Tessa's Health Coaching Approach
I practice a holistic approach to health and wellness, which means that I look at how all areas of your life are connected. Does stress at your job or in your relationship cause you to overeat? Does lack of sleep or low energy prevent you from exercising? As we work together, we look at how all parts of your life affect your health as a whole.
A health coach is a wellness guide and supportive mentor. Together, we’ll work to achieve your goals in areas such as weight management, food cravings, sleep and energy. Through working with me, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of the foods and lifestyle choices that work best for you and implement lasting changes that will improve your energy, balance and health.
Bio-individuality
The concept of bio-individuality is that each person has her or his own food and lifestyle needs. So, when the experts say, “dairy is good for you” or “fat is unhealthy,” it doesn’t apply to everyone. One person’s food is another person’s poison, and that’s why fad diets tend to fail in the long run. Working on the principle of bio-individuality, I’ll support you in making positive changes that are based on your unique needs, lifestyle, personal preferences, and background. Instead of prescribing one fix for all people, I use a personalized, holistic approach that is based on your needs.
Everything is food
We are not only fed by food but by other factors in our lives. Healthy relationships, a fulfilling career, regular physical activity and a spiritual practice are essential forms of nourishment. When these “primary foods” are balanced, what you eat becomes secondary.
Integrative Nutrition
I received my training as a health coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and I support it’s mission to play a crucial role in improving health and happiness in America, and through that process, create a ripple effect that transforms the world.
As you can see in the diagram above, the Integrative Nutrition food pyramid focuses on nourishing food and lifestyle choices. Our wellness pyramid emphasizes the importance of high quality vegetables, fruits, complex carbohydrates, proteins, healthy fats and water. To complete the picture,
the pyramid is surrounded with lifestyle factors that create optimal heath: relationship, career, physical activity and spirituality.
