WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME AN NTP?

My entire life, I was always interested in nutrition and fitness. Despite graduating with a degree in marketing and working as a marketing manager out of college—there was always a desire to do more in the health and wellness realm. After 5 years in the industry, a lightbulb went off. I had spent my entire professional life helping other businesses grow and fulfill their missions. I realized nothing was stopping me from doing the same for myself. I immediately started researching options for nutrition education, and signed up for the next NTA’s program within a few weeks!

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

After doing my research, I eventually decided to go with the Nutritional Therapy Association for a few reasons. First, I loved the coursework. After reviewing the syllabus and required reading, I was incredibly excited about the material. Second, I loved the fact that there were in-person workshops with qualified instructors. All of the other online programs I looked at didn’t have any in-person learning opportunities. For me, learning occurs through repetition and experience, and during the workshops, I had SO many “ah-ha” moments. Lastly was price. While I knew my education was going to require a financial investment, I loved that the NTA made it affordable. Other programs seemed to be incredibly expensive (sometimes double or triple the cost), and didn’t have all the components of the NTA’s programs. [See Noelle’s review post, A Comprehensive Review of the NTA’s Nutritional Therapy Practitioner Program!]

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE PROGRAM AND WHY?

By far—it was the in-person workshops. The hands on learning, getting help from my instructors, and working with other aspiring NTPs were incredible. For me, it’s where the learning truly happened.

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

I’m currently using my education in all facets of my business. While I no longer do one-on-one consultations, I manage an online coaching group (The Coconuts & Kettlebells Coaching Team), which is all made up of nutrition professionals and NTPs that focus on women’s health. People come to my website to work with my team and I pair clients up with the NTPs on my team. I also host a weekly podcast, The Well-Fed Women podcast, where my co-host and I answer questions from listeners. I do various other things, like write articles for my blog, and create products, like Strong From Home, my online home workout program. I also have a book coming out in August of 2018, called Coconuts and Kettlebells: A Personalized 4-Week Food and Fitness Plan for Long-Term Health, Happiness, and Freedom. My desire has always been to help people in a greater capacity, and having a diversified online business has really allowed me to do that! My education from the NTA is the base that I built my business from.

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

My biggest fear was that it was already being done. I saw so many other people serving people in the way I wanted to, and didn’t know if people would be interested in yet another online health and wellness brand. Once I realized that no one was me and that no one could be me—I took the leap of faith.

IS THERE ANY ADVICE YOU CAN SHARE WITH NEW GRADUATES?

Start brainstorming ideas for your business at the beginning of the program (or better yet, beforehand). I find that when people start working on their business ideas while going through the program, their learning experience becomes much more effective because they can envision how they will use it. I began my blog a month before starting the program, and wrote articles as I was learning. This actually helped me learn the information much better, as I was already providing the information to others through blog posts and emails. Because I started exploring how to build my online business while also learning nutrition education, when I graduated from the program, I hit the ground running.

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

Many of my first clients were listeners of my podcast. Because they had already interacted with my brand and podcast, it was amazing to see the mindset and lifestyle changes they had already made by engaging with my free content. I loved working to help people with the more individualized pieces. One reoccurring client in particular I was able to help with chronic digestive issues—all of which were relating to her mindset and how she ate her food.

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

In my early teens and in college, I really struggled with the ups and downs of dieting. It eventually led to body image issues, disorder-eating tendencies, and I eventually got to a place where I could no longer interact with food in a healthful way. I eventually began focusing on quality, and giving my body the nourishment it needed, and I was able to heal and work on other mental and emotional issues. This is largely why I chose the NTA program—the individualized approach to help (free of dieting “rules” and restrictions).

WHAT ARE A FEW OF YOUR GO-TO SNACKS?

I love fresh fruit, Brick or Epic bars, dark chocolate, Simple Mills crackers.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE TREAT OR INDULGENCE?

Coconut Bliss Ice Cream. I consider this an indulgence because of the price. LOL

WHAT’S THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?

MINE! I’m pretty sure I’ve read it 87 times through the editing process. In all seriousness, Back in Control by David Hanscom.

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

JUST DO IT.
Noelle Tarr is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner™ and a National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA®) Certified Personal Trainer. Her kettlebell training comes from StrongFirst®, and she is the creator of the first-of-its-kind home workout program, Strong From Home. She is a host on the fast-growing health and fitness podcast, Well-Fed Women. Her book, Coconuts and Kettlebells: A Personalized 4-Week Food and Fitness Plan for Long-Term Health, Happiness, and Freedom, comes out August 2018. She writes at CoconutsAndKettlebells.com.