Andrea Palacios is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach and the creator of Green Habits. Green Habits was built with the purpose of sharing the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle with others. It focuses on teaching people to live healthier through easy and accessible changes to their diet and habits. Through Andrea’s passion for food and wellness, she has been able to create unique health coaching programs that lead others to improved health, more energy, and enhanced quality of life.

Q: What were you doing prior to enrolling at Integrative Nutrition?
A: I had just graduated business school and started working in the marketing department of a company.

Q: What led you to explore the Health Coach Training Program?
A: One day, I saw the post of a Health Coach describing her studies at IIN. That was when I started investigating the Health Coach Training Program. I read the syllabus and loved the holistic approach it talked about.

Q: How has your life changed since becoming a Health Coach?
A: My life took a 180 turn. Even though I do apply everything I learned at business school, the Health Coach Training Program helped me create my own business doing what I love. Thanks to IIN, Green Habits was born!

Q: Which topics and modules were most beneficial for you?
A: The module in which Joshua talked about bio-individuality. This term made me realize that there’s not one diet that fits all. It is important to know yourself and what is beneficial for your body. Basically, that is the first thing I help my clients with. I love helping them discover the right way to nourish their body.

Q: What does a typical day look like for you now?
A:
5:30 – Wake up (and the days I run, I wake up at 4:30).
6:00 – Work out.
8:00 – Breakfast.
8:30 – I get ready and schedule my day. I figure out what the healthy snacks orders are for that day and also check what clients I will visit.
9:00 – Workday starts. In the morning, I usually bake the healthy snacks and granola.
12:00 – Lunch.
2:00 – Deliveries and coaching clients.
5:30 – Start preparing dinner.
6:30 – Dinner with my family.
7:30 – Watch healthy documentaries or read something that is nutrition-related.
10:00 – Go to bed.

Q: What makes you and your practice unique?
A: I work with people who want to change their bad habits to healthier ones. It’s a long process because habits are not easily changed, but when we start doing it slowly with the right tools, it’s easier. I teach how to have a healthy relationship with food. One thing I always tell my clients is that our bodies are a lab and we are the scientists that have to experiment and see what suits us. With time, we will discover what style of food makes us feel full of life and energy.

Q: How do you help your clients be successful? Is there a recent example that stands out for you?
A: At the beginning of the session, we set a SMART goal for the first three months of the program. Then we make weekly and daily goals. I think it’s easier for my clients to achieve their goals one day at a time. With that technique, we are able to achieve the big goal successfully.

One example is that sometimes it’s a bit overwhelming when you think your goal is a huge number. But when you break it down to daily goals, it becomes easier to achieve. That is how I help my clients achieve what they have always wanted.

Q: What do you love about your work?
A: I love working with my clients and helping them feel better, not only physically but mentally. Sometimes we don’t realize that the reason for bad digestion or lack of energy is because there is someone or something sucking our energy. It could be our jobs or stress, for example.

Q: How have you seen the need for Health Coaches change over the years?
A: I have seen the need for Health Coaches grow in the past few years. People need someone to listen to them to make them feel comfortable and guide them in order to start making positive changes. We humans need someone to hold us accountable. We can see how Health Coaches are working with all type of professionals, and we have built a support system for medicine, business, or any other field.

Q: What’s your tip for balancing your family, work, and personal wellness?
A: There is time for everything, and that’s where balance comes in. At first, I was having issues controlling my social media, but with time, I have learned that there’s time for everything. The key is to set your priorities and be organized.

Q: Tell us your favorite way to wake up each day!
A: I love to wake up drinking my warm lemon water and listening to good podcasts.