(BPT) – Kristen Glass struggled with weight her entire life. She tried program after program, unable to uncover a solution that worked for her — then one night, she connected with a friend over dinner who had recently lost weight and “had a twinkle back in her eye.” Whatever had ignited that glow in her friend, Kristen wanted to experience it for herself. That night, Kristen called her friend’s independent OPTAVIA® coach — a stranger who would become her own coach and close friend.
OPTAVIA, the habit-based, coach-guided lifestyle solution, immediately clicked for Kristen — and she became a coach that same year. In the six years since, she has impacted 150,000 people across the OPTAVIA community, inspiring them to lose weight and helping them keep it off. Kristen believes coaches are the secret to weight loss and establishing a healthy lifestyle, and to celebrate National Coaches Day this October, she’s sharing why.
1. Coaches won’t let you do it alone
We all need a coach — someone to guide us through the ups and downs, join us in celebrating our wins and keep us committed to our goals. This is especially true along the weight-loss journey, as 96% of people recognize that lifestyle changes are needed for weight loss and weight management, yet only 17% are confident they can manage it on their own.*
2. Coaches keep it simple
Weight loss can be overwhelming with complicated, trendy diets and counting calories. Coaches like Kristen can provide guidance to streamline health and wellness. “People are craving someone to help simplify this process,” she said, noting this is especially true for the women and mothers that make up most of her client base.
Kristen focuses on an uncomplicated approach, especially in the critical early weeks of a health journey. She fosters straightforwardness, asking her clients pointed questions that get to the heart of their health choices.
3. Coaches keep it real
Accountability is crucial. As an OPTAVIA coach, Kristen challenges her clients to confront their lifestyle choices head on. Her coaching philosophy is to “get straight to the truth quickly and jump into discomfort fast and together.” Kristen emphasizes honesty and initial discomfort and encourages clients to take ownership of their choices to foster growth.
4. Coaches truly know what you’re going through
Empathy and shared experiences are powerful tools in a coach’s arsenal. This is particularly true at OPTAVIA, where over 90% of coaches were clients first. No matter where they are in their personal health journey, their coach has been in their shoes.
Kristen knows that thousands of women like her have struggled to uncover a solution to weight loss and weight management. In her own journey, Kristen has also learned the role mental health plays in physical health. This breakthrough prompted her to help her clients reflect on the mental and emotional reasons for their health decisions so they can make better choices going forward.
5. Coaches celebrate your successes and milestones
A coach is there beside you every step of the way to celebrate the wins, both big and small. Whether you hit a new weight loss milestone or made a healthy choice at dinner, your coach is there to reinforce positive behaviors and motivate you to keep going. They become your cheerleader, your mentor and your guide — providing the encouragement and support you need to stay committed to your goals.
Learn more at Optavia.com/results.
*IPSOS commissioned by Medifast, June 2023.