Nutrition Member Spotlight

Nicole Elliott

Nicole Elliott has made tremendous progress over her time here at Rising Sun, and it should definitely be talked about! 

Nicole had always been athletic, not super competitive with sports but stayed active with dance and other activities. Her background transferred into her adult life as she maintained some sort of gym membership. She gravitated towards a facility with classes, which eventually landed her at Rising Sun. She worked out to help maintain her health but realized something else was missing. Traveling a lot for work, which snowballed into poor dietary choices, Nicole realized she was heading down a path she didn't like. A nutrition challenge at Rising Sun caught her attention, but she didn't think she would be ready for it or wouldn't do well. She was busy and traveling a lot for work, but a coach's final push led her to join the challenge. Nicole was reminded that a busy work schedule and traveling WAS her life, and she needed to figure out a lifestyle that would work. "It was like a little lightbulb went off, and I committed right then and there," Nicole said. 

Two years later, she still participates in nutrition challenges to keep her accountable and continue finding a balance that works for her. "[After] my first challenge, I found a very good path that allowed me to make healthy choices. I learned so much about nutrition, it just clicked, and I finally found a way to make changes that were sustainable." Naturally, with the state of things in 2020, questionable habits found their way back into Nicole's life, so she used this year's challenge as a way to get her back on track." I used this year's challenge to jump start me back into my healthier cooking habits. [I] definitely look at it as a long term lifestyle, not just a diet." 

Nicole shows us that nutrition challenges can be a way to jumpstart our nutrition goals and a good way to continue to keep us accountable on our nutrition journey. It is a marathon, not a sprint, after all. She has her "accountability crew" to keep her going as well. "We love sharing encouraging bits, our workout accomplishments, and turn to each other when we are struggling, especially on the nutrition front." Even just tracking her day in my fitness pal is a way to help accountability. 

Nicole's biggest challenge is trying to stay consistent with a very inconsistent and hectic schedule. Despite all her hardships, Nicole is finding a way to get it done. "I never thought I would be a person who enjoyed 'healthy food,'" she jokes. "I was pleasantly surprised to see how good I felt when I ate healthy and I did eventually start craving those more nutritious foods (yes, even straight veggies)!" 

Lastly, Nicole has some phenomenal advice for those thinking about taking the nutrition plunge, "Just do it! Really try to understand the macros and what makes your body feel good, and then make a sustainable plan for YOUR lifestyle. Try not to overly restrict yourself, but figure out how the nutrition can work for what satisfies you. The challenges are great jump starts, but try and figure out what is the right life balance for you to feed your body with good food. You'll feel so much better and be glad you did!"

Well done, Nicole, and keep up the great work! Thank you for being an inspiration for others. 

**Note: Picture is her 2019 transition