WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN NTP/NTC?

I started to dig into my own health concerns and discovered a whole world I never knew was out there. Once I saw how much there was to learn, I was hooked. I loved learning about the holistic approach to wellness and slowly started to see what I thought was a hobby, become a glimpse into my future. I decided that what I really wanted for my career was to create my own journey and be my own boss doing what I love.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHY YOU CHOSE NTA FOR YOUR HOLISTIC NUTRITION EDUCATION?

I chose the NTA because I wanted something I could commit to, but in a way that was, “on my own terms”.  I liked that the NTA was mostly online, kept you on a track to finish, but didn’t seem overwhelming or something I had to clock in for daily. I did this while having both a full time and then a part-time job, so flexibility was key. I was also drawn to the whole food approach because for me, I knew that was going to be how I could best teach people about health and wellness. Everyone eats food! It’s not rocket science, it just makes sense.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND WHY?

My favorite part was meeting the people that I did. We all refer to ourselves now as a “tribe”, and that is really what we are. We started out being just people in the same room for 3-4 days straight, totally geeking out about all things nutrition, then slowly with every inspiring and touching story, the walls broke down and we were immediately family. At the end of the course, I couldn’t have expected such a strong bond to have formed. I am lucky to have some of the most amazing lifelong friends that I am so grateful for.

HOW ARE YOU CURRENTLY USING THE EDUCATION YOU RECEIVED THROUGH THE NTA?

I started my own business seeing private and corporate clients. I provide programs and protocols to assist them in achieving their health goals. My passion is to assess each individual using the bodies’ innate intelligence and to restore balance and wellbeing to their life.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE.

I see individuals and consult with them mostly on a 1 or 3 month basis. We meet in person or via skype weekly. Aside from restoring balance from a nutritional perspective, I also help them to use food in a way that is fun and accessible to them. Food is more than just medicine; it is a way of living. I try and provide my clients the tools they need to succeed after our time together. I also work with corporate businesses and provide informative and interactive workshops so they can learn how to keep their productivity optimal and their body’s thriving.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE ANY OBJECTIONS YOU HAD TO OVERCOME BEFORE STARTING THE PROGRAM OR YOUR BIGGEST FEAR BEFORE TAKING THE LEAP?

The biggest fear I had was that nutrition was so far removed my corporate job and career path thus far. I was an interior designer and went to college for Real Estate Development / Architecture. I thought, “What if I take this program and can’t figure out how to use it? Was I for sure going to abandon the corporate world?” I didn’t know. Or, even if it was just a learning experience, would it be enough to help me understand my own health concerns? Of course both of those things happened and I regret nothing. I am so grateful for the chance I took on myself. Everything happens for a reason if you trust the journey.

IS THERE ANY ADVICE YOU CAN SHARE WITH NEW GRADUATES?

Yes, don’t be afraid to just GET OUT THERE! Your business model, your expertise, your business name, logo, office space, website, everything else, is going to happen. It will change and evolve as you do. You do not need to have it all figured out. BUT! I will say, try and work on as much of the business side of things as you can as you go through school. I was teaching corporate workshops way before I graduated because I knew I had something to offer. When you are done with school you are going to want to hit the ground running so set up a small platform to launch from when that moment comes. Don’t graduate and then think, “Hmm, now what?” Just DO. You are enough.

WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE CLIENT SUCCESSES THUS FAR?

The clarity and focus in addition to how well people feel after working together has been amazing. Seeing clients become better at their passion or job just because their bodies are functioning optimally is amazing. It’s almost like a secret benefit that even they didn’t even see coming. If I told my Author client that I was going make her a better writer at the end of this, I think we both would be like, “Ya ok”, but that happened. When she told me that it put the biggest smile on my face.

WERE THERE ANY HEALTH CHALLENGES YOU WERE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCING PRIOR TO ENROLLING IN THE PROGRAM?

Absolutely. I had recently been informed that I had Hashimotos. While I have no physical symptoms, for which I am grateful, when one thing is off in the body, it’s a fair assumption that other things might be as well. I had gone to a few doctors to get their take on what to do. The answer was immediately, “Medication for the rest of your life”, with zero suggestions on how to change diet and lifestyle in order to support my body. I remember one doctor literally saying, “Food has nothing to do with anything and cannot help you”. This was when I took matters into my own hands and began to listen to a million podcasts, read a ton of books, found the NTA and became intrigued. I looked into all of my options and revamped the way I saw food. I got rid of the things that wouldn’t serve me and included more nourishing, healing, and anti-inflammatory foods to support a healthy body. My idea of what food can do is drastically different from what I thought before. Food is medicine and it can be used therapeutically to restore balance to the body. The other half of the equation to being truly healthy though, is managing stress and the expectations you have for what it means to be perfect. There is no perfect, it’s just about being happy in your own skin. While I have done a lot of healing so far thanks to my education and diligence, imbalanced hormones are still my weakness. This is the other half to my struggles, due to Hashimotos and probably the stress I had put on my body in my past. This is probably the hardest thing for me talk about. Even though I am now a health professional, I still don’t have all my own issues and imbalances figured out. Sometimes I think, “How can I help others if I can’t heal myself?” But, having the knowledge I have now is 10,000 times closer to getting my body back in balance compared to where I would be without my education. I also know that I can help so many people because I am going through this in my own body. It’s a lot of trial and error and I know that I can vouch for knowing the many avenues to finding wellness. Everyone is different, everyone has their own path. I would have made a lot of poor decisions and taken doctors misguided advice that would have set me back even further, had I not learned about how the body works as a whole. I am grateful for my journey and know that it lead me to this profession and life that I am now designing for myself. I really look forward to more of my own success stories that I can share. Even though I am not “fixed”, who ever really is? I have had a LOT of wins already J

WHAT ARE A FEW OF YOUR GO-TO SNACKS?

Simple Mills Crackers, Nut Butter, Jackson’s Honest, Sweet Potato Chips, Elemental Superfoods Bar

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE TREAT OR INDULGENCE?

Paleo Style Cookie or Brownie Skillet! Recipe on my website J Or Hu Kitchen / Eating Evolved Chocolate

WHAT’S THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?

Books for NTA! Currently reading “Woman Code” by Alisa Vitti

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO IS THINKING ABOUT BECOMING AN NTP/NTC?

DO IT! It will change your life in ways that you least expect it. Whether you are taking the program for professional reasons or personal, the people you meet and the self-discovery that happens is life altering. I couldn’t have picked a better program and I am so grateful for the foundations that it built for me. To learn more about Allie and her practice, visit her website: www.barefoodnutrition.com