Rise and Thrive - The Power of Coaching for Weight Loss and Health

With my coach Dean after a WNBF Natural Bodybuilding competition.

Of all the things that eventually led to what Rise 365 has become today—more so than my own personal journey through fitness and diet, more so than ALL the knowledge I’ve gained about nutrition, training, and mindset over the years—it was experiencing FIRSTHAND the true power of coaching that shaped it all.

When most people think of losing weight, getting healthier, and eating right, coaching probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, it's not even on their radar at all. And why would it be? Coaching isn’t something you typically see in the general health and weight loss space. Most people either try to follow a diet on their own—keto, low-carb, Atkins, paleo, intermittent fasting, WW, Jenny Craig…the list goes on and on—or they go see a nutritionist who gives them some generic, plain-vanilla guideline on how to eat right.

Those shirts!

But what I learned firsthand from my experience with a coach is that these things aren’t the key elements people truly need to reach their end goals.

They can. And they should.

Coaching can be applied to a 55-year-old woman who wants to feel more comfortable and confident in her own skin. It can be applied to a 48-year-old guy who was in shape during his younger years—maybe he was a high school or college athlete—but life, kids, and work got in the way, and now he’s on high blood pressure medication, just wanting to get back to where he once was. Or it can be applied to the woman who wants to get back to her pre-baby weight. Coaching can be applied to ANYONE, regardless of age, gender, starting point, or goal.

And THAT was the seed that started this entire journey—the Rise of this program, Rise 365!

The Power of Coaching: What My Experience Taught Me

So what did working with a coach teach me? Everything that good coaching is all about. Think about it - we have coaches for so many things in life, but not usually for dieting, eating right, or overall health—one of THE most important things we can be good at! Especially as we age.

A coach is someone who’s an expert in a field that you’re not. They’ve done it before and can teach you based on their lived experience. They support you. They guide you. They motivate you. They keep you accountable when you don’t want to or can’t be accountable to yourself. They’re there to pick you up when you fall. They’re there to LEAD you. They’re there to push you when you’re not motivated. And they’re there to congratulate you when you succeed.

But it’s more than that. They build a relationship. And that relationship is the foundation and rock for EVERYTHING. It creates respect, admiration, and TRUST. It makes the coach and the client accountable TO EACH OTHER. I didn’t want to let Dean (my coach) down, and he didn’t want to let me down. He pushed me. He motivated me. And during times when I lost sight of show day, he helped me stay laser-focused on the end goal and the finish line (which is why I always preach “Eye on the Prize” to our clients!).

The relationship we built fueled my progress and, in the end, my success. It was so much more than the X’s and O’s of dieting. It was all these other things—all these intangibles—that got us to the finish line. A finish line that I couldn’t have reached on my own.

The first finish lines of many!

The Power of Teaching in Coaching

One of the most important aspects of coaching—one that people often overlook—is teaching. Coaching and teaching go hand in hand because you can’t just tell someone what to do and expect it to stick. You have to educate them along the way.

At Rise 365, we’re not just telling our clients what to eat or how to exercise—we’re teaching them how to make healthy decisions for themselves. Every interaction, every communication, and every resource we provide is an opportunity to teach. And teaching is what helps people take control of their own journey and, ultimately, maintain their results for life.

We teach through our weekly remote check-ins and communications, where we dive deep into strategies, mindset, and guidance that go beyond just following a plan. We teach through the shopping lists we provide, showing people exactly what to look for in the grocery store—what to buy, what to avoid, and how to navigate those overwhelming food aisles like a pro.

We teach through our Pinterest page, which is packed with meal ideas, snack suggestions, and creative ways to prepare food. It’s like a virtual recipe book that’s always there to inspire our clients and give them the confidence to experiment in the kitchen.

But it’s not just us doing the teaching—our clients teach each other, too. We have an incredible Facebook group where everyone shares their ideas, meal photos, new products they’ve found, and food hacks that work for them. It’s a community where people are constantly learning from one another, and that sense of support and shared knowledge is invaluable.

Teaching is a critical part of the coaching relationship because it empowers clients to take what they’ve learned and apply it on their own. It’s not just about handing out instructions—it’s about educating and building that strong foundation of knowledge. When our clients know why they’re doing what they’re doing, why certain foods work better for their goals, and why certain strategies help them succeed, they become more confident, more independent, and ultimately, more successful.

Coaching the Individual: The Key to True Success

One of the things I learned from coaching youth athletes is the importance of understanding each individual. You can’t coach every kid the same way. Some respond to tough love. Others shut down when pushed too hard. Some thrive on humor and encouragement, while others need a more structured approach. Knowing the unique needs and personality of each athlete is what makes a coach effective.

The same goes for coaching people in health and weight loss. Everyone has different food preferences, eating patterns, and fitness restrictions. Some have allergies or specific health conditions like insulin resistance or celiac disease. We coach people who are vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free or need to eat around specific medical conditions. The point is, no two people are the same. You can’t give everyone a cookie-cutter plan and expect the same results.

Bringing the Power of Coaching to Rise 365

After experiencing the impact of coaching for myself, I knew I needed to bring these same concepts to the general weight loss community—into what became known as Rise 365. Over time, I continued adding more support, guidance, and communication than I had even gotten myself. (You can read all of the support and guidance and features of the Rise program in our What's Included Page).

Instead of following a diet on your own, we do the EXACT OPPOSITE. We lead people down the path together. We start by showing them how to shop. The food industry and grocery shopping can be overwhelming, so we guide people through it, showing them everything—from lean meats and proteins to healthy carbs and amazing snack and condiment options. We help them navigate the countless protein supplements on the market. There's SO much about food shopping that people either (A) don’t know or (B) feel too overwhelmed trying to figure out.

And just like in the competitive fitness world, we do weekly check-ins with our clients. But after seeing how busy people’s schedules are, we made this even easier by offering remote, emailed check-ins each week. This level of support is common in the competitive world but NOT in the general weight loss industry.

Then I thought—what if a person has a question while they’re in the grocery store? What if they’re traveling or in a pinch? What if they’re at a restaurant and don’t know what to order? That’s when I discovered the POWER and effectiveness of 24/7 communication.

The Game-Changer: 24/7 Communication

Texting is THE easiest and most effortless way to communicate. That’s why our program has 24/7 communication, where clients can text us anytime they need us. It’s like having someone by your side every step of the way, helping you through the tough spots.

And it’s not just about the food or the diet—it’s also about the motivation. Life is stressful. Life is chaotic. Life has its ups and downs every single day. So motivating people through those times is KEY to their success.

With coaching, there’s no feeling of being alone. There’s no trying to navigate this whole health journey by yourself. It’s about being LED to your finish line rather than being entirely on your own to get there.

And guess what? It works.

We've had so much success because we’ve brought the power of coaching—the power of guidance, support, motivation, accountability, and teaching—all wrapped up into one amazing program and experience. The end goal? To get every client to a point where they can do it on their own.

When a coach isn’t needed anymore, that’s when you know you’ve done your job! That’s the ultimate goal of this journey we take everyone on. With coaching, ANYTHING is possible.

So if you’re ready to take the next step towards transforming your health and achieving your goals with coaching, simply fill out our quick intro questionnaire form [here] to learn more!

Thanks for reading my thoughts about coaching and why it’s a revolutionary concept for the mainstream diet, wellness, and weight loss industry. I’m VERY passionate about it because when someone succeeds, the feeling and reward for the coach is every bit as powerful as it is for the person who reaches their goal! And when people succeed at this, and become healthier, happier, and more self-confident, there’s NOTHING that makes me happier!

Rise up and thrive,

Randy