Can You Really Coach Yourself Healthier? Our Review of Coach Yourself Thin
Today’s post is a part of FBG’s second-annual Love Yo’Self Week. After all, what better way is there to love yo’self than by becoming your very own coach who pumps you up to be healthier?
I already understand the power of a good life and wellness coach. So a book that promises to help you actually coach yourself to be healthier (the word “thin” in the title does make my butt twitch a bit, but I’ll chalk it up to book marketing)? Well, I was pretty intrigued. Coach Yourself Thin: Five Steps to Retrain Your Mind, Reclaim Your Power, and Lose the Weight for Good is a six-part book that shows you how to find and harness your inner weight-loss and wellness coach.
Part 1 includes a quick intro and then the usual stuff you’re used to reading in weight-loss books: why we as a nation have gotten heavy and why quick fixes don’t work. Then Part 2—”Seven Undermining Obstacles to Weight Loss”—gets to the good stuff. With a very similar-to-FBG mindset, authors Greg Hottinger and Michael Scholtz (who have helped create the Biggest Loser Club and the Flat Belly Diet! Online) dive into how to stop the obsession with the scale, ditch the all-or-nothing thinking and become more in tune with your body. Part 3 then shows you how to set yourself up for success by selecting the right environment, believing in yourself and even awakening your own intuition (Oh, how the hippity-dippity in me rejoiced at this one!). Parts 4 and 5 tackle tips on healthy eating and exercise, respectively. The information on nutrition and workouts isn’t anything you’ve never heard before, but it’s solid information.
And then there’s Part 6. Titled “Discovering Your Positive Inner Coach,” this was the section that really made the book stand apart from others on the market. Yes, the other sections are good, but this is really the meat of the book, in my opinion. This part includes eight chapters that take you through the process of being your own wellness coach. From creating your wellness vision (I loved doing that!) to setting goals and preventing setbacks like emotional eating, it’s basically a step-by-step guide or workbook to use to get you from where you are now to where you want to be. There are exercises that help you to visualize your dreams, create affirmations and even help you to rebalance if you fall off track. So much of it was the process I used with my wellness coach, so it was cool to have it all written down in an easy-to-follow way for myself.
For a book that promises to turn you into your own coach, I think it pretty well gets the job done. Of course, you have to actually have the discipline and motivation to follow the plan and check in with yourself. Part of the greatness of having someone else coach you is that you have to be accountable to another human being. Also, a properly trained wellness coach can be there to help talk you through any setbacks and brainstorm ideas to work around sticky situations. I can’t tell you how many times my wellness coach suggested solutions that were pretty obvious yet I never considered. Sometimes when you’re so involved with living your own life, it’s hard to get an outside perspective. The fit bottomed line? While the book is as good as you can do without hiring a wellness coach, I still recommend getting a coach if you can afford it and are serious about change.
Want to read Coach Yourself Thin? Leave a comment with what goal you’d like to coach yourself to reach, and we’ll select one lucky U.S. reader to win in about a week. The winner will be randomly selected and will be contacted via email and in the comments. G’luck future self-coaches! —Jenn
Comments
I’d definitely like to learn how to coach myself so I can better respond to the daily challenges I face in maintaining my weight. Being able to refocus negative thoughts and learn how to properly deal with stress that leads me to eat.
I would like to coach myself to stop overeating!
I have always had a problem with emotional overeating, food has always been my “friend” when there was no one else. I would love to be able to coach myself through this huge obstacle! I have already started on the right track, I have joined Weight Watchers and a local gym. I know I will get there, this year I have decided will be my year of discovery!
I would like to coach myself to choose healthier food and to work out more often!
I would love to coach myself out of mindlessly snacking! To help me get fit!
I would like to coach myself better on positive self-talk. I’m really bad about not being positive to myself and would love to learn how to do it better and change my outlook
I would like to coach myself to eat healthy for my body type and exercise! Thank you for the chance to win this!!!
I would love to be able to coach myself to a healthier person!! Thanks for the giveaway!!
I would like to coach myself to eat healthier foods and to run a 5K this year! I have about 100lbs to lose so I could sure use this book! 🙂
I’d like to be able to coach myself because I can’t afford a coach as a college student and I really want to get rid of the Freshman 15!
I would love how to get more energy before and after I exercise, I would love to coach myself on eating healthier!
I would love to read this book. I’m tired of being overweight I need a change in my life URGENTLY!
I would like to be able to coach myself at time when the pressure is on, when I am at a social gathering and there are snacks everywhere. I don’t think – just nibble.
I would like to coach myself out of finding excuses to eat if i’m not truely hungry and just want a snack, and be more of an intuitive eater. I’d also like to work on loving my body for the things it accomplishes and not hating on it when its a little bloated or as thin or whatever. 🙂
I would like to coach myself to accept my body type, and learn to work with and embrace what I have!
I would like to coach myself to stop the negative self talk, learn to love the body that I have that is getting more and more healthy and active. I would also like to coach myself to being able to follow through and complete goals that I set for myself.
I would like to coach myself to stick to my running/training plan. I have set the goal to run a 5K more times than I can count. I always let something derail me – being sick, going on vacation, business trips, etc., etc. I want to be strong, healthy, and fit, and I know by running and treating food as fuel, I will also lose the weight – but just can’t make myself stick to it!
I would love to Coach myself Thin and run a half marathon.
I would definitely like to coach myself into healthier eating habits!
I quit the gym over a year ago with the intention of saving money and ‘coaching’ myself’. It has been a struggle. I go strong for a few weeks and then fail. It is really disappointing. I would love to introduce some new ‘coaching’ strategies to achieve my long-term health and fitness goals. This books seems like a good start.
I’ve never been one to be good at coaching myself. I have a lot to work on and this book looks like it’d be a good start to reinventing myself!!!
I would like to coach myself to distinguish between true hunger and eating just because of emotional reasons.
id like to go to average weight! after having a baby made me overweight id like to lose over 50pounds
I’d like to get stronger and drop some body fat. My trouble area is food. As I get older my body gets less forgiving about what I eat. I want to know how much I really should be eating for my age/height/fitness level, etc.
Im currently (struggling but making progress in) training for a 5k, but I already know I really, really want to do a half marathon. That is for SURE something I need some self-coaching advice for!
I would like to coach myself to a happier & healthier me! Being realistic about good lifestyle choices that will benefit both myself & my family.
I’d like to coach myself to stop emotional eating.
I would like to coach myself to enjoy life more!
I would love to coach myself to eat in appropriate portions
I’d like to lose at least 10 lbs. I guess like a lot of women I’m guilty of always wanting to be skinnier, but I know that the extra 10 lbs is not healthy (and puts me into the “obese” category for BMI). However I struggle with calorie restriction, and I’ve realized that I probably snack a lot when I am bored/upset, and not truly hungry. So I think to reach my health and fitness and weightloss goals, I need to get better at avoiding mindless eating.
I’d like to coach myself to eat on schedule and not haphazardly or starve all day–eat at night–that sort of thing.
I would love to be able to coach myself to stay motivated for longer than 1 to 3 days
I strongly recommend this book! I read it soon after it’s debut in December and am now doing an online webinar with the two authors. They have solid advice that just really gets to the heart of the matter. Great investment to invest in yourself!
I have to say that I would like to coach myself to keep up with the workouts and be able to run a 5k race. Of course I would also like to reach my weightloss goal of being 195 pounds
I NEED this. Motivation and helping myself stick to whatever health and weight loss goals I set is the thing I need most. I can’t seem to stick to anything. I know what I need to do, I just can’t figure out how to make myself do it.
Although I run and eat healthy now, I would love to coach myself in body confidence. It seems that no matter how much I accomplish from running marathons & triathalons, I continue to be hard on myself about my body and the several extra pounds I continue to lug around after the birth of my two kids.
I want to coach myself to have a healthy relationship with food. My food issues go way back and I am trying to work on them. It’s a struggle! I love working out and I love good, healthy food yet seem to fall back on the crutch of emotional eating. I want to break the cycle.
I think this book could be a great tool! As they say the only thing in your way is you. It is so easy for us to coach on our friends and loved ones, why can’t we turn that love and motivation towards ourselves? I think this book could help teach me to do that
I have very specific goals. I want to drop about 20 pounds and run 5k. I always have great plans, but lack the followthrough to accomplish (eg: extreme excitement then I get bogged down in circumstance). I always appreciate something to help me with my motivation.
I would love to read this book. I could use some help with emotional eating!
I have personal experience with the the two authors of Coach Yourself Thin, Michael Scholtz and Greg Hottinger. Following their methods over the last 3.5 years, I have lost and kept off over 100#. I LOVE this book! This journey does not have a final destination, as it has to become a way of life. The all-or-nothing section has ME written all over it, and I have learned that I need to re-visit it from time to time. I have also learned that moderation and consistence are the keys to maintaining a healthy life. I hope you all enjoy the book as much as I do:)
I would like to Coach myself thin. I am a runner and have completed several half marathons; and I’m training for a marathon. I just started to incorporate strength training in my marathon training. so, although I watch what I eat and normally eat fairly well; it’s not consistent and at 46, and two kids later, it’s getting harder to keep the belly fat and the stubborn thighs thin. I usually knock myself down for NOT acheiving goals early on in a routine; which then deflates my confidence and progress. I think that I am comfortable being a couch potato in my off season so I do nothing to exercise except a little bike riding and some outdoor activities; I need more motivation and creativity and I would love to win this book so I can coach myself to be more energetic and fit.
I want to coach myself to make good food choices even when those around me are making bad ones. I want a foolproof way to stay on track no matter who I’m with or what situation I find myself in.
At this point, I’m willing to try anything. After having 2 kids, my weight is up there. I need to lose 100lbs. At least 65 to be healthy again. I am having a problem just starting. I think if I could get the right motivation to start then I could keep the ball rolling. My husband is over 100 lbs overweight too and we just keep the same bad habits. I need to retrain my brain and stop eating whatever I want, when I want. Help!
On my list to read!! These are a couple of great guys who really have a heart for helping others.
I would like to coach myself to workout better and become stronger!
I would like to improve my all-or-nothing approach to my diet…specifically the sweet stuff!
Definitely part 6- need to find my positive inner voice.
I would like to coach myself down to 25% body fat. I don’t really care how much I weigh as long as my body fat is in a healthy range 🙂
I would like to coach myself to stop the emotional eating and believe in myself that I can, and will, make healthier changes to support a healthier mind, body and soul!
I’d like to coach myself to not break down all of the good I did in the last four hours of my day.
I know I am my own worst enemy. I am easily motivated by others, but would LOVE to be my own coach…I am also pretty good at getting others moving…It’s a puzzle, LOL!!
I would love to coach myself to not “give in” to food that I know I shouldn’t eat!! Also to work out even on the days when I’m oh so tired and don’t feel like it!!!
I would love to coach myself into my first marathon. I have a total mental block about doing one even though I love to run and I have completed my first half last year.
I would love to coach myself for two big goals right now getting over emotional eating & believing in myself enough to train & run a 1/2 marathon in August! 🙂
I’d coach myself to get to the gym 4 days a week & get down to a size 10!
I want to coach myself out of negative talk and do what I know I can do (deep down). There is an athlete in me – someone full of strength, power and heart who can give herself to any workout 110% but whose mind gets cluttered with self doubt. I am addicted to reading “BEFORE” AND “AFTER” STORIES, health food blogs and health education. I know this could be my next step to being “that girl”.
I would love to learn to be my own coach, I’d like to improve my own self talk, “I deserve to be healthy and fit”! Pick me!!
I would LOVE to get back into shape and be able to rock climb and hike with my husband again. I’m in awful shape right now.
I would love to win beside I have motivation and self esteem issues, and to work on my eating habits!!
I’d also like to coach myself into accomplishing my first marathon. I have completed several halfs and lots of high mileage relays. I’m returning to training after a rough year of injuries and losing a marriage. I’m excited to get back to where I was and progress even further!
I would coach myself to the next level in my training program and to be better about emotional eating, which I realized I tend to do.
I’d like to be able to tap back into my inner coach. I am currently a member of a fitness group and have access to information if I want to ask the question, but I’d love to be able to get the obvious for myself and have a reference. Certainly will make this a must read/use guide!
I would like to learn to Coach myself through all my negative self talk. To be able to get past my emotional attatchment to foods, the time when I know that I don’t need to eat something but do it anyway then eat it until I am sick.
I would like to be able to walk myself through the process of using all the information that I have gathered over the years and actually reach my goal. I have been at this for about four years, I always get really close then it is like a timer goes off and I have to sabotage myself in some way.
I need to change that voice in my head to work with me instead of against me.
I would love to coach myself not to give up on exercise goals so easily
I’d like to coach myself into running and completing the mini-marathon
I would like to coach myself up onto a stage. I have lost about 130’s already. It is my dream but i havent the self confidence.
I seem to do a fairly good job of eating well during the weekdays. Evenings & weekends are a different story though. I would absolutely love to be able to coach myself through these difficult times.
I would looooove to coach myself through traveling for work. I’d love to maintain a healthy lifestyle both on and off the road. Plllllleeeeese!
I’d love to coach myself to stick with something until I reach my goal. I always get bored, or discouraged, or really lose my motivation about 2 months in. I’d love to find a way to avoid doing that this time.
I’d like to couch myself to eat *consciously* and to eat Sloooowly!
I’d like to coach myself to lose the 25 lbs I gained while taking anti-depressants and now that I no longer take them to use the journey to lose that weight as part of my therapy to be a stronger woman inside and out.
I would like to coach myself from the negative talk…that would open the door of my biggest obstacle to my weight loss.
I would like to coach myself out of emotional eating and finally losing the baby weight after 2kids.
Definitely a 10K and hopefully a half marathon by fall. My 20 year HS reunion is this year so using that as motivation! I beat thyroid cancer in January, so everything else should be cake!
I ran a marathon in November! It’s harder to loose weight! That’s what my next goal is!
Congrats to Alecia of comment #44! You win! Emailing you now to get your mailing address. Thanks to all who entered!
–FBG Jenn
I would like to coach myself to not beat myself up when I enjoy a beer or a treat! Life is too short to have regrets! Also to appreciate the fact that I’ve lost 35 lbs and those last 10 don’t have to kill me!!!
This book changed my life and helped me to transform my own lifestyle. I still have a ways to go in my health journey, but am enjoying the best quality of life I have ever had. Now in my 60’s and 100 lbs down, I feel better than I did in my 30’s!
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