Would you like eating to be less stressful? Been there.

Janelle Holden is president and founder of BodyMindLove Coaching, a company dedicated to teaching people with celiac disease and other food sensitivities how to love life and discover their new favorite foods. Janelle is an international coach, writer, and speaker based in Livingston, Montana. She empowers her clients to create a new relationship with food and their bodies and find meaning and purpose in life.

Janelle transformed her life when she realized that brownies would never solve her chronic stress. In May, 2010, she was 50 pounds overweight, had been diagnosed with celiac disease and multiple food allergies, was a life-long emotional eater, and desperate to stop dreaming about cake batter. Her journey to health led her to tap into her body’s intuitive wisdom, find inner peace, and start living a balanced and healthy life. In less than a year, she lost her extra weight, created better relationships, and stopped her struggle with food and stress.

“You can’t suffer your way to joy,” is the first thing she tells her clients. “Your stress is optional. It is possible to find joy in your present circumstances, no matter what they may be.”

Janelle creates delicious, original gluten-free recipes, teaches how to live a gluten-free life, and coaches people to better health and well-being . To get started with her and learn how to stop your own struggle with food and your body, click here to schedule a complimentary BodyMind Strategy Session.

An “Interview with Janelle”

Why did you become a coach?

I became a coach because I want to give the kind-of support to other people that I needed when I was transitioning to a gluten-free diet and regaining my health. At the time, I found a lot of informative gluten-free blogs and recipes and understood the basics of “how-to” go gluten free, but very little information on how to deal with the emotions and stress that went a long with my transition. My naturopath was wonderful, but I couldn’t call her and talk about the grieving process that I was going through, and how I felt alone with my new diet. I really wanted some emotional support, and when I found it, I realized how much I could give to other people by providing that service for them. I’m truly in love with the work that I do.

How long have you been a coach and how did you become an expert at helping people with food sensitivities and emotional eating?

I’ve lived with severe food sensitivities all of my life. As a toddler, I developed a life-threatening reaction to peanuts. In my early 30’s I was diagnosed with celiac disease and multiple food sensitivities. I then had to learn how to transition from a refined-sugar, pizza, cake, and spaghetti-filled diet to a gluten-free diet. I’m now grain, cane sugar, dairy, egg, almond, and peanut-free and 50 pounds lighter.

I received my life coach training through Brooke Castillo’s Life Coach School, a private program for coaches. I also hold a B.A. in English from Hillsdale College in Michigan, and have a professional background in public policy and journalism. To create my coaching practice and curriculum, I combined my coach training with my own personal experience. I started my coaching business in May 2011.

Who are your clients?

I work with people who are a lot like me. They want to follow a gluten-free, sugar-free, or healthier diet, and are struggling with the transition. They want to know what to say at the potluck when someone asks them about their new diet. They want to share their struggle with people who understand. I work with people who want to know how to find pleasure and joy in their life without their favorite foods. I work with people who understand how toxic stress is to their system, and are ready to learn a healthy way to address it. I work with people who are scared about the future and their health. I often work with people who have had an eating disorder in their past. I work with people who  want to lose weight and are sick of crappy diets.

How does a life coach differ from a therapist or other health-care provider?

A coach gives perspective. My role is to help you see your life very clearly so that you can see where you want or need to make changes. As a coach, I provide counsel and support when you run into your anxieties, fears, pain, and symptoms. I am not a therapist. Just like personal trainers work with physically healthy clients who want to achieve a stronger body, life coaches work with mentally healthy people who want to achieve a stronger mind and reach life goals. I teach you how to find your feel-good brain, and stay there to create your best life and health.

If you aren’t feeling well physically and need a health professional, I encourage you to seek the appropriate help. You know what’s best for you and your body. I deeply believe that. I will never tell you to leave your job, drop a relationship, or find a new doctor. I will show you what you are currently thinking and how your thinking has led to your life’s results. From there, you can decide whether you want different results in your life, and I can help you create a road-map to get you there and keep you on track along the way.

Do you provide medical advice?

I work primarily with people with food sensitivities. This includes people diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder, and those with severe, anaphylactic allergies. I am also available to coach on any food related health issue, including weight loss, and provide other general life coaching services to clients.

That said, I do not provide medical advice. Coaching is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

My coaching is intended for people who want to comply with the recommendations or advice of their doctor, nutritionist, naturopath, or other licensed medical health professional. My coaching helps my clients see how they can take healthier actions to create the results they want in their lives. I also help my clients create better health by easing stress.

What kind of personality do you work best with?

I work best with people who are ready to commit to a long-term process, not a short-term fix. My clients tend to be responsible over-achievers, who have tried the DIY approach to dieting, improved body image, and life-stress for years. They are tired of seeking perfection. They understand that support is necessary for their health and personal growth, and are ready to invest in themselves and a process that works.

What kind of personality or client do you NOT work well with?

Working with me is not for everyone. Not everyone is willing to let go of the old stories, excuses, and rules that have held them back in life. If you’re addicted to criticism and blame, then I encourage you to work with someone else. If you think that change has to happen in a very short-time frame, then I encourage you to work with someone else.

How do you work? What can I expect?

Working with me is very personal. You’ll get a lot of attention, a lot of customized care and support. I have created an online business so that I can reach people across the world. It’s powerful. It’s deep. You can expect a lot of value. I always start with a complimentary Get Acquainted Call to make sure that I’m the right fit for you. If you know you want to work with me, please click here to schedule your call.

Can I just sign up for one session with you?

No. Here’s why. Change doesn’t happen overnight. It happens over a period of days, weeks and months. It happens with every small decision. It took a while for you to get where you are in your life, and it will take a while for you to get where you are going. I am ready to commit to you and your goals, and I only work with clients who are ready to make that same commitment. That’s why I start everyone out with a complimentary Get Acquainted Call to make sure that we’re both ready to commit. 

Does this really work?

Yes. I’ve included client testimonials on my site so that you can see that it does work. Please let me know if you’d like to talk to a current or former client. Here’s just one example of a client testimonial:

Janelle, I really want to thank you for every single way you have changed my life.  Just yesterday, I went to the doctor to find that my EoE is in remission.  I believe that aside from finding my food allergy, it also had a lot to do with our paths crossing and you changing my life for the absolute best.  I hope you see that you have a gift that you give so well!!  I believe that everything happens for a reason and I believe you were brought to me to literally save my life.  I know that because of all of my thoughts and stress and anxiety, I was slowly killing myself.  I still have a way to go, but I know now what true happiness really is!! For all of that, I will never be able to thank you enough.  You have no idea how empowering it was when my specialist (who hadn’t seen me since we statred working together) told me that I looked so healthy.  He told me that he was proud of me and to keep it up.  Wow.  Who would have thunk it, eh?

I also notice changes in my business.  I am so much nicer to people.  I am eager to help them and have conversations instead of being crabby and opinionated.  I choose battles wisely with customers.  I am not afraid to charge for my time.  I am much more confident.  And, my reputation around here is that I am very nice and a great groomer.  I have 5 star reviews online.  I have vets and other groomers referring to me.  I haven’t been this excited about my business in a long time.  I have your coaching to thank for that.”

– Julie Hamelau, Normal, IL

What results can I expect?

Your results are ultimately up to you. I can tell you what I teach and what I do. I deliver life perspective. I teach people how to have peace of mind, how to feel better physically, how to allow themselves happiness, how to deal with their worries, how to create a healthier relationship with food, how to care for themselves, how to deal with chronic stress, how to stop feeling stuck, how to lose weight and maintain their weight, and how to live a life full of meaning. You get to choose how to apply what I teach to your own life and body.

Why do I need you? Can’t I just do this on my own?

How’s that do-it-alone-thing going for you so far? If you look at any goal that people achieve – take writing a book for instance, you’ll find a long list of thank you’s to people who supported the person on their way to that achievement. The truth is – we’re not meant to do things alone. We’re social. We thrive with support. We crave accountability. We are part of a team. And outside perspective is the most important component of us being able to play our best games in life. That’s why sports teams have coaches.

I’m really busy and overwhelmed. How much time is involved before I get results?

Most of my clients start to feel better after only one session with me. Being busy and overwhelmed is actually a symptom in your life of something much bigger. We’ll look at how to end the busy and overwhelmed cycle so that you can really focus on what you love and are passionate about.

I’ve failed on every other diet I’ve tried. What if I fail at this?

First off, I don’t believe you can fail. Second, working with me is different than every other diet book or practice you’ve read. This is about your emotions and your thoughts. This isn’t a how-to manual, or a strict you-must-eat-this-to-get-thin diet. This isn’t about will-power, or self-control.

I’ve never invested in myself like this before. How can I justify this expense?

I remember the first time I hired a coach. It was a huge expense for me. It didn’t come easy, but I knew I needed the help. Before hiring a coach, I had spent a lot of money and time on the DIY approach and never achieved any lasting results. Once I made that commitment, my life started changing, and it’s still changing, in ways that I could have never imagined or put a price on. How much is your happiness worth? How much is your health worth? Priceless.

If I’m not quite ready to get started, is there a way to sample your work?

Sure. I’d love for you to sign up for my complimentary E-Zine, where you can read articles, get recipes, and find out more about what I do. All you have to do to sign up is click here.

What if I don’t have food sensitivities, but have other life goals I want to work on, can I still coach with you? I’d love to create a different result for my life.

Sure. Contact me and let’s see if we’re a good fit. I offer a complimentary Get Acquainted Callto get started and no obligation to continue with me.

I have a few questions for you. Can I talk with you on the phone?

Absolutely. Please click here to schedule a Get Acquainted Call with me. I’d love to answer your questions.