I'm Officially a Wellness Coach!

Today is the first day that I have been able to say that I'm officially trained and certified to be a Wellness Coach at the YMCA! The reason I'm really excited about it is because I've had to be CPR-PRO certified; I had to take a course on Healthy Lifestyle Principles; then I took a course on Strength and Conditioning, which was very thorough; finally, I ended with my course on The Coach Approach Program that's offered exclusively through the YMCA.

In between the classes, I have had to shadow many appointments, learn the equipment, and meet tons of members! It's been a wonderful experience, and I believe that what I'm doing will help people in a similar way to how I'd like to help people as a nurse. And for that reason alone, I look forward to working every day. It's also really nice to be working with a staff that feels very warm and inviting. I feel like I can be myself and I get so goofy during the classes that I just really feel like I'm me when I'm there.

A couple of things that I learned (that were relatively new concepts for me) in those classes are interesting enough that I'd just like to share them with you guys:

1. Did you know that setting a cardio machine to a "fat burning" program is not really indicative of burning more fat? All it really means is you'll be working at an intensity level that burns calories, with fat being the source of those calories. It's typically low-moderate intensity and takes much longer to burn a higher quantity of calories. When doing a high intensity interval training program, it'll burn more calories at a faster rate, with the source of those calories being carbohydrates/glucose/glycogen. Ultimately, the goal is to burn as many calories as you can, without worrying about the source. Being more efficient with the workouts is not only beneficial in weight loss, but it's beneficial from a mental aspect because you don't have to spend as long on that elliptical as you think you do!

2. Did you know that only 3.5% of the population (below age 60) works out regularly? Self-reported rates were more at 15%, however, when accelerometers were placed on the ankles of these people, the study found they reported exercising more than they actually did, and eating less than they actually ate. So if you work out regularly you are part of that 3.5% in America!

3. It only takes 150 minutes of moderate cardiovascular exercise per week to feel and see physical, mental, and emotional changes/progress. That could be 5 thirty-minute sessions of cardio or 10 fifteen-minute sessions. However you'd like to incorporate it. In older, obese women, it only took about 20 minutes, twice a week, to feel those same benefits.

4. Finally, there are many studies out there that prove that education of exercise and wellness do not determine the success of the individual who is seeking a healthy lifestyle change. If we approach exercising as more of trying to form a habit of it, then later incorporating more intense training, strength training, and specific goal-setting, it'll show a higher retention rate and create a lifestyle change rather than short-term success or failure.

Along with many other specific topics and challenges, I found these little nuggets of info really helpful and interesting. It helped me to understand how to look at the struggle of each individual and take a new approach to the way they view fitness. I'm SOOOOOO excited for January!

:)