By Tiffany D. Kriz, PT, DPT, CHC
What is a health coach? A health coach is someone that teaches healthy nutrition habits, makes healthiness simple and fun, and addresses obesity, disease prevention, and wellness. The profession of physical therapy allows us to see people in a “diseased or illness” state but who want to return to their more active lives. We have witnessed the struggle that some people have with returning to a more active lifestyle due to co-x`morbidities and lingering consequences of their disease or illness. As physical therapists we have begun to embrace a wellness approach and health coaching fit right into our paradigm. We have a passion for helping and watching people grow and become healthier in all aspects of their lives. We have been able to see first-hand how diet and exercise can affect someone as they age. Also, we want our children to understand the difference in how they feel and perform in school and extracurricular activities when they eat healthy nutrient dense food as compared to the “sugar high” found in convenience diets This will allow them to make better choices when “mom” is not around. Our family has a past medical history of heart disease, high blood pressure, food allergies, cancer, and poor eyesight.
A thorough health coaching program will benefit you by teaching you a scientifically proven plan for feeling young and living longer. Health coaching workshops should teach good nutrition, how to make healthiness simple and fun, address obesity, disease prevention and wellness.
The series may consist of four, 90 minute workshops and in each one you will learn two or three healthy tools and activities, eat a healthy snack, participate in group discussions, and “on your own” assignments for participants to continue learning after leaving the workshop. The focus of health coaching is fitness, mood, memory, alertness, energy, the immune system, agility, and illness/disease. Our goal is to help you grow as an individual and have a better quality of life as you age because your health impacts all areas of your life.
Here are some tips for healthy eating:
1. PURCHASE PANTRY STAPLES AT BULK STORES: COSTCO, SAM’S, BJ’S
2. PURCHASE FRESH ORGANIC VEGETABLES AND FRUITS AT COSTCO, SAM’S, BJ’S, TRADER JOE’S, ALDI, FRESH MARKET (SALE ITEMS), WHOLE FOODS (SALE ITEMS)
3. MEAL PLANNING FOR THE WEEK OR MONTH: PRINT A BLANK CALENDAR AND WRITE DOWN WHAT YOU WILL EAT AND THEN POST IT ON THE REFRIGERATOR OR TYPE IT UP ON YOUR COMPUTER AND PRINT A COPY FOR POSTING
4. MEAL PLAN ACCORDING TO THE SALES CIRCULARS FOR YOUR LOCAL GROCERY STORES
5. PURCHASE FAVORITE STAPLES WHEN ON SALE AND FREEZE FOR LATER USAGE
6. MAKE LARGE BATCHES OF SOUPS, STEWS, CHILI, ETC. AND FREEZE IN PORTION CONTROLLED CONTAINERS
SUNDAY = PREPARATION DAY: VEGGIES AND FRUIT IN CONTAINERS READY TO GRAB AND GO
Contact Kriz Physical Therapy Today!
27180 Bay Landing Drive, Ste. 7
Bonita Springs, FL 34135
(239) 992-6700
krizpt1@gmail.com
www.krizphysicaltherapy.com