How to Find a Weight Loss Coach

A weight loss coach can help you devise a tailor-made plan according to your goal weight, activity level, metabolism, and any special needs you may have. This coach can help you stay motivated and consistent on the path to weight loss success. Here's what to look for to find the coach who's perfect for your needs.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine your weight loss goals. Make sure they are realistic and not based on the latest popular Hollywood stick figures. If you have a significant amount of weight to lose or have not been successful in past dieting efforts, a personal weight loss coach may be just the solution you're looking for.

• 2

  Know your needs. Knowing how you want to reach your goals will help you decide what to look for in a coach. Do you want to primarily watch calorie intake while maintaining a diet that you're accustomed to? Do you want to try health foods, prescription drugs, a special diet or an intensive exercise program? Knowing what you do and don't want to try will help to narrow down your search for just the right coach.

• 3

  Check the Yellow Pages. Looking at ads in the phone book can help you narrow down your search and find a weight loss coach who offers the specific services you need.

• 4

  Search online. You may decide that a Web-based coaching program is the best option for you. Online coaches can provide much of the personalized service that would be provided with face-to-face sessions, but for a lower cost. Only you can decide if this option will help you stay motivated enough to succeed.

• 5

  Interview the coach. If you're hiring a local coach, you can start with telephone interviews of your prospects, and then narrow down the possibilities to one or two that you'd like to interview face to face. If hiring an online coach, be sure to ask specific questions about how the program will be tailor-made to your needs. How easy your coach is to contact and how quickly your emails or phone calls are returned may just be the deciding factor in which coach to hire. No matter the method of weight loss, you need a coach who will keep you encouraged and motivated.

• 6

  Stick with your program. The most important aspect of finding a weight loss coach is being sure that you follow the guidance you receive, and stick with it over a long period of time to achieve the lasting results you're looking for.