Would you characterize yourself as a do-it-yourself type of person when it comes to your health and wellness? If you’re like me, you’ve maxed out your free article options on Medium and The New York Times in an attempt to soak in every suggested treatment or women’s story that will help normalize what you’re going through.

Or, are you the type of person who wants to rely on the knowledge and care of a coach, a trainer or a very hands-on doctor? Someone who can walk you through understanding why you’re feeling lousy, then hold your hand through the behavior changes required to get on the other side of it?

I’m a DIYer. I’m super disciplined about what I need to do to adjust a lifestyle behavior for better health, and then I just do it. Some call it Type A. It comes with its pluses and minuses for sure. Sometimes I can be a little impatient and I’m not always coachable…not things that I’m proud to admit.

What type are you?

With the way the health coaching industry is booming, I’d guess that there are a lot of women who want an approach to getting healthy where you don’t have to go it alone. You’ve got a coach, a trainer or a concierge doctor who is there for you when you need someone to keep you accountable and who helps with wellness adherence.

A menopause-certified health coach can be helpful. Book 30 minutes for your personal consultation with a health coach.

Or are you a combo?

You start DIY in the early days but flip to a much-needed relationship (coach, trainer, doctor) to give you  a plan and see you through it?

While I’m typically a DIY when it comes to perimenopause (at this point!), I took the combo approach to running. For my first marathon, I skillfully ripped out the Less is More training from Runners World. And with every marathon thereafter, I would try another plan.

Then I hit a wall. I was super tired and had been diagnosed with Celiac (for a carb-loading runner, hearing that you could not eat pasta or bread prior to a race 10 years ago was sock in the stomach…but then eating pasta and bread was a sock in my stomach, literally).

I knew I had an uphill battle to qualify for the Boston marathon so I enlisted my first running coach. He pushed me to the limits; it was painful, and I dreaded the weekly run I had to do with him, because he’d know if I’d been accountable to the plan.

But I got faster. I got healthier. I hit my goals. And I learned to trust the plan.

There isn’t “a plan” for menopause, but I believe there could be a personalized plan for every woman based on her needs.

Do you agree?

How many of you have a plan related to your menopause symptoms or something similar for weight, strength, mental health or even sleep management? And are you working with a coach, a trainer, or a menopause doctor specialist who is keeping you accountable?

I’m intrigued by the idea of taking the idea of a “running plan and/or coach” and applying it to women’s health in menopause.

If it sounds like something you’re already doing or you’ve seen something like it in the glossy world of menopause solutions, send it my way. jill@gennev.com