10 Black Nutrition and Fitness Pros to Follow on Instagram

Okay, we’re not trying to pretend we’re going to fix racism in America by making another list of Black women to follow on Instagram.  Direct, sustained activism is the kind of action that is already leading to changes that will hopefully start to shift our country towards truly valuing the lives of people of color—via policies that change policing, for example, or corporations being held accountable for discriminatory practices. But representation and resources matter, and we do want to support elevating the voices and businesses of people (especially women!) of color however possible. This effort is especially important because wellness has been an extremely white space for a long time.  As we’ve built Nutritious Life’s media platform over the past few years, our team has had many conversations about how few black and brown faces there were on our website and social media channels. We’ve discussed choosing images that represent more diversity and ways of recruiting more women of color to become Nutritious Life Certified. It hasn’t always worked; we’ve made small improvements but need to do more. This moment in time serves as an important wake-up call. That work will be ongoing and long-term, and in the meantime, we can start to tip the imbalance by shopping for wellness products from black-owned brands, signing up for yoga and fitness classes with black instructors, and yes, even by hitting “follow,” since these days, Insta followers can mean real earning power. Here’s an exciting fact: Jessica Wilson is the woman who started the #amplifymelanatedvoices campaign, and she’s a registered dietitian! The brilliant founders of Food Heaven, Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones recently put it this way on Instagram: “There’s been a huge push to follow more black people in food, which is great. This is also a tiny first step towards creating meaningful and genuine connection with black people in this industry.” Start, here. (Featured Photo: Shutterstock) 10 Black Nutrition and Fitness Pros You Should Be Following Taylor Walker Sinning, @Taylorwalkerfit Taylor Walker is a Nutritious Life Certified superstar and NL friend. She’s a fitness model, health and nutrition coach, and Barry’s Bootcamp trainer. She’s shared lots of incredible fitness advice on our site in the past, like these tips for taking your workout outside, which are really useful during a pandemic. A recent story she wrote of her journey growing up as a biracial woman, for Stay Fit 305, is a must-read. https://www.instagram.com/p/CA-Uzh3ph77/ Latham Thomas, @glomaven Latham Thomas is a wellness guru of many talents and is a longtime friend of NL founder Keri Glassman. She’s the yogi, doula, and self-care expert behind Mama Glow, a maternity lifestyle site filled with resources for living your healthiest life before, during, and after pregnancy and the author of Own Your Glow, a book on “luminous living” for all women. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBCc_YPH0tr/ Wendy Lopez and Jessica Jones, RDs, CDEs, @Foodheaven Wen and Jess, as they refer to themselves on Insta, are both registered dietitians and certified diabetes educators, and Food Heaven is their media platform dedicated to “accessible and inclusive” wellness. They share lots of practical information for healthy living, like kitchen tools and tips, and there are multiple ways to engage—via their podcast, for example, or a library of recipes. They even spoke at NL’s annual Masterclass event last year. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBLuA24DQfz/ Traci Copeland, @Traco4 As a long-time Nike Master Trainer, Traci Copeland has been a fitness leader for a while now. And despite the fact that she’s also a fitness model, her posts are friendly and relatable. Follow her for well-rounded workout advice and routines—she’s a trainer, yoga teacher, and run coach. https://www.instagram.com/p/CAfeNUTDtFK/ Fatima Dedrickson, @Stylefitfatty Fatima Dedrickson is worth following for the style inspo alone, but she also posts helpful wellness content, like many smart workouts that are quick and effective and moving reflections on motherhood. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBGeBOEguCh/ Diversify Dietetics, @Diversifydietetics Okay, based on the handle, you’d probably guess this account is directly in service of the topic we’re getting at here. Created by two registered dietitians, Deanna Belleny and Tamara Melton, Diversity Dietetics is all about building community to increase ethnic and racial diversity in nutrition and dietetics. On Instagram, they highlight members of the community and share resources like meet-ups, research opportunities, and mentorships. https://www.instagram.com/p/B6jrbENF_GZ/ Shanna Tyler, @Shannatyler_ Wellness blogger Shanna Tyler has the biggest smile ever, and basically every picture she posts makes you want to be her best friend. (If happy energy can translate over Instagram, it’s gotta be super strong in person!) More importantly, though, she’s the founder of Self Soul Sport, an online community that now hosts monthly discussion events (the last one was about self-care during uncertain times) and features takeovers where other inspiring women share their healthy lifestyles. https://www.instagram.com/p/CA_aqE6jWHN/ Vanessa Risetto, MS, RD, @Vanessarisettord Fun fact: Vanessa Risetto was a client of Keri’s more than 15 years ago. Not only did she go on to become a registered dietitian, she is helping others do the same, as the Dietetic Internship Director at New York University. Her feed is filled with recipes for nutritious dishes that look as good as they taste, plus lots of great advice and glimpses at her family life. https://www.instagram.com/p/CBGC9LdgyVh/ Dr. Cori Cooper, Pharm. D., M.P.H., @DrCoriCooper Nutritious Life Certified health coach Dr. Cori Cooper is also a pharmacist and yoga teacher. (Talk about multifaceted credentials.)  She teaches virtual “Prescriptive Nutrition and Yoga” sessions and also provides content that will help you set and feel empowered to reach your goals—in wellness and business. https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVdWqsFJD2/ Lorien Talmadge, @Lorien_Rochelle If you need a little boost in the “loving yourself” department (especially after months of sitting at home alone), follow Lorien Rochelle, another Nutritious Life Studio alum. Her posts are totally uplifting on their own, and you can also hire her for personalized mind-body-soul health coaching. https://www.instagram.com/p/CAdY2vbHuUU/

Do You Suffer From Disordered Eating?

  Do you think about the consequence of a meal far after it’s over?  Do you weigh yourself at least once a day, thrown off by the slightest change in the number? Do you restrict foods or entire food groups that limit the amount of food you consume? Do you skip meals, use laxatives, or attempt to fast? If any of this sounds familiar, you may be suffering from what’s known as disordered eating. Disordered eating includes a wide range of thoughts and behaviors that, according to the DSM-IV (a fancy diagnostic classification tool used by the medical community) don’t warrant a diagnosis of a specific eating disorder, like anorexia nervosa or bulimia. However, it should in no way be minimized or thought of as less destructive or mentally invasive. Both eating disorders and disordered eating carry harmful consequences. Because disordered eating is less “extreme” than anorexia or bulimia in terms of endangerment to life, many people, including those suffering, don’t realize the impact it has on their mental and physical health. People may begin to socially withdraw, often saying no to dinners/dates. Sometimes the suffering can manifest itself in anxiety or depression. Often, constant denial that there’s anything wrong exists. The symptoms are harder to detect than a traditional eating disorder. Because this condition is more “silent” than a traditional eating disorder, it’s less likely to picked up by family and friends. Many people suffer for far too long before realizing that the inner pain and conflict they feel isn’t “normal”. Others consider their feelings of guilt and shame to be completely normal, and live their entire lives without getting the help that is available. The Signs and Symptoms of Disordered Eating Rigidity around food and exercise regimen Feelings of guilt and shame when making what’s considered to be “poor” eating decisions Emotionally driven eating Preoccupation with food, body, and working that causes stress and negatively impacts other areas of life Dieting Misusing laxatives/diuretics/colon cleansers Denial of physical hunger and satiety, usually for the sake of losing weight How Did Disordered Eating Happen? In my opinion, disordered eating is the result of the messages we see and hear in magazines, commercials, and television that have left men and women suffering. 1200 calorie diets have been drilled into our head for years.  Home economics, health class, and the science courses have failed to fully teach the science of food and relay the importance of individualized needs. We live in an “Eat this food, don’t eat that food” society, which frequently contradicts itself. Ever been told avocados are healthy, but then told they make you fat? We make 200-300 food choices per day. Without a clear understanding of what a food will do to our bodies, our perplexity intensifies. How to Recover From Disordered Eating First, you must identify that you’re living in pain, and that the pain isn’t normal. Whether that be negative self worth, obsession with food, binging, or a refusal to eat in restaurants or outside of your home. Second, accept that you’re not to blame. This is 100% not your fault. These feelings are so abundant that they can pass as the norm for many people. Social media has become a part of our routine, and with millions of messages flooding our brains daily, we’ve become more susceptible to eating disorders and disordered eating. Third, understand that it’s possible for you to improve your relationship with food and your body.  If you want to get out of the messed up relationship you have with food, the power is yours. Fourth, seek help. Whether from a psychologist or a Registered Dietitian, make a plan with a health professional who can steer you in the right direction. The process of recovery may take anywhere from a month to a few years. Be patient with yourself and the process and know that you’ll soon be able to focus on the important things in life. About Lisa: Lisa Hayim, MS, RD is a Registered Dietitian and Mindful Eating Expert in New York. She holds her Master’s in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from Columbia University. She works in private practice, helping clients and patients learn to eat real food and make choices mindfully. Lisa believes that healthy is a complete state of physical, mental, and social well being. When we nourish our bodies with whole foods and learn to be mindful, we are not only preventing and combating disease, but effortlessly learning to appreciate our bodies. Follow Lisa on Instagram @TheWellNecessities, or head to TheWellNecessities.com  or plant based recipes that are 5 or less ingredients!