November 5, 2020
BBW MEMBER INTERVIEW: Lainey Younkin, MS, RD, Registered Dietitian, Lainey Younkin Nutrition
What is your name?
Lainey Younkin, MS, RD
What is your occupation?
Registered Dietitian
What is your business name?
How long have you been a Boston Business Women’s Member?
Less than a year
What is your instagram handle?
@weight.loss.dietitian
What is your linked in URL?
Were you born and raised in Boston? If not, what brought you here?
I was born in South Carolina and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. In 2010, I applied to dietetic internships (the training to become a dietitian), and it's a matching process. My fiancé at the time (now husband) and I wanted to go somewhere new so I applied to internships in Boston and San Francisco, and I got matched in Boston so we moved here and we're still here ten years later!
Tell us more about your job or company and what led you to your career?
My mom was a personal trainer so I grew up in a health-conscious family. I knew I wanted to go into a ``helping`` profession so I started in psychology and then switched to nutrition because I was fascinated by anatomy and the effect of food on the body. During my training, I figured out that working in a clinical setting in a hospital wasn't for me because there was no follow-up with patients. I wanted to have multiple follow-up sessions with clients and help them make long-term changes to their diet and lifestyle. Now my passion is helping people ditch diets forever and create a healthy lifestyle that lasts by understanding the science of metabolism and weight loss and hacking their environment and habits.
What would your clients say about you and your company?
That I have a real life approach (all foods fit!) and while I help them lose weight, it's about so much more than weight loss. They report that after working together, they no longer restrict foods, they no longer diet or have a dieting mentality of ``all or nothing`` or ``good or bad`` foods. They gain a more balanced approach to food, don't stress about food like they used to, and feel better in their clothes and body.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
You can have it all but not all at the same time.
What is your favorite book?
Right now I'm loving everything from Atomic Habits. I admit I don't read as often as I'd like!
What is your secret weapon? An app, a tool, a organization method, anything?! (Can be a personal or professional life tool)
Instead of calorie counting, my clients take photos of their food. It's simple! No measuring, counting, or stressing over numbers. They simply take pictures of everything they eat and I review their meals weekly. This gives them the accountability they seek without the stress.
What is your most recent WIN? How are you slaying it in your career or business?
My practice was solely 1-1 before Covid-19. Since April 2020, I have launched an E-book, an ongoing membership to support clients on their weight loss journey, and an 8-week group weight loss program called Makeover Your Plate to Lose the Weight (for good!).
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Stop watching all the free trainings and trying to learn all the things and just take action and do them.
How do you enjoy your free time?
What's free time? Ha! I have a 4 year old and 1.5 year old so there's little free time but I like to sleep and explore new cafes and restaurants.
What is something that not many people know about you?
I haven't had a piece of gum since I was 6 years old! It really grosses me out.
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