Life & Work with Lucy Hayhurst

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucy Hayhurst.  

Hi Lucy, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I’ve always been a food lover and used to polish off a tray of green bean casserole by myself in high school. That’s also when I started working out at the gym. I’ve worked in gyms since I was about 16 years old and tend to find my tribe at the gym. 

In college, I started working for the YMCA and fell in love with the mission and the community. It wasn’t until I got to college at University of Dayton that I took a greater interest in understanding nutrition and how food fueled the body. After graduation, I completed a clinical dietetic internship at WVU Hospitals and quickly decided clinical dietetics was not my passion. I loved the outpatient nutrition counseling, which is why I started Well Balanced Nutrition after taking the registration exam to become a registered dietitian. 

Well Balanced Nutrition was my opportunity to blend my passions of adventure (I have a bit of a walking addition) and helping others. For many years, my business partner, Kristen Norton, and I were going to our client’s offices to see them for nutrition counseling sessions. It was amazing! 

We do lunch & learns for the companies and then offer a day to come in for anyone that wanted to sit down for 60-90 minutes and discuss their health and well-being. It was dreamy! We’d also host monthly small group sessions. Some of our community partners include Carol Woods Retirement Community, James Scott Farrin Law Office, Self-Help Credit Union, and the YMCA of Durham. 

Not surprisingly, we had to pivot this model when COVID hit in March 2020 and were lucky enough to move all our appointments to Telehealth, retaining most of our clientele. It took a few months, but by June 2020, more people were finding us through their insurance companies because they weren’t thrilled about the way their health was declining during the pandemic. We’re in network with BCBS, United Health, Cigna, and Aetna. 

In October 2021, we added another dietitian to the team, Isabella Swiecicki, who is our plant-based / vegetarian expert on the team. We are still primarily offering Telehealth in the Triangle; however, we’re planning to start seeing clients in our new Raleigh office by the end of the year. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I hope anyone who owns a business is honest enough to acknowledge the struggles! We’ve had plenty along the way. Sometimes it’s with insurance companies who won’t always cover these nutrition services or having to negotiate the fee schedule aka rates. 

It’s equal parts rewarding and hard to work directly 1-on-1 with clients because sometimes people are forgetful, distracted or otherwise too overwhelmed by life to focus on making better dietary choices. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m usually known for always seeing “the bright side.” In the best possible way, I can spin almost anything to see the positive in a situation. I try to avoid toxic positivity. And most humans are hardwired for thinking negatively. When people come to a session, they often arrive feeling guilty, hopeless, or altogether lost, and by the end of our hour together they are feeling more confident and clear about their next best step. 

I also have been on my own health journey with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) since 2013, and it’s something I’ve been studying more this past year to be competent to help other improve their gut health. 

What sets our team at Well Balanced Nutrition apart is that we know every diet works, but not every diet work for everyone. It’s important to get a personalized nutrition and wellness plan because otherwise, you’re at risk of falling into the fad diet traps and feeling like a failure when / if the diet didn’t work for you. I always tell my clients: You didn’t fail; the diet failed you. 

What makes you happy?
The short answer: Being outside with my family, playing in the kitchen, and talking to my clients. 

Why? I love nature and enjoying time with my family. I love food and preparing food for myself and my loved ones, and I adore everyone in the Well-Balanced tribe who has entrusted me to be a part of their wellness journey. 

Pricing:

• Most BCBS of NC insurance covers nutrition at 100%!
• We offer a great discount for self-pay clients of $199/mo for our Transformation program

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wellbalancednutrition.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellbalancednutritionnc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellbalancednutritionnc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lhayhurst/
• Youtube: @wellbalancednutritionnc

Image Credits
Alaina Barth
Brandee Hayhurst
Kerrie Hawk