What is a Health Coach? - #37

Health coaching dates as far back as the 1960s. Today, there are over 128,000 health coaches in the US certified by hundreds of programs. We can be found in hospital settings, doctors' offices, corporations, health insurance companies, spas, local and state government agencies, and working as independent business owners, like myself. Health coaches write cookbooks, diet & lifestyle books, their personal journey books, and host podcasts, like me again.

Health coaches come in all different flavors, most of us specialize in a health & wellness topics, such as autoimmune conditions, menopause, weight loss, trauma, chronic pain, sleep, stress management, ADHD, parents of autistic kids, Lyme disease, hair loss, and just feeling your best during middle age. The list goes on and on.

Some health coaches, like myself, go on the become a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, which means that we’ve been trained at the highest level possible, conducted 50 hours of coaching, and studied for and took the Board Exam developed under the wings of The National Board of Medical Examiners.

So, what is a health coach anyways?

In this 3-part series, I speak with three very different health coaches about what we do, how we’re trained, what skill sets we use, how we differ from nutritionists and dieticians, how we work with our clients, and everything in between. My goal is to make sure that you walk away from this episode truly understanding the ins and outs of health coaching and why so many people, like yourself perhaps, would benefit from working with one.

Medical Disclaimer:

By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice or for making any lifestyle changes to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. Consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any of my guests on my podcast.

In part 1, I spoke with Michael Krug. Michael is a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and certified personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM-CPT). He has been practicing since 2018 and works with busy professional men to help them build strength and lose weight while increasing their energy and confidence. Though he currently embodies health, Michael has seen both ends of the health spectrum. In 2012 at the age of 20, Michael weighed 275 pounds, his blood pressure was 160/10 (with medication), he had dropped out of college, and was dealing with extreme depression. Through years of trial and learning, Michael developed simple but powerful strategies to reclaim his own health and now coaches others to do the exact same.

In part 2, I spoke with Jen Bruno. Jen is a Board-Certified Health Coach (NBC-HWC) and ACE-Certified Personal Trainer who is passionate about health and wellness, behavior change, and inspiring people to live their healthiest and happiest lives. She has been a Certified Personal Trainer since 2008 and a Certified Holistic Health Coach since 2011 and has maintained a private practice for much of this time while also working in corporate wellness. She is certified through the American Council on Exercise (ACE), Wellcoaches, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN), the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaches, the Institute for the Psychology of Eating, and the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) as a Diabetes Prevention Lifestyle Coach.

In part 3, I spoke with Ashley Honeycutt. Ashlee is the Director of Health Coaching Operations for YourCoach.Health and a Nationally Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach who has a passion for behavior change and supporting health coaches. She began her career as an educator, teaching elementary school and eventually moving into school administration, before discovering a zest for empowering healthy humans to achieve their best selves and live a life they love.

Find the coaches information below:

Michael Krug

Website: coachkrug.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/michael_krug/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/kruger188/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkrug/

Jen Bruno

Website: www.jbrunofitness.com

IG: www.instagram.com/jenbrunofitness/

Ashley Honeycutt

Website: https://yourcoach.health/

IG: yourcoachhealth