Learn it once...know it forever

I am a certified health coach. And I hired a health coach!

I have struggled with neck pain for many years. Before my children were born it was only occasional and infrequent. But after my second son was born, I became debilitated by the pain. I could barely move! I could not carry my child in my arms!

So I went to physical therapy, and learned about the upper back weakness that I had, for years, was then exasperated by two pregnancies, hormones, and babies. Physical therapy helped, but it is slow work to retrain years worth of habits.

And of course getting childcare, driving to physical therapy, sitting around in wait room for 15 minutes, getting 20 minutes of physical therapy, driving home again, paying babysitter...well, I can't do that 2 times a week forever. Or really for very long at all.

So I went for a while and then focused on making those habitual changes at home. Which works, but of course is still slow.

Then I began to get headaches. And I thought it might be related, or might be dehydration... but I didn't feel I needed a doctor. They were mild. And I didn't want the commitment of physical therapy again.

I ignored the pain for a while, hoping it would go away. But I knew, especially as a health coach, that ignoring pain is ignoring important information that my body is trying to tell me.

I thought to myself "I just want someone to help me figure this out."

And then--- SMH!

I realized I needed what I help people do. I needed a health coach!!!

So I found one! And she was super helpful! And since we had the same training, she told me to do many of the things I do with my clients. I kept a journal of various factors, I reflected upon it with her.

But guess what - having someone else tell you to do them MATTERS!

I actually learned that it was lack of sleep that was causing the headaches, which I had not suspected! And lack of sleep triggers my neck pain, too!

And, yes, I do have to teach myself that lesson again sometimes, but the good news is that it only takes once and I remember :) That is the beauty of coaching - she helped me learn it, so I can remember it for myself.

My coach helped me recognize a pattern that had been causing me pain and discomfort.

Curious how a coaching process can help YOU unlock patterns with your diet that you may not have recognized?
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Let me know what questions you have below!

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