Originally from Denver, Colorado, Rebecca Neeley Addington is a student currently studying to become a holistic nutritionist at a well-respected post-secondary institution.
Since her middle teenage years, Rebecca has had a passion for fitness and nutrition, often spending her evenings after school experimenting with healthy recipes and testing them out on her family during dinner time. After receiving exceptionally positive responses from her parents and siblings, she decided to branch out and enter some of her unique foods into local competitions. It was then, after some of her diet-friendly, vegan, cruelty-free, and heart-smart culinary creations placed third, second, and outright won at a few county and state fairs, that she decided to actively pursue becoming a holistic nutritionist in a serious manner. She began researching the appropriate college programs, and after applying to several, was accepted by her first choice.
Concurrently, Rebecca Neeley Addington developed an avid interest in personal fitness, and began a strict regimen of calisthenics, lifting weights, and jogging in the early mornings before her classes. She also tried out for her high school’s varsity soccer and field hockey teams, making the starting lineup for both squads in her junior and senior years.
Once she graduates from college, Rebecca Neeley Addington aspires to become a professional holistic nutritionist and successful entrepreneur, counseling clients on how best to maintain and improve their health in a comprehensive manner. Rebecca has also considered marketing some of the tasty treats that have won her awards. In her spare time, she practices advanced yoga on a daily basis, crediting it as a gigantic factor in maintaining her own mental and physical health and wellness.
How have you achieved success?
Over the years, I’ve used a combination of hard work, heavy research, and a lot of trial and error in order to develop a program of nutrition and fitness that I feel works best for me. Between the ages of 16 and 18 years old, I went from a lackadaisical slacker to motivated dynamo. I started cooking healthy meals for myself and my family, and their encouragement inspired me to strive for more in other parts of my life. My grades improved. I also transformed for the better physically in a way that was difficult not to notice. As the people around me began to see the positive changes in my life, some of them asked me for recipes, or help in designing a fitness program that considered busy schedules. I was especially proud when my old grade ten geography teacher approached me to craft a diet and exercise program meant to help him lose weight. I gladly did so, and he followed it to the letter. During my senior year in high school, I watched as the pounds melted off this determined man. I was so proud of him. At my high school graduation ceremony, he pulled me aside and handed me a handwritten letter of gratitude. I nearly teared up! I still have that letter and look at it from time to time for inspiration.
How has your definition of success changed over the years?
I used to think that success meant avoiding hard work and eschewing learning if it could at all be avoided. If I could coast through my classes and evade the attention of my teachers until the bell rang at the end of the school day, I was a happy girl. That version of me is gone, though. The new and improved version of me embraces difficult tasks and seeks out new challenges and new knowledge. The new version of me welcomes engagement from peers and authority figures alike.
What obstacles have you overcome in the process?
When I was younger, I had an attitude problem. I was apathetic and listless—like many teenagers are, I suppose. But I think it was particularly pronounced in my case. It got to the point where I didn’t want to wake up and go to school in the mornings. One day, when I was about 16 years old, my parents sat me down and had a talk with me about the issue. They told me that they were concerned that I was just barely scraping by in school and not taking care of myself physically and mentally. They were right. I had no choice but to agree. After all, I was a straight-C student, I had few friends, virtually no social life, and I spent most of my evenings and weekends eating junk food and watching trashy videos on the internet. But ever since the day that my mom and dad confronted me with my unhealthy behavior, I resolved to make the most out of myself personally and professionally. I often cite that conversation as the turning point in my life—at least, to this point.
What drives you to succeed?
I do not want to waste the precious gift of life. I want to live for as long as I can, accomplish as much as I can, and help as many people as I can during my short tenure on the planet Earth.
What has success meant to you?
To me, success has meant the adoption of a positive, purposeful, and hopeful mindset. I’m of the opinion that success takes place primarily in the mind. Regardless of whatever situation I find myself in, as long as I keep that attitude, I know I will get through it and find success.
Do you have advice for others on how to be successful?
Yes. In order to function at your most effective, you have to consistently eat properly and exercise each and every day. I know it’s tempting to eat foods that are high in trans fats, sugar, and carbohydrates, but these things are detrimental to your health, as is too much red meat. Try to avoid these foods. With exercise, if you’re just starting to get in shape, focus on cardio at the beginning. After you’ve established a stable routine, then move on to weightlifting and other muscle-building exercises. Also, practicing yoga never hurts anyone’s physical or mental health. I highly recommend that, too.
Website — rebeccaneeley-addington.com
Industry Minds — https://industry-minds.com/profile/?uid=rebeccaneeleyaddington
Crunchbase — https://www.crunchbase.com/person/rebecca-Neeley-addington