The Brand Brief: Amanda Nighbert
Hey, y’all! I hope everyone is having an amazing summer. I can’t believe it is already August and we’re getting to the back half of the year. As you might have noticed on my Instagram account and here on the blog, I’ve made an intentional choice to focus more on my daily routine, wellness choices, and how to overall add value to more aspects of my life. It all started with my morning routine, which you can read about here, and has grown into what I’m eating, how I’m changing the amount of time I spend on screens, and learning more about supplements.
With all that in mind, I was so excited to connect with Amanda Nighbert, a registered dietitian, and fitness enthusiast. A fellow Kentucky gal, she lives in Lexington, KY, and has helped thousands of people reach their wellness goals. I’m so excited to bring back The Brand Brief this month with Amanda Nighbert.
Hi Amanda, thank you so much for sharing your story on The Brand Brief! You’ve been a registered dietician for 18 years. What made you interested in that field and what was it like getting started?
Growing up I was an athlete and very interested in health and wellness. I wanted to make this passion my profession so I decided to get a degree in nutrition and become a registered dietitian.
Diets, fitness and the overall wellness sector contains a lot of ground to cover and can be overwhelming. What are the 3 basics you would want someone to start with or prioritize in their wellness journey?
Agree, it can feel so overwhelming when beginning your health journey because there is so much information out there and much of the information is conflicting! This is honestly why I created my LEAN program, to simplify nutrition for weight loss! Here are the top three things that I feel can make a significant impact on your health yet are simple to implement.
Drink plenty of water and make it electrolyte water when you can! Hydration is so important to feeling your best and even more important for burning fat! Many people don't realize that the way we expel burned fat is through our breath and we need plenty of fluid to do this!
Prioritize protein! Protein is the most important macronutrient for weight loss and most people are not consuming enough. Simply aiming for a minimum of 30 grams of protein at each meal can reduce hunger, fill you up faster and improve fat metabolism.
Move daily! Sitting is the new smoking and your daily activity or daily step count matters! Everyone can walk more so aiming to increase your daily step goal by 1,000 can be very powerful!
As a mom, entrepreneur, and social media influencer, what does balance look like for you? Any tips and tricks for accomplishing what you want that you can share?
This is definitely an area I struggle with. I launched my online business almost five years ago and owning your own business, while very rewarding, is a lot of work! This past year I have made this more of a priority and the biggest thing I have focused on is boundaries! Setting boundaries with my time like limiting work on the weekend. Setting boundaries for the things I say yes to and knowing that saying no is not a bad thing. I now weigh the benefit and time commitment vs saying yes to everything. Lastly, including my family more in my business. This way I am tackling two things at once!
The Brand Brief focuses on women in business and the unique journey women face in that experience. What would you share with other women in business based on your experience?
Forget what other people think! This was the hardest thing to overcome when I started, especially with putting myself out there on social media! I was so worried about what others would say about me. But, once I realized that there will always be some haters and that more people were cheering me on than not, my confidence and output increased tremendously.
When you’re feeling down, unmotivated, or not where you want to be health-wise, what do you do to combat it?
I take a break! I stop trying to do it all and focus on 1-2 things that I know matter the most. Most people are living in the all-or-nothing mindset! I actually did a ted talk on this very subject which is worth the listen. We think we have to do it all to be successful and when we can’t do it all we just do nothing. I have learned that it is all about just doing something. So, if you are feeling burnout, take a step back and pick 1-2 things to focus on for the next 30 days. Then as those become more second nature, add more.
Looking back at your 18 years in the industry, what challenges have you faced and how did you overcome them?
While working my clinical job in the hospital the biggest challenge I faced was the lack of opportunity for professional growth. For years I just accepted this. Then on the eve of my 40th birthday, I decided to make my own path and that is when I launched my own online business. It was extremely scary, but I knew if I did nothing then nothing would change. What I learned is that if you are passionate about something then you will succeed!
What are some red flags you can share when it comes to overall health and diet? What are some common red flags we should be paying attention to?
Diets that feed into the all-or-nothing mindset! What I mean by that is to avoid plans that completely omit certain foods. You will find the most success when your food choices are flexible.
Supplement-driven plans. Your health and wellness are not in a pill or potions. There are no quick fixes and these types of programs typically promote that. In the long run, they always backfire.
Your Lean program focuses on the combination of nutrition and fitness. What makes this program different and why is it 7 weeks?
LEAN stands for Living Energized and Nourished and this is the goal for all my clients. It is not just a weight loss program, it is a lifestyle program. The goal is to teach you the simple changes you can make in your life that create long-term results vs short-term fixes. What sets LEAN apart is the simplicity of the program, the focus on changing your mindset, and the daily support accountability! This is what I have found people need the most! Most people know what to do, they just struggle to do it consistently. In LEAN you check in nightly and some days are good and some days are bad, but I am here to help you navigate the challenges you face day to day to overcome the obstacles in your life to create consistency. Because at the end of the day your progress is based on your consistency.
Can you share a peak (high moment) and a pit (low moment) of your career thus far and what you learned from both?
Luckily for me, there have been many peaks in my career! Seeing my business grow and expand, being asked to present on the Ted X stage in 2021, and developing into an industry leader for health coaching. My low moments come at times of burnout. The grind is a lot and there are periods over the past five years when I just did not think I could do it all anymore. Taking a break during these times has been key for me!
Nutrition and fitness are very habit enforced. What do you do in your daily routine that reinforces those habits and lifestyle? Any special morning routine or tips?
I agree! Consistency is key when it comes to your health! Really the things I prioritize in my own daily life are the same three simple strategies I mentioned above! I definitely practice what I preach, adequate hydration, protein optimization, and moving my body!
You share some amazing free guides on your website about meal planning, intermittent fasting and also provide amazing FREE content on social. At what point do you recommend someone takes their health journey to the next step and hires someone like you?
I do! When I first went out on my own I enrolled in a few business and marketing courses and they all preached, to give them a little but make them pay for more! Well, I suck at that! LOL! I just had a really hard time holding back information that could actually help people so for the past 5 years I have been giving it all away! My goal is to empower anyone to take control of their health on their own. But, I always say if you struggle to implement the strategies I teach or have a hard time creating the consistency you need, then I am here to help with that!
As I mentioned above people typically know what to do, they just struggle to do it consistently, that's where I can be of help! When you sign up to work with me I will hold your hand every single day! I will be there to answer all your questions as they arise. And help you navigate the obstacles that come in your life! I am there to cheer you on when you are thriving and I am here to help you get back on track when life gets ahead of you! That is why people come to work with me, for the accountability and support I provide on a daily basis!