Andrew, Mind & Body Coach

"One thing that I always think of when I talk with someone who has been unsuccessful is how important it is to set small, achievable goals. Set goals you know you can achieve, and once you meet those goals, up the ante. It's the easiest way to do something difficult. "

1. Describe your background. What were the steps that led you to coaching?

I graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in psychology. After finishing school I went hunting for a job where I would be able to use the skills I had learned throughout my years of college. Free & Clear stood out immediately, and I applied and was accepted right away!

2. Why did you want to be a Mind & Body Coach?

Originally I started coaching people who were trying to use tobacco products. I have never smoked and only know one person who does, so this did not apply to me very much. On the other hand, I have been very involved with fitness and health my entire life. When Free & Clear started the Mind & Body Program, I was one of the first coaches to jump on board.

3. How long have you been with Free & Clear? What drew you to the company?

I have been with Free & Clear for over a year now. I was attracted to the company for several reasons. Primarily, each day I get to have a personal interaction with 12-15 different people. Not many other occupations can offer the chance to help so many lives on a daily basis! Additionally, the environment here is extremely welcoming. Many of my good friends were found here.

4. What do you enjoy most about your job?

The thing I like most about my job is the opportunity to unconditionally help others with their goals, whatever they may be. I have always enjoyed assisting others, from the medical standpoint (I studied to be an EMT in high school), to the lifestyle standpoint (now working with Free & Clear), to the mental health standpoint (I plan to go back to school for a Master's degree in psychology).

5. Do you have personal experience in making healthy behavior changes that has allowed you to be an effective coach?

I have always been fairly physically active: running and now biking daily. However, going through the training to become a Mind & Body Coach, I realized how unhealthy my diet was. I started to make considerable changes to my diet as I learned about nutrition. I think I'm doing pretty well but I'll admit, every once in a while I have to reward myself with a peanut butter cookie! It's nice to be able to share a common challenge with some of the people I am coaching. I think it helps me understand where they are coming from, and improves my relationship with them.

6. In your opinion, what’s the most common misconception about weight management?

I think the most common misconception about weight management is that losing weight has to be difficult.  Most people immediately think about sweating it off in a gym or on the pavement. It's a tough, painful, and time consuming process. This is absolutely not true. I like to think of losing weight as a fun challenge or game. Plan outings with your friends: go to the park and play Frisbee or kick ball; hoola-hoop or play tag with your kids. Just have fun!

7. How do you remain objective and fresh for each phone call?

It's helpful for me to put myself in the shoes of the people calling in. I imagine how hard it is to call a complete stranger and talk about something personal. This helps me be objective for each call. I also view each person's challenge as a different puzzle to be solved. Each puzzle is completely different which keeps the interaction fresh and unique. In between calls I relax by walking, stretching, and visiting with the various friends I work with.

8. Why do you think phone-based counseling is so effective?

Phone-based counseling is a great way to reach a large number of people quickly and frequently. Most people have more time to pick up a phone for 15 minutes than to schedule an appointment, drive to a building, find parking, wait for the counselor to be free, speak with the counselor, and then drive back home. I also think the anonymity is appealing for those who would rather not speak face to face.

9. Is there a participant story that sticks out in your mind as truly inspirational?

Rather than focus on a specific story, I would like to share an inspirational frame of mind. A positive outlook on life is important to any success, but I am inspired by those who always try to look at the brighter side of things, no matter what challenges they face. Most of the people I talk to with this outlook aspire to reach goals aligned with their core values (i.e. happiness in life, fun with kids, spirituality). They seem to find these goals easy to achieve since they encompass a broad area. Talking with them, I can't help but feel as if there is no way they can fail.

10. What is the one piece of advice you’d give to someone who wants to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, but who has been unsuccessful in the past?

One thing that I always think of when I talk with someone who has been unsuccessful is how important it is to set small, achievable goals. Set goals you know you can achieve, and once you meet those goals, up the ante. It's the easiest way to do something difficult. When I first started riding my bike, a friend and I decided to take part in a 50 mile race. At that time 50 miles seemed impossible. I immediately set myself smaller training goals so I could build up to the full distance. My first goal was 5 miles, the next 8 miles, then 10 and so on. I got to a point where I could ride 50 miles and the biggest challenge was finding the time to do it. Once I reached the maintenance stage I wasn't setting small goals but trying keep up the distance. At that point my technique changed to setting small goals in a short period of time (minutes). If my goal is to ride my bike 50 miles, I'm not thinking about the finish line. I think, "One more mile." Using this strategy, I believe anything is possible.