What It's Like to Work With a Virta Health Coach
I’ve been a Virta Health Coach for the past 8 years, and in that time, I’ve helped hundreds of members reverse their diabetes. What I love most about my job is the journey: learning my members’ goals, challenges, and dreams; being the person who helps them get back up when they fall; and celebrating alongside them when they reach new milestones. My favorite milestones aren’t when a member reaches an A1c goal or discontinues a medication, but when Cindy can bend over to tie her shoes without pain, or when Darrell progresses from using a walker to a cane to skipping across the living room, or when Maria finally has the stamina to hike across Europe.
When you have a Virta Health Coach at your side, this can be your story, too. Navigating the initial stages of your Virta journey all the way through experiencing life-changing success can feel overwhelming, so let’s walk through what you can expect as you work with a Virta Health Coach like me.
What to expect before you start
Many members are nervous about meeting their health coach. They're understandably anxious about how hard the journey ahead of them may be, and they're afraid they might be criticized or even judged. These fears are only natural, but I’m going to tell you the same thing I tell all our members: “Don’t worry. We’re here for you. You got this.” Let me demystify what you should expect.
When you join Virta, you’ll be assigned a few tasks in the app to help you prepare for your welcome call over the phone. During this call, you and your coach will discuss your lifestyle and dietary preferences, anticipated challenges, health goals, and most importantly –your primary why. Why did you join Virta, and what is propelling you to take this step towards achieving better metabolic health? Clearly identifying the why is important, because it helps you stay focused when you meet the inevitable bumps in the road.
After identifying your why, your Virta Health coach will answer your remaining questions and ensure you have the education and tools you need for a successful start. When you work with a Virta Health Coach like me, we’ll help you make changes to your nutrition so you can experience the benefits of nutritional ketosis, lose weight, and ultimately improve your metabolic health.
The first few weeks on Virta
The first few weeks on Virta are an exciting time as your body adapts from using dietary carbohydrates to using fat for fuel. In my experience as a Virta Health coach, most patients start seeing results right away: our members typically experience rapid improvement in water retention, and blood pressure can improve quickly for many.
At first, you might feel a little hungry on your new diet. However, as you switch from a diet high in carbs to a diet high in fat and moderate in protein, your feelings of hunger will plummet. This is a stark difference from most competing plans that only leave you feeling famished and deprived.
It’s possible you may experience some short term fatigue, mild headaches, and/or dry mouth, but your Virta Health Coach will arm you with the necessary ingredients to combat these short-term effects. They usually last less than a week for those who experience them, and you can take solace knowing that your body is undergoing a powerful transformation to its preferred fuel source–fat–healing your metabolism from the inside out.
After you reach your goals
Since our members have different lifestyle preferences and unique challenges, no two paths will look the same. Some members will reach their HbA1c and weight loss goals within the first 3 months. Others may take years. To get from where you are to where you want to be requires a dose of discipline, a sprinkle of grit, and a commitment to partner with your Virta Health Coach for accountability. After you reach your short term goals, your Virta Health Coach will work with you to identify longer-term goals and strategies to reach them. These may change over time, and that’s okay. The path to successful long-term behavior change isn’t a straight line, but a line with lots of peaks and valleys, steps forward and steps back.
The Takeaway
Embarking on a health transformation journey with Virta is a deeply personal and empowering experience. Wth the unwavering support of your Virta Health Coach, you’re not just navigating the challenging waters of diabetes reversal and weight loss; you are rewriting your life story! This isn't just about reaching a destination; it's about transforming your life for the better, with each small victory celebrated and every challenge overcome. And your Virta Health Coach will be by your side every step of the way.
Are you living with type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or unwanted weight?
