Turning to coaches for help with fitness
Pittsburgh Business Times - by Kris B. Mamula
Dr. Larry Dobkin has struggled with being overweight for years. The 51-year-old internist, whose office is in Castle Shannon, enjoyed the benefits of being well liked by his patients -- sometimes to his detriment.
"There are all kinds of temptations," he said. "Patients bring by cookies and other goodies."
Dobkin wanted to slim down, but he didn't just change his diet or lifestyle on his own.
He wanted help getting a solid action plan and motivation to stick with it, so about a month ago he sought help from fitness coach Paula Franetti.
Franetti is among a growing number of consultants who have gone beyond providing advice about fitness to addressing lifestyle issues, such as stress management and sleep. Wellness coaching is a burgeoning service catching on especially among graying baby boomers. Picking a personal coach depends on individual needs, but coaches such as Franetti combine several approaches.
An exercise physiologist and fitness specialist with 20 years of experience, Franetti taught wellness classes at Chatham College and was also a wellness instructor for Highmark Inc. She opened MetaFitness in a Ross Township storefront in December.
Franetti is pursuing certification as a wellness coach, a term created about five years ago, but she already incorporates wellness coaching in the services she provides.
"There's not one thing that will make everybody healthy," Franetti said. "It's a comprehensive approach."
Franetti starts most clients with an evaluation that determines their metabolic rate. By knowing how many calories a person burns, Franetti can design an individualized exercise program to help a customer maintain or lose weight.
In Dobkin's case, he was 108 pounds too heavy and had a body mass index of 39; an index above 25 is considered unhealthy.
Franetti designed a regimen for Dobkin that included three walks every day. Along with healthier eating, Dobkin lost 12 pounds in the first three or four weeks on the program.
Not everyone seeks a wellness trainer to lose weight, however. Paul Songer sought Franetti's help eight years ago, hoping she would help him stay in good shape as he ages.
The 78-year-old Songer, chief executive of SSS Inc., a Canonsburg industrial contractor, was fit and played racquetball, but wanted some extra help.
"I'd been pretty much doing things on my own," Songer said. "I just wanted to keep myself as fit as I could."
He credits Franetti with getting him on a regular exercise program and providing advice about diet, stress management and other lifestyle issues, starting eight years ago.
"It's not only exercise," Songer said. "It's health issues. It's improved diet. It's eating better. One thing she has taught me is the importance of balance."
During stretching and workouts at his home, Songer is often counseled by Franetti about lifestyle matters, advice that has become part of his daily life, "habits that carry over," he said.
Franetti, who is 50, said most of her clients are 40 to 50 years old. She said the resolve to stay fit melts away when people try to do too much, too fast.
"They exercise too hard, too often, and they burn out," she said. "It's all about making small, incremental changes. This stuff works."
Wellness coaches help people achieve goals, regardless of what they are, said Margaret Moore, founder and CEO of Wellesley, Mass.-based Wellcoaches Corp., an advocacy and training group.
She said wellness coaches are gaining popularity among baby boomers and are expected to grow in number in the coming years.
"The boomers don't want to age," Moore said. "We help people build confidence in their ability to manage their well-being. The coach is what you need when you really don't know what to do."
There are only around 2,500 wellness coaches nationwide, which compares to 20,000 life and executive coaches, and 40,000 personal trainers, Moore said. Only 5 percent of the population eat right and 15 percent exercise regularly, so there is a wide variety of individual needs. Moore predicts there will be 100,000 coaches in the next decade.
"There's a lot of work to do," she said.
kmamula@bizjournals.com | (412) 208-3825
Latest News |
Most Viewed Stories |
Most Emailed Stories |
