Today we’d like to introduce you to Autumn Bates, CCN.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
All my life I’ve loved food. I have memories of being in 6th grade and walking down to the local grocery store to grab ingredients to make my own creations in the kitchen. I would binge watch Food Network and browse food blogs for inspiration. Once I went to college, I knew that my path would lead me to food. That’s how I found myself registering as a Nutrition and Dietetics major and studying organic chemistry, physiology, biochemistry and biology.
Throughout my high school and college years, I also suffered from severe anxiety. I had three major panic attacks during that time and sleep was often difficult to achieve because of my constant state of anxiety. While studying Nutrition in school, I began to understand that the properties in food can have a direct impact on not just your physical state, but your mental state as well – including anxiety.
Using new research and strategies on Nutrition Psychology, I was able to greatly reduce my own anxiety. It was then that I truly understood the power of the food you put into your body every day. Yes, the food you eat can cause you to gain or lose weight. But so much more than that – food can increase/decrease anxiety, turn on/off cancer genes, increase/decrease inflammation and cause/heal GI disorders. Food is the most powerful and least expensive tool when it comes to your health and wellness dreams. I have worked with clients who rid themselves of acne, got rid of bloating, decreased rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, normalized their thyroid hormones and yes – lose weight.
It’s with this understanding of the power of food that I started Autumn Elle Nutrition where I can teach men and women locally in the South Bay and around the world (via FaceTime/Skype appointments) to heal their bodies while eating tasty, nourishing meals.
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?
As with anything worthwhile, it has not been a smooth road. I always knew that I would own my own business. Especially in the field of Nutrition, there is so much bad information out there that I wanted to ensure I was in control of providing the best, up-to-date and research backed strategies I used with my clients in order to achieve their wellness dreams.
My first job out of college was as the lead Nutritionist for a major online fitness company. I worked there for 2.5 years where I created meal plans and recipes for hundreds of women around the world. And although I appreciated everything I learned while there, I knew that I wasn’t helping people to my maximum potential. I wanted to help people achieve wellness as well as weight loss goals. Because it IS possible to lose weight and not be your healthiest self.
Once I left to start my own company, Autumn Elle Nutrition, I didn’t have many challenges in the beginning. Clients came pretty easily and I started developing online programs (such as my 21 Day Intermittent Fasting Program) that were and still are extremely successful. To be honest, the biggest struggle has come from being my own critic. All I want to do is help people feel GOOD through their food choices. So, at times, I can feel like I’m not creating enough content (via my blog, YouTube, Facebook group and Instagram) to share much needed information to my AEN peeps. In my opinion, it’s this negative voice in your head that is the leading cause of failing businesses. Not finances, location, marketing, etc.
This negative voice saying “you aren’t good enough” causes you to hold back. It makes you question your mission. It forces you to stop being yourself.
I’m not going to lie, some days this voice can completely overcome me. Something that I’ve learned to help battle this voice is to give it a name. I give mine the name “Amber” because that’s the name I often get people accidentally calling me!
When I have a negative thought, I mentally say “Amber, stop acting up.” This tiny little technique has helped to drag me out of a negative state because it allows me to dissociate myself from the negative thought and continue on my mission.
We’d love to hear more about Autumn Elle Nutrition.
My clients typically come to me for a variety of reasons, whether it be weight loss, inflammation reduction, healing the body for fertility purposes, reducing acne or decreasing anxiety. But it’s less about WHAT they come to me for, rather WHY they do. Autumn Elle Nutrition is rooted in the science of healing the body with food. This does NOT mean taking 20 different supplements per day to balance a nutrient deficiency. This means using real food with real science to heal the body. I also highly individualize each person’s approach. There is NO one size fits all solution! I take the way someone already eats and make as minimal amount of changes as possible to help them achieve their wellness goal. This makes it so every client of mine is confident with the changes, loves the food and feels good in the process!
In addition to my one-on-one clients, I have also created a series of online eBooks and Programs to help men and women around the world use an amazing healing strategy – intermittent fasting. With the Ultimate 21 Day Intermittent Fasting Program, I break down the research, the mechanisms and exactly how to do it RIGHT. It also includes a Three-week meal plan and exercise program along with delicious recipes to implement Intermittent Fasting properly. The results have been truly astounding. AEN peeps have reported reduced bloating, reduced inflammation, decreased blood pressure, decreased blood glucose levels, increased energy levels, decreased resting heart rate, improved sleep, weight loss and increased lean muscle!
We’re interested to hear your thoughts on female leadership – in particular, what do you feel are the biggest barriers or obstacles?
The biggest barrier I’ve come across as a female entrepreneur is other females. Let me be clear, I have had some seriously INCREDIBLE women in my life who have been beyond supportive. I’ve been in women’s business support groups, my female friends provide emotional and physical support when I need it, I’ve held inspirational events with other female entrepreneurs who are kicking butt, and the AEN peeps have been some of my closest companions throughout the process.
BUT there are still women that I’ve come across who try very hard to bring one another down. I don’t think this is an isolated incidence. I know that this occurs with men and women both. There are both supportive and unsupportive people in the Nutrition/Health industry, as there are in life. The most important thing to always keep in mind is that you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with. If you find that you’re surrounding yourself with others that are unsupportive or generally not nice, then it may be a good idea to distance yourself from that energy.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1218 highland ave. Manhattan Beach, CA
- Website: www.autumnellenutrition.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @autumnelle_nutrition
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/495358827589380/594686307656631/?comment_id=595101904281738&reply_comment_id=595147660943829¬if_id=1542831284923615¬if_t=group_comment
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkPBo8hqEOiE3bg9t7ZGT2Q?sub_confirmation=1
Image Credit:
Autumn Elle Nutrition
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