Why I’m Not a Nutritionist Anymore
I’ve been working as a Registered Nutritionist & Health Coach for 5 years and had incorporated nutritional counseling and meal plans into my business as a Personal Fitness Trainer & Bootcamp Company owner for the 5 years previous to that.
Do the math… that’s over 10 years of being a Nutritional Ninja, as some clients have affectionately called me!
Why I decided to become a Nutritionist
I officially became a Nutritionist back in 2012 — a Certified Holistic Nutritionist (CHN) and Registered Nutritional Counselor (RNC) to be more precise, because the term “nutritionist”, as official-sounding as it is, is not actually regulated in BC.
So just about anyone with a background in nutrition can call themselves one – which annoys the shit outta me because I worked really hard and am very proud to call myself one!! Anyway…
I had started the coursework when I was pregnant with my second child in 2011 knowing that once I had two wee ones at home, there would be no resurrecting my once-booming outdoor fitness business.
Besides the fact that my husband and I had decided I would basically be a stay-at-home Mom, chronic back issues also played a big part in my decision to transition from the fitness industry into nutritional counseling.
I needed something that I could do mostly from home but I wanted to still feel really passionate about what I was doing.
I wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and in their health, and positively impact them, as I felt I had been doing with my fitness company.
The answer came easy… I would focus in on the nutrition niche, specializing in women’s health & hormones.
Seeing as I myself had experienced multiple hormonal imbalances over the course of my two pregnancies, it became my mission to not let other women suffer in silence or feel alone in their hormonal health struggles.
My educational path to becoming a Holistic Nutritionist and Nutritional Counsellor
I actually already had a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia (in Vancouver), with a minor in Dietetics & Human Kinesiology (HKin). That’s what first led me to pursue my Fitness Trainer’s certification.
Side note: My B.Sc. degree major is in Marine Biology and I actually thought I was going to swim with dolphins and whales for my “real job”? Yah, you can probably assume how that one turned out! *eye roll*
Then, because we moved our family from Vancouver to Kelowna, BC for my husband’s work as a Clinical Pharmacist, and the fact that I was going to have a toddler and a new baby at home, I decided to complete an online distance education program.
(This was at a time when the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition – CSNN, didn’t yet exist in Kelowna.)
It was a great experience and so much more flexible than other schools & programs that were available at that time.
Through my program at Alive Academy, I received a Diploma in Advanced Nutrition that was complementary to the dietetics coursework I had already done in university, which gave me a good foundation on which to begin building a nutrition consulting practice.
Of course, now there are so many other options out there, and if I were to do it all over again as a health & nutrition professional, I’d become a Naturopathic Doctor — but that’s for another post! LOL.
Tips for Choosing Your Health Coaching or Nutritionist Program
Be sure the program or school you choose is accredited, provides you a designation that can be registered such that you’re able to acquire professional insurance AND includes modules or course work in business, marketing, and even social media.
You will also want to look into, and weigh the pros and cons of whether most insurance companies (or extended health plans) will cover your services in your province, state, or country.
These are all things I wish I had a clue about when I finished my program in 2012. Oh, how things have changed in the last few years!
If you want more info on getting certified in Canada, as well as Holistic Nutrition Associations — check out these comprehensive resources from the Holistic Nutrition Hub!
How To Become A Holistic Nutritionist in Canada: Best 2019 Holistic Nutrition Certifications
Holistic Nutrition Associations In Canada: The Definitive 2019 Guide
Why I’m not a Nutritionist anymore
So, if I had such a positive experience becoming a Holistic Nutritionist and running a successful women’s health & nutrition consulting business… what the heck has changed?!
Well, it’s not that I just gave up my designation – I’ve kept up my registration as a CHN & RNC and still help women with their nutritional challenges when and where I can. I kind of feel compelled to help actually, it’s in my veins!
But, truthfully, I feel like I’ve lost the magic beans that use to fuel my Nutritional Ninja persona. I no longer feel like I am in my “zone of genius” when I’m counseling people on their digestive woes, disgruntled hormones, diet blunders, and meal planning gong shows.
I’ve also decided that 1-to-1 client counseling doesn’t align with all the ways I would not like to shift and grow in my business. That’s why I’m going to be moving to a 1-to-many client model – more on that HERE.
So is that the end of Making Lemonade with Krista Goncalves?
In a way – yes. And, what’s changed the most since taking my last 1:1 nutrition consulting client is the way that I’m helping people and WHO I’m now helping.
But, what gets me really stoked these days is helping other Health Pros to build and grow their businesses — because that’s the kind of support that I wish was available to me when I was a newbie nutritionist!
(i.e. Support for someone who didn’t have the foggiest fig of an idea how to run that type of business — and online business was even foggier!!)
READ: 21 Experts Share The Mistakes To Avoid When Starting A Nutrition Consulting Business
SEPT’ 19 UPDATE: I’ve since refreshed my brand from “Making Lemonade” to KRISTA GONCALVES CO.
I’m now doing copywriting and business clarity coaching for Health Business Owners and Wellness Entrepreneurs.
So, if you are one, or you know of one – be sure to let them know that Krista’s got a brand new bag ‘o lemons baby!
(Don’t you just love entrepreneurial evolution?)
If you’re just getting started and need support…
From a fellow Health Pro who’s been there, done that, and made every mistake there is to make?! LOL.
Writing, personal branding, digital marketing strategies…
Feature image credit: photographer James Frie, pxleyes.com