What is the difference between a Personal Trainer and a Health Coach?

What is the best way to achieve your health goals?  Is a personal trainer the best person to work with if you are looking to lose weight?  What does a Health Coach offer that a personal trainer doesn’t?  What is the difference between a personal trainer and a Health Coach? To answer these questions and more I’ve written a blog so you, the reader, can easily see which route and health partner will best work for you.

This blog will outline the difference between a personal trainer and a Health Coach so you feel confident in knowing who is the best person for you to work with to reach your goals. In this blog, I have outlined the benefits of working with a personal trainer and the benefits of working with a Health Coach so you can easily identity your best route forward. You will have clarity in gaining control of your health in your busy and stressful life and move forward, finding a solution that suits you.

How does a personal trainer do?

A personal trainer in the gym or online will create a personal bespoke fitness programme for you.  A trainer will offer motivation and guidance and show you how you will achieve your goals. Your goal may be that you want to lose weight or perhaps you are looking to gain muscle.

Either way employing a personal trainer will teach and help you to exercise properly using tailored workouts and specific plans that are based around your level of fitness so that you are comfortable getting started with exercise or if you have a particular challenge in mind like your first marathon then reach that goal is the trainers aim.

Your personal trainer will not only guide your weight loss or muscle building journey, they will also increase your overall fitness levels so that you are less likely to suffer from lifestyle diseases like heart disease, and stroke; obesity, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

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Watch My Video Difference:  PT & Health Coach?

Personal trainers also have a background in providing nutritional information to further support your fitness goals.

The benefits of working with a personal trainer

The main benefit of working with a personal trainer is knowing that someone else is interested in your personal fitness goals, have someone on board is very important for accountability.  An accountability buddy is a first and foremost reason most people train with a personal trainer, but there is a wide range of other reasons – and benefits – for working with a personal trainer including:

1. Accountability

The first most important reason for employing a personal trainer is accountability.  A third party will ensure that you commit and stick to your fitness goals. If you’ve made an appointment to meet your trainer for a session, then you are more likely to go than if you are simply going to the gym. Who is going to know – apart from the judging dog!

2. Exercise precision

Knowing how to exercise and which exercises will help you to achieve your goals.  If you are looking to build Pilates core strength but you spend all your time on cardio exercises, then you are not going to hit your goal.  Running with poor core muscles will shorten your running career.  Reducing the risk of injury is paramount and working with a personal trainer will ensure that you have a range of exercises that complement not only your body but also rectifies your weaknesses.

Starting a new exercise regime too quickly, being poorly prepared or simply not having the right footwear means that you are at risk of serious injury.  I am sure you have seen young men performing REPS in the gym that they have not received training for, or a friend that decides one day that they will smash their first half marathon?  These injuries will impact their health, morale and fitness for a long time. Having someone trained in how to execute exercises will reduce your risk and increase the effectiveness of your fitness routine.

3. Correct Alignment

As a Pilates trainer alignment and preventing injury is my personal number one priority.  Demonstrating the correct posture and technique is invaluable. A Personal Trainer will ensure that you are performing exercises correctly and efficiently, in order to maximise your results in the quickest time possible. One of my many mantras in Pilates is the slower you perform the exercise the stronger you will be, which feels counter-intuitive to those uninitiated in Pilates.

4. Reach your exercise goals faster

If you are training for a specific event, or need to achieve a certain level of fitness for your first marathon or 3 peaks challenge employing a personal trainer will help you to get to your goals not only injury-free but also much faster.

5. A best friend

A personal trainer will become, like your hairdresser, your confidant.  They are 100% committed to improving your overall wellbeing. A personal trainer is interested in how stressed you are, because not only will that impact how motivated you are but it will also. They care if you’re unhappy in a relationship, as this could result in eating unhealthily.

6. Motivation

Having someone to talk through your life goals will keep you motivated and on track.

 

7. Personalised training plan

Finding a plan that suits your body including your dodgy left knee that hurts when you swing right or knowing that you hate burpees – let’s be honest who doesn’t – is going to ensure you stay on track.

 

8. Fit your schedule

In a world of competing pulls on your attention and time, finding a time that suits you is invaluable.  Personalised training does exactly that – if you need to work out at 6am there will be a trainer that will help you with that.

 

9. Push you to your next level

Motivation and a gentle – sometimes shouty- encouragement to do one more!

NOTE: Personal trainer insight: we can’t count!

 

What is a Health Coach?

A Health Coach is a supportive mentor who partners with you to design an overall health and wellness plan that works best for you. You and your health coach will create a personalised health plan that will take you from where you are currently to where you want to be with your overall health and wellness goals.

A Health Coach will go into a detailed audit of your life including your stress at work, your family, relationships, emotional wellbeing, and physical and nutritional health. The audit is comprehensive, detailed and more personalised so that you are able to open up and share your true motivations.  A skilled Health Coach will push back on your goals, asking you to reflect on what is in your best interests.

Below I have outlined 8 benefits and pillars that a Health Coach will offer you when you are looking for more in-depth health.  Working with a Health Coach is a journey into holistic healing that includes your nutritional health, physical health, emotional wellbeing and spiritual guidance.

I have outlined below the 8 pillars of Health Coaching that I use …..

1. Nutritional health

Feel confused about what to eat? Is coffee good for you or not? What about dairy? There is no one global answer to these questions, but your Health Coach can help you navigate what is right for you.  Finding your right path and whether vegan or paleo, intermittent fasting, 5:2 dieting, or little and often. A Health Coach has the answer to all these detailed and personalised questions, the in-depth audit means that the right balance for your energy levels and lifestyle will be reached.  Surfing the internet won’t give you the information that is relevant to you, the application and implementation of advice will be navigated safely.

2. Coaching

True health and wellness are about more than the food you eat and how you move your body a Health Coach will move beyond what you need to do and explore what is behind your reluctance – is it fear, time, or lack of certainty?
What and why are barriers that stop you from reaching your goals, do you feel like there’s not enough time? Or do you lack confidence because you have failed in the past?  Stress and overwhelm can play a large part in preventing clients from moving forward.
A Health Coach will explore and identify your barriers so you can work together to formulate a plan for how to work around them. Or even better remove them, with focus, awareness and recoding your previous beliefs.

3. Physical movement

Working out in the gym is what motivates some people, a Health Coach will go wider and look at your overall activity throughout your day.  HOw you sit at a desk, what you do at lunchtime and where you can add in more movement. Movement not exercise is the goal of the Health Coach.  Recent research proves that getting outside and forest bathing improves your mental health.

Trees and plants release chemicals called Phytoncides that have antibacterial and antifungal qualities that help the plants to fight off disease. When you breathe in these chemicals, your body increases the number of white blood cells called natural killer cells which dramatically improves your immune function.

If you are interested in finding out more I’ve written another blog that will help: Why I’m not the right health coach for you

4. Lifestyle habits

Creating lifestyle habits will ensure that motivation is not required.  Motivation and willpower will wane throughout your busy day. You’ve heard the term ‘decision fatigue’.  A busy life means that your best intentions will get left behind. Working with a Health Coach will ensure that your lifestyle changes through easy habits that include self-care habits, nutritional habits, movement habits and a habit to improve your emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
A Health Coach offers you the whole lifestyle package.

5. Holding you steady

Like a personal trainer, a Health Coach will guide and hold you accountable.  The step beyond accountability is when you recognise the commitment and love you are showing to yourself and how your efforts will impact your environment – personal and professional. professional and personal social support will ensure that you make long term behavioural changes.

6. Bespoke approach to overall wellness

A Health Coach will create an individualised approach based not only on the needs and goals that you present but also considers your previous experiences, background and ancestral background – no one wellness plan is the same! Everybody is different.  Old lifestyle habits can start from your predecessors, finding these and unlocking these is the key to your success.
If this route sounds appealing before I go on with more positive benefits check out this post on how much a Health Coach costs: How much do health coaches charge?

7. Holistic health

A Health Coach looks at your big picture. Everything that contributes to your health and happiness is considered.  Triggers that have derailed you in the past are examined.
In addition to your nutrition, movement,  lifestyle, stress and relationships, a Health Coach will consider your work and home routines, personal relationships, life satisfaction, as well as emotional and spiritual health,
A Health Coach will improve your sense of well-being, with improved health so that you will avoid lifestyle diseases such as heart disease,  stroke, obesity, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

8. Personal growth

A Health Coach will guide, and coach you to learn and understand more about yourself and moving forward to how you can work with your triggers and avoid them.  Giving you the confidence you have always needed and the inner strength to guide you through life’s ups and downs which in the past have resulted in self-sabotaging behaviours like excessive drinking or eating, working, exercising or worry.

A Health Coach will release you from past behaviours and patterns and create a plan that includes nutritional support, movement, self-care and wellbeing strategies that last this lifetime and creates a path for those that follow you.

Who is my Group Coaching Programme for?

  • If you are over 40 and wondering what the next 50 years are going to look like for you, then my Group Coaching programme is a great way to reset your health.
  • If you are a busy, professional woman, successful in so many other aspects of your life but find it hard to find time for you then my Group Coaching Programme is perfect for you.
  • If you are looking for nutrition, exercise and emotional wellbeing that is tailored to you, your life and your commitments.
  • If you are looking to move your health onto the next stage, and create a new lifestyle that supports and nurtures you rather than drains you.  Then the 6 weeks Gentle Reset is perfect for you –  Join here:  6 weeks Gentle Reset
  • If you know that you are looking to improve your nutrition and nourish your body by adding in great nutritional and exercise habits that will not lead to burnout instead you will feel energised and vital so that you can take on all those ‘life’ tasks that previously you found so draining.
  • Or you are looking to increase your mental agility, and enhance your creativity and problem-solving abilities. to tackle the next stage in your career and life then jump into the Group Programme
  • If you want to feel emotionally and physically stronger so that the stress of life doesn’t send you into a spin of negative coping strategies and behaviours then join us for the next round.

The Gentle Reset

The next round of Gentle Reset begins soon Get your mindset ready and join today to get started on your first habit, then join in the calls when the first round starts. Click here to join the 6 weeks Gentle Reset

 

BE QUICK this programme, along with all my programmes will be increasing in price very soon > Click here to find out why I am raising my prices But you’ll also discover how you can grab a place before my prices go up, you need to be fast.

 

 

Gorgeous is your journey of discovery

PS. If you have read enough and you know that this is for you, and you are ready to discover the next stage of your journey  – then click here to join my next round before the prices rise 

Find out what other clients have to say…

Join my next Pilates retreat day 

Join us for some Spanish warmth, Pilates exercises and time to relax, unwind and consider your next steps for you.  A healthy and relaxing week combining powerful tools to help you relax, release stress. How often do you have the chance to step back from your day and … breathe?

Next Wellness retreat to Greece, with daily Pilates in the Greek sun click here

Eileen Gorgeous Pilates Retreat 6th December 2019

 

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