Name: Carla Contreras
Location: New Jersey, United States

Website: carlacontreras.com

Instagram: @chefcarla_c

Q: What inspired you to enroll at IIN?

A: I was a personal chef in New York City and working as a pasta maker for Chef Daniel Boulud at DBGB. I�d worked for restaurants and hotels, at that point, for 10 years. I was mentally and physically exhausted from the demands of 12- to 16-hour days as a chef (and living the party lifestyle that often comes with being a chef, especially in NYC).

I met an IIN student in one of my classes during my master�s program in food management at New York University. She gave me a Health History consultation while she was doing the program. I was fascinated by her work, and I wanted to learn more for myself.

At the time, I was on the fence about becoming a registered dietitian and wasn�t ready to commit to another degree. I was also looking for something deeper than just the food aspect, which is what brought me to IIN. I�m so happy I chose IIN, because of the incredible people I�ve met over the years.

Q: How are you using your Health Coach Training Program education?

A: I signed up for IIN with the intention of being able to cook with more nutrition knowledge for my personal chef clients, and I ended up starting my journey of personal healing and growth over the past 11 years. I use my IIN tools daily, and I�m still part of the communities I was introduced to during my training.

Q: How did your understanding of food and nutrition expand upon taking the program?

A: I was exposed to a world of new ideas. Learning about the different dietary theories gave me permission to explore and find what worked for myself (and back then, what worked for my personal-chef clients). I discovered IIN�s core concept of bio-individuality, which was life-changing for me. Now it�s about always being open to new ideas.

Q: Did IIN help you find a way of eating that works for you? If so, tell us more about that journey.

A: This could be a book (and might be)! My eating has shifted so much over the years. The one thing that�s constant is, I do what works for me. This is such a gift I�ve learned from IIN, that no two people are the same.

Q: How are you living a life you love? How did the program help you achieve this?

A: I�m living a life that I�d have never even imagined. I�m doing exactly what I want to be doing: food styling, recipe testing, creating online courses, writing for publications, working with brands I love, and creating my podcast. It�s taken me 11 years to get here, but it all started with my first step in investing in myself by enrolling at IIN. I took my last bit of savings and trusted my intuition. It�s a lesson that I use every single day: I�m always willing to bet on myself.

Q: Health is not a destination; it's an evolution and a journey�how does this resonate with you?

A: In my journey of personal healing and growth over the past 11 years, I�ve had to learn what I need in each moment, each day, each month, etc. This constant listening to and understanding of my true needs and desires is what propels me forward.

Q: If you could tell your pre-IIN self one thing, what would it be?

A: Get ready for the ride. This isn�t just a program you take and are done with ? this is a lifelong journey.

Q: What is your morning routine?

A: I have a serious self-care routine, and it varies day by day.

I developed the 5/5 method in 2018 when my kiddos were 2 and 3 years old. I had a total health meltdown from working for six months without a day off while mothering and doing all the things!

In January of 2019, I chose rest and deep nourishment as my North Stars. As the year progressed, I added more words: movement, mindfulness, and water. These are my five non-negotiables.

When most people see the 5/5, they think they must do �all the things,� which sets them up for failure before they even begin. That is not the intention. The 5/5 is all about the quick win. Take a deep breath, winning. Fill up your water bottle, winning. That�s how I start my mornings: I look for the quick win that fits into my day.

Lately, this looks like taking a deep breath before I hop out of bed, chugging my water that I set out the night before, doing 20 minutes of exercise, then maybe having a 5-minute journaling session (if the stars align with my two kiddos).

Q: How do you nourish yourself beyond your plate, with primary food?

A: Deep nourishment is one of my 5/5. Sometimes things that we call self-care don�t work, like bubble baths or lighting candles. We�re individuals and need to define how we want to feel and what self-care means to us.

In 2020, I wasn�t feeling grounded by my morning pages, meditation, and movement practices. I had to dig deeper, which meant working on healing trauma, relationships, and old patterns. It�s the deep, ugly-cry work that�s grounded me, and that�s what deep nourishment means today.

Q: What music do you play to get out of a funk?

A: Music is my life. I played clarinet in a concert band until I was 15. I also had turntables in college and loved going to underground raves. I love everything from EDM to classic rock.

Q: What's your favorite on-the-go snack?

A: Lately, I�ve been drinking bone broth with spinach, coconut milk, and freshly grated ginger, blended, instead of my afternoon matcha.

Q: What's one thing you can't run your business without?

A: I can�t do anything without the support of my community: social media, newsletter subscribers, podcast listeners, my online course subscribers, my food-styling clients, publications, and brands. This is the engine that drives my work, and I�m so grateful for each and every person who�s on this journey with me.

Q: We�re calling our IIN graduates and community members Well BeIINgs. How do you embody well-being?

A: My work and life are centered on making what I call accessible wellness. This is why I created my podcast, Show Up Fully. I ask the important questions �How do you define showing up?� and �What do you do when you don�t want to show up?� This, to me, is what wellness looks like in real life ? and the answers are different for every single person.

You can start living a life you love, right now. Take our free Sample Class to dive in.