided with the expectation that the patient will ultimately "do these things".

Health coaching, in comparison, guides patients to talk about what is most troubling to them about their conditions, what they most want to change, what support they have to foster change, and what obstacles or difficulties must be removed or minimized to advance healthy behaviours. It is not the main role of the health coach to teach, advise or counsel the patient. Health coaching focuses on the special issues and concerns unique to the individual patient that fit into the context of the patient's life.

3. How Confidential is my Personal Information?

Extremely confidential! Only your personal health coach has access to your personal information. Moreover, Health Coach International does not, and never will, share or sell its clients' information for use by other companies.

4. How does your integrative weight loss program differ from other slimming/health programs?

Health Coach International's integrative weight loss program focuses on fat loss. Our health coaches actively monitors and charts certain important parameters like subcutaneous and visceral fat level and muscle mass.

We also empower our clients to make practical long-term lifestyle changes themselves. Unlike many other slimming programs which may focus on just one area of losing weight (note: losing weight is not the same as losing fat; weight loss could be from water and muscle loss), our integrative program uses a powerful combination of nutritional therapy, physical exercise and behaviour therapy that has been proven safe and highly effective for long-term change.

5. Do you have a standard weight loss program that works for everyone?

Yes, there is a basic weight loss program that works for most people. However, every individual has different motivation for losing weight, different challenges faced and different lifestyle habits; as such our coaching-based program is very much customised to the individual, which contributes to its effectiveness.

Moreover, the majority of busy corporate executives face many challenges e.g. dietary choices, finding time for regular physical activities, and so on. As such, our certified health coaches will help to customise a personalised weight loss program that works within the constraints of our clients' lifestyle.

6. How do I know if I need to lose weight?

There are many ways to measure your body fat content e.g. Body Mass Index, caliper readings, waist circumference, the wriggle test, etc. but all of these have certain drawbacks. Mostly because these measurements give an incomplete picture of what percentage of your body is made up of fat and where most of your fat is concentrated.

Health Coach International offers a complete body composition analysis that breaks down your body weight into its various composition: muscle, fat, water and bones, and body parts: legs, arms and thighs.

Therefore, it gives you a complete picture of how much of your body weight is contributed by subcutaneous and visceral fat. You can then decide how much fat you would want to lose. If you are in Singapore, Call us today at 6336 6281 for a free body composition analysis.

7. I am generally healthy, do I still need health coaching?

It is always important to get a complete picture of one’s state of health beyond just hospital admissions, or medical tests. Health Coach International’s certified health coaches look beyond general illnesses into general lifestyle habits like diet, snacking behaviour, exercise, stress management, etc. As unimportant as it seems, lifestyle habits like these actually have a large bearing on your health and aging in the long term.

At Health Coach International, we provide an integrative, holistic approach to managing your long-term health. We believe in equipping and empowering all our clients with proven tools and techniques. They will then be able to prevent many acute, degenerative and chronic lifestyle diseases, actively build up their fitness and to live life to its fullest for as long as possible.

8. I am sick, should I see a doctor or only see a health coach?

We would always recommend that you seek professional medical consultation if you are sick. Health Coach International does not diagnose illness or prescribe medications. However, at Health Coach we can give you advice on not only health but lifestyle choices and habits, as we believe in an integrative approach to health.

For any other questions that you may wish to ask, please email us at:

coach@health-coach-international.com

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