SAN DIEGO, Jan. 7, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Every New Year, millions of Americans make resolutions to lose weight, get fit, eat healthier, and stop smoking, but few are able to keep them. For those who are fed up with failing and are ready to succeed, a health coach could mean the difference between a new you or another year of disappointment. Health coaches are specially trained professionals (typically dietitians, certified personal trainers, and health educators) who provide regular, on-going telephone support and counsel to individuals trying to change unhealthy lifestyle behaviors.
"Health coaching is one of the most powerful wellness tools you can use to help curb unhealthy habits and enhance good health," says Douglas Metz, D.C., chief health services officer for Healthyroads, the prevention and wellness management subsidiary of national health and wellness company American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH). "Through the Healthyroads(R) telephone health coaching program, for example, we've found that over 88 percent of coaching participants make a measurable and sustainable health improvement in the first 12 months -- including improved fitness, weight loss, smoking cessation, and reduction of key health risks."
For those on a budget, the best news, says Dr. Metz, is that many employers offer health coaching to employees as part of their benefits.
"Nearly 50 percent of employees can access health coaches today through their employer health plan," explained Dr. Metz.
Below are six reasons why you should start the year with a health coach:
1. Professional health coaches can make the difference between
success and failure because they help you set manageable and
realistic goals, then offer step-by-step planning to help you
break down those goals into weekly accomplishments.
2. Health coaches offer ongoing, consistent and positive
encouragement through weekly or monthly phone calls.
3. Health coaches can help you understand the emotional or
personal triggers that can trip up your progress and can offer
coping mechanisms to help you overcome those triggers.
4. Health coaches can help empower you in many areas of life, from
smoking cessation to weight and stress management, to
improvements in exercise and nutrition.
5. Health coaches are trained to help you understand the benefits
of living a healthier lifestyle overall -- which can result in
true health improvement -- rather than focusing only on a
single goal such as losing weight, or quitting smoking.
6. Health coaches provide the motivation to keep you going and
help you succeed.
"Employees can get a head start on their New Year's resolutions by checking with their benefits managers now and enrolling in their company health coaching program," added Dr. Metz.
About American Specialty Health and Healthyroads
American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) is a national health and wellness company that provides prevention and wellness services, health improvement programs, specialty network management programs, and fitness and exercise services to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups, and trust funds. Based in San Diego since its inception in 1987, ASH has more than 700 employees and covers over 15.6 million members.
Healthyroads, Inc. is the prevention and wellness services subsidiary of ASH. Healthyroads offers a wide range of wellness solutions -- including award-winning telephone-based coaching programs for a broad range of lifestyle areas, incentive management programs, competitive challenges, worksite programs and its integrated Web site, Healthyroads.com.
For more information about ASH health and wellness programs, visit www.ASHCompanies.com or call 800.848.3555.