Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Claudia Alcantara. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Claudia, thanks for joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

When I look back, there wasn’t one single moment that changed everything—it was a quiet realization that slowly became impossible to ignore.

Early in my career in healthcare, I met countless people struggling with chronic diseases. What struck me wasn’t just the diagnoses—it was the frustration and discouragement they carried. Many had tried every diet and every plan, yet nothing seemed to stick.

I often left those conversations wondering why intelligent, motivated people who genuinely wanted to feel better kept ending up in the same dieting cycle.

At the same time, I was facing my own struggles with food and emotional wellbeing. Food had become comfort, escape, and sometimes punishment. That personal experience forced me to confront something I had never fully considered: maybe the problem wasn’t a lack of willpower or nutrition knowledge. Maybe it was our relationship with food—and with ourselves.

That realization changed the trajectory of my career. I began studying eating psychology, behavior change, and holistic approaches to health. Then, I created Live To Thrive Coaching to help people rebuild trust with their bodies, quiet the noise of food rules, and create sustainable habits that actually fit their lives.

Today, I support people with diabetes and prediabetes in stabilizing blood sugar, managing weight, and feeling in control around food—without extreme diets. Real transformation happens when people feel safe, understood, and supported enough to trust themselves again.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Absolutely! I’m Claudia Alcantara, a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), an Integrative Nutrition Coach trained in lifestyle medicine and eating psychology, and the founder of Live To Thrive Coaching. My passion for health began while working as a medical interpreter (English–Spanish), where I saw firsthand how difficult it can be for patients to maintain healthy habits. Many were navigating diabetes, heart disease, and weight challenges—often overwhelmed by conflicting advice and discouraged by diets that never lasted. Those experiences inspired me to step into health and life coaching to help people create real, sustainable change.

As an NBC-HWC, I specialize in Diabetes Lifestyle Coaching, supporting individuals with Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes who want to improve blood sugar control and lower A1C through practical, sustainable lifestyle shifts. I also offer Emotional Eating & Food Relationship Coaching for those caught in cycles of cravings, overeating, or guilt—helping them rebuild confidence and trust around food without restrictive rules.

What sets my work apart is the integration of health coaching, behavior change science, and eating psychology. I focus not only on what people eat, but how they think and feel about food. When emotions stop driving food choices, habits become sustainable, energy stabilizes, and long-term metabolic health improves.

I collaborate closely with physicians, dietitians, and wellness professionals to provide lifestyle support that complements medical care. I’m most proud when clients who once felt stuck or discouraged begin to experience freedom with food, confidence in their choices, and a renewed sense of empowerment.

My mission is to empower people with the understanding, support, and tools they need to transform their health and thrive with confidence.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

A moment that truly reflects my resilience was the decision to leave my home country and start a new life in the United States. It meant leaving behind my family, my career, and the comfort of everything familiar. I didn’t have a clear roadmap—only a strong pull toward growth and a life with more purpose.

The transition was humbling. I had to learn a new language, adapt to a different culture, and rebuild my sense of belonging from the ground up. There were days when the uncertainty felt overwhelming, but each challenge pushed me to grow in ways I never expected.

As I began to find my footing, I stepped into the healthcare world as a medical interpreter. That role opened my eyes to the emotional and practical struggles people face with their health, and it quietly reshaped the direction of my life. It sparked a curiosity—and eventually a calling—that led me back to school to study nutrition, behavior change, and the psychology of eating.

Piece by piece, I built a new path that ultimately led me to become the coach I am today. Looking back, resilience wasn’t about being fearless or having everything figured out. It was about choosing to keep moving, even when the next step felt uncertain.

That same spirit is what I now help my clients cultivate—trusting themselves, navigating change with compassion, and discovering what’s possible when they don’t give up on their own growth.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Beyond training, the qualities that matter most in my field are curiosity, empathy, and a genuine respect for each person’s individuality. No two people live in the same body or carry the same history, so no two paths to health will ever look identical.

Health is not one-size-fits-all. Each person brings their culture, beliefs, family history, and lived experiences into every choice they make around food and self‑care. What feels supportive and energizing for one person might feel overwhelming or restrictive for someone else. That’s why honoring bio‑individuality isn’t just helpful—it’s essential.

Empathy is what makes that possible. It means listening deeply, without judgment, and to meet people where they are, rather than where we think they “should” be. In my work, this often means acknowledging how deeply culture and family traditions shape someone’s relationship with food. Food is not just fuel—it’s identity, connection, comfort, and history.
When empathy and bio-individuality guide the process, the strategies we create together become sustainable. People feel supported instead of pressured, understood instead of evaluated.

In the end, success in this field isn’t just about sharing information—it’s about creating a space where people feel safe, respected, and empowered to build a way of living that truly supports their wellbeing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ilivetothrive.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livetothrive_coaching
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudia-alcantara-ltt/

Image Credits

Personal photo taken by photographer: Samantha Levi