We recently connected with Nicole Ellis and have shared our conversation below.
Nicole, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
My weight loss journey has been filled with ups and downs. I’ve battled the yo-yo, the roller coaster, emotional eating, and more as it relates to losing weight. I even silently suffered with an eating disorder as a teenager due to my distorted view of what a healthy weight looked like.
Fit For a Purpose, LLC., (F.4.A.P). was actually birthed DURING the journey of finding balance in four key areas; spiritual, mental, emotional and physical, more importantly finding myself. There were times I wanted to give up. I felt like my labor was in vain! I didn’t want to eat right, exercise, drink water, read the Bible, manage my emotions or mind my manners. I just wanted to do me and if the scale tipped, oh well.
However, between 2011 – 2013, I went on to lose over 90lbs through a proper diet, exercise and a dynamic support system. I received the vision for the company in April 2011 and started F.4.A.P., a spiritual health and wellness coaching company, on August 2013. While I was working on myself, I began working with 8 women who trusted me to coach them and they lost over 100lbs combined in six months.
At F.4.A.P. we believe that we were all created for a purpose and must be fit in order to carry out our purpose. The foundation scripture is Romans 8:28 NKJV “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
I am grateful that I didn’t allow my current condition at the time keep me from my purpose.
Nicole, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Well, I am Nicole L. Ellis, MBA, PMP, aka Coach Nik E. “Your Favorite Coach!” I am a Christian, a wife, a mother of three, an author, a poet, a minister of dance, actress, director, an entrepreneur and a business woman. I am the owner of Fit for a Purpose, LLC, the President of Prideful Products Inc., (a non-profit that helps people who are experiencing homelessness or low income obtain personal hygiene products), and a highly sought after speaker and facilitator.
My journey began as the middle child in a family led by a Pastor. I grew up in the church and developed my faith at a very young age. My faith and self-esteem was challenged when at the age of 16, I became pregnant with my first daughter. This time in my life proved difficult for me and I struggled to complete high school and then finish college as a single parent. However, I persisted, and not only graduated from college in 2003 but also received my MBA later in 2012 as a mother of two and a wife.
I am now the mother of three dynamic children, and the recipient of the ACHI Award for the 2016 & 2019 Woman of Influence and the 2016 Lifestyle Change Award in Hampton Roads, VA. I was named the CMI Renaissance Woman of the Year in 2023
I draw all of my inspiration from the Lord and describe my faith as “on steroids” as I work diligently to balance my family, career and ministry.
I am bold, authentic and affectionately known as “Sunshine”. When people follow me, they get a friend and someone who knows the highs and lows of weight lost. When people follow me, they get transparency and fun.
After losing over 90lbs, I got pregnant with our youngest daughter and had to start my wellness journey over. I was depleted, unmotivated and discouraged. I would have some success over the years, but manly lacked the drive to push forward.
In January 2020, a life altering event happened when my dad passed away unexpectedly at the age of 60. The pandemic kicked into gear shortly after that. I was having a hard time maneuvering through this space of grief and gained nearly 30lbs in 5 months. I was 283.3lbs in June 2020 and I am only 5 feet 3.5 inches tall. I was slowly killing myself with food.
One day, I decided I wanted to LIVE and my dad would want me to live too. I got connected with a dynamic coach and program and lost 126.5lbs in 10 months eating clean and taking natural supplements. I’m grateful to say that I’m maintaining my weight loss and have gone on to help over 350 people to do the same in the past four years.
When people follow me, they get a coach who has experienced and continues to experience life, yet I find a way on the other side of challenges and I help inspire, motivate and encourage others to do the same.
Finally, I am poised to walk into any opportunity the Lord presents. I am confident and self-aware, understanding that I am a polka-dot in a plaid world knowing the importance of imparting wisdom, encouragement, inspiration and love in others. I work to provide opportunities to let my light shine bright on others, living to make a difference in this world and to leave a legacy of empowerment and love for her family and friends.
People can follow me or contact me:
Coach Nik E.
757-751-0580
FB @nicolelellis2
IG @nicolelellis14
Subscribe to Coach Nik’s Purposefully Fit Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/purposefully-fit/id1531919433
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I believe my reputation in the health and wellness market has been built on a foundation of authenticity and consistency. I’m not new to this; I’m true to this. Over time, people have followed my journey and seen that I am real. I’ve been consistent with my social media presence, regularly posting and going live so my audience can see and hear me directly. This transparency has allowed them to connect with me beyond just words—they know they’re getting the genuine article.
When people meet me in person, they see the same person they see online. I don’t put on a fake façade; what you see is what you get. My biggest advice to anyone looking to make a mark is to be consistent and authentic. You can change your products and services, but never change your true self. People can detect inauthenticity, and they won’t stick around if they sense a fraud.
Remember, you are the product, no matter what you offer. Your brand, your name, and your character are what you’re really selling. It’s crucial to discover and embrace who you truly are, so you can offer your audience the best version of yourself. I believe people follow me because they see a reflection of themselves in my journey, and they know they’re getting someone who is 100% genuine.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I first started, I didn’t fully know what I was doing, so I launched a pilot program with about eight women and made things up as I went along. That initial experience was a learning curve for me. From the group pilot program, I began offering one-on-one programs at a very low price, and I stuck with that same structure for a while—never pivoting on the price or the way I delivered my services. However, it was extremely time-consuming because it relied heavily on my individual involvement, making it neither duplicable nor sustainable.
As I connected with other entrepreneurs and gained more insight, I learned the importance of creating systems, utilizing automation, and offering products and services that didn’t require constant one-on-one engagement. While I still offer a level of personalized coaching, it looks very different today. I was willing to pivot and adjust the way I structured my program to make it more sustainable.
Right now, I’m in the process of rebranding and restructuring my former programs. My goal is to make them more automated and self-paced, while still giving participants the connection and accessibility they need from me as a coach. This pivot has allowed me to create a more balanced and efficient business, without compromising the value I offer to my clients.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.iamnike.com/
- Instagram: @nicolelellis14
- Facebook: @nicolelellis2
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/nicole-ellis-mba-pmp-60194a39
- Other: Coach Nik E.
757-751-0580Subscribe to Coach Nik’s Purposefully Fit Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/purposefully-fit/id1531919433
Image Credits
Photo credits:
Roslyn Gervin Photography
CSharp Music & Media, LLC.