Today we’d like to introduce you to Lahana Vigliano.
Lahana, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
When I was younger, I wanted to be a doctor. I stuck by that through my whole childhood into college. When I started a pre-med major + was learning about pharmaceuticals and how doctors practiced, I was completely turned off that I wanted to do that for the rest of my life. I knew there was something more to health and something that could be done before getting sick. I also started a family really young – I was 18 when I had my son. So, my mentality started to shift in what I wanted for my family + not just succumbing to the average sickness. I found nutrition mid-way through my bachelor’s degree and switched majors to Nutrition Science. I finished school + stayed at home with my daughter for a year. Instead of going back to work, I wanted to start a business. I wanted to be flexible for my kids timewise but was feeling called to do something great with business and nutrition. I founded Thrival Nutrition and it started off as a podcast + blog. My main focus was getting free good content to start helping people live a healthier holistic lifestyle. A couple of years in, we moved to Texas and we started seeing clients + really building up not only a digital brand but a nutrition practice. Now, we have dietitians + nutritionists on staff, a supplement line, and currently building a franchise model for functional nutrition practice. The journey has had its ups and downs, but it’s been INCREDIBLE.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! There were times of basic business start-up struggles – finances, trying to juggle having a family and a business, self-doubt – I would consider those things pretty normal for a first-time business venture. But, I’ve also had some big mountains. At the beginning of just launching my business, I had peers and their friends trying to talk down about me and my brand and how “fake” it was. Couple years after, I had to pay a 1k fine and cease and desist the actual “practicing” portion of my business when I was still in Florida due to someone reporting me because I wasn’t a registered dietitian, which is the state recognized of nutrition professionals. I’m a board certified clinical nutritionist, so I was taught more of the functional nutrition, holistic approach to health which is what I wanted. I did NOT want to be a dietitian and go through the government approved the program. I’m a natural rebel that way. States have various restrictions + Florida (where we are from) was a VERY strict state + unless you were an RD, you weren’t allowed to practice. It really hit me that I couldn’t “grow” my business the way I wanted to and I had to stop or I had to move. We just were visiting Texas for a conference a couple of months after that happened and I just had this feeling (that I completely credit to God) of this is where we are supposed to be. We moved, we are flourishing, and I WOULD NOT change a THING. Situations and people that brought me down actually moved me up. I’m SO grateful for everything that has happened because it drew me into the person I am now and I wouldn’t have what I have now if it wasn’t for those situations.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Thrival Nutrition – what should we know?
Thrival Nutrition is a functional nutrition practice with nutritionists + dietitians on staff that help women with hormonal imbalances, digestive issues, food sensitivities + food allergies, and prenatal and postnatal health. We embrace each women’s bio-individuality and figure out which foods work for her INDIVIDUAL body. We use food as medicine, herbs, and lifestyle changes to help women and families reach their goals. We also use functional lab testing that looks at the body as a whole – like your hormones or your digestive system. We also test for nutrient deficiencies and food sensitivities! In a society that is full of “trending” diets, we love helping people figure out their body.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Determination + Faith + Hardwork.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thrivalnutrition.com
- Phone: 5125012611
- Email: lahana@thrivalnutrition.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/thrivalnutrition
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/thrivalnutrition
Image Credit:
Brittany Harmon with June Sky Photography and Rami
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