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New Year, New Goals

Person standing on weight scale for take charge of your health campaign

Keith Ching, a 77-year-old Vietnam infantry Veteran, yearned to get back into shape. He didn’t need to get back to the 130 push-up days of his youth, but he wanted to live a healthy and long life where he could keep up with his family.

Ching first learned of Whole Health Coaches at Move!, a weight management program he was attending offered by VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VASNHCS). Coaches could help him decide on specific goals that were measurable and provide resources and structure to help him reach them.

Ching knew much of his success in the military stemmed from structure. To him a coach was the perfect solution, someone to not only encourage him and find resources so he could succeed but to also hold him accountable. That someone was Samuel Mitrovich, an Army Veteran himself and VA Navigator who helps Veterans navigate the VA and their Whole Health plan.

“Sam is a positive force and a Veteran who understands other Veterans,” Mr. Ching said. As the new year fast approaches and people start determining what New Year’s resolutions they will strive for, a Whole Health Coach is a great resource to help you create manageable goals with a self-imposed structure. The goals don’t need to relate to your physical health either; new hobbies, giving back or nearly any interest can become a goal.

“Whole Health goes beyond traditional health care and centers on what matters to the individual Veteran. We want to help Veterans be more involved in their health care and as a result, more proactive rather than reactive in their care.” Mitrovich explained.

Though a Whole Health Coach can be an accountability partner, Mitrovich says they can also be there for support, leaving the Veteran to be accountable to themselves. An initial meeting will typically include talking about what goals a Veteran wants to achieve and why they want to focus on those goals, why those goals matter. They’ll then work to make the goal Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-based, also known as a S.M.A.R.T. goal. Mitrovich tries to meet with each Veteran weekly, determining what short-term goals can be completed in that time to help the Veteran achieve their overall goal.

Mr. Ching encourages all Veterans to let VASNHCS support you and your goals as you venture into the new year. Veterans can reach a VASNHCS Whole Health Coach through a phone queue at 775-785-7230 and they’ll be contacted by a staff member within the next two business days. “No matter where you come from, you can succeed,” Mr. Ching said.

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