Health Coaching is a relatively new profession which focuses on helping people making positive changes in their health, physical, mental and emotional lives, that they have not been able to do for themselves. Its about people deciding that the personal cost for not making some changes has become too high. They are willing to trade pain for gain -- so to speak. Here are ten "pain for gain" reasons to hire (or become) a health coach.

1. Health Coaching and Weight Loss

One of the most challenging (and discouraging ) behavioral changes that people try to make is losing weight and keeping it off. We are all aware of the health risks associated with being overweight. Many people have been on the weight loss and gain it back yo yo ride for years. What can make the difference and break this vicious cycle is a trained professional to guide you how to take it off and keep it off. This can be done with a few key lifestyle changes which are easier than you might think especially with the support of a health coach. What would it mean to you to lose 20-40 pounds and never gain it back. Visualize yourself at your ideal weight. What does that feel like? What does it look like? See yourself there now. Feels great doesn't it?

2. Health Coaching and Eating Habits

A second behavior change that is tied to and often more challenging than weight loss is our eating habits. We love to eat ( and eat and eat and eat) And most of us are addicted to some form of junk food. Mine is chocolate. How our lives could change if we could make a few basic improvements in our daily diet. More energy, better sleep, less illness because of a boosted immune system, healthier skin, look better, feel better. So how do we do it. A health coach can introduce and effective program that makes sense and is easy to do if you are motivated to make a few changes and reap the rewards.

3. Health Coaching and Stress

Stress can literally destroy people's lives. The pace today is hectic and people are paying the price. Marital break ups, illness, child abuse, addictions, mental ill health, low self esteem, the list is endless. The price is high and robs us of a quality of life.. We live a fast paced life with multiple responsibilities. Learning to manage stress can literally save your life. What a different life you could lead if you could tame the tiger and learn to channel stressful events so they worked for you rather than against you. A health coach can show you how to do that.

4. Health Coaching and Positive Relationships

Positive nurturing relationships are vital to a healthy life. How well we get along with others including our own family often will determine our level of emotional and mental health. Lots of people are challenged in this area because they have not learned the social skills it takes. Ongoing conflict with people at work or at home can and not knowing "how to fix it" can really compromise your quality of life. The solutions to these kind of difficulties are easier than you might think. There a few "learnable" skills that can make a huge difference in your relationships. Ask yourself what it would mean to you to have much more positive and enjoyable communication and relationships with someone at work, your family, your spouse or your kids. Health coaching can make the difference.

5. Health Coaching and Communication Skills

I hear this all the time. 'We can't communicate, we argue all the time, he/she doesn't listen to me, we're not on the same page, i wish i could tell him what i think, I just don't know what to say. Perhaps one of the greatest failures of our educational system is not teaching basic communications skills, how to connect with people, how to listen, how to say what you think or feel so people will listen. Probably the #1 reason for failed relationships is people not knowing how to communicate effectively with each other. There are basic effective easy to learn talking and listening skills that would resolve most misunderstandings and health coaching can teach you them easily and quickly.

6. Health Coaching and Exercise

Exercise. A four letter word for some. The fact is just a little more routine exercise in our daily lives could have a significant impact on our health. I like to walk and jog and lift light weights. It could be bike riding, swimming or flopping on the floor during commercials and doing some light stretching. A lack of exercise can ruin your health. A health coach can get you started towards a more active existence and help you stick with it long enough for it to make a significant difference. Go for it.

7. Health Coaching - Preventative vs. Curative

A distinct advantage of health coaching is that it is preventative as opposed to curative. Would you rather have someone help you prevent diabetes or some other debilitating disease or visit a doctor to get treated after the fact. That is the choice a lot of people are facing but the point is you have a choice and if you don't choose for yourself, life will choose for you. Make a wise choice and choose the path of prevention. You will reap the rewards of better health and health coaching can get you there.

8. Health Coach - Being a Role Model

Be a trend setter, be a role model for others. Just think of the impact you could have on other peoples lives especially those you care about most. What if because of changes YOU made your mother, father, sister, brother, child or friend made a significant change in their health. What would that feel like? You often see people make dramatic changes after the heart attack. Well those same changes can be made right now and have the effect of preventing a disastrous heart attack or stroke. What if because of the changes you made it prevented a family member or friend from having a serious illness. This scenario is quite possible. Because I have started to run on a regular basis both my kids and my wife have started walk/jogging. What a thrill for me. Who knows how that will benefit them in the years to come. So be a trend setter in your family. Your family will love you for it and you will feel great about yourself for doing it.

9. Health Coaching and Self Esteem

A lasting benefit of health coaching is how you feel about yourself when you succeed at making important changes in your health. This is because of the positive feelings and feedback you get from family and friends ( and when you look in the mirror ). You've lost weight and people notice and comment. You're not as stressed out and it feels good. You have more energy and you are more active. You're sleeping better and you look more rested. Your relationship with your spouse and kids has improved. People around you will often mirror your mood and energy. You're more fun to be around, not as irritable, short tempered or demanding. Your doctor notices and commends you for your efforts. You just feel good about yourself and you're not going back to the way it was. Never!!

10. Health Coaching - It Could Be For You

One of the things that happens for some who go thru health coaching and derive significant benefits from it, is they get exposed to the process and see how much it benefits others and how it could be a powerful change agent for people 'stuck in the muck' and suffering the consequences. It can often influence them enough to consider being a health coach themselves. Health coaching is a rapidly growing profession and is open to most people as an income choice, part time or full time, who have a genuine interest and desire to help others. Not to mention that the average hourly for a session ranges from 100 to 200 dollars for a session. A rather 'healthy' income.

So in summary, these are just a few of the benefits for hiring ( or becoming ) a health coach. Decide that you deserve excellent vibrant health and if you can't achieve it on your own or would like to speed up the process consider hiring a health coach. A healthier, happier life awaits you.