Page 112 of A Whole New Trick

I officially started my nutrition business four months ago, doing a soft launch online, offering personalized nutrition plans for high school and all-star sports teams in the Dallas metro area.

My first client was Rose Hill High School’s volleyball team. I offered to coach my alma mater’s team on healthy diets and nutrition plans at a significantly reduced rate, provided I could document the process on the social media accounts Carlee helped me set up. The goal was to get my name and business model out there.

At Carlee's advice, I shared the details of my work and included videos of myself preparing high-protein, delicious meals that anyone interested in health and fitness could make on their own. Some videos discussed how to lose weight in a healthy way, but most emphasized the importance of properlyfeeding your body following high-intensity workouts, including after participating in a sports competition.

I am so incredibly grateful for Carlee’s advice and expertise. With her help, my posts began to go viral within a month of creating my accounts. In the blink of an eye, I jumped from one hundred followers to one thousand, then one thousand to ten thousand.

Now, with my accounts having two hundred thousand followers, I have started acquiring sponsorship deals with companies I never dreamed of. In the interest of being honest to my audience, I only agree to deals with products I actually use or believe could be useful to my clients.

While social media success is fun, its main benefit has been the financial freedom it has provided. I quit my job at the Ranchers and followed through on opening a nutrition clinic focused on helping to end the toxic cycle of diet culture for women.

My goal is to help anyone who walks through the door of my small, two-room office be the happiest and healthiest version of themselves, no matter their body type or the numbers they see on the scale.

“Yes,” a familiar voice echoes in the sparsely decorated foyer. “I’m here to see my daughter.”

I smile and straighten, abandoning my task and making my way out of the small storage room and entering the sunlit foyer.

“Hey, Mom.”

Mom turns away from the desk where Janie sits. The twenty-one-year-old college student is working here part-time while she finishes up her last year of college.

With the way things are going, I’ll be able to pay someone to work full-time soon. If Janie is interested in the job, it’s hers. Otherwise, I’ll need to find someone else to help. The business has grown too big for me to do on my own.

“Hey, honey.” Mom walks over and wraps me up in a quick hug. “Ready for some lunch?”

“Yes, please.” I look at Janie. “Feel free to close down if you need to go out to get your own lunch.”

“That’s okay. I packed my lunch.” She motions to the floral lunch box behind her.

I nod. “Okay. I’ll be back within an hour.”

I grab my purse and lead my mom out of the office. Caldwell Nutrition is wedged between a hair salon and a woman’s only gym in a strip mall located in Midtown Dallas. It’s a prime location for my desired clientele.

Fate really has a way of letting everything fall into place when the moment is right.

To think, this time last year, I was single and just starting my first job as a Registered Dietician. Now, I’m with the love of my life, who encouraged me to reach for the stars and start my dream business. A business that is thriving.

“How have you been?” I ask Mom as we walk side by side down the streets busy with a lunchtime crowd. “How’s Dad?”

“Good. We’re both good. He’s been enjoying going to Dane’s games this season. Thank you again for gifting us season tickets. It’s good for your dad to overcome the pain of his past.”

“Of course, Mom.” I smile softly. “I’m glad Dad likes going to games.”

To be honest, I wasn’t sure he would. But seeing how much fun he had at game seven of the NHL finals all those months ago made me take a risk with my parents’ Christmas gifts this year.

We continue walking down the street, pausing occasionally to admire a pretty dress or fashionable piece of jewelry in the fancy store windows. A pair of pearl and crystal-encrusted heels catches my eye.

“Oh, those are gorgeous. I wonder if Valerie would want them for her wedding.” I take my phone out and snap a picture of the stunning shoes, which I then send to Val.

“Carter is engaged?” Mom gasps. “I had no idea.”

“No. Not yet,” I admit with a laugh. “But Valerie and Carter are always making jokes about running off with the twins and eloping.”

Neither wants the hassle of planning a wedding after witnessing the stress Carlee and Corey experienced on their big day.

If asked, my best friend would say her wedding was perfect, if only because she got to marry the man of her dreams. But the rainy, cold weather, coupled with the fact the band they’d hired for the occasion couldn’t make it because their plane had been canceled due to thunderstorms at DFW, made the day so stressful.

Regardless, Carlee looked stunning on her wedding day, and she had absolutely no qualms about getting mud on the hem of her designer gown when she walked through iconic Rosehill to marry the love of her life.

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