The Importance of Coaching: Why Support Is the Missing Piece in Your Health Journey

Did you start 2026 full of plans to overhaul your health? But now that we’re a few weeks into the year, you’re seeing your enthusiasm disappear and it’s all feeling a bit hard?

You’re definitely not on your own there – this is a pattern I see all the time, and it’s completely normal.

Most women I work with don’t struggle because they lack willpower or knowledge, they struggle because they’re trying to do it all on their own.

This is where coaching can be truly life-changing.

Health coaching isn’t about being told what to eat or following rigid rules. It’s about having skilled, compassionate support that helps you bridge the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it, consistently, confidently, and in a way that fits your real life.

Why Knowledge Alone Isn’t Enough

There is so much information out there now - podcasts, social media, books and Google can all tell you what to do for your health in seconds. But there’s a real danger of ending up completely overwhelmed with information, and then doing nothing because you’re not sure what to do first or how to fit everything Google is suggesting into your life.

All of that information doesn’t automatically lead to change.

And here’s why.

Lasting health improvements need:

  • Behaviour change, not just education

  • Accountability, not just motivation

  • Emotional support, not just a plan

  • Personalisation, not one-size-fits-all advice

Coaching provides all of this, and much more.

What Is Health Coaching, Really?

Health coaching is a collaborative partnership. Your coach will work with you to:

  • Clarify your goals and what truly matters to you

  • Identify the habits that are holding you back

  • Create realistic, sustainable strategies

  • Navigate setbacks without guilt or shame

  • Build confidence and trust in your own decisions

It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress, and learning how to keep going when life gets busy, stressful or unpredictable.

The Power of Accountability and Support

One of the biggest reasons coaching works is accountability.

Supportive accountability means knowing someone is:

  • Checking in with you regularly

  • Helping you reflect, not criticise yourself

  • Adjusting the plan when something isn’t working

  • Celebrating wins you might otherwise dismiss

This structure keeps you moving forward, even on the weeks when motivation dips.

Coaching Helps You Understand Your Body

This is especially important in midlife, perimenopause and menopause.

What worked in your 30s may no longer work now, and that can feel frustrating, confusing and disheartening. A good coach helps you tune into your body’s signals, and respond with curiosity rather than judgement.

Instead of asking:

“Why can’t I stick to this?”

You start to ask:

“What does my body need right now?”

That shift alone can transform your relationship with food, movement and self-care.

Coaching Builds Long-Term Confidence, Not Dependence

A common worry is, “Won’t I become reliant on a coach?”

In reality, good coaching does the opposite. It teaches you skills you carry forward long after the programme ends:

  • How to make aligned food choices without overthinking

  • How to reset after a slip-up instead of spiralling

  • How to manage stress, energy and boundaries

  • How to trust yourself again

The goal is independence, not dependency.

Who Benefits Most From Health Coaching?

Coaching is particularly powerful if you:

  • Feel stuck, despite “trying everything”

  • Struggle with consistency and follow-through

  • Are overwhelmed by conflicting health advice

  • Want support that fits your lifestyle and life stage

  • Are ready for change, but don’t want extremes or quick fixes

You don’t need to be at rock bottom. You just need to be open to support.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

Reaching your health goals isn’t about being stricter or trying harder, it’s about being supported in the right way.

Coaching gives you space to pause, reflect, and move forward with clarity and confidence. It meets you where you are, and helps you build a healthier, calmer, more sustainable way of living, one step at a time.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, tired of starting over, or quietly wondering if there’s a better way … coaching might be the missing piece.

If you’d like to explore how personalised nutrition and lifestyle coaching could support you, I’d love to help. As a qualified Nutritional Therapist and qualified Health Coach, my programmes all include coaching as well as Nutrition advice, because I know from working with hundreds of women over the last 10 years that coaching really is the missing piece of the puzzle, and is absolutely vital to help you reach your health goals and maintain them. If this is of interest to you, please get in touch.

Previous
Previous

Why Doing “All the Right Things” Still Isn’t Working in Menopause

Next
Next

Why Am I So Tired in Menopause? 7 Nutritional Reasons You Might Not Expect