Top 5 Tips for Health Change That Lasts: Insights From Health Coach, Lisa

By Lisa Glaister, HCA Ambassador & Certified Health Coach

One of the most powerful and often overlooked parts of a successful health journey isn’t just what you eat or how you move. It’s something more personal: your readiness for change.

As a Health Coach, I’ve worked with clients at all different stages of their wellbeing journey. Some are eager and fully ready to shift into healthier habits, and for them, progress can come quickly.

Others are still processing emotional roadblocks, past health experiences, or deeper life transitions. That’s okay too, a Health Coach meets you exactly where you are.

Here are 5 key shifts that happen when someone is truly ready for change:

1. Self-Awareness Over Self-Pressure

Lasting change doesn’t come from guilt or “shoulds” - it comes from self-respect. When you're emotionally aligned with your goals, motivation feels natural, not forced. Working with a Health Coach helps you build this self-awareness and understand what truly drives you.

2. Emotions First, Habits Second

The first few sessions with a Health Coach often uncover emotional patterns that need healing. This is a powerful part of the process and it’s often where transformation begins. When emotions are acknowledged, new habits become more sustainable.

3. Foundations, Not Fads

When you're ready, the small things matter: drinking more water, eating more whole foods, reducing caffeine, moving consistently. These foundational habits bring energy, mental clarity, and sustainable weight loss, without chasing extremes. A Health Coach helps you build these foundations in a way that fits your lifestyle.

4. Stress: The Silent Blocker

High stress keeps the body in survival mode, making it harder to heal. Readiness includes slowing down, regulating the nervous system, and allowing the body to trust again. With the guidance of a Health Coach, you can identify stress triggers and implement tools to calm the body and mind.

5. It’s Okay If You’re Not Ready - Yet

If you're working with a Health Coach but not seeing progress, it might be a sign that emotional healing needs to come first. That’s not failure, it's wisdom. When you’re ready, the tools and support will be there. A skilled Health Coach recognises this and supports you at every step.

Final Thought

Readiness doesn’t mean having it all figured out. It means being open to change and supported through it.

Whether you're just starting to explore your wellness journey or you’re ready to go all in, health coaching can meet you where you are. A qualified Health Coach can guide, encourage, and empower you to create health change that truly lasts.

Would You Like to Become a Health Coach?

If you’ve read this and feel inspired by the powerful role a Health Coach plays in transforming lives, why not explore training as one yourself?

At Health Coaches Academy, we specialise in equipping people with the skills, confidence, and internationally recognised qualifications to build a meaningful career as a Health Coach.

Whether you’re looking for a new direction, a flexible career, or a way to make a real impact in the lives of others, our Level 5 Diploma in Health and Wellness Coaching equips you with the skills and knowledge that you need. Learn more by joining one of our free introductory webinars.