Our health coaching services start with an in-person or virtual consultation with Dr. LeGrand, Heartland Weight Loss founder and physician, or the clinic’s nurse practitioner. The consultation will help verify the person’s ability to safely participate in a health coaching program. Then, the participant may choose to complete a DNA analysis with the health coach. The test will identify the participant’s sensitivity to fats and carbohydrates, which create obstacles in reaching their weight loss goals. Using the test results, the health coach customizes a meal and exercise plan for the participant that will allow them to offset those obstacles. Meal and exercise plans can be created without a DNA analysis, but the results allow for more specific recommendations to be shared. When the participant embarks on their customized plan, the health coach remains available for progress checks and support in following the program.

Since opening in January 2021, Heartland Weight Loss Clinic has offered surgical and non-surgical (medically guided) weight loss programs that focus highly on individuals with a BMI of 25 or greater.  By introducing health coaching services, additional support and guidance can be paired with a patient’s existing weight loss treatment plan.  The health coach can be incredibly helpful as weight loss surgery patients prepare for their procedures and continue adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle afterward.  Health coaching services can also be added to a non-surgical weight loss journey to enhance the effects that appetite suppressing and metabolism boosting treatments are already providing to them.  

Heartland Weight Loss Clinic is also the only practice in the area using DNA analysis to create customized meal and exercise plans through a health coach.  The analysis helps identify sensitivities to fats and carbohydrates that need to be addressed when overcoming weight loss obstacles.  Meal and exercise plans can be created without the DNA analysis, but the testing allows for more specific recommendations to be shared.

The biggest reason our health coach makes Heartland Weight Loss Clinic a full-service weight loss practice is that she has a lot to offer people of healthy weights.  Her expertise and assistance will help people with a BMI of 24.9 or less to remain healthy or continue improving their overall health.  The coach can also help people who would like to lose a few pounds even if their BMI does not classify them as being overweight.  

Regardless of the patient’s scenario, the health coach is available to work with people of all fitness levels and pair their services with any additional treatments they are receiving.

Kristi Ewasko, MA, CF-L1, CPT joined Heartland Weight Loss Clinic in 2021 as a health coach.  Her credentials include:

• CrossFit Level 1 Coach
• AAFP Certified Personal Trainer with over 15 years of experience
• Certified Les Mills RPM Instructor
• Independent Health Coach utilizing DNA testing to develop customized meal and exercise plans

Kristi often starts with DNA analysis to determine her participants’ sensitivity to dietary fats and carbohydrates.  She can create customized meal and exercise plans for her participants with or without DNA analysis completed, but the analysis allows her to be more specific in her recommendations.  She continues to monitor their progress and provide support as they strive to reach their health and weight loss goals.

Participants will receive customized meal plans. They may opt to have DNA analysis to explain their sensitivity to dietary fats and carbohydrates. The results will enable our health coach to refine a more specific meal plan for them. Every plan is focused on finding balance and moderation of food choices that provides the best opportunity for our bodily functions. Our health coach follows the philosophy that food is used to fuel our bodies. Once we start fueling our bodies with the right amount of nutrition and the right foods, we can make the most out of a healthy lifestyle.

Participants will receive a customized exercise plan even if they do not complete a DNA analysis, but the results allows the workout plan to address any obstacles that fat and carbohydrate sensitivities may impose on the participant’s weight loss goals. The exercise plan fits the participant’s current fitness levels so it is realistic from them to follow. As the participant’s fitness level improves, their exercise plan can be adjusted to keep their routine interesting and challenging.

Please note, the health coach does not accompany participants during exercise. Activities are prescribed as a plan that the participant will complete independently and report completion back to the health coach.

Heartland Weight Loss Clinic’s non-surgical weight loss services are intended for patients with a more drastic need to lose weight. Their BMI is usually 25 or higher, and the program includes appetite suppressant medications to reduce calorie intake and vitamin injections to increase metabolism. Health coaching services can be paired with Heartland Weight Loss Clinic’s non-surgical weight loss program to complement progress made with medications.

Heartland Weight Loss Clinic realizes everyone has different sensitivities to COVID-19 exposure and available time for commuting. That’s why our health coaching services are available for participants willing to meet in person or virtually. All participants must begin with an in-person or virtual visit with Heartland Weight Loss Clinic in Cape Girardeau. The on-staff physician or nurse practitioner will evaluate their ability to safely work with the health coach. After that, participants will speak directly with the health coach and express their ability to visit in person or virtually.

Please note, the health coach does not accompany participants during exercise. Activities are prescribed as a plan that the participant will complete independently and report completion back to the health coach.

You can get started with Heartland Weight Loss Clinic’s health coach by calling us at (573) 803-2287 to schedule an in-person or virtual consultation. During the consultation, the physician or nurse practitioner will evaluate your ability to safely work with the health coach. Once you are approved, you will be forwarded to the health coach for scheduling. If you opt to include DNA analysis into your health coaching plan, the health coach will review your DNA analysis with you and develop a customized meal and exercise plan with the results in mind. Of course, participants can decline the DNA analysis and still receive a customized meal and exercise plan, but a plan developed around the results will be more specifically customized for the participant’s needs. From there, you will arrange additional check-ins directly with the health coach.