Life & Work with Becky Vanderwoude of Chapel Hill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Becky Vanderwoude.

Hi Becky, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I had struggled with my weight, dieting and body image since the age of 13. When I was 34 years old, I qualified for and ran the Boston Marathon as a means to ‘lose the baby weight’ after having two kids. When THAT didn’t work, I didn’t know what to do.

A friend that I met while training for the marathons suggested I try strength training (he was a personal trainer). It changed my life so profoundly that I changed careers and became a personal trainer. I was finally done with dieting and felt good in my skin.

I worked in a gym for several years before venturing out on my own and opening up my own studio. I’ve been coaching clients out of my home on fitness and nutrition for the past 13 years and absolutely love it. I help my clients develop healthy, sustainable lifestyles. We don’t diet or overtrain. We focus on being strong and feeling good in our skin again.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s challenging to build a clientele without experience. After working with a trainer, I shadowed him at the gym while getting my certifications. That was a financially challenging period. I’m neurodivergent and would become exhausted while working with my clients; I had to learn to separate myself from the workouts and create internal boundaries, if that makes sense. I love helping my clients create a life that enables them to be and do so much more; the work itself hasn’t been difficult because my passion drives me.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve been a personal trainer and health coach for 22 years. I specialize in strength training, nutritional coaching and behavioral change. I’m proud of my clients; their success comes from trusting me and the process, working hard and being open to change. I truly care for my clients and am vested in their success.

For the past three years I’ve been working on an invention that will help disabled and special needs persons as well as the general population. I’ve got a patent pending and am currently working with an amazing team to develop a prototype.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As a young child I was shy, creative and curious. I played lots of different sports, several musical instruments and read a lot. I had a hard time making friends. In middle school I dealt with stress by eating and became quite depressed and overweight. I was bullied a lot and had a really difficult time. In high school I developed anorexia and lost a lot of weight. My journey to a healthy, happy life was a long and difficult one and it helps me appreciate all of my blessings today.

Pricing:

• Personal training sessions 90$

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.trainwithbecky.com