Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Katherine Loy.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Amanda Katherine. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I never expected to become a health & fitness coach, launch a podcast and be considered a social media influencer by the age of 27. If you had asked me 5 years ago where I would be today, I would have said working a bunch of part-time jobs to support myself as an actor.
And 3 years ago, that’s exactly what my life looked like. I graduated from the Chicago College of Performing Arts with a BFA in musical theatre, ready to take on the world. And I quickly realized that that world involved a lot more than I was prepared to handle.
The next few years, I found myself running around like a chicken with my head cut off, living paycheck to paycheck. I was working 7 different part-time jobs and on the outside, my extroverted perfectionist self-made it looks like I had it all together when in reality, I was struggling on so many fronts, especially when it came to my health.
Over the course of my college career, I developed a binge and emotional eating habit and quickly put on 30 lbs. My body image was at an all-time low, and I did what most twenty-something women do — I went on a diet.
And this led to years of dieting, binging and over exercising until October of 2015 when the stress and burnout of my crazy busy life met with the strain my body had been through finally came to a head and I experienced what I like to call my quarter-life crisis.
From that moment on, I knew something had to change. I knew it was time to focus on my health in a way that was sustainable and positive. And when I finally started to find peace with my body, ditched the diet cycle once and for all and found food freedom, I felt so called to pay that forward to other women who were feeling as alone as I was in their own health and fitness journey.
I never imagined that I could do this as a career… my gut told me, YES, but I was TERRIFIED. And it certainly didn’t happen overnight. I slowly started sharing my story and before I knew it, I was building a business that actually made me happy, and taking care of myself along the way.
When I first launched my business, I knew that if I could make a difference in just ONE person’s life, I would have felt like it was worthwhile. And here we are, two and a half years later, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with hundreds of women who were just like me when I started.
It’s been such a wonderful (and challenging) adventure and one that I am grateful for every single day.
Has it been a smooth road?
I literally laughed out loud at this question. Of course, it hasn’t been a smooth road! Is life ever smooth?In the past 2 1/2 years of building my business, I’ve faced so many struggles, personally and professionally!
3 months after I opened my business, my husband and I were forced out of our home for 4 months and were living out of suitcases in hotels because our new home had a major roof leak. 1 year into my business, my husband unexpectedly quit his job and I picked up some extra part-time gigs to keep us afloat.
And just 2 months ago, I found out that I am positive for the BRCA 1 gene and am going through a whirlwind emotionally right now.
We will always be faced with obstacles (and anyone who tells you otherwise isn’t sharing what’s really going on) — and I’ve found that while the process of navigating those struggles can be incredibly taxing, there is so much that can be strength found on the other side of it all if we focus on showing up every day with intention and with a mindset of growth and positivity.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Amanda Katherine Loy Coaching – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I help busy women ditch the diet, find JOY in fitness and live a f*ck yes life through my monthly virtual group program — a results-centered experience that blends together 1:1 coaching with an ongoing group coaching community.
In addition to workouts & nutrition tools and energizing meal plans, we dive into topics like emotional eating, creating motivation and consistency in your health journey & self-care strategies to help you feel amazing from the inside out. And you get to rock it out alongside a tribe of women who are just like you!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I’m originally from Toronto and ever since moving to Chicago 9 years ago, it’s felt like home. Some of my favorite aspects of the city? The arts community, the beautiful parks (Humbolt park is my favorite, and the 606 is such a great place to go for a walk with your pup!) and the restaurants here are incredible.
My husband Kevan and I are huge foodies so it’s super fun to get to constantly be trying something new and also rocking out our favorite go-to’s. I think my least favorite thing about our city is the crazy-ness that is the downtown loop. I spent 3 years living there and after moving just outside of the center, I honestly don’t know how I ever did it!!
Contact Info:
- Address: 2734 W Cortland Street, Unit 3
- Website: www.amandakatherineloy.com
- Email: amandakatherineloy@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/amandakatherineloy
- Facebook: facebook.com/amandakatherineloy
- Other: Podcast: www.amandakatherineloy.com/podcast or look up Live Your F*ck Yes Life on any podcast app!
Image Credit:
Paige Marie, Kara Evans Photographer
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
