Inspiring Conversations with Nicole Twyman of Fit, Fyne & Fabulous

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Twyman.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a native New Orleanian and child #3 of 4 out of the union of my parents Viola Wheeler and Elmo Dyer (both also native New Orleanians). I was an ambitious, self-driven child who graduated high school as valedictorian. Shortly after, I was the first in my family to attend college and subsequently, the first to graduate.

I entered college as an Engineering major, but ultimately switched degrees and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Computer Science option; a concentration in Management Information Systems (MIS) and a minor in Management. It took me longer to graduate than most because my father died my sophomore year. I fell into a deep depression for nearly two semesters; and uncharacteristically my grades suffered. But, I never quit. With the help of my faith and therapy, I regained my footing in life. The Summer before my last semester in college, I drove many hours from New Orleans to Boulder, CO to participate in my first out of state internship. This eye-opening role was with the prestigious IBM (International Business Machines). I lived in Boulder for the Summer and returned home to complete my final semester. While holding 33 credit hours, I worked as a remote intern for IBM and was (and still am) a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. My work ethic, dependability, organizational skills, and knack to pick up computer software quickly were my calling card and landed me 10+ job offers by graduation. While IBM offered me a great job, I ultimately decided to move to Cincinnati, OH where I worked as a proud system analyst at Proctor & Gamble.

A few years later, I moved to Seattle, WA and worked for the software giant Microsoft for 4+ years. Seattle is where I also met my husband, Artis Twyman, and had my first child Amari Twyman. With my new son in tow, our small family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and I began to explore my entrepreneurial spirit. While I did secure a full-time role as an employee with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The longing to work on my own terms and by my own schedule pulled at me greatly. So I began working as a hired consultant to city and state agencies implementing computer systems to enhance business processes. It was also during this time I had my second child, Jaye Twyman. After 14 years in St. Louis, MO, my husband’s job moved my family to Thousand Oaks, CA; and this is where we now call home. It was during this move that I decided to pursue my passion for health and fitness full time, and my passion project Fit, Fyne & Fabulous had my 100% focus.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has not been easy. Living in a poor family with few resources and the lack of knowledge regarding life outside of New Orleans or even outside of high school and trade school levels of education left me feeling; lost, uneasy, and unsupported. I was often a fish out of water. Even though I graduated as valedictorian of my high school, my family didn’t believe I had what it took to attend college. So they encouraged me to attend vo-tech / trade school. I believe it was my faith in GOD, even as a kid, that allowed me to see past my current circumstances and envision a greater life for myself. I did not have anyone helping me financially nor mentally, so I always worked several jobs. I didn’t have a car, so my off campus jobs required bus fare and travel time. So while most of my friends were “kicking it” at the UC, I was busy taking care of business.

Soon, I had enough money to buy my own car. It was a beat-up old Mercury Cougar that leaked oil, but it was mine!! I was blessed, as there was always someone placed in my path who spoke life, and I chose to listen to those positive affirmations vs. the negative from my family. In fact, my family didn’t know my major or anything about my life at college. They never asked. I don’t know my family meant any harm or ill will. I think they believe they were attempting to save me from disappointment. But looking ahead, as I sat in the high powered, high rise, ceiling to floor window framed board room overlooking 5th Avenue in New York City as a Senior Consultant for one of the top 3 Consultancies in the world (PwC),. I thought of my father and how proud he would have been to see that my goals (which seemed far fetched and unattainable to him) were being achieved in a major way not too many years after his death. I often wish he could have met my husband and kids and experienced the life I have helped create for us.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Fit, Fyne & Fabulous?
After having my 2nd kiddo, I gained quite a bit of weight, and unlike after the first, it was hard to lose. I tried every fad diet under the sun from Green Smoothies to magic drops to the grapefruit diet and the Atkins diet. I even tried Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, and the Lemonade Master Cleanse Diet Beyonce recommended. It was a battle I felt like I would never win, and one that would never end!! I would lose the weight, but it would come back as soon as I stopped the “diet”. That’s until I decided to be transparent with a few of my friends and ask for help. You see, I shared my weight loss woes, and I invited a few my friends to workout and eat healthy with me for one month. I asked that each girl submit $25 into a “Fit Pot”. The one who lost the most pounds and inches after a month won the fit pot. Oh, I was so committed, that relentless commitment like I exuded during my college years began to shine through. This time around I decided to focus more on what I ate more than how much I moved. That unlocked the key for me. I lost 10 pounds in one week while eating healthy balanced meals that did not leave me feeling deprived. I lost more in that week than I had in 3 months of working out and starving myself. Needless to say, I won the fit pot. But that was the start of something special. The girls I invited wanted to do another challenge, but this time they invited friends. We initially hosted our mini-challenge via Yahoo Groups. I started a FB group called Fit, Fyne & Fabulous with the original ten ladies, and today that group is over 11,600!!

During those beginning months, I taught myself how to properly cook healthy meals without the heavy gravies, cream and grease I was raised on. I tried new vegetables and learned I actually love brussel sprouts and broccolini when seasoned and roasted. I began researching magazines, the internet and books for recipes and literally began building an arsenal of meals that I ultimately shared with ladies as they joined. I began hosting more free challenges during my free time in between IT system implementations which continued to take up more and more of my time. But my passion to help others unlock the key to their own body’s health was strong. I woke up early and stayed up late, crafting emails and Facebook posts of encouragement and building challenges that were faith-centered and holistic. I essentially began to employ my skills as a Portfolio Management consultant to my own business. Templates, weekly meetings, step by step implementation documentation, recipe books were built to support my brand and our divas. I built my blog fitfynefabulous.com to house my messaging and even started offering water bottles and meal prep containers via an Esty store. Soon, I decide to file for an LLC and make it official. I organically, through word of mouth and FB posts, grew my passion into a business.

After moving to California, I began working on my passion full time. I now have a team of 15 ambassadors who help me share about Fit, Fyne & Fabulous and I employ several part-time divas who help me with operations and meal prep challenge implementation. I have even authored a book, “The 10 Day Meal Prep Challenge” (https://amzn.to/3kfLnpx) published now on Amazon with nearly eighty 5-star reviews. I turned what’s once a pain into passion and purpose. My goal is to help our “divas” as my customers are affectionately called reach their health goals holistically! Through a healthy mindset, healthy eating, and healthy habits like drinking water, getting great sleep and more! It takes all parts working to lose weight for a lifetime. Don’t just focus on working out! I now also have a members only website: thefitfynefablife.com where courses are being taught on goal setting, meal prep and the benefits of certain food groups. We also partner with other complementary brands and offer courses on how to care for natural hair and how to do basic makeup tips. This site also houses our mini-workout challenges along with our meal plans and recipes.

Additionally, I no longer sell on Etsy, I have my own e-commerce shop called “The Diva Shop” that includes planners, journals, water bottles, and clothes! fitfynefabulous.com/divashop What was once an idea has turned into a movement. Living the Fit, Fyne & Fabulous life has purpose, direction and meaning to thousands of women! At a time when Covid is wrecking havoc in Black and Brown communities, Fit, Fyne & Fabulous is at the forefront with sharing health and wellness tips, recipes and motivation virtually via our FB group and our various websites.

Important Links:
Public-Facing Blog: fitfynefabulous.com
Private Members Only Site: thefitfynefablife.com
Ecommerce Shop: fitfynefabulous.com/divahood
Amazon Book: https://amzn.to/3kfLnpx
Planner: https://www.fitfynefabulous.com/planner/
Sisterhood Retreat: https://www.fitfynefabulous.com/belize/

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Oh yes, some of my favorite books are:
Business:
Eat That Frog
Fail Forward
The E-myth
LeapFrog
The 4 Day work week
Raving Fans
The Toyota Way
Be Our Guest – Disney perfecting the art of Customer Service

Spiritual:
Made To Crave
Faith in the Valley
Think Like a Monk
The 4 Agreements

PodCasts:
Steven Furtrick
Jay Shetty

Contact Info:

• Address: 4534 Via Mariano
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: fitfynefabulous.com
• Instagram: @fit_fyne_fab
• Facebook: Personal: https://www.facebook.com/Nicole.DyerTwyman;
  Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FitFyneFab;
  Biz Page: https://www.facebook.com/fitfynefab
• Twitter: @fitfynefabulous
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCT-w_HtYCX3o5TuOBTvF2Ig/videos?view_as=subscriber
• FREE MEAL PREP CHALLENGE: fitfynefabulous.com/freebie
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/fitfynefab/