Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Jester.
Sara, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a nutritionist by trade. But you wouldn’t have guessed that about me growing up, or even ten years ago. I grew up always a little overweight and was known as the “big girl,” both in height and weight. I was tall and semi lea (aka skinny fat), but I always struggled with my weight having to wear ladies’ sizes vs. the sizes of my peers. I never really had the right formula, physically or mentally.
After high school, I of course, like so many people, struggled with college weight and really dove headfirst into bad eating habits and even worse, crash dieting practices. I will never forget being the bridesmaid in my sister’s wedding and realizing that my carefully altered dress, weeks before the wedding, no longer fit. Of course, my method was to crash diet, living on lemon water and tuna on cucumber slices. I eventually fit into the dress but I was miserable during that week and remembered crying and thinking, “why does it have to be this hard?!”
Fast forward a few years after that; I had my first child, my son, and was yet again on another cycle of “how to hurry up and lose this weight.” It seemed to be a recurring theme in my life (can anyone else relate?). This was in the mid-2000s and I came across an article on Facebook about women and eating to perform. As I had just started to try out CrossFit, I was very interested in increasing my skills while losing body fat. This article blew my mind. It had my caloric intake almost double what I was ingesting, demystified my beliefs about carbohydrates, and pretty much popped every bubble of a lie I knew as my truth about food. That set me out on an educational adventure. I need to find out the science… and I never looked back.
Around 2010 and for the last ten years, I’ve been soaking up every science-based piece of knowledge around nutrition. I eventually became a certified nutritionist and took on my best friends as guinea pigs back in 2013 to be my first test clients. I simply had to share my knowledge and experience and set out on a mission to help women stop crash dieting, rid them of their food myths and help them to nourish their bodies. I married that with my new found love for the barbell and low and behold: Barbell Kitchen was born. I baked, lifted, and coached my way through the years, helping men and women of all ages seek out results without restriction, without shame or guilt, and rid themselves of food beliefs that didn’t serve them.
I’m now 36 and as I continue to grow my business, I consider myself to be a forever student. I constantly strive to learn new tools to serve my clients and community. I seek out opportunities for growth and I welcome challenges.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The growth of my coaching business was organic but it certainly wasn’t always easy! While I believe you need to have a passion in your ventures, you also need to have a profit. I slowly but surely worked my way through months of long nights and working weekends. I struggled to have a personal social calendar and build my business. While I’m not suggesting you burn the candle at both ends, I sacrificed personal time to put towards educating myself and then furthering my business ventures.
Just like any other goal whether it be fitness or nutrition, I suggest carving out five hours a week on your goal. Then, can you increase it or double it by the end of a month? After 30 days, you’d have ten hours a week, working towards your business and goal. While that method was an obstacle for me, I reminded myself every time I worked on a Saturday that it was for something bigger, for my passion and profit. I could genuinely do something I love and it would provide for my family. We all too often make excuses for not having enough time. I would challenge you to make the time. Skip the brunch, block out the hour you’d normally watch TV during, set aside 30 mins before you usually wake up to read or learn about building your business or goal. All of those dividends add up by the end of the month. In my opinion, that separates the “hustlers.” I was willing to be a little uncomfortable as I added a little bit of business time each day (dividends) towards my overall monthly business goal. This method can be easily applied towards movement (a fitness goal), food preparation (nutrition goal) and education (business goal).
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Barbell Kitchen – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I am an event planner for one of the leading wellness organizations by day, and by night, I am the Nutritionist and owner behind Barbell Kitchen. With over eight years of coaching experience, I teach the simplicity behind the science of nutrition through recipes, health articles, and a private coaching practice. I live in San Marcos with my two kids and train at a local CrossFit gym (or out of my garage). I use science-based research to help my children, fellow gym-members, and global community implement strategies towards improved health. And I bake. And lift. I bake and lift a LOT.
I hold a credential as a certified Precision Nutrition Level 1 Coach along with certifications as a USAW Sports Performance Coach and CrossFit Level 2 Trainer. I have added to my coaching toolbox, additional certifications in Mindfulness, Life Coaching, Mobility, Meditation and am currently finishing a certification in Perfect Health (the holistic health system of Ayurveda). I work with clients in large group classes, seminars, and individual coaching sessions to achieve their goals (physically and spiritually), no matter their age or ability.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
I was lucky enough to have my mother as the CEO of her own company, setting the example and paving the way for me. Through her and many friends and mentors, I’ve always had coaches who push me to fight my way to the top. Perhaps it is the competitor in me, but a trait I deem to be a strength. Tenacity has carried me through many obstacles!
In the fitness industry, especially as coaches, it is predominantly male. I am in a field where I was going to have to fight in order to be credible and competitive. That meant being vulnerable and unafraid, attending courses where I was the only woman in the room, speaking up during webinars and courses, admitting when I was wrong, and being open to feedback.
Ultimately my advice to any women entering their field is:
1. Lead by example. You can be vulnerable and still be strong; not have every answer and yet, lead a team into the unknown.
2. Admit when you get things wrong. I respect my peers and mentors when they do this and I hope the same to be true for my clients and colleagues.
3. Highlight the good. When your clients, employees, or co-workers get it right, TELL THEM. Celebrate the success and shine a light on it.
Pricing:
- Nutrition Coaching, One Month – $135
- Nutrition Coaching, Three Months – $100/mo
Contact Info:
- Website: www.barbellkitchen.com
- Email: sara@barbellkitchen.com
- Instagram: barbellkitchen
Image Credit:
Timothy Chaplin
Brandon Smith
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