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

Alright, Maggie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

I grew up in Los Angeles in the 1950s – one of 6 children. We were an average American family. My mom stayed home with the kids and she was a combination of Betty Crocker and Martha Stewart all in one. She cooked most things from scratch and knew how to stretch a pound of hamburger or miraculously make one chicken feed 8 people. She was also an excellent seamstress, and still managed to keep a spotless home.

My dad worked in a factory and the only day he missed work was the day I was born. We had a beautiful yard with fruit trees, colorful flowers including spectacular rose bushes, and a garden with vegetables and herbs.

We attended church every Sunday and my parents set high moral standards for us. We saw excellence in their lives and they were always willing to share with others. They taught us the importance of education, hard work, and that nothing could stop us in life unless we let it.

I know my love of God, family, and healthy eating & living are the direct result of growing up in a wonderful home. My dad just turned 100 on New Year’s Day and my mom is 98 and they are enjoying life to the fullest.

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

Aside from my exploration of overly processed foods in college, I typically ate healthy meals and was always very active. Once I got married and started a family, I cooked most things from scratch like my mother. But once I started working and life got busy, I began to take short cuts which meant fast food, frozen dinners, and thrown together meals.

Eventually, I hit menopause, my body changed, and I starting gaining weight for the first time that I couldn’t take off. My mood also changed, and I just didn’t have the energy I’d always had.

Again, I returned to healthy eating, preparing meals at home, and taking better care of myself. I worked at an elementary school and while I often got teased about eating salads and smoothies, people began asking my advice when they didn’t feel good or they wanted to eat better.

Eventually, I decided to become certified as a health coach so I could help more people. Like myself years before, I realized that what we eat affects us more than just physically. It takes it tool on us emotionally and spiritually.

I started Legacy Health Coaching and Consulting to empower women to learn how they can take responsibility for their health by making diet and lifestyle changes. I don’t believe in fad or trendy diets because they don’t last ,and in some cases, can actually harm you.

I believe in a holistic approach to health and wellness, and it’s not one-size-fits-all. You have to find the root cause of the problem not just cover it with a bandaid.

I have a cooking class, “Cook Once, Eat All Week” and “Kick Sugar Cravings Now”. I also have two short self-paced classes, “Building Simple, Healthy Habits in 4 Weeks” and “30 Days to Create A Healthy Living Blueprint”. My live course is “Restore Your Health Academy”. It’s about aligning your spirit, mind, and body to honor God and live out your purpose. I love teaching and speaking to individuals and groups about the benefits of healthy, vibrant living.

I’m particularly passionate about helping women who are going through menopause and beyond to understand their unique needs regarding diet and lifestyle. Too many women at this stage feel they no longer have a purpose and settle for living unfilled lives. I’m turning 70 this June and more excited about life and living my dreams than ever before.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I had recently retired from teaching but had been called back as a substitute teacher when I decided to jump into my coaching practice full time. Unfortunately, I fell into the trap of burning the candle at both ends and I wasn’t following my own advice about setting boundaries.

Within a few months, I developed a rash that eventually covered my head, shoulders, and arms. To say that it was unsightly is an understatement. I had broken all of the rules and now I was paying for it. I was so ashamed and felt like a fraud. Other than to the doctor’s office, I didn’t leave the house for about three months.

It was very humbling and I was a hot mess. I tried everything I could think of to get better but nothing was working. Eventually, I found a chiropractor who told me that my gut was a mess along with my liver, gall bladder, and kidneys. I was shocked because I never got sick, but I had run myself into ground trying to build my coaching practice, continue subbing at the school, say yes to everyone’s request while ignoring my own self-care.

It was during those three months that I wrote a book, God’s Design For Your Health & Wellness. For several months prior , God had been giving me ideas for the book but I always put it off for later. Now I had the time and the book came together beautifully during those dark days.

That experience made me more determined than ever to help women understand how important it is to take care of their body and protect their self-care. I can honestly say that while it was the worst thing to happen to me, it was also the best thing.

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

I believe it’s so important to be compassionate and sensitive to where your client is coming from. So many factors make up how healthy we are. You can be doing all the right things and still struggle. Many people carry baggage around that they’ve held onto for years and it keeps them from getting well. It might be childhood traumas, past hurts, betrayal, or unforgiveness.

I can’t read people’s minds so I have to rely on God to show me how I can reach them. I pray for all of my clients and seek His help me see what’s really going on.

Patience is vital too because this process takes time, course correction, and tough love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.legacyhealthcoachingandconsulting.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach.maggie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoachMaggie4Health/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYoWI90H18mI1M7GKDFp4Yw

Image Credits
I took or someones else took all of the pictures.