“Hiring a Health Coach Is a Waste of Money, I Can Get All the Info for Free Online!” … and 9 Other Myths About Health Coaching.
If being optimally healthy was as simple as Googling the right diet and exercise plan, we’d all be effortlessly fit, well-rested, and full of energy. But let’s be honest, most of us have tried the ‘just eat better and exercise more’ approach and waded through reams of conflicting health advice only to end up confused, frustrated, or right back where we started.
Enter the Health Coach.
Despite the growing popularity of health coaching and the stats that show us that it works, myths and misconceptions still abound. So, let’s tackle the top ten and separate fact from fiction.
- “Hiring a Health Coach Is a Waste of Money because I Can Get All the Information for Free on the Internet”
Ah yes, because the Internet has never given anyone contradictory, overly complicated, or completely impractical health advice before. The truth is information is everywhere, but what you really need is a strategy, support, and accountability tailored to your life to implement the right information, and make changes stick. That’s where working with a health coach comes in and clients say things like ‘I’d literally tried everything and nothing had worked, I now know what’s right for me’.
- “A Health Coach Will Give Me a One-Size-Fits-All Exercise Plan That’s Unrealistic, Complicated, and Doesn’t Take Account of My Busy Schedule”
Nope. A good health coach knows that the best plan is the one you can actually stick to. No forcing you into a 5 a.m. CrossFit gym routine if you hate mornings, or the gym! No expecting you to do high-intensity workouts seven days a week when you barely feel like getting off the sofa right now. It’s all about finding what works for you.
- “Health Coaches Just Tell Me What to Eat”
If only it were that simple! While a health coach can help you improve your eating habits and is trained in nutrition, they won’t just hand you a meal plan and expect you to follow it. Instead, they’ll help you make gradual, sustainable changes that fit your lifestyle—without making you feel like you’re on a miserable, joyless diet. And, while general (often outdated) nutrition principles are widely available, a health coach helps you apply them in a way that works for you. They take into account your preferences, lifestyle, challenges, and goals to create an approach that’s actually sustainable, rather than a random list of “good” and “bad” foods from an Instagram post.
- “Health Coaches Are Expensive”
Expensive compared to what? The latest app that you’ve forgotten the log in details for? The lost days at work due to poor health, endless fad diets, unused gym memberships, missing out on experiences with friends and family because you’re ‘too unfit’ or medical bills down the line?
Investing in a health coach is investing in you. And unlike a one-time online program, a coach provides ongoing guidance over months to help you create lasting habits, not just quick fixes or a bikini body for summer (don’t even get me started on everything that’s wrong with that).
- “Hiring a Health Coach Will Make Me Dependent on Someone Else for Accountability, Information, and Strategies”
The goal of a good (and ethical) health coach isn’t to keep you reliant on them forever—it’s to empower you with the knowledge, confidence, tools and skills to manage your own health long-term. My clients will tell you that after working with me they feel really equipped, that they have agency. Think of it like learning to drive: at first, you need guidance, but eventually, you’re in control.
- “Health Coaches Aren’t Qualified in Nutrition”
Health coaches don’t diagnose medical conditions or do tests (that’s the job of your GP or dietitian). But they are trained in evidence-based nutrition principles, coaching (in my case accredited by the ICF) and behaviour change strategies to help you improve your habits in a way that works for you. They also work alongside you, knowing that usually you’re the expert when it comes to your health condition.
- “Health Coaching Is Just for People Who Have a Diagnosed Condition”
Not at all. You don’t have to be ill to benefit from a health coach. Maybe like some of my clients you want more energy, better sleep, improved digestion, or a healthier relationship with alcohol and ways to manage stress to improve your relationships. Health Coaching is about optimising your well-being, whatever that means for you.
- “A Health Coach Is Naturally Healthy and Has Never Struggled with Their Own Health or Weight”
Most health coaches have been on their own journey, which is why they understand the struggles and challenges that come with change. They get what it’s like to feel stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated, and they use that experience to help others find a path that actually works. For me personally I’ve experienced an alcoholic parent (so had to un-do some unhelpful beliefs related to alcohol), stressful work environments, struggled with my own weight and fitness and built myself back up from challenging life events. Having navigated all this using the principles of health and resilience helps me better understand my clients and if needed share my experience of trying all the tools and strategies.
- “Hey, Health Coach, Do You Want Me to Give Up Everything I Enjoy Eating and Drinking?”
Absolutely not! Life is meant to be enjoyed. A health coach isn’t here to ban your favourite foods or party tipple but to help you find balance. It’s about making choices that support your goals without feeling deprived or miserable. Yes, you can still have chocolate!
The Bottom Line
Health coaching isn’t about strict rules, unrealistic expectations, blanket advice often concluded from questionable research or quick fixes. It’s about you, what’s stopping you reaching your health goals, it’s about your lifestyle, and what actually works in the real world.
I imagine you’ve tried the apps, the exercise program, the latest healthy glossy cookbook (now gathering dust). You’re possibly still confused about what’s right for you and how to make it stick. If you’re on the fence about working with a health coach, hopefully, these myths have been well and truly debunked and some of your key questions have been answered.
If not, you have some choices. You can sign up to my mailing list to receive news, tips and useful resources into your in-box or simply book a call with me for an informal chat.
What other questions do you have about Health Coaching? Book a Discovery Call with me and ask away!
