What Happened When I Teamed Up with a Health Coach
Rewind to last fall when I wasn’t feeling my best self. I was stuck in a rut, feeling unmotivated, unhappy with my appearance, and struggling to do anything about it despite my best efforts. I’d go to the gym for a few days, be eating healthier and feeling a little better, then BAM! – I’d have a bad day and fall right back into my bad habits. I wanted to change but I didn’t know how! I couldn’t get anything to stick!
Much of this started three years ago, when I had to have a pretty major surgery that left me with a large scar on my right shoulder and another smaller one on the side of my neck. I was going through a bit of a rough time even before this happened and it really threw me. Fast forward to two and a half years later and me realizing I still hadn’t dealt with many of those fears and insecurities. Instead, I was clinging to them like a security blanket, despite the fact that they were keeping me from being the version of myself I wanted to be!
At the time, my friend Madden had created a new fitness Instagram page I was following. In one of her posts, she had mentioned being a health coach, piquing my interest. In my mind, I pictured someone who told me how to live my life and be happy. At that point, I equated happy as healthy and vice versa. Which is true to a point but I digress… I never did get around to asking her but fate stepped in. A few weeks later, Madden reached out, telling me a little about it and asking if I wanted to be a part of her group. I couldn’t say yes fast enough!
No, Madden doesn’t sit down each week and tell me how to live my life and solve my problems like I first pictured (she’s not my therapist!) but what I did get was so much more:
Accountability
We have different challenge sessions, varying in length, but the expectations are always the same. At the beginning of the challenge, we set goals for ourselves that can include fitness, nutrition, and/or personal development. Every person has their own goals that only Madden knows unless we choose to share them with the group. We check in with each other daily, sharing how we accomplished that day’s commitment toward reaching our goal. To further hold us accountable, you are only allowed to miss a certain number of daily check-ins to remain part of the group!
Personal Development
While every member of our challenge group has health and fitness goals, we all have very different personal goals! These could include anything from growing a side hustle, growing a new hobby, growing a blog following, or whatever else we are passionate about as individuals. Throughout the challenge, we might share a personal development book we are reading, struggle we are facing, things that inspire us, etc. It’s so rewarding to root for other strong women, to celebrate their successes, learn from their resources, and to have their unwavering support!
Self Love
One of my favorite challenge sessions so far was in the month of February. Often associated with love and Valentine’s Day, we spent a month focusing on loving the most important people in our lives: ourselves! Daily challenges varied from taking a social media vacation day, reflecting on the people we surround ourselves with, meditation, and treating ourselves to flowers. It can be so easy to get caught up in the daily grind or taking care of others, often at our own expense. I loved so many of these daily challenges and journaling activities! I also made a commitment to myself to keep practicing many of these simple acts of self-care regularly!
A Group of Badass Babes
Hands down, my favorite part of accepting Madden’s health coach offer was the community of badass babes I now have behind me! Not only do I feel like I’ve gotten to know Madden better but I feel like I have a whole new group of friends. Whether one of us is overcoming an injury, struggling with lack of motivation, or hurting over a personal struggle, we all support and uplift each other. When I’m having a bad day or not feeling motivated, I remember these ladies and do it for them. I don’t want to let them down either! In turn, we also celebrate each other’s successes, victories, and accomplishments. Thanks to them, I have a whole new outlook on what health and fitness looks like to me!
For more inspiration, check out Madden’s fitness Instagram here.
Have you ever tried working with a health coach? What motivates you to focus on health and fitness?
