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

Lena, appreciate you joining us today. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

The most important lessons I have learned to help me in my professional career are the culmination of the different job experiences I have had. Being a military spouse, it can feel very difficult to establish yourself in your profession within a community when you need to move every few years. Rather than focusing on the negative, I have tried to use every duty station and job as a new experience and lesson. Over the past 13 years, because of all of our moves, I have had the opportunity to work as a nutrition counselor in weight loss clinics, gyms, work 1:1 privately with clients, teach group fitness classes, work as a personal trainer, be a preventative health and wellness advocate in the corporate setting, work virtually as a health coach, and now run my own business as a functional medicine nutritionist. While each job had it’s ups and downs, they have each allowed me to learn new skills which in turn has given me the opportunity to build my dream practice.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have always considered myself an athlete. As a child, I remember playing sports year-round. I played three sports in high school and then continued my athletic career into college playing D1 Field Hockey at Syracuse University. Being an athlete, I was always interested in how food affected my performance which prompted me to study Nutrition and Dietetics for my undergraduate degree.

I initially used my degree to privately counsel clients. My husband was in the United States Marine Corps so we had to relocate often and I was able to work in person and virtually as we moved frequently and grew our family.

My son’s autoimmune disease diagnosis at 18 months old is what prompted me to dive deeper into the world of nutrition. It was the driving force behind my decision to pursue a Master’s degree in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine. I decided to go back to school, even with 3 children 6 and under and a husband who travels routinely because I wanted more answers. I couldn’t change his diagnosis, but I could do everything in my power to ensure his body was well-fed with proper nutrients, minimal toxin exposure, and extra vitamin and mineral support. I wanted to better understand the science behind the disease and be more proactive about the foods I was feeding him to help try to improve his symptoms or possibly to help put him in remission.

I am a firm believer in both traditional and functional medicine. Without traditional medicine, I’m not sure my son would be able to see perfectly, run around and play with friends without feeling winded, or have a normal childhood today.

The biggest thing I learned throughout this experience though, was the power that food has to heal.

We encounter food, multiple times per day, for survival. Food can make you sick, or it can help heal. The problem is that there is so much conflicting information available in the media regarding nutrition that it can feel confusing and paralyzing. This is where I can help.

Like so many people in America who are struggling to navigate health and wellness, I too, felt like I received a diagnosis with no clear instruction on how to improve our day-to-day routines – especially with regards to food. Instead of defeat, I decided to become more educated on the body, and its systems, and understand the root cause of health problems. It has been my greatest joy to share what I have learned through providing preventative healthcare tips and strategies in the corporate setting through workshops and cooking demos, leading several accountability groups for nutrition and fitness, teaching group exercise classes, and giving nutrition counseling in a boutique weight loss clinic. These vastly different experiences have shaped me into the provider I am today. I am confident that you will feel heard, supported, and empowered when you work with me.

Imagine what your life would look like if you could address the root cause of your symptoms and use food and nutrition to help heal. I’m a functional medicine and nutrition specialist devoted to helping you find optimal health using a foods-first approach.

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

I think that the most important thing is two-fold. First, being authentic. It can be tempting to try to recreate what you see others do. However, people will be drawn to the real you.

The second is networking. Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself to other providers. By setting up coffee or lunch dates, you are able to meet others in your field and this ultimately sets you up for future collaborations and a bigger reach.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I think that I have had many opportunities to pivot in my career due to military relocations. This hasn’t necessarily been a bad thing for me though because it gave me the opportunity to think outside of the box. It put me in different environments I most likely would not have sought out on my own and allowed me to develop different skill sets.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.landisnutritionfm.com
• Instagram: lenalandis365
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/people/Lena-Landis/100070484422289/
• Linkedin: Lena Landis

Image Credits
Milly James Co.