Lia's Story

“I wanted something much more important than dropping 15 pounds – more energy to teach well and love my students, friends, and family. I wanted less anxiety...Each coaching session with Jess felt like peeling back the onion on why I made the decisions I did. Her gentle, supportive, kind guidance and feedback kept me inspired” 

I was inspired to work with Jess because I had slowly but surely gained weight since college began, and I thought it was time to prioritize or at least start thinking about my health and nutrition. My goals at the start were to center my health and wellbeing as a priority in my life. Specifically, I wanted more energy and less anxiety. I’ve never been one to deprive myself or beat myself up over my eating choices or body type. I know I like cake, and I like myself, and life can be hard, so here I am, eating cake. I knew I wanted to get nutrition coaching and be open to make positive, healthy changes – but I did not want to start a program that made me feel like I was a failure since I gained weight and that I needed to “drop 15 pounds” then all my problems would be solved. I wanted something much more important than dropping 15 pounds – more energy to teach well and love my students, friends, and family. I wanted less anxiety because anxiety felt like resting under an itchy blanket, and was getting in the way of living to my fullest potential.

Jess was all about putting in the habits and the groundwork to make changes slowly shift. She was not focused on results or what the scale read. Her energy and time was more focused on reinforcing and getting curious about the actuals habits I implemented. It was refreshing to be met with validation and support when I was honest about the desserts I ate or late night meals I gave into. Each coaching session with Jess felt like peeling back the onion on why I made the decisions I did. Her gentle, supportive, kind guidance and feedback kept me inspired.

Since working with Jess, I’ve really learned the importance of planning meals in advance and taking time to prepare meals. I’ve become religious about cutting up cucumbers and apples for lunches on Sundays, and grocery shopping with a full weekly meal menu.  I’ve learned that you don’t go to the gym to lose weight, you go to get strong and feel good about yourself and exercising is a mood and energy boost.

Jess coaches using the Precision Nutrition program and it’s not like other diet culture because it is not at all deficit minded. PN does not come at you with overt or subliminal messages about needing to change. Instead, PN is all about instilling slow habits and getting 1% better. It’s also not about pleasing or meeting others’ expectations but meeting your own expectations for what you want out of your health and your life. Jess helped me do just that, and I continue to work with her on consultation because her coaching, guidance, and friendship means a lot to me.

— Lia