Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Bukovac.
Hi Kelly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
From a young age, I struggled with nutrition, knowing how to “properly eat” to maintain/support a healthy body, and navigating a healthy relationship with food. Although I have always been extremely active, I was slightly overweight as a child due to my “picky eating” habits. However, after taking a basic nutrition course in high school I went the complete opposite direction towards being obsessed with only “eating healthy” which led to some unhealthy habits. After several years of struggle, I was determined to learn more about nutrition and a healthy lifestyle overall so that I could overcome these issues and help others to avoid them as well. Although I ended up going to college for a business management degree (graduated in 2011), I still spent most of my free time learning about nutrition, fitness, and everything health-focused. In 2015, I decided to do a bit more and studied to earn my certification in personal training. I did some one-on-one training and taught a few group classes while also starting to work with clients online who found me on Instagram. In 2017, I renewed my certification for personal training and also studied to earn my sports nutrition specialist certification. Except this still didn’t feel like enough. I was discovering that my passion and purpose was to help people with their fitness, nutrition, and well-being full time. After an extremely tough personal year with lots of loss, I decided it was time to go back to school. I wanted to become a registered dietitian and help more people, full time. I didn’t think it would be possible to continue working full time while going back to school but, I realized that when you are truly passionate about something, you make it happen. No matter what it takes. I decided to grow my business too by starting up a website to go along with my fitness Instagram so I could reach more people. I have now been helping people through ‘fitandwellwithkel’ for several years on the side while working full time and going back to school for my RDN credential. I only have one year of school left and while I have never worked harder in my life, I can’t imagine if I would have ignored my calling to do more in the fitness and nutrition world. Today, I have had the opportunity to help so many women and men to live a healthier lifestyle by building positive habits surround their nutrition, fitness, and mindset! It brings me so much joy to teach people new ways to reach their goals without sacrificing the things they love. My goal is to eventually open my own practice with a full healthcare team that will allow us to take our services to the next level through nutrition, fitness, mindset, therapy, and many other well-being offerings.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This journey to help others after navigating my own struggles has not been easy at all. I have run into many challenges along the way especially now while I have to manage my time very wisely while I work full time in the business world, go to school full time, and continue to help my current fitandwellwithkel clients. I have had to sacrifice time with family and friends in order to manage it all but, I do know it will pay off in the long term. But I am extremely lucky to have people who understand this and are cheering me on and supporting me along the way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I help others build healthier habits surrounding their nutrition, fitness, and their mindset. I specialize in and am known for my advocacy for flexible dieting. This is a style of dieting that allows you to choose the foods you love and be flexible with your options while still being successful in reaching your goals. I am most proud of the work I have been able to accomplish with my business and clients while still working full time and going back to school full time. My drive, determination, and passion is what sets me apart. Because of everything I have overcome, I truly know there is nothing that can stop me from reaching my goals especially when it comes to helping others!
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
When it comes to my success in helping others to live healthier lives and reach their wellness goals, I cannot name just one quality or characteristic as it is truly due to all of my best qualities working together. It is truly my kind, caring nature combined with my passion and pure excitement to help others while also being extremely hard-working and determined that has made me so successful in just a short few years.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://fitandwellwithkel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitandwellwithkel/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fitandwellwithkel
Image Credits:
Rachel Rigler
Jodi Vander Woude
