Community Highlights: Meet Virginia Zimnowski of Virginia Zimnowski Nutrition Coaching

Today we’d like to introduce you to Virginia Zimnowski.

Hi Virginia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Before nutrition coaching I was a digital designer for 10 years, but during my last job search I started thinking about what I really wanted to do with the next 30 years of my life. Design was fine, but it didn’t feel like a life-long career. Outside of work, I run a lot. Like, A LOT. I started running in college and my races kept getting longer and longer, with a 100 mile race being next on my list. As a part of distance running, you have to learn about what to eat and when in order to keep yourself fueled for the hours it takes to do these runs, and it’s something I had been getting really interested in the past few years. So when I began rethinking my career, going more in depth with nutrition was something that got me really excited! As a part of my career exploration, I spoke with a few registered dietitians who listened to what I wanted to do (work one on one with people to improve their eating habits and work with athletes competing at longer distances), and suggested I look into coaching. It turned out to be a great option for me! I’d considered going back to school to become an RD, but the financial cost was too high. I hope to maybe someday achieve that, but for now coaching let’s me still do what I love without more debt. I enrolled in Precision Nutrition’s Level 1 coaching course last year and finished it in January. The course was incredibly informative in both the science of nutrition and the psychology of behavior change, both of which are needed to create lasting, healthy change. I created my own LLC earlier this year and really love this new opportunity I have – my schedule is flexible, my clients are amazing, and my work has real meaning!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been a huge financial sacrifice for me to leave my last job, but I’m very fortunate to have a supportive husband with steady employment himself. Most of the bumps have been me figuring out how to run and market a business. My community has been very supportive and I’ve learned to not be too proud to ask for help. It turns out people really do want to help, and knowing there are so many people in my corner is a bright spot when things are hard. I’m still struggling with social media, I didn’t have a big online presence before so finding my authentic voice online has taken some effort and is something I’m still experimenting with.

We’ve been impressed with Virginia Zimnowski Nutrition Coaching, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My process for nutrition coaching is very individual focused. People often know what they want to accomplish, they sometimes know what to do to get there, and I can help them find out how that can fit into the chaotic reality of life, while providing accountability along the way. I focus on long term solutions for busy people, showing them how they can be healthy without adding a million things to their to-do list. Having worked at both startups and corporations, I know what it’s like to try to balance health with an hour long commute, work deadlines, and errands to run.

I also specialize in working with athletes, to help them work on their nutrition for performance and recovery.

I’m most proud of taking a holistic look at health. Yes, we’ll talk through your nutrition, but we’ll also talk about stress, sleep, movement, your environment, and your immediate relationships, because it’s all related and it all affects your health. I also take a no-diet approach. We won’t be talking about calories, but instead about your relationship with your food, your eating habits, and taking a mindful eating approach to learning about yourself without judgement.

I offer 3 month packages because change takes time, but I also know people are at different stages of their own journey, so I’m very open to customizing that.

What makes you happy?
So many things! My husband, my friends, my cats, my dog, my family, running, putting my hands in the dirt of my garden, a good cup of tea, sunshine, the mountains, a hard workout, a call with a client, I could keep going for a while!

I’m generally a happy person, that seems to be my default. Life’s too short to be mad or sad all the time, there are certainly times when that’s appropriate, but I try to find the good.

Being able to find the happiness in my work has been so valuable to me. Work used to be fine, but nutrition coaching is something that brings me so much happiness, I look forward to work and what I get to do!

Pricing:

• $325 – 3 month package, meeting 2 times per month
• $500 – 3 month package, meeting 4 times per month

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vzimnowski.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginiazimnowski/
• Other: vzimnowski@gmail.com

Image Credits
Arise Photography