Lifestyle & Weight Management Coach to Health Coach: An Evolution

By now you've probably heard about the ACE Health Coach Certification, and you may be wondering, "What is the difference between Health Coach and Lifestyle & Weight Management Coach?" For one thing, the title is MUCH shorter, but more importantly, the Health Coach Certification is the next step in the evolution of what was the Lifestyle & Weight Management Coach Certification Program. In this article, I cover the additions to the new manual, both in terms of the content and how it is presented, to give you a better understanding of the evolution of the ACE Health Coach.

Here is a brief review of the new content that is included in the new ACE Health Coach Manual:

• The manual begins with two chapters devoted to defining the role of the ACE-certified Health Coach and explaining how to form an effective network of like-minded professionals who together can give each and every client the very best chance of long-term success.
• A chapter on how to build rapport and establish strong connections has been added, as rapport is identified in the ACE Integrated Fitness Training® (ACE IFT®) Model (see below) as the foundation of any client-coach relationship. This chapter is representative of an increased focus on communication techniques and how to best facilitate the processes of behavioral change.
• A chapter offering a realistic approach to goal-setting has been added. This chapter covers the importance of discovering why a client wants to change and how understanding this can provide valuable motivation to successfully help him or her navigate the ups and downs of the process of change. Also covered are practical tips for how to get to the true source of a client’s motivation.
• The ACE IFT Model has been woven into the exercise programming chapters, which means that a health coach will be equipped to take advantage of ACE's newest programming tool for training clients.
• A new chapter covering the importance of establishing self-reliance in your clientele has been added. To achieve lifelong weight-management success, clients must be able to take what they’ve learned from their coach and apply it when they are on their own.
• A chapter of case studies has been added. This chapter introduces three common client scenarios and walks the reader through the process of helping each client, from communication and goal-setting strategies to exercise and nutritional programming. This chapter helps readers understand how to take theoretical guidelines and tailor them to specific client needs.

In terms of how this content is being presented, we have added four new features that appear throughout the text:

• Expand Your Knowledge: This feature presents new research or introduces an area of health coaching that readers may not have considered. For example, in the "A Team Approach to Health Coaching" chapter, there is an Expand Your Knowledge box titled "Virtual Tools for the Health Coach" that teaches readers how to take advantage of various online services and social-networking sites to expand their businesses.
• Apply What You Know: This feature asks the reader to stop and think about how he or she would apply the concepts just covered. For example, near the end of the "Initial Interview and Client Screening" chapter, the reader is asked to apply what was just learned to a client scenario involving a 35-year-old mother of three who is trying to make a lifestyle change.
• Think It Through: This feature presents the reader with a question that will force him or her to pause and really consider what has been read. For example, in the "Physical-fitness Assessments" chapter, the reader is asked how he or she would handle a situation where, during an assessment at the fitness facility, a client is found to have hypertension. Answering this question requires an understanding of hypertension, health-risk assessment and scope of practice.
• Do the Math: This feature provides opportunities to practice using various formulas that the reader is expected to be able to apply, both on the exam and in practice as a health coach. For example, in the "Basic Nutrition and Digestion" chapter, the client is asked to perform some basic calculations based on a nutrition fact label.

By constantly evolving our certifications and providing our ACE professionals with the most up-to-date content, tools and practices, you will have the knowledge to better serve your clients and stay relevant in this rapidly changing industry. Furthermore, being the only NCCA-accredited certification of its kind, ACE Health Coach will allow you to better market yourself, advance your industry knowledge and further succeed in your career.

For additional information about the ACE Health Coach Certification, please refer to our Health Coach homepage or contact one of our Education and Certification Consultants at 888-825-3636, Ext. 782.