Meet Emily Willhoft | Nutrition Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Willhoft and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that nothing is going to work out exactly the way you thought it would and that’s a GOOD thing! I’ve learned how crucial it is to be open, flexible and patient, which are all traits that do not come naturally to me. It’s funny to think of what I thought my business was going to be and how it has evolved over just one year. Since I believe everything happens for a reason, I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m so grateful for all of the unexpected twists along the way that are like little gifts, even if they make me uneasy in the moment.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My mission as an anti-diet nutrition coach is to help people to enjoy food and learn to trust, respect, and listen to their bodies. Most people think that a nutrition coach’s main job is to educate people about food, and while that is definitely a part of it, nutrition is really more about psychology. Why do we try to rely on willpower when we are hungry instead of just eating food? Why do we feel guilty after eating certain foods? Why do we try to “earn our food” or “make up for it” with exercise? Why do we glorify cheat days? I get excited to have conversations with my clients around questions like these, which address the root of the behavior, instead of just being a coach who assigns a generic meal plan and calls it a day. My favorite part of coaching is when a client comes to a session with an open mind and through our discussion has a change in mindset that frees them from an unhelpful way of thinking about how they eat.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would journey along the coast from Coronado to Encinitas throughout the week. From paddleboarding Glorietta Bay to rollerblading in Mission Bay to snorkeling in La Jolla Cove to hiking Torrey Pines to beach day at Del Mar to an evening beach bonfire in Encinitas. In between activities and locations, we are stopping to eat at: Oscars for fish tacos, Second Nature, Wayfarer Bread, Puesto for more tacos, Jake’s Del Mar, and the Taco Stand so we can have more tacos.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be able to do what I do without the help of three special women in my life: Kristine Axelson, Julie Moyer and Ashley Pritz.

Kristine has been a lifesaver throughout my entrepreneurship adventure. We both started our own coaching businesses around the same time and it is incredibly helpful knowing that she is going through something similar to me. Kristine helps me make decisions, talk through ideas, celebrate wins, and learn from mistakes. Most importantly, pretty much every night she sends me the best memes while she’s soaking in her bathtub.

Julie Moyer has been my guiding light ever since I met her randomly on the street a few years ago. Whenever I have a question or need to pick her brain about anything food related, she’s my go-to Registered Dietitian phone-a-friend. I’m so grateful for her support, knowledge and encouragement, especially when she sternly tells me to stop overthinking things and just DO them!

Lastly, Ashley Pritz, who is one of my favorite people to talk to about nutrition and beyond with. When I first launched my business, she approached me very quickly to figure out how we can work together and combine superpowers. I look up to her a lot and I’m grateful for her guidance and the rest of the team at Performance360 for their support.

I’d also like to give a shoutout to a book (recommended by Julie, of course) that changed my entire perspective on food: Intuitive Eating by Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole. No book about nutrition has made more sense to me than this one and I use a lot of their concepts in my program. If anyone reading this feels stuck in a constant dieting cycle or anxious around food, I highly suggest that you read this book.

Website: nutritioncoachem.com

Instagram: @nutritioncoach.em

Image Credits
Nora Sanchez