Change is hard. But getting healthy doesn’t have to be a solo sport.

Katie Long, NBC-HWC, PNL1-NC
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

I am a National Board Certified Health Coach based in Oakland, California, with more than a decade and a half of experience in the healthcare industry. As a former Division I collegiate swimmer, I work with sports teams and private individuals to promote healthy practices that improve performance and broader wellbeing.

I am a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and Precision Nutrition, and worked for IBDCoach (a virtual health coaching start-up focused on inflammatory bowel disease) before launching my private coaching practice.

My Health Coaching Practice

My health coaching practice is rooted in a fundamental disconnect that I’ve observed in collegiate sports over the years: while student athletes are extremely fit, far too often, they aren’t healthy.

Swimmers, for example, will shave the hair off their entire body just to drop a hundredth of a second off their times. Yet they’ll grab fast food or pull all-nighters just before competitions. They’re taking easy actions that save milliseconds, but are giving away much more.

Unfortunately, really getting healthy requires more than just being told by a coach, trainer, or nutritionist what to do. It’s about doing the hard work of bridging from intention to action. It’s about eating right, paying attention to sleep, managing stress and anxiety, and much more. It’s about building awareness and keeping on track in the midst of the bustle of college life—a time when most students are learning to take care of themselves for the first time.

That's hard for athletes to do on their own. But getting healthy doesn’t have to be a solo sport. It takes support, and it helps to have someone there to keep you on the right path and hold you accountable. And because each individual athlete is so different—from physical makeup and motivations to lifestyle and diet—there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. Each person needs a customized program that is tailored to help them succeed in their own unique circumstances.

To address this, I’ve developed an individualized coaching program that covers nutrition, sleep, anxiety, recovery, and accountability, and I work with student athletes one-on-one to figure out how to consistently incorporate these health fundamentals into their lives. I help clients develop realistic plans for reaching their health goals and provide the ongoing support, motivation, and accountability that is needed to stay on track along the way. In many respects, I serve as a kind of health advisor, support network, and accountability partner all rolled into one.

And I’m out to prove that athletes have much to gain—in their performance and in their lives beyond sport—by intentionally focusing not just on fitness, but also on health.

Health Coaching Services

Health coaching for college sports teams:
3-6 month program

The 3-6 month athletic health coaching program is specifically tailored to college sports teams. While the trajectory of sessions for every person on a team is unique, the program centers around one-on-one coaching to help student athletes develop realistic plans for reaching their health and performance goals, and provides the ongoing support, motivation, and accountability that is needed to help them maximize their performance and stay on track along the way.

Building long-term habits: 6 month program

We’ve often spent a lifetime building up bad habits; shifting to more healthy ones doesn’t happen overnight. The six-month health coaching program focuses on building the foundations of a strong health plan, with an additional period of ongoing accountability, support, and advice to solidify your progress. The program allows us to really identify your bad habits, to develop healthy new ones, to adjust to changes in the seasons and other life transitions, and to learn how to quickly reset and get back on track if you stray from your plan.

Navigating IBD:
6 month program

For people living with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), the pathway to health can be a struggle. IBD medications can reduce inflammation, but they can only get you so far. Then it’s up to you to find the right ways to balance your unique microbiome and repair your gut barrier. As an IBD specialist—and someone living with the disease—I work alongside you and your physician with this six-month program to figure out how to build a lifestyle—eating sleeping, stress reduction, and more—that can help you keep your IBD under control and give you the tools to quickly get back on track after the inevitable flares.

Let's do this!

“I would strongly urge anyone to consider working with Katie, and not let fear or embarrassment stop you. Before starting, I was very nervous because I’ve never worked with a health coach before and am not the ‘healthy type.’ But Katie was always kind and open to what I needed and I’m amazed at what I’ve learned, and most important, the changes I’ve been able to keep up with after the end of my sessions.” -A.S.
“The biggest tangible change I have noticed since beginning the program has been feeling less overwhelmed and stressed with adjusting to life with my diagnosis. Having Katie help me build a good foundation at the beginning of my journey was extremely helpful in this process. Focusing on fueling my body during chemo to keep my body strong in this battle was most important to me and helped me start to decrease my stress.” -K.C.
“Katie is compassionate, wise, fun, encouraging, warm, and a good listener. I’d recommend her to anyone! She helped me get organized around all of the things I need to do to improve my health. Now I have a plan! That's a new concept for me. And I’ve actually noticed that I’m much happier now that I feel like I’m taking responsibility for my health.” -C.M.
“Having Katie check in on me regularly and share practical knowledge and ideas was immensely helpful for accountability and the sense that I was not alone in my challenges.”
-D.B.
“Katie is a genuine, skilled listener who asks for clarification when she wants to be sure she is following her client. She has delightful humor, and is practical in process of steps, keeping them clear and simple. I would recommend Katie to anyone who is seeking accountability and gentle steering in body, mind, health wholeness.” -H.T.
“I would recommend Katie to anyone seeking support and understanding of this complicated, life-long condition [IBD]. I felt listened to, respected, understood, and appreciated. Katie’s a very warm person who really cares, in a way that feels both personal and yet professional. Those qualities—of being heard, respected, etc.—are rare in any circumstance, but especially in this one where patients have to fight so hard for any gains.”
-M.R.
“The biggest tangible change I’ve noticed since beginning the program has been my ability to stop negative thoughts when they arise. The most significant overall change I’ve noticed has been an increase in confidence.” -M.V.
“Katie connected with me each session in such a welcoming, unconditional manner. I felt I was 100% in charge of my vision and how much dedication I wanted to commit was always up to me. Katie encourages a positive and supportive perspective to healthy living.”
-B.H.