What Is Wellness Coaching? Abby Anderson Answered All Our Questions

When you hear about “coaching” in 2021, we’re not talking about the head of the basketball team. No, these coaches work with and inspire you to implement healthy practices within your life. There’s no passing or failing, just continual personal growth. We spoke with Abby Anderson, a wellness coach, about the benefits of teaming up with a coach to guide you through the hardships and cheer you on through the triumphs in life.

Q: First, give us an outline of the type of work you do with women. What does a typical coaching session/coaching relationship look like?

A: As a health and fitness coach, I work with women both in person and virtually who want to prioritize their health with added structure and accountability. I work with each client one on one to narrow in on their health goals, make a plan for their workout and nutrition that fits their goals and lifestyle, and hit the ground running. As their coach, I do weekly one on one check-ins with each client, as well as plug them into group accountability within my private wellness group of women from all over the country.

Q: What got you interested in coaching and how did you get started?

A: In 2018 I found myself unrecognizable from the inside out. I had gone through a period of 6 years that involved a ton of change — moving across the country twice, having two kids, new jobs, as well as multiple deaths in my extended family. It was a lot. I had entered this mode of survival and placed my health on the back burner. In the fall of 2017, I felt this shift, or wake up call. I now had a daughter who I realized would look to me to learn how to love her body well; not by what I would say, but by what I would do day in and day out. Diabetes runs in my family, usually developing around age 30 and I was 28 at the time. I needed to make some major steps towards a healthier, happier, stronger me. I decided to get help and direction from my friend and joined her accountability group, started a workout program, and committed to my present and future health. Just three weeks in I began to see such positive change, both mentally and physically, and knew that coaching was something in my future. I knew that I wanted to spread this good that I was experiencing and help other women find freedom in their skin too.

Q: How have you seen your coaching positively impact your life and the lives of your clients?

A: Coaching has drastically impacted my life for the better over these past three and a half years in multiple ways. The community of women whom I coach with has been a constant source of friendship, motivation and positive challenge. These women support each other wholeheartedly without competition, and push each other towards growth. It’s truly a unique and beautiful thing to behold! Coaching has also proved to be this two-way motivation like no other for my own personal health journey. There is no way I’m asking another to do something that I am not currently doing myself! I get to connect with other women in a very vulnerable space with complete acceptance and support, and witness them truly come to life before my eyes. It’s been such a joy to see confidence spill over in my clients and celebrate all the victories — both scale and non-scale related — every step of the way. It is my mission in coaching to do all I can to help women truly step into and KNOW their value, worth, and beauty in every season they find themselves in.

Q: What do you think holds most women back from achieving their physical wellness goals?

A: There will always be the surface obstacle of time or money. But those are obstacles that we can easily tackle and champion. When it truly comes down to it though, I think that most of us are scared to fail. Maybe we have tried every fad out there or tried wellness plans in the past only to get a couple weeks into it, fall off the wagon, and take three steps back. We think, why will this be any different? What if I try again and fail again? What if I let myself and others down? We build up this idea of perfection so much that it can often keep us from even starting.

Q: How can women move past these obstacles?

A: Mindset is everything!

When it comes to time, I work with each client to look at their schedule and MAKE the time.

When it comes to money, we can look at the budget and see how to MAKE room for this, which often looks like sacrificing in other areas. For me, it means skipping the weekly Starbucks run or saying no to some online shopping. In most cases, the money is there when it’s a priority — or rather, when we make OURSELVES a priority, we find a way.

When it comes to fear, I have learned first hand that we have got to take this all-or-nothing mentality out of the equation. Because when we adopt that mentality, if we miss a few days or a week, we convince ourselves that we’ve failed and end up reverting backwards. But when we can see this as a lifestyle for the long haul, not a race, it takes the pressure way down. I want my clients to be here a year from now, 5 years from now, 20 years from now! So when obstacles come up (because they will) I encourage them to (1) pick up where you left off (2) lean into our community of like-minded women (3) evaluate your goals and set small, daily goals that are attainable, focusing in on one day at a time, one workout at a time, one meal at a time.

Q: Is there anything you want to leave our readers with?

A: You are so wildly capable and worthy of living this life to the fullest! And your health is your most valuable asset you will ever own. We have got to invest well in our current and future health, but the reality is that we cannot do it alone. This isn’t all about weight loss or a six pack; this is about squeezing the most out of life and truly loving the skin you’re in. This is about having the energy to chase your kids around, to stay active in pregnancy, to have increased mobility as you age, to have a healthy relationship with food, to radically change your family’s lifestyle habits for the better. I’m here to lead you, welcome you into community, be your biggest cheerleader along the way, but YOU have to commit to YOU. When you’re ready, I’m here to link arms with you!

Have you worked with a wellness coach? Was it helpful? Share with us in the comments!

About Abby Anderson

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Abby Anderson is a health and wellness coach, helping mamas put themselves first and eliminate the excuses. Utilizing home workouts, balanced nutrition, and a heart focus, Abby comes alongside women who are seeking to prioritize their health, offering accountability, community and structure towards finding freedom in your body.

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Instagram: @coachabbyanderson

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