Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Whitney Laventure . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Whitney , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
Have you ever sat down and one day out of the blue, you feel this relentless tug of not only wanting but truly needing to do more? That tug, is what led me to where I am today. That tug has been my defining moment. A few years ago I felt that tug when I was in a relationship that was not only healthy, but toxic. I left that relationship unsure of what my next steps were, raising two very young daughters pretty much on my own. I had jumped at the opportunity to become a head chef at a restaurant after working in various other restaurants and working my way to top chef positions quickly some years after graduating culinary school, with grueling hours, and a very high stress environment, while navigating through a divorce. Failure never loomed so closely, nor hurt so badly when it came to that. I left that job and took another chef position in which I just wasn’t happy.
As a Chef, you barely get to make time for yourself, and add into the mix of parenting two children while trying to uphold the many hats one tends to wear not only professionally, but personally. I ultimately decided to take a leap of faith and shift towards quality of life, so I could focus on myself and figuring out what I wanted to do “when I grew up”. I took a job in Culinary Services, at a Retirement Community to exercise my culinary skills and expertise, while I nursed burnout and started shifting my lifestyle towards healthier habits and a better connection with my daughters.
I began a fitness journey with tremendous results and a reignited flame and desire for a life very different from what I had initially lived. I had picked up intense cross training which incorporated Ninja Warrior fitness as well as weightlifting and cardio intertwined. I started Obstacle Course Racing and regaining confidence in myself that had long been lost. Fitness became a household activity, as my daughters would join me for my workouts at home in my basement, go for runs and walks with me through the countryside where we live, and cheering me every step of the way. I started to establish boundaries with those who were more detrimental to my health in both physical and mental aspects, not forgetting emotionally as well. I became a Certified Personal Trainer after deciding that there was more I needed to give back to the world, than I realized. That was only the tip of the iceberg. I began Coaching Children’s Ninja Warrior fitness classes and encouraging adults to partake in a similar style of fitness class called OCR, at the gym I obtained employment at where I also train at.
After a few years of coaching part time at the gym and working full-time at the Retirement Community, all whilst balancing single parenting, my health took a steady decline. I had long suspected I had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ( PCOS) after years of debilitating pain and other obvious signs, but I was never heard by any medical team despite stacked evidence including a laparoscopic surgery at 13 years old to remove remnants of a ruptured cyst. I had gone in for a routine wellness visit and the visit turned into a hasty response of multiple labs, ultrasounds and various tests being order. The results showed I had a large ovarian cyst and a tumor known as a fibroid on my ovary. After carefully watching this scenario over a few month’s time, a decision was made to go in for sterilization via hysterectomy. I went in for surgery on May 9, 2022 and not only was the hysterectomy done, but the fibroid which had originally presented as the size of an egg, had grown to the size of a cantaloupe in a span of roughly five months. I went home to recover and a week later discovered I was allergic to the pre-surgical soap used, resulting in a rash breakout. Two weeks later, I found myself not feeling very well with chills, hot flashes, lethargic, loss of appetite and significant swelling, and after phoning my provider, I was asked to go to the nearest emergency room. Thankfully I had a friend staying with me for my surgery recovery, and is she transported me to the closest emergency room where after a few hours of waiting and bloodwork being drawn, I became unresponsive in my wheelchair and blacked out and had to be ambulated by a team of three nurses to my bed. After many tests and scans were done, it was determined I had internal abscesses in my abdomen which needed treatment immediately. I remained hospitalized for 9 days, undergoing a second surgery, this time being an emergency surgery. I was under care of so many doctors including infection specialists and a large team of OBGYNs, as well as an extensive treatment plan.
This put my athletic season on hold extensively. As well as my employment at both of my jobs. It also served as a wake-up call that I in fact was meant to do more with myself with my calling. I underwent a third surgery, in September 2022, and decided my energy for my impact was not being utilized to which it was meant. After heavily advocating for myself and being referred to a specialist, I underwent my third surgery, in which I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Endometriosis, I decided to go through the coursework to become a Holistic Women’s Hormone Health Consultant, and begin investing in what years ago was my original defining moment. I became Certified and really looking at the need for this type of service. Many women, like myself go unheard, with limited resources of those willing to actively participate in their journey towards health and understanding of their bodies, especially how hormones can have an effect on every thing we do in life. After attending conferences which focused on women’s health and more specifically Endometriosis, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Adenomyosis and other conditions which plague women, reproductive health and subsequently their hormones, I knew that I was meant to provide this service.
As a chef, there’s this long standing joke of “not trusting a skinny chef”, I had started my fitness journey through self-study as well as informative structuring about what I was enduring with my health. Heavy focus was shifted onto exercise and nutrition. I began to restructure myself and my habits via meal prepping and breaking down what a person, such as myself would need in order to properly structure weight loss in a healthy and sustainable manner. I released over 70lbs from when I began my fitness journey as a burnout chef, until prior to my surgery in 2022. One of my primary focuses has been to provide healthy recipe options and to help other women see the overall picture of food association with health relation.
I have begun actively progressing forward into my own business of self-employment in which I can help the unheard, be heard, and provide my services as a resource for those who are in need by providing information as well as steps one can take to take back control of their life through their hormones and lifestyle.
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?
Please refer to previous answer as well for what got me into my service.
What sets me apart from others, is I have been through the thick of it and walked through the fire , so to speak in regards to hormonal imbalances and health and how they can drastically affect the overall quality of life we live. I also felt as if I only had one option and looking back, I had many different options, I just was unaware of at the time.
What I am most proud of with my services and what I offer, are that it is personalized because no two people suffer the same from hormonal imbalances. The overall ailments might be the same, but how each person’s body reacts is very different depending on the lifestyles and environment of each person. There is a very definitive answer to what one person might be going through, but what might work for one person, won’t always work for another. It takes really investing in those you are trying to help, that makes the biggest difference.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I truly believe the fact that I am very open and honest, and not afraid to share my story with the world, not only verbally, but through visuals of what I experienced, gives me the upper hand in being reputable and authentic.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
My most effective strategy has been to utilize the resources around me. Social media has played a large part in the growth of interest and outreach.I’ve shared videos of my experiences as well as what I have learned through my experiences to not only build trust, but to show my knowledge on the topic, and how many times we learn by failing forward. Word of mouth has also been a huge success in terms of growth due to a conversation being opened about the topic.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mighty_whittle_ninja?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitney.laventure?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Wlaventure