We were lucky to catch up with Teresa Guglielmo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Teresa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

After many years working as a coach and trainer, I have found that one major piece of advice rings true. That is, you have to find what works for YOU. Many clients come to me thinking that they need to do things a certain way, or should be doing better in certain areas, but we quickly determine that they may be trying to fit their lives into a certain mold, instead of creating their own wellness plan that supports their lifestyle. While of course we can all make certain adjustments and changes that may not be initially easy per se, it’s much more effective to treat lifestyle change as an experiment as opposed to a rigid set of rules. By allowing this flexibility, there is much less stress, disappointment, and guilt. This goes for all areas; nutrition, fitness, relationships, career, and overall lifestyle habits.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a certified nutritionist, health coach, and personal trainer and I’m currently in school for my Master’s degree in nutrition. Over many years in the health and wellness field, I have realized that I just love nutrition and helping others learn more, and improve their nutrition habits. This goes hand in hand with health coaching, where I am able to be that support system and partner for those working towards a healthier lifestyle. I want my clients, and anyone else, to know that I truly do care about their success and progress, and I will always give my best to them. I am committed to their success, even if they aren’t quite there themselves, yet.

I first got into health as a personal trainer in 2014, mainly because of personal reasons and realizing how much I loved fitness. Since then, I have worked with hundreds of people from all walks of life and in many different settings. I am absolutely a people person, so I really enjoy the interaction and relationships that come from working with others. I help my clients in a multitude of ways, whether it’s 1:1 in-person personal training, virtual health coaching, or as a nutrition coach. I also have a book, The Wellness Compass (on Amazon) that I wrote to help others with the basics of fitness and nutrition.

In 2018, I produced The FNL Journal, which is a planner-style journal for women to help them create balance between their physical and mental health. The inspiration for this journal came from my own experience in the fitness industry (bodybuilding competition prep, specifically), and many of the challenges that arose from that (eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and anxiety and depression). This journal is something I’m extremely proud of, and I love sharing it with anyone who may benefit from it!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The main lesson I had to unlearn was the dogma around nutrition, especially as a fitness professional. For years I was bound by rules and restriction and guilt pertaining to food, and that took many more years to break free from. This is part of why I am so passionate about nutrition- I want others to understand that there is no “good” or “bad,” “right” or “wrong” when it comes to food. There is so much more to food than just calories, or macros, and by respecting and understanding that I believe we can build a much more healthy and fulfilling relationship with food.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Building relationships, 100%. And when I say that, I don’t mean building relationships with the idea of, “What can I get from this person?” I mean building relationships with the thought, “How can I support this person” or “Who is this person, and how can I get to know them on a non-superficial level?” People can see through inauthenticity, and nobody likes it. If you try to build your business based on what you can get out of other people, you won’t do well. Build a community that is based on true support, and excitement, and respect for each other and it will really make a difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.fnlhealth.com
• Instagram: fnlhealth
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teresa-guglielmo-357b07194/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxEH69l80LtfKZcmgi6N0Kw
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/fnl-health-personal-training-san-diego-2

Image Credits
Leslie Martinez Debra Allison