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

HOLLI, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I wouldn’t say there was only one defining moment but more like several aha moments that led me to a change in career path from corporate retail buyer to functional nutrition counselor.

Having gone through my own health journey, I started noticing that there were many other people who were struggling with similar issues I had and not getting any help from conventional medicine, just like I experienced. The more I talked with people the more I researched, the more I learned and the more intrigued I became with how you can use food and other simple changes to transform your health.

Then after a friend was diagnosed with cancer, I realized his doctor didn’t provide any guidance when it came to diet and lifestyle factors that could potentially help him have a positive outcome. This made me realize that there’s a huge missing link between the doctor and the patient. Most patients are sent home with very little info, knowledge or guidance on what to do next and this is why most people never get better.

I finally decided I wanted to help fill that gap and help people get healthy in a way that is simple and natural with no side effects. I was already into life coaching at the time but going deeper into health became something I was super passionate about, especially after experiencing firsthand the positive effects that your health could have on your life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Of course! I’m a certified Functional Nutrition Counselor living in Nashville, TN. I provide nutrition and health coaching services for busy professionals so they can reduce the negative effects of stress and create a healthy diet and lifestyle with ease. I work with clients on a variety of issues ranging from gut issues to hormone imbalances to weight loss but reducing the negative effects of stress sums it up best because stress affects everything & is the most common root cause to health issues I see among my career-driven, high acheiving clients.

As a nutrition counselor, I do practice the functional approach to health & nutrition and I believe this is what sets me apart from other nutritionists or health coaches.

Instead of focusing on calorie counting or a one size fits all diet, I focus on helping the body get back into balance and function how it’s supposed to. I do this by addressing the root causes, creating a personalized plan that’s right for each specific client’s needs and by using food as medicine. This approach is natural and is the best for long-term success because we’re addressing what caused the problem in the first place instead of applying a bandaid solution that ignores the real problem.

I’m most proud of how far I’ve come in my career and in my health. I do come from a corporate background with a very stressful lifestyle, not always taking proper care of myself and eating a very poor “standard American diet”. While it took me some time (I didn’t have a coach when I began this journey or it would’ve gone much faster), I was able to truly transform my health and my life with the same functional approach that I practice now with my clients. My hope is that my experience can inspire & empower others to believe in their own health potential and take action to create the health and life they desire.

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

Besides having the training and knowledge of knowing how to help people, I believe you need to have empathy in order to be successful in the health and wellness industry. Health is a very sensitive topic for most people and can bring up a lot of emotions including anxiety and fear. When people come to me, it can also be a pivotal moment in their life. Not all, but many have reached a breaking point. This can be a very emotional time so having empathy, understanding and compassion to guide them in a way that allows them feel safe and confident in making those changes is crucial for their success and my success as their guide.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Of course! Starting & running your own business is probably the biggest test of resilience because there are lots of ups and downs! Understanding that your mind is a powerful tool that can help or hurt you in this business is crucial.

Learning how to manage my mind has been the biggest asset for me in my business and in maintaining resiliency. It definitely takes work, especially on the days when your mind wants you to be doubtful or fearful, so I constantly feed my mind what I want it to focus on in order to keep a positive, growth-oriented mindset. I’m always reading a non-fiction book that’s geared towards a positive mindset and or personal development and I even have a coach myself. I strongly believe in having a mentor if you want to be successful in anything in life because we all have our blind spots. Having that outside perspective and mentorship can be extremely helpful and be the unlock to your next level of success.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.holliabbott.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holli.abbott/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4504085826305813/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holliabbott/
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@holli.abbott

Image Credits
Bree Adams