Meet Nancy – one of the most remarkable women I’ve ever met in Asheville or anywhere else for that matter. She is one of my clients that I have been working with over the last 6 months who has graciously agreed to give y’all a behind-the-scenes glimpse of her journey that began 6 months ago. Typically, information relating to my clients is strictly confidential, but Nancy has agreed to open up for your benefit.
So like I said… meet Nancy!
Please explain how you met Penina and why you decided to become a client.
I first met Penina when she signed up to volunteer for my organization. We met up at a coffee shop to discuss the volunteer opportunities and I confessed that I was trying to eliminate dairy in my coffee because I wanted to find the culprit to my digestive problems. Soon after I learned that she was a health coach and that she could help me – so I decided to try it!
What were your main health concerns when you met Penina?
My main health concern was the Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) that had plagued me since I was a teenager. Over the years I’ve had two doctors offer to give me medication, which I refused, and one who told me to take fiber pills, which only made it worse. Even though the condition is genetic in my family I knew that it had to be the result of something that I was eating or not eating. I could do something about my IBS with diet when I was ready to make a serious change. Other health concerns I had were weight loss, and defying the other various health conditions that run in my family including heart disease, arthritis, and dementia.
What was your 50-minute complimentary wellness consult like for you?
This initial meeting was very comfortable for me. Everything, of course, was confidential and it just seemed very natural to share my medical concerns, family history, and personal goals with Penina. You hear a lot of people say “I already know what things I need to change”, but actually sitting down and discussing them, putting your goals on paper and having a professional to be accountable to makes a big difference in your success!! I guarantee that there are many people out there who think they are living a healthy lifestyle, who in fact, can do much better!
What were your health and life goals when you started working with Penina?
To control the IBS, to lose about 15 pounds, and to make significant changes for life-long health.
Where are you today in relation to those goals?
The IBS absolutely went away within the first month, and I don’t just mean ‘better’. I mean that if I am eating what I’m supposed to be eating then it has gone away completely!! No more embarrassing moments.
I have not lost all of the weight that I intended to lose when I first started this program, but an amazing thing has happened: my thoughts have shifted from just plain ‘weight loss to look better’ to ‘life-long healthy body weight and feeling better’. I know that the track I’m on right now will lead to a healthy and sustainable weight and I’m enjoying the journey!
I have definitely made some major changes to my health that will stick with me for life! Every other time I’ve been on a diet or decided to make a change, I would jump in to it 100% — I’d rummage through my cupboards and throw out everything that wasn’t part of my new diet plan. The problem with that ‘all or nothing’ thinking was that if I caved and ate something that wasn’t ‘allowed’ it was easy to stay down that road of unhealthy eating. Penina worked with me to make gradual changes, which is a much better way to stick to a healthy diet and lifestyle.
What changes have you noticed since your first session?
The first thing I noticed was how my body responds to healthy eating and gives me immediate feedback when I’m off track! I’ve also noticed that my taste preferences really do change, and those unhealthy foods I once craved don’t taste nearly as good as feeling good and looking good. I’ve gotten compliments from people who notice a difference in me, but they’re not quite sure what it is: “you’re losing weight, you’re eyes are bright, you’re glowing.” One thing that I’ve noticed most recently is that I don’t hate my pictures anymore. Not very long ago I would complain whenever someone wanted to take my picture, and if they did I was grumbling when I saw it. It started about two weeks ago when someone snapped a picture and when I looked at it I was actually happy with it! My face didn’t look fat, and I didn’t look tired!
What has been helpful for you through this experience that that doesn’t involve food?
I think the thing that has been most helpful was to discover that everything is related. Relationships, work, hobbies, etc. are all connected to how I treat my body. It’s hard to keep everything in balance but as long as I’m moving in the right direction then I’m doing okay!
Describe a typical session.
A typical session begins with checking in to see how things are going since the last session and what’s working. If something is not working then we discuss together what changes can be implemented. If things are moving too fast or if I’m not completely at ease with something Penina will slow down and go at my pace. The next part of the session focuses on my next steps. She gives me handouts with new healthy recipes to try, or educational materials that really encourage me to stay in the right direction (I’m the kind of person who needs to know ‘why’). One thing that I really appreciate about Penina is how she really works with my preferences and my lifestyle. She’s not going to tell me that I need to eat the foods she eats, or that I need to start eating things that I’ve never liked. She works with me in a way that feels natural.
How has health coaching affected you long term?
Health coaching has affected me long term because this is not a diet… this is not temporary… This is my new life. I’m not saying that there won’t be ‘cheats’ occasionally, but as I continue to see positive changes (mentally, physically and emotionally) they will occur less and less. Just last week I made a trip with a few friends to San Francisco and couldn’t help myself from eating sourdough bread. Guess what? I’m still paying for it! Your body really does tell you what it needs and what it wants if you just listen. The next time you can be sure I’ll think twice about the sourdough!
What is your new favorite food that you did not eat before you started working with Penina?
KALE!
What is your favorite new meal / recipe?
My favorite and easiest recipe that I eat at least 3-4 days a week is a big Mexican salad. I start with a bunch of greens (different lettuces, spinach, kale or a mixture of each), add whatever fresh veggies I have on hand (chopped carrots, tomatoes, avocados, peppers, onions, olives, etc) and top with a big scoop of beans (black or pinto – either canned or homemade) and salsa. I’ll eat it as a salad or stuff it into a ½ of a whole wheat pita. It’s a great way to clean out your refrigerator!
Isn’t Nancy great? I really enjoy working with her (both as a volunteer and as a client). When she first told me during a session how her tastes buds were changing and that she actually craved kale (I didn’t just tell her to say that for this interview), I think I laughed out loud! Really! I remembered that during the initial wellness consult about a month or 2 prior I had mentioned how my taste buds had changed when I first started to heal my body years ago and her facial reaction of absolute disbelief. Turns out, I wasn’t lying in the hopes that she’d become a client…
Feel free to leave her words of encouragement and kudos! She certainly deserves it!
Tags: Health Counseling