In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, individuals like Becky Longacre stand out as true pioneers, transforming their careers and making a profound impact on the well-being of others. With a background as a Registered Nurse (RN) and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Becky has seamlessly transitioned from the traditional nursing role into an innovative realm where health and wellness converge. Currently pursuing a Master of Healthcare Leadership (MHL) degree, her journey exemplifies the dynamic and adaptable spirit of modern healthcare professionals. Becky’s unique path has led her to the intriguing intersection of healthcare and transformation, where she serves as a Health Coach at Health Transformers LLC. In this role, she empowers individuals to take charge of their health, guiding them through the often complex maze of wellness choices. With her extensive knowledge and experience, she’s not only a beacon of hope but a living testament to the possibilities that exist in the ever-expanding world of healthcare. Join Mystic Mag as we delve into Becky Longacre’s inspiring journey from a Nurse to a Health Coach and explore the transformative power of her work.
You transitioned from being a nurse to a health coach. Can you tell us about your journey and what inspired you to make this change?
I still work part time as a nurse but plan on eventually leaving that role completely. My journey comes from seeing patients in our healthcare system get a diagnosis and have no idea what to do to take care of themselves. It also comes from being a patient myself and learning that medication and surgery are just a drop in the bucket in terms of treatment options for patients. There is sooooo much more we can do for people by teaching them how to take care of their bodies. My personal example is I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in my early 20’s. I was on 5 different prescription medications and I was not consistently getting better. My doctor was kind but he had nothing to offer me in terms of health behaviors I could practice to get better. I also started gaining weight and developed terrible back pain. Again, the traditional medical approach had little to offer in terms of lifestyle changes I could learn to heal. So, being a nurse I did some research. And more research. And more research. I found that by changing aspects of how I care for myself, I have remained flare free from ulcerative colitis for as long as 7 years, have lost 30 pounds, and have a wonderful functioning back today. Also, I got off ALL of my medications.
Our patients desperately need someone to sit with them 1:1 and teach them how to care for themselves because the way we are doing business in healthcare is not working.
As a health coach, you likely work with clients who have diverse health goals. How do you tailor your approach to meet the specific needs and preferences of each individual?
Yes, every client is different and I love providing each one their specific service plan. I have to listen first to see what the problem is. And what do they want to achieve? Then, the question is: is that a realistic goal? If someone wants to lose 50 pounds in one week because they are going on vacation, I have to help them come down to earth and do some teaching about realistic expectations. I also have to find out what motivates them. For some people, they have terrible scale anxiety (like I used to have). Perhaps they would be more motivated to keep going with the plan if they took weekly pictures of themselves instead to see how they physically transform. Or, perhaps they are motivated by their children or grandchildren. So, we would make the service plan incorporate being a better role model for their kids or grandkids. Finally, I will not ask you to be a performance athlete or do anything that you are not comfortable with doing. If you hate broccoli, I will not ask you to eat broccoli. If you have back pain and spasms, I would not ask you to go running for exercise. I will find out what you are willing to do for your health and then hold you accountable to your goals for success.
What type of services do you offer?
I offer 1:1 personalized health coaching services. I focus on helping high performers lose weight and heal pain in their bodies. I also have a video series for sale focused on this topic but it doesn’t include 1:1 service. I do workshops every month on different topics such as meditation, diet tips for weightloss and exercise for back pain. And I am starting to network with other health professionals to put a Health Conference together in April of 2024.
In your experience, what role does mindset play in achieving and maintaining good health? How do you address the psychological aspects of wellness in your coaching?
Oh My God, this is probably the biggest part of any transformation, including health! The actual steps toward losing weight and healing pain are easy- if we were robots and not human beings! The approach I have is a mind-body-soul approach specifically to address mindset shifts that are needed to create healthy change. I can tell someone to eat more fruits and veggies and drink more water all day long, but until they can let go of the barriers holding them back, it is not helpful just to provide information. It is very helpful to talk about things much deeper than just diet and exercise. How we learned to eat as children has a predictive factor on how we eat as adults. So, that is why so many people go on crash diets (and may even be successful for several months), but they gain the weight back, and sometimes more. I talk to clients about what food means to them? How does food get incorporated into their community? Is food the only reward system they have for themselves? Once we get down to the root causes of overeating, we can solve the problem for good. I tell people: Unlike a therapist, I want to work myself out of a job by the time the program ends (meaning, I truly want people to learn how to take care of themselves eventually without my help).
Many people struggle with sleep issues. What advice do you give to clients who have trouble getting a good night’s rest?
Stop drinking caffeinated beverages by 1pm is step #1. Caffeine can stay in your system for 8 hours or longer. Then, if you are not sleeping due to anxious thoughts (as is true for so many), try getting your anxious energy out of your body through exercise. I have used running as a way to slow my mind down. Because when you run, suddenly you are not thinking about the job, the husband, the house. You are thinking about getting enough breath and trying not to fall. This sort of somatic release of energy helps to reset your brain. Then, the other bits of advice for sleeping are: go to sleep at the same time every night, get off your phone an hour before going to sleep (or turn the blue light aspect of your display off), drink some warm milk, have sex (or masturbate!), and make sure the room is dark. I listen to shamanic drumming to go to sleep. And have sex.
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest health and wellness trends and research to ensure you provide the best guidance to your clients?
The learning and researching is constant. If I want to dive deeper on something myself, I read articles to back up or change my approach. I share my research with my clients if they are interested. Some people want to know the reason behind what I say. I get information from the National Institute of Health, the Mayo Clinic, the USDA, The Commonwealth Fund, and the CDC as well as other sources.
