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

Mary-Catherine, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

In the entrepreneurial space, they tell you to talk about your why, or in this case, the story behind my mission.

In the summer of 2010, my life was changed forever. Leading up to that, my mom’s health concerns had consistently been dismissed time and time again. She was told the ubiquitous statement, “Just lose weight,” as though losing weight would solve all the world’s problems.

My mom had been eating well and exercising most days of the week, yet she was unable to lose weight. Unfortunately, as is common, no one asked about her food intake or exercise habits. They saw her size and immediately assigned judgment.

I remember the oncologist saying that the tumors they found most likely had been growing for anywhere from 1.5-3 years and if she wasn’t obese, maybe they would’ve caught it sooner. THAT is a problem. Obesity and weight stigma should not be an excuse to miss a critical diagnosis and, in her case, one that took her life within 11 days.

I am on a mission to empower and educate individuals to improve their relationship with food so that they can live longer, happier, and healthier lives. The key word to me is empower. At the end of the day, each of us knows our own body best, and it’s our responsibility to advocate for ourselves.

Mary-Catherine, 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?

I played competitive sports growing up and always had a feeling I would pursue a career in the health field, whether that be nutrition or physical therapy. After losing my mom and largely attributing her late diagnosis to obesity stigma, I knew I wanted to be on the preventive side of healthcare and to choose a field where I could view the person as a whole person- not just treat an ailment.

I earned my B.S. in Nutritional Sciences and completed the Coordinated Dietetics Program at TCU before sitting for the national registered dietitian (RD) exam. I then went on to earn my Master’s in Public Health, knowing that I wanted to help groups of people and, again, be on the prevention side of healthcare.

At Defy Nutrition, I offer individual nutrition counseling, personalized meal plans, and an online program to help individuals repair their relationship with food. I also assist businesses and organizations in providing more value to their employees and customers through interactive nutrition workshops.

What sets me apart from others is my personal experience in addition to my formal education. I know what it is like to not feel listened to, and I strive to defy that norm by viewing my clients as whole people and truly taking the time to listen. I don’t “give out” goals but instead work with my clients to facilitate goal setting that works for them.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I have always had a Type A, perfectionist personality. Since becoming a business owner, I have had to unlearn much of that perfectionism. I remember not wanting to publish my website until it was “perfect” and not wanting to advertise my online program for sale until it was “flawless.” But I’ve learned, as an entrepreneur, that there is no such thing as perfection and sometimes you have to just start.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

My clients primarily come from word of mouth followed by Google/web search. I believe in nurturing professional relationships with my clients and other business owners, which has in turn been a great source of new clients for me. I have also spent time optimizing my SEO in order to get more leads from Google, as social media can be exhausting to keep up with at times on the creator side.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://defy-nutrition.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defy.nutrition/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/defyNutrition/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marycatherinelabossiere/

Image Credits
Mad Faith Photography