We all know what athletic coaches and career coaches do, but what about a Certified Holistic Health Coach?

Let me back track a bit and give you some background as to why I decided to become a health coach. Most of my life I was overweight. Then, about 10 years ago, after my youngest son was born, I decided to make some serious life changes. I wanted to run around with my boys and live a long, healthy life with them. I started exercising daily and eating smaller portions of healthier food and within 18 months I had lost about 100 pounds. Through the new habits I formed I kept the weight off.

This success led me to complete the Holistic Health Coaching program through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I studied over 100 different dietary theories, practical lifestyle management techniques, and innovative coaching methods from some of the world’s top health and wellness experts. My teachers included Dr. Andrew Weil, Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; Dr. Deepak Chopra, leader in the field of mind-body medicine; Dr. David Katz, Director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center; Dr. Walter Willett, Chair of Nutrition at Harvard University; Geneen Roth, bestselling author and expert on emotional eating; and many other leading researchers and nutrition authorities. I am now a Board Certified Holistic Health Coach and a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and the International Association for Health Coaches. I am also the owner of HealthMatters Family Wellness.

Simply put, Holistic Health Coaching is an inclusive approach to creating better wellness through awareness. I specialize in supporting women and children in living a cleaner, greener, and more nutritious life. What I do, through information gathered from you, is create an individualized program based on your concerns and specific health goals. Do you want to improve your eating habits? Understand your body better? Make your self-care a priority? Feel more confident in the food choices you make for yourself and your family? Discover ways to live cleaner and greener? If so, I can help.

My coaching program includes:  2 one hour sessions per month for six months, phone and e-mail support between sessions, handouts, and informational materials to take home (as well as relevant food samples or self care products). My health coaching approach is holistic, personalized, educational, and fun. Instead of creating lists of restrictions, I coach my clients to create a happy, healthy life in a way that is flexible and free of denial and discipline. I’m there to educate, support, encourage and be your wellness cheerleader. I will guide you to understand which food and lifestyle updates best support you, and help you build gradual, lifelong changes that enable you to reach your current and future wellness goals.

I also offer group classes and workshops. This year I did three workshops at the DeForest Public Library, a Kid’s Snack Party Demonstration, a Sugar Blues Workshop, and an Alternative Beverage Demonstration.  I will have more classes and workshops in 2015, so please watch my website for details.  I am also available for workshops and classes at your workplace, club, or school.

Wellness is a work in progress…maybe 2015 is your year to start down that road?

Website:  www.healthmattersfamilywellness.com E-Mail:  Amy Urbanek:  amy@healthmattersfamilywellness.com Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/HealthMattersFamilyWellness Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/healthmattersfw/

Read about our experience working with Amy and Health Matters Family Wellness in 2014 in this story: http://www.wisconsinparent.com/health-matters/