In this bi-monthly series, I will be taking a look at each of the different types of Keto Coaching we here at Ketovangelist offer, so that you, dear reader, might get a better idea of what coaching is, and the type might be right for you.
Coaching services for various lifestyle choices is very much a thing right now, and rightly so! Our culture sends so many messages about how we should look, what we should do and think, and how we should eat. On nutrition alone, we are bombarded with all kinds of craziness.
On the one hand, it is drilled into us from our very first health class onward that the only way to maintain our figure and our health is to count every single calorie, exercise like a mad person, and avoid as much dietary fat as possible. On the other hand, we turn on the TV and are flooded with commercials for sugar-laden junk foods in fantastical portion sizes, with sexy voice-overs telling us how much we “deserve” to eat that mess.
When we start a Ketogenic lifestyle, we are turning the entire cultural food paradigm- along with its insanity inducing mixed messages- right on its head. No, you don’t need eleven servings of whole grains to have a healthy heart. No, avoiding dietary fat is not going to make you thin. No, it’s not as simple as eating less and moving more. No, you do not “deserve” that big pile of diabetes-on-a-plate. That’s a heck of a lot of mental reprogramming!
Aside from just trying to figure out what the heck we can actually eat and how to put all those macros together, many of us need a major change of thinking and outlook. That’s where coaching comes in.
I started with one-on-one, then moved to group. Loved group because we shared our struggles and knew we were not alone.
As a Ketovangelist Lifestyle coach, I can say from experience that the hardest part of successfully living a Ketogenic lifestyle can be getting your mind wrapped around all the new information, while simultaneously trying to deal with all the mental stuff that goes along with drastically changing the way we eat. And there is a LOT of mental stuff. Many people (probably most, to be frank) go through a period of mourning for their old lifestyle. Heck, I certainly did! There were many times I was sad at the loss of so many of my favorite foods. I even cried, more than once. And I can also tell you, first-hand, that it can be hard going through all of that alone.
The good news is you don’t have to!
Hearing other people share their challenges helps one understand how much they have in common with others, and that they aren’t the only one feeling the way they feel. And most group members are very quick to offer support to each other. So group members often feel more hopeful, less alone.
Group coaching is one of the coaching services we offer, and it’s a great option for those who are looking for extra accountability and support while navigating their new lifestyle. This service includes one group session per week, unlimited email access to your coach, and membership in our private Facebook support group for Ketovangelist Clients only. Group sessions are held once a week, with the coach of your choice and up to three additional members. Sessions are conducted over the Internet, so you get the benefit of the group setting right in the privacy of your own home, and usually last around an hour.
During group sessions, each member is given an opportunity to share and ask questions. Members are often encouraged to stay in contact through the messaging apps of their choice so they can keep each other accountable throughout the week. We regularly see group members helping each other through the day. They check in to ask for suggestions picking out their meal at a new restaurant, to talk through a struggle, and even just to chat about regular life things like family, pets, and common interests. Group members often become very close friends.
One of my favourite words to use when I think of group coaching is synergy. There is something greater than the sum of the parts when a group of like minded people get together- and value is higher for the participants too because of that.
When speaking with Group coaching clients about their experiences, their most prized benefits are accountability and community. While reduction of weight and managing various health problems are important, the meeting of like minds is what makes their groups stand out. Even clients who started their coaching journey with more tangible knowledge of the lifestyle have benefitted greatly from the group dynamic in their coaching sessions.
As a scientist, I would like to think that I don’t need help. And on the “science” part, I really never have. I researched keto for months before I dove in, always going to original sources, etc, but Coaching was the absolute game changer when it came to being accountable to myself and getting my brain and emotional health in the right place. Knowing and doing are two separate concepts.
Many of our coaches are now offering groups that are specific to certain healthy and lifestyle challenges. Group topics range from beginners to advanced, metabolic disorders, digestive troubles, eating disorders, fasting, mindset, and slow losers.
I have been “keto” for approximately three years. I have been with a coach for a little over a year. I thought I was doing keto right before coaching because I didn’t have the hunger, my sticks changed color, and I even lost 25lbs. So I was good… then I hit a wall and decided to try coaching. I love our group and how we all support and talk to one another, bounce ideas off each other and share recipes. The additional support has helped me to keep going on this journey.
No matter where you are on your keto journey, no matter how much of a “pro” you might be, if you are looking for support, community, and a safe place to share, Group coaching may be the perfect plan for you! Find the coach that best matches your needs at KetovangelistCoaching.com.