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About UCAN
At UCAN we believe that both physical and mental health are important. Some dietary and physical activity changes may improve physical health, but take a toll on mental health.
Our health coaches want to help you find that happy and healthy balance with food and physical activity so that you discover enjoyable and nourishing self-care strategies that support you – mind, body, and soul.
Here at UCAN we share these messages not only in our health coaching sessions, but also through our Instagram account, blog, and podcast. Content is created by college students for college students. Subscribe, follow, and listen
Our philosophies about health and wellness
Nutrition Accordion Open
Cutting out certain foods or counting calories may feel fun and exciting at first, but most find that restricting calories or certain food groups makes them feel cranky, sluggish, and deprived. When you completely eliminate enjoyable foods, then social and mental health suffers.
At UCAN we promote a more holistic approach to eating and physical activity. We want to support you in incorporating more nourishing, nutrient-dense food in your meals and snacks. However, we find that it’s best not to eliminate foods that bring you joy and pleasure.
We want to help you find that happy and healthy balance where you enjoy more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, and also make room for dessert. All foods fit!
Physical activity Accordion Closed
There may be an activity that supports your physical health, but it also may be something you don’t enjoy.
The best exercises are the ones you enjoy doing. Period. Physical activity doesn’t have to be painful, make you sweat a lot, or boring in order to effective. We want to help you discover ways to move your body that make you feel good inside and out.
Body image Accordion Closed
Pressure to be “thin” or “shredded” are hard to ignore as a college student. We totally get that you might have a strong desire to change your body. The truth is, that you have control over your eating and activity patterns, but you don’t have control over your weight. It may go up, down, or stay the same.
As you discover a balanced and enjoyable eating pattern, and fun and consistent forms of activity, your weight may change and it may not. The good news is that there are other ways to improve your body image that don’t have anything to do with changing your body shape or size. Our health coaches are trained to support you in learning to love and accept your body just the way it is. It’s a journey, but it is certainly possible to start loving the skin you’re in.
UCAN is not a weight loss program.
Instead, our health coaches want to help you find a healthy relationship with food and exercise while supporting your journey towards self-acceptance.
Researchers have found that improved health is possible without changing body shape or size. And obsession over weight can lead to anxiety, depression, and disordered eating. At UCAN we’re about taking the focus off of the scale, and instead focusing on supporting you to feed yourself well and discover other self-care strategies that support overall health and well-being.
Check out this video to learn more about a non-diet, Health At Every Size approach to wellness.
What Our UCAN Clients Say
“I liked the small goal setting.”
“The thing that I liked about the health coaching session was being able to choose different healthy lifestyle choices and what to focus on.”
“[UCAN Health Coach] was personable, sweet and kind! She listened great and did her best to offer the solutions that she knows about and thinks would help!”
“I appreciate that [UCAN Health Coach] validated everything I said, but most importantly that she helped me set an obtainable goal and guided me to choosing the right tips to combat stress.”
“I don’t have anyone in my life who would truly support me and understand why I am making these changes to better my health. I am very thankful to have found UCAN and will definitely continue to meet with a peer health coach for the support I need.”
“A comfortable environment that allows you to open up and talk to someone about your problems. They help get you thinking more and set new goals each week to lead up to the big one which was really nice.”
“[UCAN Health Coach] was very good about asking questions and getting to know my goals and motivation. She was a very good listener and even repeated things I said and elaborated on them to help build my own understanding.”
“I loved how genuine and helpful she was! Honest, it could not have been better.”
UCAN Blog
To see more posts, visit our blog page.
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