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

Courtney, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

I was actually fired from a position managing a bakery because I was “too hands on” with the work. At the time, it felt confusing because I believed a leader should never ask employees to do something they are unwilling to do themselves. I was right there alongside the staff cleaning, baking, organizing, problem solving, helping customers, and doing whatever needed to be done to keep things moving.

That experience taught me one of the most important lessons of my career: there is a massive difference between being a dictator and being a leader. I never wanted to simply oversee people from a distance. I wanted to lead by example, create trust, and build a team environment where people felt supported rather than managed.

Ironically, being fired ended up pushing me toward the career I was actually meant to build. It forced me to bet on myself and eventually create my own business, Rushing to the Kitchen, LLC. Today, I work as a nutrition coach and educator specializing in macro coaching, behavior change, women’s health, and sustainable nutrition habits. I provide 1:1 coaching, group coaching programs, educational courses, and evidence based content focused on helping women improve their relationship with food, build muscle, support metabolism, and create realistic long term habits.

That same “hands on” mindset still drives everything I do. I do not believe in simply handing someone numbers and sending them on their way. I believe in walking alongside clients, educating them on the why behind their habits, helping them navigate real life challenges, and creating a supportive environment where they feel seen and understood.

Looking back, getting fired was one of the best things that ever happened to me because it clarified the type of leader I wanted to become. It taught me that my greatest strength was never going to fit inside a rigid management style. My strength was building genuine relationships, serving people directly, and creating something rooted in education, trust, and compassion.

Courtney, 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?

I grew up absolutely obsessed with food. While most kids were watching cartoons, I was glued to Food Network watching chefs like Emeril Lagasse, Giada De Laurentiis, and Ina Garten. I spent hours learning techniques, flavor combinations, and the way food could bring people together. Looking back now, I think that passion for food was always leading me exactly where I was supposed to go.

Over time, that love for cooking evolved into a much deeper passion for nutrition, fitness, and overall health. I became fascinated not just by how food tasted, but by what it could actually do for the body. I wanted to understand metabolism, muscle growth, hormones, energy, longevity, gut health, and why so many women felt like they were doing “everything right” yet still struggling to feel good in their bodies. That curiosity ultimately led me to pursue my master’s degree in clinical nutrition and begin building my own business as a macro based nutrition coach through Rushing to the Kitchen, LLC.

Today, I specialize in helping women build sustainable nutrition and fitness habits rooted in science rather than extremes. I have additional certifications in perimenopause and menopause nutrition coaching and am currently a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) candidate. My work focuses heavily on educating women about the importance of muscle mass, adequate protein intake, fiber, blood sugar balance, strength training, recovery, gut health, and long term metabolic health.

One of the biggest problems I help solve is confusion. Women are overwhelmed with conflicting information online. They are being told to cut carbs, fast longer, do endless cardio, detox, eliminate food groups, or chase quick fixes that are often unsustainable and sometimes harmful. Many women come to me feeling frustrated because they have spent years under eating, over exercising, and blaming themselves when their bodies stop responding the way they used to.

What sets me apart is that I do not believe in gimmicks, shame, fear based coaching, or one size fits all approaches. My education absolutely matters, but so does my coaching philosophy. I focus heavily on behavior change, education, and building foundational habits that actually support a woman’s real life. I teach my clients the “why” behind what they are doing so they can create lasting change rather than relying on temporary motivation or rigid rules. My goal is not just to help someone lose weight. It is to help them build a healthier relationship with food, improve their confidence, support their hormones and metabolism, and create habits that will serve them for decades.

Ironically, I still got to fulfill my childhood dream of being part of Food Network. I competed on and won Grill of Victory, which honestly felt like such a full circle moment after spending my childhood watching cooking shows in the living room. All those years watching Food Network finally paid off.

More than anything, I want people to know that my brand is rooted in honesty, evidence based education, and compassion. I want women to feel empowered instead of ashamed. I want them to understand that health is not about punishment, extremes, or perfection. It is about building a strong foundation that supports both physical and mental wellbeing.

At the end of the day, my mission is simple: help women feel stronger, healthier, more informed, and more confident in their bodies for the long haul.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

I think empathy is one of the most important qualities you can have in this field.

There was a point in my own life where I had a very disordered relationship with food and exercise. I was stuck in the cycle so many women know all too well: eating less, exercising more, constantly chasing smaller numbers, and still feeling frustrated because nothing was working. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and convinced that I simply needed more discipline.

That experience completely changed the way I coach today because I understand what it feels like to be spinning your wheels and blaming yourself in the process. The women I work with are often not lacking effort. In fact, many of them are trying far too hard. They have jumped from diet to diet, cut out entire food groups, over exercised, under ate, and spent years being told to simply “eat less and move more.” Many have gone to doctors feeling defeated only to leave feeling dismissed.

Because of my own experiences, I approach coaching with compassion and understanding first. I know that sustainable change does not come from shame, fear, or punishment. It comes from education, support, consistency, and helping women rebuild trust with their bodies again.

I think clients can feel the difference when someone genuinely understands what they are going through instead of just reciting trending information. My goal has never been to simply hand someone macros or tell them what to eat. It is to help them finally break free from the exhausting cycle of restriction and frustration and build a healthier, stronger, more sustainable lifestyle for the long term.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Without question, the most effective strategy for growing my clientele has been word of mouth. I truly believe that when you genuinely care about people, provide real education, and help clients create sustainable results, they naturally want to share that experience with others.

Most of my business growth has come from clients telling their friends, family members, coworkers, or social media communities about their experience working with me. And I think that speaks volumes because people are not just sharing physical results. They are sharing how they feel. They are sharing improved energy, confidence, strength, better relationships with food, healthier habits, and finally feeling like they have a realistic approach they can maintain long term.

I think people around them can see the difference too. They see the consistency, the confidence, the intention behind the habits, and the overall lifestyle changes taking place. That naturally sparks conversations and curiosity.

What means the most to me is that I have never felt pressured to rely on ads or aggressive marketing tactics to grow my business. The growth has happened organically through trust, relationships, and client experiences. To me, that is one of the greatest compliments I could ever receive because it means the work itself is speaking for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rushingtothekitchen.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rushingtothekitchen

Image Credits

Autumn Beury