Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and nutrition but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kristina Von Oertzen, founder of Bloom Lab, located in Lisbon, Portugal.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm a Certified Transformational Nutrition Coach and Digestive Health Expert, and I'm passionate about empowering women to look and feel amazing in their 40s and beyond. I specialise in working with women in their early 40s to 60s, showing them how to lose weight and keep it off successfully. I know that keeping the weight off can be a challenge as we age, and that's why I focus on sustainable, long-term solutions that fit into a busy lifestyle.
Drawing on my experience working at the leading culinary arts school, Le Cordon Bleu, in London and at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Berlin, I create flavorful meals that are healthy, satisfying, and easy to prepare. I believe that food should be both nutritious and delicious, and I'm devoted to showing my clients simple and convenient ways to eat well.
In addition to nutrition, I'm a fitness lover and believe exercise is a crucial component of a healthy lifestyle. I enjoy tailoring workout programs that are efficient and easy to incorporate into your day-to-day routine.
As a business owner, I know how challenging balancing a busy schedule with a healthy lifestyle can be. That's why I'm dedicated to providing simple yet effective solutions for juggling multiple responsibilities and prioritising health and fitness.
Tell us about yourself
Two things kept me busy my whole life – what to eat to feel good and what to do to look beautiful. They both go hand in hand. The better I felt through food, the better I looked, but that wasn't always easy. It all started with a massive growth spurt in my early teens. During this time, I could eat whatever I wanted. I remember my best friend and I loved sugar bread, German wheat bread with butter, and a generous layer of white sugar. Today, I wouldn't go anywhere near food like this!
The first problems arose when I stopped growing. Suddenly I went from having a lean figure with zero fat to a more feminine version of myself with noticeable curves. While I wasn't fat, I was chubby enough for my younger brother to tease me endlessly. His comments are deeply ingrained into my memory and the reason for years of low self-esteem. I just wanted to be beautiful.
I tried it all – diets, throwing up, exercise, fasting, and beauty treatments, but none made me feel good. On the contrary, I felt worse and worse. In my mid-twenties, I developed lactose intolerance. After almost every meal, I felt nauseous, had terrible migraines, and was so bloated that I was asked several times if I was pregnant. I felt mortified. I could never have a regular meal, developed rules for what I could and could not eat, and food became my constant battle. More intolerances came. Eventually, in my late thirties, I was an ill-looking mess with chronic diarrhoea and migraines so bad that I wished I would die.
I was also under a lot of financial pressure and panicking that I was getting older and older without reaching anything – finding a husband, having children, or a successful career. I felt like everyone else was living their life while I was somehow on hold with mine. I was sick, depressed, and miserable. Beauty was no longer my concern because my health was suffering. At this low point, I found a very talented doctor specialising in digestive issues who introduced me to the elimination diet and guided me through it. She helped me get off the contraceptive pill and the strong prescription medication I was taking to keep my migraines at bay. Several months later, I was a lot happier, medication-free, and finally had healthy digestion. It was life-changing.
I was deeply impressed by the difference the right food can make in your well-being. Since then, I have refined my lifestyle further, reduced stress levels with a more positive attitude toward my finances, and cut out toxins, and that, too, made a huge difference. I also met my now-partner, which was unexpected and shows that the universe works in mysterious ways. He came at the right time into my life after I dealt with my digestive problems. I'm finally feeling beautiful, and that's because I'm healthy.
Today, I'm even more passionate about beauty, food, and health, and I want to help other women like me get a grip on their digestive issues so that they can reclaim their lives. All of this while they blossom into a happier and healthier version of themselves. That is how Bloom Lab came about.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
There's not one big accomplishment but a stream of ongoing challenges I had to overcome to grow my business, from holding masterclasses to an audience of strangers, building my own website, and running Facebook ads to keeping myself motivated when times get tough. However, I'm most proud of the change I can see in my clients. It is beyond rewarding when they finally get over that weight loss plateau after years of unsuccessful trying. It is beautiful to watch their excitement when they regain their energy and feel like themselves again. It often reminds me of my own journey, and I'm glad that I can give back and guide someone back to a healthier, happier life.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things that come with being a coach is that I am my business. It can be hard to draw the line between work and personal life, and switching off requires a lot of discipline. I've been self-employed for many years and developed routines and practices that make this process easier. I have clear working hours and regular breaks. It also helps to have a dedicated space for my business and areas in my house for rest and relaxation.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get a coach or build a support network. Starting and growing a business can be a lonely journey, and having someone to bounce ideas off or provide feedback can be invaluable.
- Be open to change and willing to pivot when necessary. Your business idea may evolve, or you may need to shift in response to changes in the market. Being adaptable and willing to change can help you stay relevant and competitive.
- Invest time and resources into becoming a marketing expert. Marketing is critical to the success of any business, and it's essential to understand your target audience and how to reach them effectively.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://bloomlab.health/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BloomLabHealth
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomlab.health/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinavonoertzen/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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