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

Alright, Erica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I consider myself super fortunate because my parents did a lot right, but one of the main things they did that let me grow was they encouraged and supported me to pursue whatever I wanted to try. When I was 11 I wanted to try martial arts because my younger brother was going, and they let me do that. It turned out to be one of the most defining moments of my life and set me on a path of discipline, respect, health, and kindness. It also gave me a second family that I have been close to since I was a pre-teen, which I realize is rare! Then when I wanted to study acting, they supported me in that. I had great grades, I loved science, and thought about studying veterinary medicine or biochemistry, but I also loved the theatre and telling stories on the stage. They could have easily told me it wasn’t practical or realistic or any number of things. But they supported my independent thinking and knew that I needed to follow my own path. By doing so we’ll all eventually be led to where we do the most good in the world.

Erica, 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?

A little about me! I’ve been a Registered Dietitian for 11 years and have my Master’s of Science in Clinical Nutrition from NYU where I did my dietetic internship and worked post-grad school. I then started diving into my two main passions with my own private practice and coaching CrossFit. I’ve gone from New Hampshire to NYC to Los Angeles, and now am settled in Boulder, Colorado where I am absolutely loving my outdoors, adventurous lifestyle with my pup Leo! Instagram would be how to keep up with me on nutrition, fitness, and my outdoors life.

For over a decade, I’ve been Erica’s Edge, and that’s how readers will find me on-line, but I have been transitioning my brand to EQLBRM Nutrition & Training to reflect my truest mission: to help people find their equilibrium and reach their goals while finding balance in nutrition, health, fitness and life. I work with clients remotely who are all over the country: Alaska to Florida and everything in between!

There are three main ways I work with clients: private nutrition and/or training, group challenges, and corporate.

I facilitate programming at the corporate level, bringing nutrition, health, and balance to busy executives at places like NBC Universal, Unum, Art of Tea, and Saint John’s Providence Hospital. I also lead EQLBRM Food & Fitness Challenge events three times a year for hundreds of people all across the country. And I take on remote private clients who I work with on nutrition and personal training. My training clients are usually interested in CrossFit, weight loss, or bodybuilding.

Most people come to me for weight loss or sports performance, usually having tried “everything else.” Haven’t we all! What has made my approach uniquely successful for clients is setting specific individualized macronutrient (carbs, protein, and fat) goals. AND IT WORKS! I am so proud of what I do because I can truly help people reach their goals in a healthy, sustainable, balanced, and empowering way. It’s thrilling for each of us to reach our goals and truly change our lives in the process!

Of course, everyone’s body is different. And depending on the client, I might suggest intuitive eating or more basic nutrition changes. With a clinical background as a CSSD (certified specialist in sports dietetics) for five years and current studies in advanced accreditation in functional nutrition, I also work with clients with gut issues, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, as well as high-performing athletes. I’m a big nutrition and training geek and I love it all.

For those who are interested in a deeper dive into my take on nutrition, training, and balanced wellness as a lifestyle, I also launched a reader-supported publication on substack, which I post to regularly.

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

There are two things that I think are critical in succeeding in your field: heart and the ability to take risks.

It does not matter how much knowledge you have if you are not truly interested in helping other people and being 100% invested in their success. I have seen people in my field work with clients but talk about themselves the entire time and it makes me so sad. Our goal as dietitians and trainers should be client-focused! I will often naturally get more excited about my client’s success than they are and I think that helps them stay positive and motivated to make change. But this isn’t something that can be taught. This is something that you have to have in your heart, and honestly… if you don’t feel it in your heart, you might be in the wrong field.

In private practice especially, we also have to be willing to take risks. I had a mentor once who said, “I want you to fail more,” and, Steve, I promise I am still working on this! I think it is easy and natural to get nervous about taking risks and making jumps, and it often takes me longer than it should to listen to my gut and take a leap of faith but I am always glad when I do and truly believe it has propelled my business (and my life) forward. Take risks! Listen to your gut and make mistakes! I have to keep reminding myself of this too.

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

Hands down the most effective strategy for growing my client base is the effort I put into each client I work with. By giving my heart to my clients, and helping them not only reach their goals but TEACH them how and why nutrition and training work the way they do, the word has spread! When one person’s life is forever changed by what I help them achieve, they tell their friends and relatives, and then the next tier is changed, and then the next. I probably should do more with marketing and updating my website and all those business-type things, but the biggest effect has come just from doing the best job that I can do for my clients. A second practice that has helped is to not be afraid to help other professionals. By working with other trainers and gyms on their nutrition and training, I have been able to create other groups of clients, which then also branches out to more. It’s just like a giant river with streams leading to an endless number of different rivers and streams.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ericasedge.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericasedge/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erica.giovinazzo.3
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericagiovinazzo/
• Other: https://ericasedge.substack.com/