What Makes a Healthy Lifestyle? How a Health and Life Coach Builds Wellness That Lasts

HCA Students at 3-Day Health Coach Training Event in London

Defining a Healthy Lifestyle  

Holistic wellness is all about taking a well-rounded approach to health and finding balance in every part of your life.  It means supporting your physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, environmental, and financial wellbeing as a connected whole. 

When one area suffers, it affects the others. Stress can disrupt sleep, poor nutrition can lower your mood, and positive relationships can increase your energy. The goal is harmony—each part of your life supporting the others to create lasting health. 

At Health Coaches Academy, our approach is rooted in personal experience. Our CEO, Carolyn St John Loder, didn’t just study health—she had to reclaim her own. After the birth of her third child, Carolyn faced a complete breakdown in her health: persistent fatigue, brain fog, unexplained weight gain, and a general sense of malaise that left her feeling like she'd aged two decades overnight. Despite repeated medical tests coming back ‘normal’, she knew something was very wrong. 

Her frustration at being unable to find effective support led her to take her health into her own hands. Combining her counselling and coaching training with intensive personal research into nutrition, stress, and hormonal balance, Carolyn took a truly holistic look at her life. From food and movement to purpose, relationships, and self-care, she examined it all. Within six months, she had restored her energy, cleared her skin, lost weight, found joy again—and uncovered a powerful new calling. 

That journey was the seed of Health Coaches Academy: a place where others can gain the tools and guidance that Carolyn didn’t have access to at the time. 

What is the Role of a Health Coach in Promoting Sustainable Holistic Wellness? 

A Health and Life Coach helps turn wellness goals into consistent, sustainable habits. They work with you to break big goals into practical steps using techniques like SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) goal setting and motivational interviewing. 

But we believe that goals should be more than logical—they should feel good, too. That’s why our coaches use the SMARTER framework: goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound, Exciting, and Rewarded. When changes feel inspiring and meaningful, we’re more likely to stick with them. 

For example, instead of saying, "I want to walk more," a SMARTER goal might be:  "I will walk 30 minutes every morning before work for the next 4 weeks while listening to my favourite podcast series, and I’ll treat myself to a relaxing massage if I complete all 20 walks." 

This way, the goal is not only clear and time-bound—it’s also something you look forward to and feel good about achieving. 

Key Elements of a Healthy Lifestyle  

To build a sustainable, balanced life, focus on a few core habits. These foundational practices support your health and can be adapted to fit your unique lifestyle.  

Some of the main points to consider include: 

• Balanced Nutrition: Choose whole, nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, while minimising processed options. A Health Coach can help tailor a diet that fits your goals, preferences, and lifestyle. 

• Regular Exercise: Find physical activity you enjoy—walking, yoga, weight training, dancing, as movement improves energy, supports mental health, and helps manage weight. Work with a Health Coach to build a realistic routine that sticks. 

• Quality Sleep: Good sleep restores your body and sharpens your mind, so aim for a consistent schedule and enough rest to support recovery and focus. Prioritising sleep is one of the simplest ways to improve overall health. 

• Stress Management: Chronic stress affects your body and mind, which is why practices like meditation, breathwork, journaling, and time outdoors are a great way to manage stress and bring more balance to daily life. 

• Hydration: Staying hydrated supports digestion, energy, and toxin elimination, so you should make drinking water a daily habit and adjust your intake based on activity, climate, and needs. 

• Building Sustainable Habits: Lasting change doesn’t come from drastic overhauls. It’s about small, consistent steps, and a Health Coach can help you identify what matters most, then support you in making those habits part of your daily routine.  

As Carolyn discovered in her own recovery, real health transformation is not just about food or fitness. It’s about how you live your whole life. From relationships and career fulfilment to relaxation and time alone, everything you do contributes to your wellbeing—or detracts from it. A Health Coach helps you explore all these factors. 

How a Health Coach Can Help  

A Health Coach is like having your own personal cheerleader that helps you act, stay motivated, and build routines that last. Their support makes it easier to follow through, even when life gets busy or challenges pop up, helping you live a healthier, longer life. 

Personalised Wellness Planning 

Health Coaches take the time to understand your habits, preferences, and challenges, which allows them to design strategies that fit seamlessly into your life. 

If you struggle with healthy eating, a coach can help you identify specific barriers—time constraints, budget issues, or a lack of culinary skills—and develop practical solutions to overcome them. This might include meal planning tips, simple recipes, or even guidance on food shopping. 

With tools like SMART goals and practical tracking, coaches ensure that your plan is achievable and built for the long haul. 

HCA Graduate, Lisa practising health coaching

Accountability, Habit-Building, and Professional Guidance 

A Health Coach’s role is to support you in building positive habits, keeping you motivated when challenges arise. Regular check-ins help you track progress and adjust your plan as needed, ensuring that you stay on course toward your health objectives. 

To achieve this, Health and Life Coaches undergo accredited training courses like the Level 5 Health Coach Diploma (HCA) offered by Health Coaches Academy. This ensures that coaches are well-equipped with evidence-based strategies and ethical practices. 

In turn, Health Coaches master the structured approach to habit-building and behavioural change. They can then provide others with the tools and support to make lasting, practical changes to their life habits. 

Start Your Career Today as a Health and Life Coach

Want to improve your own health while helping others do the same? Becoming a Health and Life Coach is a powerful way to turn your passion into a meaningful career. 

You’ll learn how to support people in building healthier habits, while transforming your own lifestyle in the process. With training in nutrition, stress management, sleep, movement, and more, you’ll be prepared to coach others toward real, lasting change. 

At Health Coaches Academy, we offer the UK’s most experienced team in health coaching and nutrition education. Our Health Coach Diploma (HCA) gives you everything you need: evidence-based tools, expert instruction, and a supportive community. 

Whether you're focused on your own wellness or looking to launch a career, we’re here to help you succeed. 

Ready to get started? Join one of our free introductory training events and take the first step toward building a career that transforms lives—starting with your own.