I met this outstanding lady about one year ago as we have a mutual friend and sorority sister who was experiencing some pretty significant milestones in her life such as marriage and having a baby. We came together frequently last year to celebrate her event showers. Through this time I had an opportunity to have conversations with her often and found her amazing with what she does helping people by creating health and wellness programs customized to suit their needs. She is being featured on our “In The Gym” segment and you will see why she is awesome once you read her interview! Enjoy!
FFF: Please introduce yourself to our readers.
LL: My name is Lanette Leadbetter and I am a medical school graduate and certified holistic health and wellness coach, working primarily with women who want to lose weight, eat healthier, have more energy, and improve their overall health. I have a holistic approach to health. I don’t just address food, like a nutritionist or dietician would, but I address the other aspects of a person’s life as well. I do speaking engagements, teach, and collaborate with others who are interested in health and wellness. In addition, I work as a part-time medical researcher for a private health advisory. I am also a wife and mother of two great boys, ages 6 and 8 years.
FFF: How did you get interested in health and wellness?
LL: While I was in medical school, I was chronically sick and suffering from various health problems and it took me a long time to finish the curriculum. Despite having surgery, seeing a variety of specialists, and taking different medications, my health was not improving. I noticed the same issues with many of my patients and realized that traditional medicine was inadequate for getting people healthy. I starting to shift my focus to disease prevention, lifestyle choices and behaviors, and their impact on chronic disease. This set me on course for a new career path.
FFF: What prompted you to make this your career?
LL: It’s a long story, but I’ll try to make it as brief as possible…LOL. Before graduating from medical school, I was not passionate about practicing in any of the traditional specialities. I also still suffered from health issues and knew I couldn’t handle the stress and rigorous demands of residency. In addition, I had my first child and really did not want to spend so much time away from my infant. I enrolled in a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship but realized that I wasn’t cut out for an academic career either so I had to reinvent myself. But do what?? I developed this big vision to eventually have my own wellness center but didn’t know how to get there. After a few years, I came across the website for the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and health coaching seemed like a perfect fit for me as a career. I also wanted to learn how to eat and be healthy and to heal myself without using prescription drugs, which I had relied on for so many years. It was sort of a two for one deal and it changed my life!
FFF: What do you like most about what you do?
LL: Being a health coach is great! I am passionate about health and wellness. I love when people make the connection between their food and lifestyle and their health.
FFF: What is your most favorite aspect of your job?
LL: I love when my clients make progress and changes that bring them closer to their goals and when they have those “A-ha moments.”
FFF: What do you consider the most useful wellness tool?
LL: I believe that it is so important for people to keep a journal. This is particularly useful for weight loss. You can record your weight, all of your daily food intake, your mood/emotions, any cravings you get, how you are feeling physically, and your workouts. It doesn’t have to be high-tech or fancy, a pocket or composition notebook will do fine. Writing things down will help you stay on track, fine tune your diet, and make connections between things, such as certain foods you eat and your mood or physical symptoms.
FFF: What do you think is the biggest misconception about this field and what you do?
LL: I think that many people view achieving optimal health or healing as a destination. While getting to a healthy place is a great goal, it is not an endpoint. Being as healthy as possible is important to your purpose in life. We all have a purpose here on this earth. You cannot be as productive and live as fully if you are chronically tired and drained or are in poor health. Great health is your greatest asset in life!
FFF: What general tips do you have for the average woman balancing family, career with health and fitness?
LL: Prioritize and plan! If you’re going to be successful at anything in life, you have to be very intentional and live on purpose, which requires planning but with flexibility. First things come first. If you a busy person, you may have to schedule in your workouts, devotion/meditation, and self-care to get them in because they may be the first things to go when you’re in a time crunch. But if they are important to you, you must make the time for them. Also, don’t go it alone! Have an a supportive partner (or group of people) who can help encourage you and keep you accountable.
FFF: Do you have any special events or conferences where our readers can hear you speak?
LL: I will be doing some teleclasses very soon and community events in the fall. I will be posting these on my website and in my monthly newsletters. You can follow me on twitter @drlanette. I will soon be on Facebook, LOL, I’ve been one of the holdouts but I finally see the value in it, particularly as I expand my coaching services and teaching.
FFF: How can our readers find you on the web or inquire about your services?
LL: Better Health for Greater Living is the name of my business. My website is www.bhfgl.com. You can sign up for my monthly newsletters through my website or by emailing me at [email protected]. I welcome your emails, questions, and comments. I wish you much love and success on your journey. Remember, great health is your greatest asset!
No Replies to "In The Gym with Dr. Lanette Leadbetter"
Marcella Brown July 30, 2012 (5:02 pm)
You go gurl! You are a true inspiration for those of us who try to find any excuse not to eat right or exercise! I wish you all the best in all that you set out to accomplish.