This week’s article from Smaranda Maier of Authentic Health focuses on the benefits of a nutrition health coach.
In February, a lovely lady contacted me because she was looking for solutions to support her teenage daughter in navigating the effects of digestive discomfort that started to cause trouble for the 17 year old, who was becoming more and more isolated and anxious.
My enthusiast and passionate self said yes with no hesitation. Of course, I can help anyone who is willing to change their eating habits to feel better and enjoy life.
But what I didn’t see coming was the commitment and determination in that young lady that blew my mind away. And the amount of other teenagers and teens that followed suit.
This young lady was suffering lately, from what is called IBS symptoms but very directly related to certain foods and creating the vicious cycle of digestive issues – anxiety – digestive issues that create the fear of leaving the house because you don’t feel the world safe enough for you. It is probably rooted in the first lockdown and now we see the effects of what moving on a 90% digital version of our model of the world and our hybrid lifestyle really did to us.
After my first talk with both, herself, and her mom, we decided to proceed with coaching around food and doing an elimination diet to help us realise what are the triggers that cause the digestive discomfort. A very important element in this was for me to ensure that the mom was on board, and we can team up in supporting the young lady. The teaming up element in the coaching practice is vital when it comes to these situations. To make sure that you are supported as a parent is essential, because there are moments when only tough love and unconditional support are the only magic pills that moves the needle. When I say tough love, this means that you show compassion without translating that into buying and storing sweet lady was lucky to have one of those amazing mothers who understood that, and her healing journey began very soon after they left my practice.
Two months later, on a Thursday afternoon I got a message from the young lady who was by no means heavily overweight: “I fitted into a pair of pants that would not go over my bum 2 years ago when I got them for Christmas, and I am super proud of that”. Let’s make it clear that this lady didn’t come to me with a weight issue, the issues were 100% digestive symptoms dismissed by her GP or attempted to be treated with anxiety medication by the medical care provider without any attempt of addressing food choices, vaping, or any other lifestyle factors.
Was it easy? Only the young lady and I know how many messages in between us to make sure that she gets the support and the motivation needed to stick with her goal and to implement the healthy habits. That is what a coach does. Sticks by when things are getting harder, and you are ready to give up.
But after a week of sticking to a clean meal plan and stopping using the food as an emotional crutch to support your nervous system and replace that with mindfulness, the results started to show up. No cramps after you eat “anything at all” or diarrhoea “out of the blue” when you leave the house. In two-three weeks, her facial skin started to clear, and the effects of a cleaner diet and reduced sugar intake paid off. Things got much easier.
Another thing that I didn’t see coming were the rest of the teenagers that followed her because they noticed the changes. I started to realise that there is a beautiful category of people around us that need my support: parents of teenagers. I am here happy to walk you through and walk with you and your teenager towards a brighter, happier, and calmer life. It takes a team. And I am here to create one with you.
You have the unconditional love, I have the scientific evidence and the expertise of successful parenting and coaching and your teenager has the youth as the biggest advantage that makes a perfect recipe for success: infor@authentichealth.ie for booking your for discovery call.
