We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brittany Wickens a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Brittany, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Over the course of your career, have you seen or experienced your field completely flip-flop or change course on something?
Over the course of 10 years in the fitness industry I have been part of a great wellness “U-turn”. The coming of scientific findings, new wellness practices and the human necessity of doing things sustainably has become more normal than ever before. My second big experience in fitness was a bodybuilding competition where the coach I had, led me down a path of perfection or nothing and it caused a lot of mental distress. After I gained a lot of weight post competition, I knew there had to be an easier way and found the information about counting macro-nutrients and started my journey to create a better way with those I helped. It has been a pleasure re-educating people over the last decade and helping other create the realities they desire without and all or nothing mentality. Cultivating lives that both look good and feel good!
Brittany, 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?
It’s sappy but I came into this industry in a time where God rearranged my life. I was in the medical industry for 5 years and thought that I would be a nurse professionally. However after I did a bodybuilding show and gained 26 pounds (In ONE month), after losingONLY 6 pounds to do the show, I was mentally a wreck and was not content in my position drawing blood. I was very good at what I did. Accurate and soft handed in drawing blood, I knew I had passion to love others but I often got in trouble for spending too much time with patients. I’m not one to excuse a person crying (and often that happens when people are in the midst of medical procedures where they may be diagnosed with something). I had just been promoted to a “lead” or trainer with my team for my people and procedural skills but out of nowhere, (and this is year I see God), I lost my job because the State of California didn’t renew my license on time. It got done about 3 weeks later and they offered me to come back but in that off time, I was in a season of being lost myself and I prayed. I had gained 26 pounds and felt completely lost because I didn’t know how to get back to feeling whole. I knew there were hundreds and thousands of women who felt the same. I grew up in California, a culture where woman are gaslit into thinking we need to look a certain way and be able to be “a boss”. I was tired. I asked Creation in that time what to do and I felt called to show woman an easier and sustainable way to get where they want to be. So, short story long, I created my business out of knowing there was a need for a better way.
My offerings currently include Nutritional Life Transformation, Post-Program Check-Ins, Progressive Overload Training and Lifestyle Training. Although there are MANY different things weaved throughout working with me that transcend this. Not because I think I’m so cool but because I know that whatever created us, made us back animals and we are better together. I cultivate an environment in the gym based around progress, sustainability and a growth mindset. I try to save space for women at all levels because I understand that conquering the fear of ones physical reality can be completely transformational all the way through the soul. I grew up thinking my body was actually different than my peers and that I was thicker because of genetics. And although genetics can play a role in body composition, I used that as an excuse to be unaccountable to the foods I put in my body. When I was fed up at my physical reality and wanted to change, I found a way. After realizing it WAS INDEED POSSIBLE for me to create the body of my dreams, I realized that so many things in life are simply a puzzle; beautiful pictures waiting to be put together.
I’m most proud that I haven’t quit in my endeavor to build what women need in this industry. A science based approach to manifesting the life we want. A container where I can hold every individuals feelings on their journey sacred while challenging any limiting beliefs they have so they can move through their current state and into a body they love more. I don’t tell people what their goals should be. That’s subjective. While there are some obvious medical benefits to not being obese, making sure you exercise and choosing foods that offer vitamins and minerals, it’s not my job to tell others when they should feel good. As women (and people in general), we push our happiness into the future often by creating stories in our head that goes like “I’ll be happy when I’m “X” weight, or when I have “this” car”. I have pride that in an industry that is normally driven by performance goals and deadlines, I make sure to take the time with people to re-frame their minds around “goals”. Last year in fact I got certified as a Behavioral Change Specialist because I have realized the deep need for sustainability to be incorporated into this field. I never want anyone to leave feeling like I walked them down a path that got darker. I could geek out and go on for a while but the bottom line is, I know a lot of science, but I love others more than that. I share what Creation brought me to find peace in my body.
Nutritional Life Transformation is a program that teaches women how to count macro nutrients & that holds women accountable to doing the work it takes to release unwanted fat or to build muscle. There are many different facets that come up individually in this process and I use tools from my Behavioral Change certification to guide incumbents forward in their journey! What a blessing it is to watch humans overcome.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
Other than training or knowledge, I believe the most important factor for succeeding in my field is to love people and believe in the innate human power to change. Understanding that we all face different obstacles and still holding faith that we are each capable of overcoming obstacles in order to accomplish our goals.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start?
When I first opened my offerings I worked as a contractor out of a local gym. Within about 6 months I had a full schedule and my rent had gone up almost 4x the amount of when I started. It was a great problem to have because my rent was based off my usage. However I realized at that time I could offer a space more catered to my clientele and that was more specialized in growing to aid women’s journeys. I decided to take out a personal loan because banks wouldn’t give me a business loan and paid it back over 4 years. It was a very high interest rate but a valuable life lesson. When there’s a will, there’s a way. And I’m honored to live in a time in history where women are starting to get more recognition for their abilities to run start ups and I now have the experience that makes me capable of saying, if I did it, so can you.
Contact Info:
- Website: HerPlanCo.com
- Instagram: @herplan_co
Image Credits
Shaun Samuels – @ShaunSamuelsPhotography