Coach of the Year
Recently named WW Wellness Coach of the Year 2018, Siobhan Day tells us why she loves her work so much, and how her life has changed for the better since she rst joined WW as a member in 2005
Wellness coach of the year, Siobhan Day, shares how WW helped her change her lifestyle completely and the amazing feeling she gets from seeing the changes in the members she now coaches
“In 2000, I came back to Ireland after being in Australia, and I weighed my heaviest ever. I managed to lose a stone here and put on a stone there, but then eventually, I decided enough was enough. I joined WW in 2005 and went on to lose three and a half stone. I didn’t just change my eating habits, I changed my lifestyle. I started by joining a running club, then a triathlon club, and then a swimming club! It’s easy to get addicted to it when you’re surrounded by like-minded people; there is so much camaraderie and craic. I have twin boys, aged 9, and they are now part of the Junior Triathlon Club, and my husband has taken up doing duathlons, so it’s a family affair. I remember when I first started at WW, I was solely focused on losing weight, but it’s not just about what you eat any more, we now know how important it is to take care of your mental and physical well-being too. Taking up exercise is a big part of that, and when you start to feel better in yourself, and eat good, healthy food, the rest will look after itself. It was an easy decision for me to become a WW Coach. I had travelled the road myself and I knew how much it meant to me, so it felt very natural and easy to link in and help people who had the same goal. Often, when a new member walks into the studio, I can see they are down and their confidence and self-esteem are low. They need to know that I understand where they are because I’ve been there myself, and they need to hear that it’s going to be okay. I feel that the more empathy and understanding I can give to my members, the more they can achieve. I run workshops in Mayo and Galway, including four early morning Saturday workshops in Galway City, and the level of motivation and commitment is incredible. I see around 250 people a week in my workshops and every single one has their own unique personal story. It is a great privilege to me to share in those stories, and it’s lovely that they feel happy to confide in me.
I see people going from a point where they can hardly look me in the eye to truly blossoming. It’s wonderful to witness that. 2018 was a brilliant year for me, I worked really hard and saw such amazing changes in my members. Winning Coach of the Year was like winning a gold cup: the absolute pinnacle for me. It’s so lovely to be rewarded and acknowledge by my members and colleagues.”