Written by: Linda Terlikar-Legras, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Picture this: you're in your 80s or 90s. Are you a beacon of vitality, contributing to your community, working out at the gym, and looking a decade younger? Now, consider a different scenario: lying in a hospital bed, regretting past decisions of not taking care of your health & well-being, and family around you trying to make you feel better – but you know, and they know, things are not good. Shocking picture, right?
Your future self largely depends on the choices you make now. It's never too late to start, but the earlier you prioritize your health, the better your chance of living a longer and healthier life.
In a world where 70% of diseases are lifestyle-related, the prospect of a longer, healthier life hinges on your willingness to break unhealthy habits. Are you willing to change? If the answer is yes, then keep reading.
Let's fast-forward to the present and address the confusion surrounding where to begin the journey to optimal health.
Navigating the maze of health
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the abundance of information and conflicting health advice out there? You are not alone. With so many promises of rapid weight loss, fitness challenges, stress reduction techniques, and sleep hacks, it's easy to get confused. Some common questions that come to mind are "What really do I need? What would suit me best? What can I afford?" and the perennial "I don't have enough time.”
Learn more by downloading my free PDF: A Guide to Sleep Well
It's time to shift the focus and prioritize your health. But how do you do it while juggling work, family, and other commitments?
The power of a health & wellness coach
Enter the Health & Wellness Coach – a game-changer in your journey toward optimal health. As someone who has been in your shoes, frozen in indecision, I understand the struggle. Coaches have played a pivotal role in my life, whether they were business coaches or life coaches. The investment of time and money has always yielded profoundly positive outcomes. And we’re not alone, Coaches are the secret sauce of those at the top of their game, whether in business or life.
But what exactly is a health & wellness coach?
Health and Wellness Coaching, a rapidly developing discipline, can be defined as a client-centred, collaborative intervention aiming to support sustainable lifestyle changes. In simpler terms, a Health & Wellbeing Coach (H&W Coach) is your partner in transforming unhealthy habits into positive, long-term practices It's a collaborative process where you, the client, are the expert in your own life, and the coach brings skills and knowledge to facilitate change. They become your support crew, motivator, and accountability ally, empowering you to be your best.
Five reasons to engage a health & wellness coach?
Achieve Weight Loss: Move beyond fad diets and embrace a healthy, real-food approach, with the guidance of a coach who helps set goals and provides ongoing support. It takes time, but it ensures the most successful and sustainable weight loss.
Start a Regular Exercise Routine: In 2022, over 75% of Australians weren't meeting physical activity guidelines. Overcome the hurdle of finding time and enjoyment in exercise. A coach helps you find what exercise will engage you, be it alone, with family or friends. Ensuring that you stick with it and helps tailor a routine that fits your lifestyle.
Learn How to Get Good Sleep: Address the underestimated importance of quality sleep. Common causes contributing to poor sleep is linked to weight gain, cognitive decline, and illness recovery. A coach assists in establishing a night-time routine, unravelling causes, and monitoring progress.
Combat Burnout: In a world where burnout is prevalent (recognised as an occupational phenomenon) affecting 42% of individuals with women and workers under 30 at higher risk. a coach helps you manage balance, fostering positive energy and a resilient mindset along with enabling you to keep a mental distance from the job.
Longevity, Living Healthy Longer: A holistic approach involves examining all aspects of health and wellbeing, including your lifestyle and environment. A coach helps prioritise areas, whether it's improving sleep, shedding weight, or starting an exercise routine ensuring you’re on the right track for a fulfilling and healthy life well into your later years.
Why choose a health & wellness coach?
Consider a coach as your ally, providing empathy, guidance, and tools for your unique journey. They have your back with a firm, no-nonsense approach, ensuring you stay accountable.
Don't wait until your 70s, 80s, or 90s to regret not making the change to a healthier lifestyle. Instead, embrace the opportunity to live like the person you want to be right now. If you're considering a change or know someone who needs support, coaching can be the catalyst for unleashing a healthier, more vibrant you. Don't just exist; thrive!
If you have an area in your health and well-being that you'd like to change then this is where I can help you with coaching, a family member or friend. Don’t wait to get to your 70’s, 80’s or 90’s in ill health and wish you had made the change to a healthier lifestyle. Instead, be awesome and live like the person you want to be then – right now!
Linda Terlikar-Legras, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Linda Terlikar-Legras is an awarded Personal Trainer and Health & Wellness Coach and Keynote Speaker. Years in Corporate Marketing with Blue Chip Companies, whilst fulfilling when younger, didn't translate to giving back to her community. Finding later in life a passion for triathlons led to a lifelong passion to keep fit and healthy. Opening her own studio with her husband (a Strength & Conditioning Coach for Australian Olympic Snow Sports) has led Linda to doing more than prescribing exercise. Her motto is for all to be fitter, health and happier and along with her Personal Training is now helping busy women lay a strong foundation for ageing well, through their 40’s, 50’s and beyond.
