Get the Most Out of 2006
Setting and keeping your New Year's resolutions

Tracy, LifeSteps Health Coach

Today really is the first day of the rest of your life. And what better way to start a new year — and brighter future — than to establish a healthy resolution. But, as most people soon find out, stating the goal is a lot easier than staying committed.

What's the difference between giving up and getting results?

"Support and follow-through are critical," says Tracy, a nurse for 20 years, and a LifeSteps health coach. "People generally know what they need to do to improve their health, but change is difficult. The obstacles for success can be different for each individual, but learning how to overcome those barriers can really help to drive success."

Take it personally
Helping you tackle your personal obstacles is just one way a LifeSteps health coach can assist you. By calling a health coach, you can:

• Establish a realistic plan that sets achievable objectives;
  
  
• Understand the behaviors you need to change;
  
  
• Identify the "triggers" that are likely to derail you;
  
  
• Develop strategies to tackle the barriers; and
  
  
• Take advantage of ongoing support and guidance.

"When you talk to a health coach for any reason, whether it's to stay healthy, improve a behavior or address a serious health condition, the discussion needs to evolve around your circumstances," Tracy says. "There's no one answer that works for everyone."

She adds that sometimes the barriers are not so clear in the beginning, but can emerge weeks or months into the program.

"Health coaches can provide continuous support throughout the process to help you understand what went wrong and to encourage you to get on track," Tracy said.

Heidi Lattig, LifeSteps program manager, agrees. "Establishing a healthy lifestyle is not about perfection," she says. "It's about making gradual and sustainable progress. LifeSteps is designed to provide a number of tools and resources to keep you motivated and informed."

The support network
Among the main reasons people "slip" is because they lack appropriate support from family members or friends, Tracy adds.

"Often times, family members don't see how they can contribute to your progress, and they can even negatively affect the outcome," she says.

Take the person with a weight-loss goal. If a family member is preparing unbalanced meals or bringing home desserts, the easy access to unhealthy food choices can be detrimental to the dieter's success.

"With the consent of the person being coached, we can speak directly to other family members, such as the person who prepares the meals to coach him or her in what the dieter is trying to achieve," she says. "We will even role-play with the dieter to provide coaching in how to effectively involve others to achieve a more positive outcome. It's about empowering people to achieve lasting results."

She adds that health coaches are not there to judge, but to listen and provide just the right level of guidance at the right time. "Our goal is to provide evidence-based health information to help people make informed decisions. People are much more likely to succeed if they arrive at their own conclusions and develop appropriate solutions with our help rather than merely take instructions from us."

Patience is critical, since it may take time to see significant results. A relationship with a health coach begins as a conversation and continues as a dialogue, often over many separate phone calls," she says.

To receive support from a LifeSteps health coach on any health matter, call 1-877-LIFE-123 (1-877-543-3123) 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

All family members who are otherwise eligible for coverage under the medical plan, such as a spouse or dependent child, may also contact a health coach.

Personal health information provided to a LifeSteps health coach is protected by federal and state privacy laws and will not be disclosed to American Standard Companies except as authorized by law for administration of the company’s group health plans.