Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Winner
Hi Kim, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My path to becoming a cardiology-trained health coach began with my own health struggles. At 15, I developed an eating disorder that would shape my relationship with my body for years. Like many young women, I had internalized harmful messages about thinness and beauty, leading to destructive habits and a distorted self-image.
The turning point came in my early twenties when I met Cory Everson, the six-time Ms. Olympia. Meeting Cory was transformative—here was a woman who was incredibly strong and athletic, yet still feminine and beautiful. She shattered my preconception that women had to be ultra-thin to be attractive. Instead, she embodied health, strength, and confidence.
That encounter sparked my passion for fitness and nutrition from a completely different perspective—not as tools for achieving unrealistic beauty standards, but as pathways to strength, health, and empowerment. I found fulfillment in this work, but something was still missing in my approach. That missing piece became devastatingly clear when my mother passed away at just 58 years old.
Mom had been battling multiple health conditions—diabetes, stomach cancer, and a tear in her aorta. But what struck me most was how her overall health habits had left her body too weak to fight these battles effectively. Despite having access to medical care, she struggled with implementing the lifestyle changes her doctors recommended. The gap between medical advice and real-life implementation became painfully apparent.
Her passing was both heartbreaking and illuminating. It shifted my focus from simply helping clients look better to potentially saving lives through comprehensive health coaching. I realized that to make a real difference, I needed to understand the medical side of health more deeply, particularly heart health, which affects so many women as they age.
This revelation led me back to school to become a Medical Assistant, ultimately specializing in cardiology. Working directly with heart patients gave me insights that most fitness professionals simply don’t have access to. Day after day, I watched patients receive life-saving medical advice from their doctors, only to return months later with the same or worsening conditions. The fifteen-minute doctor’s appointment, while crucial, wasn’t enough to create lasting change.
I observed a critical disconnect: Patients would leave the doctor’s office with good intentions but little practical guidance on how to implement recommendations into their actual lives. “Eat less sodium” sounds simple, but what does that mean when you’re a busy woman juggling career, family, and possibly caregiving for aging parents? “Exercise more” is excellent advice, but what type of exercise is most effective for heart health, and how do you fit it into an already overflowing schedule?
This experience in cardiology transformed my approach to health and wellness. I realized that what many people need is not just a personal trainer or a nutrition coach or a doctor—but someone who can bridge the gap between medical knowledge and real-life implementation. Someone who understands both the science of heart health AND the practical challenges of making sustainable lifestyle changes.
That’s when KWinnerFit truly found its purpose. I combined my personal training certification (NASM), nutrition coaching expertise (Precision Nutrition), and clinical cardiology experience to create a unique health coaching practice focused specifically on helping women over 40 lower their blood pressure and reduce their risk of heart disease.
First, I work WITH clients as a partner rather than simply telling them what to do. Together, we identify their specific triggers for high blood pressure and understand their unique barriers to implementing healthy habits.
Second, I break down overwhelming health goals into small, actionable steps that fit into their actual lives. Third, I address all factors affecting blood pressure—not just diet and exercise, but also stress management, sleep quality, and emotional well-being. My cardiology background helps me prioritize the interventions that will have the greatest impact on their specific health situation.
Looking back, I can trace a clear line from my own healing journey, through the pain of losing my mother, to the fulfilling work I do today. Each challenge and transition taught me something essential about health, healing, and the power of personalized support.
My mission now is to help as many women as possible avoid the fate my mother faced—to help them not just survive but thrive in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond. Because heart health isn’t just about living longer; it’s about living better, with the energy and vitality to enjoy every moment of that longer life.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There were definitely struggles along the way. As someone who struggled with body image issues at such a young age, I had to fight those triggers even after getting healthy. Society isn’t so kind most of the time and as a woman working in the fitness industry, I felt the pressures to look a certain way. I took a step back for a few years to raise my boys and work on my own health.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At KWinnerFit, I serve as a Cardiology-Trained Health Coach specializing in helping women over 40 lower their blood pressure naturally and reduce their risk of heart disease. My work bridges a critical gap in healthcare – the space between a doctor’s recommendations and a woman’s real life.
What truly sets my approach apart is my unique combination of expertise. As a certified NASM Personal Trainer and Nutrition Coach and a Precision Nutrition Coach with actual clinical experience as a Medical Assistant in cardiology, I understand both the science of heart health AND the practical challenges of implementing lifestyle changes. This dual perspective allows me to translate complex medical advice into actionable, sustainable strategies tailored to each woman’s specific life circumstances.
I’m known for breaking down overwhelming health goals into small, manageable steps that fit seamlessly into busy lives. Rather than prescribing generic plans, I collaborate with clients to identify their unique triggers for high blood pressure and develop personalized approaches to nutrition, movement, stress management, and sleep quality.
What I’m most proud of is witnessing the transformation in my clients – not just in their blood pressure readings (though they typically see 10-15 point reductions within 8 weeks), but in their confidence and sense of control over their health. One client recently shared, “For the first time in my life, I don’t feel like my health is just happening to me. Kim has given me the tools to actually do something about it.”
Unlike many fitness or nutrition professionals, I don’t focus on quick fixes, the latest fad or dramatic transformations. Instead, I help women create lasting habits that support heart health for the long term. And unlike standard medical care, which often lacks the time and resources for detailed implementation support, I provide ongoing guidance and accountability between doctor visits, while working WITH their doctor.
My approach is deeply informed by my personal journey – from overcoming my own eating disorder to losing my mother too soon to heart-related complications. These experiences have fueled my passion for helping women navigate midlife health challenges with knowledge, support, and practical strategies that actually work in their real lives.
In essence, I don’t just help women lower their numbers – I help them reclaim their vitality and confidence while potentially adding years of quality life to their future.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Mel Robbins is probably my favorite. I also love Jay Shetty, The Dr. Hyman Show, and FitbizU, It’s a good mix of business coaches, health info, and mental clarity. All areas of life that go into owning an online business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kwinnerfit.com/about
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kwinnerfit/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kwinnerfit
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwinnerfit/
