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

Hi Valerie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was working in the music industry for over 20 years, and I still do part-time as an artist manager. Four years ago, one of my best friends, Onika, who’s a personal trainer, told me about a certified nutrition coaching job. I have had diabetes type 1 for over 25 years now and always knew a lot more about nutrition compared to the majority of the people out there. Coming from Montreal, Canada, when I moved to the US, I realized how if you don’t pay attention to nutrition labels, food can literally make you sick because of all the preservatives, corn syrup, and other ingredients they may contain. When I started to share my knowledge with my clients, I was able to reverse chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes type 2, high cholesterol, and migraines. This is when I realized I can make a difference in people’s lives and this was a revelation to me!

I decided to start my own business because I wanted to help my family, friends, and anyone that needed my help, as I was not able to grow anymore at the former company that I was working for. Having my own company allows me to create better health plans for my clients and I get to spend more one-on-one time with them. I will continue to study in the field of nutrition and wellness, so I will be able to provide the best nutrition and coaching programs.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Having a lot of health issues in the past, made me understand others’ own health challenges.

I’m so so proud of being able to help people get their confidence and health back on track. I have helped over 800 clients, and I don’t plan on stopping now. It’s not only about losing weight, but reversing chronic conditions such as diabetes type 2, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. When your doctor is ready to prescribe you medication because you did not take care of yourself that can become very scary and you don’t know where to start. I want to teach people that food is medicine and you can heal yourself with the right food depending on your background and conditions.

Starting my own business was actually kind of easy because I have the knowledge and experience in nutrition coaching, especially with gut health. I could not have made it without the support of my family and friends. I want the world to know that everyone can feel good in their own skin and have the best life if they are ready for change. Nutrition can be the solution.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In Los Angeles, I would like to start with downtown. I love to go to the top floor of the Intercontinental Building to see the view of the city.

After, I would take a walk to the Grand Central Market and try their different types of foods, and then walk around the corner to the famous Bradbury building, where the architecture is unique. The next stop would be The Last Book Store on Spring Street. The second floor has a few galleries of local artists.

Next, I would be to take a walk on 2nd Street and hit Badmaash for authentic Indian food with a Tikka Chicken Poutine. I’m French Canadian and when I need a poutine fix, I run there.

Little Tokyo is also a must with all the sushi places and bakeries. Gen Sushi is one of the best places for raw fish in town. Keep walking and you’ll find the Arts District, Angel City Brewery, and Manuela, which are my favorites.

Apotheke LA is definitely the place to go for an exceptional experience with unique cocktails.

Daytime driving through Topanga Canyon Blvd is beautiful and ending up at Nobu Malibu for the best view and sashimi lunch (on planet earth for my taste). Make sure to make a reservation. After heading south, stopping by Santa Monica Pier is fun as well.

If you keep driving south, the final stop would be Venice Beach. The Freak Show is a must! Walking on the boardwalk makes you feel like you’re back in the 70s with a bunch of hippies.

For another day, go for a hike in the Griffith Park and go to the top, where the Observatory is. There you’ll finally see the famous Hollywood sign with the greatest view of the city.

Driving on Mulholland Drive and Sunset Blvd is gorgeous. Once it gets dark, go for a drive on Sunset Blvd and finish with a drink and meal at Chateau Marmont. You might see a few celebrities too!

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?
These three precious persons have been very supportive and deserve a shoutout!

Onika Keleny: Certified Personal Trainer + Yoga teacher: https://onikafit.com/

Robyn Balliet: Owner of BMG Social & Digital Media Branding Agency: https://www.ballietmediagroup.com/

Linda Nuanlaoong: Owner of the Montri Auto Repair: http://www.montriauto.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutritioncoachvalerie/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/val%C3%A9rie-poirier-78321495/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valerie.poirier.395/