We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andie Otto. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andie below.

Andie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your professional career?

Like many people, I took my first job out of college in a field I hadn’t exactly pictured for myself—sales at a large luxury car dealership. What could have been a stereotypical car dealer environment turned out to be the opposite. The leadership was compassionate, service-oriented, and genuinely invested not only in the client experience but also in the growth and development of its employees. That in itself was a valuable lesson about the impact of leadership culture.

But the lesson that has stayed with me the most came from something one of our managers would say in our Wednesday morning meetings: “You get what you think about.” My 22 year old self heard the words but I didn’t really understand them on an embodied level. I just embraced the surface meaning of having a positive mindset.

As I moved through and out of that career, had a family, started a new career trajectory, those words – that had once been seeds – really began to take root and to grow under the light of my life experiences. “You get what you think about” grew from merely meaning “stay positive”, to the deep understanding that we truly shape our own reality with our perspective. Our brains can either work for us, or against us, and how we choose to think about the circumstances in and of our lives – things we deem good as well as those that we label as bad – determines the very quality of our lives and our ability to achieve success in any endeavor. Neuroscience now backs this up—our brains are wired to filter for what we focus on. If we dwell on the negative, our minds will look for evidence to confirm it. If we choose a constructive perspective, we begin to see opportunities and solutions we might otherwise overlook.

That simple mantra has shaped not just how I approach my own life, but also how I support others in my professional work. It’s a reminder that mindset isn’t just a soft skill; it’s a powerful tool that drives success, resilience, and fulfillment.

Andie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, certified by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine as both a Lifestyle Medicine Coach and a Diabetes Remission Specialist. I’m also a Perimenopause Coach and Holistic Nutrition Specialist.

My work is rooted in Lifestyle Medicine—the powerful, evidence-based approach that uses nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, social connection, and avoidance of risky substances to both prevent and reverse chronic conditions. I came to this work by unraveling my own health story and realizing that wellness is never just about diet and exercise—it’s about how we live, think, and engage with our own bodies every day. Over the past decade, I’ve studied neuroscience, psychology, nutrition, and habit change to help people move from exhaustion and frustration into confidence and vitality.

The clients I work with often arrive feeling stuck: overwhelmed by conflicting advice, battling chronic symptoms, or discouraged after trying “everything” without lasting results. For some, it’s managing diabetes or metabolic health. For others, it’s navigating weight loss or the physical and emotional changes of menopause. The common thread is this: they’re tired of just surviving, and they want a clear, hopeful path to thriving. My role is to take the science and make it doable—tailoring strategies to each person’s unique lifestyle, resources, brain wiring, and readiness for change.

That’s exactly where lifestyle medicine and coaching intersect. In my Tired to Thriving talks, I share a message that also runs through my private work: symptoms aren’t the enemy, they’re signals—your body asking for change. When we respond with lifestyle shifts instead of quick fixes, we create a healing trajectory that not only reduces symptoms but builds long-term health, energy, and resilience. This process is deeply individualized, so clients aren’t forced into rigid programs—they’re supported in creating sustainable changes that truly fit their lives.

What sets me apart is the way I combine professional expertise, lived experience, and compassionate coaching. I don’t just hand people a plan; I walk with them as they learn to reframe challenges, build sustainable habits, and trust themselves again. And because I believe so strongly in the power of education, I also speak and teach for free in my community and around the country. My passion is making sure people have access to this knowledge—so they can see that change is possible and that they are capable of creating it.

What I’m most proud of is watching clients move from frustration to empowerment. Yes, their blood sugar stabilizes, their hot flashes lessen, or their weight comes down—but the deeper transformation is that they rediscover energy, confidence, and the belief that they can thrive at any stage of life. That’s the heart of my work, and the reason I do it.

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

Other than training and knowledge, I think the most important skill in my field is truly listening—not listening to respond, but listening to understand. A client is the expert on their own life, and my job is to create a space where they feel safe to explore, reflect, and discover. Often, just hearing themselves reflected back allows them to find their own solutions.

Listening this way goes beyond surface-level conversation. It’s about uncovering the deeper layers—the stories, beliefs, strengths, values, and mindsets that shape their experiences. When clients feel seen, heard, and safe, meaningful change becomes possible. My role isn’t to dictate what they should do; it’s to hold space, ask thoughtful questions, and help them translate insight into action.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think what’s helped me build a reputation in my market is a combination of being evidence-based and client-centered. My work is rooted in lifestyle medicine, so I help people understand why they are experiencing what they are, rather than just offering quick fixes or following the latest social media trend. I never want to prey on someone’s frustration or desperation for results.

Another key factor is that I don’t position myself as an “authority” telling clients what to do. I approach every client as a partner. While I help them build knowledge around their wellness path, the process is always collaborative—not prescriptive or directive.

I also offer classes and workshops for free because I want people to see me as a resource, not just someone trying to sell a service. Sharing knowledge openly builds trust and allows people to engage with me and the work before ever becoming a client. This combination of evidence, collaboration, and accessibility has been central to building my reputation

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.nourishedservices.com
• Instagram: @andie_nourishedllc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andieotto/
• Other: Substack: https://thenourishedpath.substack.com/

Image Credits

Noah Katz; Kai Holloway