Amy is a WAG coach, a CrossFit coach, and an avid foodie. When she’s not in the gym you’ll likely find her in the kitchen experimenting with recipes, adventuring outdoors, or taking care of the “Victory garden” she created with her dad in the backyard.

Who or what inspires you as a nutrition coach?

I am inspired by the opportunity to live a higher quality of life, for a longer period of time by focusing on nutrition and fitness. There is so much disease and illness out there and people are suffering. I know that nutrition (or lack of) plays a huge role in this. If I can control certain outcomes in my own life just by making shifts in what or how I eat and what I expose my body to, then I am going to take ownership of that and do what is necessary to be healthier. It is something I want to share and empower others to do as well, which is part of why I love coaching.

What is one thing your most successful nutrition clients have in common?

They listen to and implement feedback, even when it is hard and they are afraid of change. Our bodies are constantly changing and we have to be open to understanding that what worked before may not keep working. The clients who are willing to stay open-minded and experiment with different things are the most successful.

What’s an essential part of your daily routine?

My matcha ritual. I make a homemade matcha “potion” every morning when I wake up and I look forward to it every day. It is calming, it tastes good, it’s got multiple health benefits, and it gives me that little moment of peace before I face the day. I go as far as bringing all my supplies with me when I travel so every morning can start out the same, and I get pretty cranky when something interferes with this routine. Want to check it out? Here is the link!

What's your favorite part about living in Walla Walla?

Mostly just that my family is here, and I can spend time with them whenever I want.  It’s also a small farm town with access to farmer’s markets, wineries, and top-rated restaurants. If I wanted to go to the mountains, or to a big city like Seattle or Portland, it is just a few hours' drive away.

What is your favorite way to spend a day off?

Outside! Hiking or snowshoeing would be preferred. My most frequented locations are in the Eagle Cap Wilderness around Joseph, Oregon, and the Tollgate area of the Blue Mountains.

Where’s the next place on your travel bucket list and why?

Italy. Part of my family is from there, and I have always wanted to see and experience this part of the world. Maybe in part as a way of connecting to my heritage. My dad was able to travel there a few years ago and his stories and pictures made me want to go even more.

What song always gets you out on the dance floor/“dance like nobody’s watching” song?

This is going to show my age, but Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Michael Jackson was one of the first records my parent’s bought me as a kid. Anytime I hear that song it makes me want to dance. At one point I was committed to learning the choreography of the entire Thriller music video, but I never quite got it nailed down. I still pretend I know what I am doing regardless of how dumb I look.

Which of your personality traits are you most proud of?

My discipline. I am someone who will persevere and hold true to my work ethic and my routines even when I don’t feel like it.

What's something you’d like to learn?

Homesteading. I think it would be really cool to live off the land and know how to be self-sufficient. Maybe this is because I grew up watching Little House on the Prairie, or because my family has roots in farming and growing produce.

What makes you laugh the most?

My sister Angela when she is doing impressions of people we know. She’s very animated and always has the best sense of humor.

Get to know a bit more about coach Amy HERE or listen to her interview on the Inside WAG Nutrition Podcast.