My Life as an Eating Psychology Coach: Wendy Martens

What made you want to become an Eating Psychology Coach in the first place?

I decided to become a Certified Eating Psychology Coach because I was searching for something more than just a course on nutrition. I attended the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and discovered it didn’t address the core of weight loss or healthy eating. With a Masters in Counseling, I desired to dig deeper into why people struggle with food. The Training I received at the Institute for the Psychology of Eating was able to not only provide answers to my questions, but did it with a heart-centered approach to life and health.

What do you love about being an Eating Psychology Coach?

What I love most about being an Eating Psychology Coach is that it just works! It makes the client feel more empowered than they ever have before, even if they don’t lose all the weight they originally set out to. My clients tell me all the time how they feel as if they can really maintain a sustainable weight loss and love what they are eating at the same time. They don’t feel restricted, but rather curious about food and it’s effect on their body.

What does your practice look like?

In my practice, I specialize in professional women around the age of 50 and I adore that age group! These women are stepping into their Queenhood – finally making the time to take care of themselves. I find that they are often concerned being healthy and want to slim down their waist lines at the same time. We work on both through phone and Skype coaching.

How did your education at the Institute prepare you to work successfully with clients?

My education at the Institute was really the cherry on top – a perfect compliment to my health coaching ideals. Having a psychology background, I felt like my Master’s Degree and Training at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition took me only so far. When I discovered and quickly enrolled in the Institute for the Psychology of Eating, I found precisely what I was looking for. I was finally able to uncover why we make the food choices we do, getting to the root causes of our unwanted habits, and how to help people become a more authentic version of themselves – something that goes far beyond just shedding the pounds. For many of my clients, my coaching has helped them become present with themselves, and for the first time really step into their bodies and be in their individuality.

What was your favorite aspect of the Training?

My favorite aspect of the Training was the live teleclasses with Marc David, and the optional live event. I love interactive learning and find that I respond better when I can ask questions immediately.

How has being an Eating Psychology Coach impacted your professional life/financial well-being?

In regards to the financial well being achieved from becoming a Certified Eating Psychology Coach, I’ll admit it has been a bit of a roller coaster. I live in the Washington Metropolitan area, and there are a lot of weight-loss coaches to compete with. The Eating Psychology message is so much more than just weight loss. It’s been a fascinating journey as well as learning experience working to get my voice heard.

How has being an Eating Psychology Coach impacted your personal life?

Being an Eating Psychology Coach has had an enormous impact on my personal life!. All of the coaching I do with my clients, I’ve also done with myself—especially stepping into my Queenhood. I love the food I eat and how it makes me feel and I’ve let go of focusing on the “weight number” as something to aspire to. Additionally, I find I no longer read the good food/bad food lists, but instead see food as nourishment and joy.

What do you see for yourself in your future as an Eating Psychology Coach – where is your work evolving towards?

I’m so excited about my future as a Certified Eating Psychology Coach because I recently had a client who wanted to talk about stress and to learn more about how stress can sabotage weight loss. I did some research and came upon HeartMath. Adding this to my Eating Psychology Coach Training, has allowed me to re-orient my coaching toward a unique and very valuable approach. I have been introducing this innovative way of weight loss – one that addresses the “X” factor caused by emotional and stress-related eating.

Why would you recommend the Training to others?

I would definitely recommend the Training to others and, in fact, already have. It is not just a Training, but a way of living a more meaningful, heart-centered life. Many of us walk our life paths never really discovering our intrinsic value. The Eating Psychology Coach Certification Training not only allows one to get in touch with who they really are, but also prepares coaches to share such valuable lessons with others. One can acquire tremendous knowledge through this Training and the ability to genuinely help other people.

Anything else you’d like to share about being an Eating Psychology Coach?

I love being a Certified Eating Psychology Coach!

NAME: Wendy Martens, MA, NCC, CHC, AADP, HMCT
BUSINESS: New Pathway to Health LLC
WEBSITE: www.newpathwaytohealth.com

BIO: Wendy Martens M.A. is a Teacher, Certified Eating Psychology Coach, and Licensed Certified HeartMath® Instructor and Coach. She works to educate individuals, groups, and Corporations and teach them about joyful natural eating and provides easy, on-the-go stress relieving techniques.