Advice for Healthy New Year

Ellen Goldman is passionate about the health and fitness industry.  A Livingston resident for the past 15 years, mother of two daughters and wife of a periodontist, Goldman lives, eats and breathes good health.

“I was a personal trainer for 15 years," said Goldman. “One of the things that always fascinated me was personal change and motivation."

She admits that while she enjoys the scientific side of exercise prescription and says it absolutely benefits her clients, she reveals “taking someone through a good workout is fun and rewarding, but helping someone change their lifestyle for the better is gratifying beyond description."

Goldman has worked with the same clients for years but is no longer accepting new clients for personal training.  Instead, she has focused her career towards a new venue: coaching.

Goldman has been a Certified Executive Wellness Coach for the past five years. Throughout her career as a personal trainer and coach, she is no stranger to the phrase “I want to lose weight."  Given the fact that most have weight loss on their New Year's Resolutions list, Goldman works with many clients who want to lose weight.  Clients may be surprised at what Goldman decides to focus on first.  

No, she does not force you to throw away all the chocolate in your house.  

“We usually end up working on life and work balance and life-satisfaction first, which clears the deck to then make way for the focus required to truly change eating, movement, and stress management habits,” says Goldman. She feels that if the focus is on taking care of oneself first, the weight will take care of itself. 

She strives to empower her clients to make change.  She does not force them to do so. “I am very motivating,” she said. “I feel it is so important to help my clients take responsibility for their actions.  They need to want to make these changes or else it won’t last.”  

While Goldman may spend some time educating her clients on diet and nutrition, she finds that they are already very educated on such matters.  “My clients know how many calories they need or how many carbs are in a particular meal but yet they need help actually implementing a plan.  They simply feel overwhelmed.”

Goldman’s typical clients are business professionals who range in age from 40’s to early 60’s.  “Many are ‘career at home professionals’ or at an executive level where they are in charge of their own schedules.  Most have families, or are just becoming empty nesters,” she said.  “Balancing work and home demands can be challenging."  Goldman also does mentor coaching for new wellness professionals.

So, what about all those people who have made losing weight a top priority for 2010?  

Goldman recommends spending time figuring out how to make lifestyle changes that fit into your unique set of circumstances.  “Most believe success depends on willpower," she said, “when it really depends on want power."  

“Explore why change is important to you, take responsibility for your actions, look at the obstacles that stand in your way of success and explore strategies to get around those obstacles”.  Of course, it goes without saying to also figure out the support you need and where to get it.

Goldman, who sees clients in Livingston as well as all over the United States, has many different programs to suit everyone’s needs.  She is currently accepting clients for a 6 week weight loss group coaching class called “Mastering The Inner Game of Dieting: It’s Not About Eating Grapefuit.”

For more information on Ellen Goldman, please check out her website.