As nutrition coaches, we have the privilege of building close relationships with our clients as we help guide them towards their goals - be those related to aesthetics or fat loss goals, performance goals, or goals of optimal health. Along the way, as we work on building a better relationship with food and our habits, we get to share parts of our stories that are relevant to our coaching styles. We’re taking time this year to share more about us, our nutrition journeys and transformations, our road to becoming nutrition coaches and educators, and the amazing clients we have the privilege of working with. 

HOW I BECAME A NUTRITION COACH

Eight years ago, after being beyond frustrated with spending hours in the gym with no visible sign that I spent hours in the gym, I recognized that my food intake was what needed to change. I then worked with two different coaches over the next two years. The experience was enlightening but also brought about a newfound area of interest and passion in health and wellness. I was working in private law practice and left feeling unfulfilled and frustrated, so I made a change in my professional trajectory–moving to nonprofit legal work, as well as becoming a nutrition coach. 

Over the last five years, I’ve been blown away by my experiences coaching hundreds of clients, educating them about nutrition, helping them create sustainable habits, reconnecting them with their bodies, and being their ultimate hype queen.

MY FAVORITE PART OF BEING A NUTRITION COACH

As a parent and very busy professional, I’ve found no greater way to connect with my clients who also find themselves bombarded with all that life places in front of them. Far too often, my clients get caught up in the needs of others – their families, children, and employers. But when we work together, I help them find a way to prioritize and reconnect with themselves. I help them find ways to understand energy balance, where we can work towards changing their body composition, but in such a way that they can not live a deprived life. Rather than making themselves small and their plates meager, I try to provide an environment where they realize that eating enough is a form of self-love and care, one where their hearts and plates can be full. When life already creates so much of a deficit, I want them to feel energized and satiated so they can live their lives and flourish in them.

My clients know that I will always be their biggest hype queen. I will celebrate their wins with them (and point out the ones they don’t see). I’ll shed tears with them when they’re feeling the impact of life and how it impacts their nutrition and wellness. I’ll share my tidbits and experiences to help them realize they’re not alone. We’ll learn and grow together, and they ultimately feel they can take on what’s ahead of them, with me no longer needing to help them.

MY OWN PERSONAL NUTRITION JOURNEY

I once had a very prolific swimming career, which often meant that I could generally eat as many calories without consequence while training 20+ hours per week. When I left the sport, I quickly started to gain weight, trying to maintain or lose weight by working out and running marathons without results. I was frustrated with diets offering quick results but not providing reasonable sustainability. Finally, becoming fed up with "quick fixes," I started flexible dieting. I was looking for nutrition practices to maintain without completely cutting out foods I enjoyed. In one year, I made giant strides in my fitness and relationship with dieting and nutrition.

I've experienced many nutritional opportunities, from body recomposition goals for fat loss or mass gain focusing on athletic performance, intuitive and mindful eating, and overall health and wellness. These experiences, certifications, and a consistent desire to continue learning to help me provide tremendous feedback to my clients. 

Flexibility with my nutrition has helped me realize that there are many seasons to managing life - so I needed to be flexible in my approaches based on my goals. As a result, I help clients with their goals, but also help them transition into other goals or fine-tune their current goals.

Currently, I’m in the midst of trying to support my performance and aesthetic pursuits. As a cycle instructor, I really work to ensure I’m eating enough to support leading three classes a week with ultimate hype energy. Beyond that, I’m also lifting for aesthetics and muscle gain–meaning that I need to keep that protein intake up high. I’m generally eating more for performance and aesthetic goals, meaning that I’m generally eating more at maintenance or a slight calorie surplus to help with building that muscle. Not only is this benefitting my athletic and performance pursuits, but also the calories necessary to meet the demands as an attorney, nutrition coach, cycle instructor, and dad to THE MOST ENERGETIC of toddlers.

MEET MY CLIENT: BETH

Beth initially came to me wanting to lose weight for her wedding about a year before the big day. Beth was a busy professional who LOVED to check out local places to eat and grab a drink or a glass of wine with friends. Each week, Beth would continue to provide valuable feedback with each of her check-ins. She’d share with me what was going on with her professional life — commenting that, for the first time, she started to lose the “cloudy” feeling in her mind while at work. She noted that this was the first time she ever made eating protein this much of a priority and was convinced that the protein and eating enough were actually giving her clarity. And she was right.

Over the next year, Beth continued to see changes in her body composition. And beyond that, she started to understand and appreciate her body. When shopping for some new clothing, she commented, “I finally realized that the issue isn’t with my body. It’s with the clothes. The clothes are the issue–the way they’re manufactured and designed. Not me.”

It was a BEAMING lightbulb moment.

Throughout just over a year, Beth lost nearly 90 pounds. She still enjoyed dining out, drinks with friends, trying new recipes, vacations, and work travel. With each week, she continued gaining a sense of growth and understanding of food and herself. It was a humbling experience to be part of.

Here is what Beth said about her experience with me:

“I truly cannot recommend KLN enough. My weight, body image, and relationship with food have been something I’ve sadly struggled with my entire life. Before working with Zach, I previously tried everything to accomplish my weight loss goals, from various fad diets, cutting carbs, paleo, to severely restricting calories. It seemed like nothing worked or stuck long-term. Ultimately, I was seeking a sustainable fat-loss solution that would also fit my high-stress job and busy lifestyle. But perhaps most importantly, I was committed to the long-term process. I was welcomed to KLN with open arms. Each week, my check-ins with Zach felt like a safe space to share what’s working, what’s been a challenge, and any questions. It’s been immensely beneficial to take the time for introspection and reflection, and a deeper look at what factors are influencing my eating habits as well as the scale. He truly has a wealth of knowledge about nutrition and is one of the most compassionate and supportive people I’ve ever encountered.”

We are committed coaches who work with committed clients and love nothing more than helping our clients find a sustainable approach to nutrition that allows them to work towards their goals without white-knuckling their way through yo-yo diets. Learn more about our KLN team here!