Name: Heather Moffatt 

Location: Oceanside, California, United States

Q: What inspired you to enroll at IIN? 

A: Well before I decided to enroll at IIN, I was going through serious health issues, having been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2009. I was incredibly sick, and Western medicine pretty much gave up on me, saying there was nothing else to do. At some point, someone recommended that I investigate changing my diet (this was never discussed with me by my doctors), including removing gluten. Back then, going gluten-free was not as popular as it is today.

Despite the healthy changes I’d made to my diet, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s in 2015 and was dealing with some unhealthy relationships in my life, so I further explored wellness practices like seeing a therapist and a chiropractor and diving into nutritional therapy to heal my whole body.

People would often come to me for advice around health and wellness, but I felt I needed something more to solidify my expertise. I came across IIN during the pandemic, and it’s exactly what I was looking for in terms of creating a career out of this passion of mine to help people (including myself!) get well. 

Q: How are you using your Health Coach Training Program education? 

A: While I was going through the program, I was diagnosed with colon cancer, ended up having my colon removed, and now live with an ostomy bag. I know what it’s like to be on your death bed, and my motivation is to help others like me. 

I’m fueled by that drive to help people realize there’s so much they can do to impact their health, from diet to lifestyle. After graduating, I enrolled in the Coaching Intensive Practicum to further my knowledge as a coach and hope to begin group coaching soon.

Q: How did your understanding of spirituality expand upon taking the program? 

A: I was brought up in a family that modeled the importance of religious/spiritual practice and have myself adopted and believe with my whole heart that this part of a health journey is vitally important.

A lot of times, when we embark on a healing/health journey, it can feel lonely and overwhelming. By cultivating a religious or spiritual practice, it can help us to realize we have the greatest force in existence, God/the universe, to help us along the way and guide us along our path.

It was refreshing to learn that IIN included spirituality (which does not have to mean religion) as a piece of the pie for primary food, as I feel a lot of individuals in the health and wellness field dismiss this extremely helpful and empowering component of the healing/health process.

Q: Health is not a destination; it's an evolution and a journey. How does this resonate with you? 

A: I 100% agree with this statement. Health and healing are a journey. It’s something that you’ll continue to implement, learn, and grow from over a lifetime. It’s not easy (although it does get easier over time), nor are the results quick; but the transformations that occur are absolutely mind-blowing and so empowering. It’ll make you appreciate how strong your body is and just what you are capable of.

Q: Did IIN help you find a way of eating that works for you? If so, tell us more about that journey. 

A: My eating lifestyle is constantly evolving. IIN confirmed for me that we’re all different and all requiring different foods to thrive. My education also solidified the fact that my eating lifestyle doesn’t have to be defined by a popular/fad diet but rather finding nutritious whole foods that work for my body and that make my body feel its absolute best.

Q: How do you nourish yourself beyond your plate, with primary foods? 

A: I love finding little pockets of joy throughout the day, like watching a hummingbird hurry by, feeling the warm sun on my skin, or seeing a stranger smile. I love being creative and dancing and taking pictures. I love spending quality time with family and friends. I love moving my body in nature and allowing my bare feet to touch the earth. I find tremendous joy in communicating with our Heavenly Father.

Q: If you could tell your pre-IIN self one thing, what would it be? 

A: You’re on the right track. Trust the process, find joy in the moment, and enjoy the ride.

Q: What is your morning routine? 

A: My morning routine fluctuates, but most mornings consist of waking up, drinking water and a green drink, meditation, reading my devotional and Bible and doing a brief Bible study, then journaling. Afterward, I try to get outside into the sun by going for a walk, then heading to the gym for some weight training, yoga, Pilates or a hip-hop class (I like to mix up my workouts, to keep them fun and enjoyable). 

I also do intermittent fasting,  so I don’t eat my first meal until about 12pm but hydrate all morning with water. I do have one organic coffee a day but don’t allow myself to enjoy that until I get at least 32 ounces of water into my system. 

Q: What music do you play to get out of a funk? 

A: I have eclectic taste in music. I truly enjoy and appreciate all genres of music, so it just depends what kind of funk I’m in and what speaks to my soul that day. It can be anything from healing frequencies to classical, jazz, blues, country, rap, classic rock...the list goes on and on!

Q: What's your favorite on-the-go snack? 

A: I’m not a big snacker. I usually eat two meals a day, lunch and dinner, and that works for me. But if I do snack, it may be some organic fruit, raw cheese, nuts, or even some grass-fed beef jerky without sugar.

Q: What's one thing you can't run your business without? 

A: There are so many things, so it seems hard to just choose one thing. Obviously, I can’t run a business without individuals who are willing and seeking to up-level their health game. I can’t run my business without humility, compassion, empathy, joy, gratefulness, or an ever-evolving appreciation to learn and grow. 

Q: How are you living a life you love? How did the program help you achieve this? 

A: IIN has given me the freedom to create a business on my own terms, doing something I am extremely passionate about and love. Having lived in extreme pain for years, I know what it’s like to not thrive and basically just exist without really being able to fully live. Since I’ve put in the hard work and made changes, I have seen an incredible change in my ailments, mindset, attitude, and spirituality. I want to help others to have a similar experience, to be able to live a life they love and thrive in this world again. 

Q: We’re calling our IIN graduates and community members Well BeIINgs. How do you embody well-being? 

A: I define well-being as having a sense of health and vitality that arises from your thoughts, emotions, actions, and experiences. When we have well-being, we feel happy, healthy, and socially connected and feel we have a purpose in life most of the time. I’ve incorporated many skills into my daily routine to help me achieve this. Not all days are perfect, but I’m an imperfect being doing the best I can to live a life that’s rewarding and fulfilling.

Before my feet touch the ground each morning, I tell God 10 things I’m grateful for, and that sets my day up to continue to live in a gratitude state. I’m aware of what food goes into my body and making sure I’m feeding myself to thrive at my best. I’m also aware of the conversations I have inside my head and am constantly trying to change the narrative and find a new perspective, especially when those words tend to have a negative connotation. By changing this narrative, it helps me to have more control over my emotions and actions. I try to tune in and listen to my intuition as much as I can so that I don’t commit to, participate in, or agree with something that doesn’t feel right and I align with my morals and integrity. I’m very conscious of what I also “feed” my brain and spirit, since what we consume is often what we become, so I’m constantly paying attention to see how my body and spirit are reacting to what I read, hear, and see.

I have a tight-knit family and a few friends who are like family I know I can always count on; being an introvert, I don’t have the want for or need to have an expansive social circle and am completely happy with the one I’ve created. As health and healing is a lifelong journey, I’m always progressing and moving toward creating a greater abundance of happiness, health, social connection, and purpose ‒ as I hope you all will too!

You can start living a life you love, right now. Take our free Sample Class to dive in.