Description of you: Andrea is a functional nutrition & body confidence coach who works with women to help them create a lifestyle that heals the body from the inside out, often starting with the gut. She also works with her clients to mend the relationship they have with their bodies and how they take care of themselves. Because body confidence isn’t just a buzz word, its an achievable feel-it-in-your-bones goal for everyone, with the right approach and strategic practice.
Andrea also owns a jewelry company called Jac & Violet. Named after her feisty grandmothers – Jacqueline & Violet, each collection is a tribute to a powerful woman who inspires Andrea – friends, family, artists, legends, and movers & shakers that live (or have lived) boldly in their own truth, love fiercely, and are a gift to the worlds they influence.
Shop Jac & Violet here.
Andrea, what do you do for your clients? She also works with her clients to mend the relationship they have with their bodies and how they take care of themselves. Because body confidence isn’t just a buzz word, its an achievable feel-it-in-your-bones goal for everyone, with the right approach and strategic practice.
Before we break all that down and talk about skin health and stress eating, can you tell me how you got into this line of work?
HOW:
- Registered and Licensed Dietitian (Curious about the difference between a dietitian and nutritionist? Read more here.)
- Master’s in Public Health in Human Nutrition from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.
- Bachelor’s in Science in Exercise Science from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.
- Working towards becoming a Certified Integrative & Functional Nutrition Practitioner through the Integrative & Functional Nutrition Academy. (Learn more about integrative and functional medicine here.)
- I have worked with other 3,000 individuals, both in one-on-one and group settings, to create successful long-term behavior change that results in better health and wellbeing.
- I have worked with organizations ranging size from 40 to 200 people to create corporate wellness and wellbeing programs the engage each and every employee in a profound way.
- Fun fact: I am also a Certified Group Fitness Instructor through the American Council on Exercise.
That is so much! Can you tell me more about your WHY behind it all:
- Struggled with body image growing up
You have this Brene Brown quote on your Instagram that I (Sam) absolutely love. It says “Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we are supposed to be and embracing who we really are” and that resonates with me on so many levels, because depending on the area of life my “supposed to be” is different. I want to be seen a certain way at work, at home, and even in the mirror. So let’s talk about weight.
How do you get your clients to unwrap their minds around the idea that they need to look a certain way?
Point 1: So many women come to me looking to lose all sorts of weight before their wedding. And while I totally understand where this is coming from, this goal can often lead to MORE stress on your body and mind during your wedding planning, which is the last thing anyone needs. Fad diets, super restrictive eating, outrageous workout schedules. None of this actually makes you FEEL good during your wedding planning, which is stressful enough. I like to change the focus to skin health and body confidence because honestly, these are the things that are going to make you truly radiant on your big day.
How?
Point 2: Focusing your efforts on skin health – glowing, radiant skin – and, in general, feeling good in it, requires healing. Which requires slowing down, often healing the gut, healing the relationship we have with our bodies
Does this include our relationship with food? I stress eat A LOT, so do I need to heal the relationship with my body or with food or just figure out a new coping mechanism?
Stress eating just feels good – it feels like coming home. It takes work but you can move through it with a feeling of abundance versus deprivation. Recreate the relationship with your body and let it begin by taking so much pressure off of thinking you need “the perfect body” on your wedding day. Because your partner certainly doesn’t care about that and the people that love you certainly do not care about that. What they care about is seeing you happy, confidently stepping into this next season of your lives together. And you know what doesn’t make a person feel and look happy…super restrictive dieting, stressful workout routines, and obsessing over weight and size.
So what are some practical tips would you suggest to help skin health and stress eating? And how will she know when it’s working?
Point 3: Also, when you learn what your body needs to support better skin health, it’s amazing what other good stuff can happen – better digestion, fewer headaches, less bloating, more energy, more stress resilience, and even, yes, weight loss. And doing the work to learn to see and appreciate your body in different ways has a much longer-lasting effect than torturing it for a couple of months.
Closing Thoughts: So if you are in the throes of wedding planning and “lose weight” is at the top of your to-do list (and let’s be realistic, its been lingering there for a while), I challenge you to take a step back and ask yourself what you are really wanting for yourself on your wedding day (and long after). If its to look and feel beautiful and confident and radiant, honey, you don’t need to lose weight to do that. Do the deeper work towards skin health, your relationship with your body, and stress eating, and you won’t have to fake it, you will just own it.
Instagram: @dietitianandrea
Facebook: @dietitianandrea
Website – www.dietitianandrea.com
