Interview with Nina

Please read before hiring Nina.

Q. How long have you been doing what you do and how did you get to be a Certified Health Coach?

To answer this question best, I’d like to give you a bit of my story so you understand that when I talk about healthy eating for you and your family, self-care, and feeling Smokin’ Hot it’s not just theory. It’s not from a book, or a magazine article – this is very real for me. Much of my life has been a journey of reclaiming my body, learning how to listen to its cues, and learning how to love myself in the body that I have.

There’s a great French saying that sums it all up well for me. It’s “je me sens bien dans ma peau” – I feel good in my skin. It’s what I always wanted, but never experienced. From my teenage years on, I was at war with my body and my food. I was always trying to lose the extra 15-25 lbs that I carried. Food was my reward, my consolation prize, my response to any uncomfortable feeling. I was desperately looking to fill an internal need. Chocolate was always a favorite answer. And diets were the rebuttal. I tried every diet under the sun. I did Weight Watchers for years and years…Overeaters Anonymous, Scarsdale, watermelon diets, grapefruit diets, master cleanses and more. Nothing worked. I was ready for a shift and boy did I go for one!

I moved to a yoga ashram! I was in my late 20′s. I lived at Kripalu, which is a yoga and health center in Western Massachusetts. I lived and worked there for 5 years and liken that experience to a graduate program in holistic health. It’s there that I became a yoga teacher and body worker. It was there that I really learned how to value and listen to the wisdom of the body. Through all the yoga and bodywork, I learned to listen very carefully to all the sensations, feelings and messages that the body holds.

Kripalu took me to my next step, which was an official Graduate school, at Lesley. I became a therapist, and developed a body-centered psychotherapy practice. I got married and had kids and wondered how the heck I was going to feed them, so they wouldn’t grow up with all the craziness that I had around food. I studied food and nutrition in depth, became a certified health coach through the Institute For Integrative Nutrition, and devoted my energy to feeding my kids well in a world that really doesn’t.

Now this would be a lovely ending to the story: “young woman with food and body issues heals her relationship with her body and then devotes her life to helping other women reclaim their bodies and learn wellness from within”…but it’s not the whole story.

That’s not where my deepest passion comes from. Everything I’ve told you so far is to let you know that I understand from the inside out what it’s like to feel out of sync with your food, your body and your energy.

Here’s where my sense of immediacy comes from.

5 1/2 years ago I was diagnosed with a cancer gene. It’s a hereditary, genetic mutation that put my risk for breast and ovarian cancer through the roof. I didn’t have cancer, I just had a crazy high chance of getting it. So, with a 3 year old and a 6 year old, I had to take a good look at disease and health, living and dying.

Now everyone in their own time comes to a place of having to look at their mortality. This was my moment. And here’s what happened. I chose life…fully. I committed myself to enjoying this one beautiful life I have, loving this one beautiful body I have, and eating food that makes me feel most energetic.

I choose to live in a way that lets me listen to my inner knowing. Because it’s really the feeling of being at home in our self – comfortable in our own skin – that makes us feel like Smokin’ Hot Moms!

Now, I’ve dedicated my work to helping other moms look and feel their very best. I teach moms how to navigate this crazy junk food world we live in so they can raise kids who also know how to take care of themselves!

I’ve been in the Health and Wellness field for over 20 years and have been exclusively offering individual and group transformational health-coaching programs for the last 3 years.

I draw on my many years of experience as a mental health counselor, bodyworker, yoga teacher and health coach to help my clients with all the different factors that impact how we care for our self. We work on the practical day-to-day: what-am-I-going-to-eat level? We delve into the emotional obstacles that keep us from incorporating healthy habits in our life. We learn how to listen to the language of the body so that we can have our healthy lifestyle be sourced from inside, instead of following a rigid diet.

This work is so holistic, it’s a real life course in the Body, Mind, Spirit connection that you can tell is working because you feel energetic, balanced and sensual – like a Smokin’ Hot Mom everyday!

Q. What’s your philosophy & process in health coaching?

I provide specific lifestyle recommendations to help you achieve your goals and feel more confident in your body. Rather than prescribing a specific diet, I empower you by educating you about whole foods that are nutrient rich (including ones you might not be familiar with). I share cooking tips and recipes that allow you to easily and quickly prepare delicious home-cooked meals.

The other aspect of what I provide is a level of support you’ve never had before. I will help you make a plan for the changes you want to make. I will keep you accountable while being gentle and positive. In the process, I will help you become more gentle and positive with yourself. (Don’t worry, if you need a nudge, I’ll give you that too.)

I offer a very natural approach to wellness and make it fun to get healthier. I open your eyes to a world of healthy, delicious food possibilities. I introduce you to foods you’ve never tried before. My recommendations are easy and fit into the life of a busy mom.

My approach is not based on willpower or deprivation. I know that this approach does not work for me for the long-term. If it doesn’t work for me, it probably won’t work for you. I’ve figured out how to have success with a completely different approach.

My clients are able to make lasting lifestyle changes because we break things into small, manageable steps. Each of these steps relate to the bigger picture of what we’re trying to achieve. If you get stuck or don’t follow-through on a recommendation, I will gently support you (not put you down!). We will problem-solve and work through your challenges and barriers together.

The “holistic” part means that I look at you as a whole person. While I do provide you information and on various foods, my programs are not just about food. We will explore how various aspects of your life affect your food choices and your overall wellness. And, I will inspire you to make time for yourself and put your needs on your to-do list. I will teach you how to listen to the cues of your body and pay attention to what your body is saying so that living a healthy lifestyle comes from within instead of being externally imposed.

Here’s a summation of my approach:

Things I believe about food, bodies & self care

• There is no “right” body.
• Our bodies are the book of our life.
• It is vital to listen to the messages of our body.
• We hold our own answers.
• By relaxing and slowing down, we can hear the answers.
• By relaxing we do everything better.
• Bringing your awareness to your breath is a great way to start noticing.
• Being gentle with ourselves is always a good idea.
• There is no right way of eating for everyone.
• Our symptoms and cravings are our body trying to talk to us.
• Eating shouldn’t leave you feeling tired and groggy or wired and buzzy.
• Food shouldn’t make you feel bad about yourself.
• Our emotions have so much to tell us.
• Feeling good is within your reach.
• Eating is a pleasurable, sensual and nurturing experience.
• Listening to your body is a practice.
• Food that works for your body leaves you feeling enlivened and balanced.
• Food that really nourishes you leaves you feeling good.
• Food is not the only thing that nourishes us.
• Journeying into our core is always worth it.
• Sometimes we need help in taking the very best care of ourselves.

Q. What makes you different from other health coaches?

I come to health coaching with over 20 years or experience in the Health and Wellness field, and I have a Masters in Counseling Psychology, so I bring top level coaching skills to our work together. I have a p understanding and personal appreciation of all the emotional issues that keep us from taking the very best care of ourselves, and I have tools that will help you work past the obstacles that have kept you from looking and feeling your best. I’ve been a Yoga teacher and a Massage Therapist for many years. Years of working with bodies helps me support you in creating a positive relationship with your body where you learn to listen to what it really needs.

I’m also a mom with 2 kids. I have real life experience “in the trenches” – experience in feeding kids well in our junk food society – and taking care of myself in a busy mom life.

Lastly, I’m a soulful and spiritual person. I bring this depth to everything I do, and invite you to step into the fullest expression of you!

Q. Who are your clients exactly?

My clients are busy moms who struggle with body image, confidence issues, extra weight, low energy, and cravings. They do a great job of taking care of others, but can’t seem to figure our how to fit themselves into the picture.

You are like my clients if you…

• have a pretty good sense of what you “should” be doing to take care of yourself, but it’s just not happening
• are struggling with weight or body image issues
• end up feeling bad about what you just ate
• keep promising yourself that when things settle down a bit you’ll start taking care of yourself – but you secretly know there isn’t a less busy time in the foreseeable future
• sometimes wish someone would take you by the hand and help you get to a place in your life (and your body) where you feel energetic, happy and joyous.
• want to be a Smokin’ Hot Mom (even if you haven’t thought about it that way (yet!).

My clients are mostly busy moms who are tired of continuously feeling bad about themselves. They have a vision of themselves as more comfortable in their body, balanced, energetic and joyful, but they’re having a hard time reclaiming those parts of themselves because of the reality of a life full of giving and doing. They have tried lots of things that haven’t worked for them, and they are tired of using their own trial and error system and then beating themselves up because the things they’re trying aren’t working.

Some of my clients work with me because they need something more than books, magazines, and friends for support. They’ve had trouble implementing changes they knew they should make. My clients mainly struggle with their weight, energy level, sugar cravings, and inflammatory issues and they simply want to be happy with the way they’re eating and living. They want a completely different approach – without deprivation or hunger.

I also work with moms who are ready to make a change in their families eating habits. These conscientious moms know they want to put their kids on a path of healthy habits. These moms want to feel great about what their kids are eating and they want the support and guidance so that they can feed their kids well in our crazy junk-food society.

These women have great results in the Healthy Yummy Kids programs.

Q. What type of personality do you work with best, and what would be expected of me, as a mom working with you?

I work best with clients who are ready to make the shift from being a busy overwhelmed, exhausted, and last-on-your-list mom, to being a radiant Smokin’ Hot Mom, who feels sassy, sexy, eats right and feels balanced.

I work best with clients that are ready to put energy towards taking care of themselves. I work with busy moms who don’t have a ton of time, and that’s ok. In fact, they’ve come to me to help them learn how to take care of themselves – given their lack of time. The important thing is that you are committed to putting in some time for yourself.

I work best with clients who are willing to be a little patient and trust me and the process – it works! I love working with women who are ready to look inward and find the wisdom and healthy guiding force that lies within. My approach is not about a quick-fix. In my experience quick fixes don’t tend to work long-term. It’s about making lasting lifestyle changes. You’ll experience some changes quickly, but others may take time.

Q. For what type of person is this program NOT going to work for?

If you are looking for an instant cure or a magic pill, this isn’t for you. Our work together requires you to follow through and try new things. I cannot make it happen for you but I can guide you through a step-by-step approach that will take you to a more energetic and balanced life.

This program will not work for someone who wants or needs to be told exactly what to eat, down to the calorie count and grams of protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

I choose not to work with people who aren’t willing and ready to invest in themselves financially, with time and effort, or are unwilling to make any changes in their current lifestyle.

Q. What exactly is the The Smokin’ Hot Mom System™ and what does it include?

The Smokin’ Hot Mom System™ is the system I developed and use with each of my clients to help them achieve their health goals and feel more confident in their body. It has been the key to creating lasting changes for me and my clients. The Smokin’ Hot Mom System™ is effective, but it’s not about a quick fix. It’s also not a one size fits all system. Our work together is geared to your specific needs. What you’ll experience if you achieve each of these steps, over several months, is increased energy, feeling better in your body, and an overwhelming feeling of enjoying life more.

I’ve got a whole new model that will shift you out of your self-destructive habits into fun, pleasure, and self-love.

Here what the system gets you to do.

1. Fit self-care into your crazy, busy life.
2. Get you eating sumptuous, healthy food that takes minutes to make, so you don’t have to reach for highly processed ‘convenience’ foods.
3. Get clear about what food works for you. We don’t work with a one-size fits all model, we will find the food that makes you hum!
4. Learn how to cope with that mean, inner critical voice that is always wanting you to do more, be more and weigh less! This is one of the keys to being truly happy in your life.
5. Learn how to get the support and help you need in your life. (Imagine not feeling like you have to do it all alone, all the time.)
6. Find your sensual and sexy self again. So you can love your body, your food and your life fully.

All of my programs help you:

• Learn to listen to the cues your body is giving you. This will lead you to a positive, feel-good-about-yourself relationship with your body.
• Gain more pleasure in your life. Enjoy your food, your body and your life more!
• Learn easy quick healthy recipes, ways to feed your family well and how to eat healthy on-the-go.
• Create a pleasurable and enjoyable relationship with food.
• Create a healthy lifestyle that works long-term. This is not a quick fix program we will create life-long healthy habits.

Q. Does this really work?

Yes! All of my clients make lasting changes to their food and their lifestyle. In fact, they are usually amazed by (and incredibly proud of) the number of changes they make while working with me. With your dedication and my support, amazing things will happen. (See Smokin’ Hot Mom Success Stories) link to success stories. Our Testimonials are inspiring.

Q. What results can I expect?

You can expect to achieve the following results:

Outer Results

• Wearing and fitting into clothes that you LOVE, so you feel like the sexy, sensual woman that you are.
• TONS of all-day, long-lasting energy…no more ups and downs! (AND you’ll get to save that $200 you drop at Starbucks every month)
• Flexibility that helps you do daily activities easily (like playing with your kids, cleaning, carrying groceries).
• You’ll let your libido out of the closet it’s been hiding in and SPICE up your romantic relationship!
• Eliminate sugar cravings and binges…especially those late night fridge raids
• Clear, glowing skin and eyes (imagine leaving the house without makeup and saving hundreds of dollars on expensive creams and medications!)
• Glowing hair and nails (no more brittle nails, or pulling hunks of hair out of your hairbrush)
• A kitchen full of healthy and DELICIOUS meals and snacks
• Delicious healthy recipes that make cooking fast and easy.

Inner and Spiritual Results

• Finally trusting your body instead of fighting it, which drains your energy and makes feel depressed and depleted.
• Freedom from the diet cycle.
• Clearing physical and emotional clutter to make room for more joy and more peace (and even more income!)
• Reclaiming your body, your time and your life!
• An end to the self-critical voice.
• Waking up in the morning and feeling a sense of total joy in your body and in your skin
• Confidence in your Smokin’ Hot Self!
• The utter delight of shopping at fabulous clothing stores and trying on clothes that fit you beautifully, and make you feel sensual and Smokin’ Hot (even in bad dressing room light!)
• Going on a date with your significant other and feeling sexy and desirable.
• The priceless sense of peace that comes from knowing you are expressing who you really are through your body – and your life!

The overall result is you living the life you love in a body you love. Click here to read more about what clients have gotten out of working with me.

Q. Can I contact some of your former clients to see what it’s like to work with you?

Yes, I encourage you to! Please go to the Success Stories page and read all of them. See which ones you feel drawn to, either because the person has gotten the results you want to get too, or perhaps because that person is in a similar situation. Then let me know who you want to speak to and I will give you their email and phone number and you can call or email them and ask what they got from working with me. Then email me to let me know how it went.

Q. How quickly can I expect results?

This obviously depends on your specific situation and the effort you put into following the specific recommendations. That said, many clients start to experience changes after one or two sessions. Changes may include, among others, increased energy, changes in weight, or reduced cravings.

Q. How can I guarantee myself that I will reach my health goals?

Show up being real, honest and ready for transformation! Bring your willingness and longing for the best you and we will make it happen!

Be a collaborative learner – give me honest feedback about where you’re “at” – so that we can make sure we are heading in the right direction and that your needs are being met fully.

Q. Can you clarify about more about your specific programs?

I offer Smokin’ Hot Mom programs, Healthy Yummy Kids Programs and Private Dazzle Programs. My Private Dazzle program is a total meet-your-needs, tailor made program that will take you to a place where you feel dazzling from the inside out.

Some moms want to focus on their own wellness first, some on their family’s wellness and some want to make healthy happen for both their family and themselves at the same time.

Let’s talk so we can figure out what’s the best program for you right now. Click here to schedule a complimentary Food & Body Love Breakthrough Session.

Q. Where are you located? Do you only work with local clients?

My office is located in Arlington, MA but I work with my clients by phone. My clients are located both locally and in other parts of the US. I also work with international clients and currently have clients in England, Belgium, Australia, Colombia and Canada, I have found that coaching by phone is extremely effective and I have developed incredible relationships with clients I have never met face-to-face.

Q. Do you accept credit cards?

Yes, as a matter of fact, I only accept credit cards. You can either pay on a monthly basis or pay for the whole program at once. It’s totally up to you. Clients who choose to pay in full enjoy a bookkeeping discount.

Q. Okay, I’m ready! How do we get started?

Great! The first step towards reaching your goals is making YOU a priority. If this feels like the right time to focus on YOU and your needs, then let’s talk.

Here’s what you do: click here to schedule a complimentary Food & Body Love Breakthrough Session. During this session I will learn about your situation and your specific goals and we’ll double check to make sure that you are a good fit for my programs.

Q. Can I sample your work at low cost to see if it’s the right solution for me?

My complimentary Food & Body Love Breakthrough Sessions are a great way to see if we’re a good fit. We will discuss your specific situation and whether I can to help you. Click here to schedule your session.

Another way to sample my work is by subscribing to the bimonthly email newsletter. Smokin’ Hot Mom is a free bi-monthly email newsletter providing you with health tips and delicious, healthy recipes. Subscribe here.

Q. I have a family and a busy life. Although I want to reach my health goals, I don’t have much time to spare. How much time do I need?

If you can even spare one hour a week, you will be able to take just one tiny step a week, or learn one new idea a week. This is the slow and steady approach, but you’ll probably love how you feel so much that your progress will accelerate and you’ll be on the fast track before you know it! If you don’t ever start, you will never get there. They say every journey starts with a single step and I know, personally, that I’d rather fail miserably at something I tried, than never have given myself the chance to succeed.

The question really is: how much do you want it? If you want it a lot, you will find time for it.

Q. OK, I’m ready to do this for myself, but I have a couple of additional questions. Can I call you?

Sure, sounds like you’re ready to make yourself a priority! Yes, if you have a couple of questions, just click here to schedule a time for us to chat by phone.