We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Carla Abate. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Carla below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Carla with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I think that I got my work ethic from both of my parents. My father was a full-time carpenter, but in addition to this, he and my mother operated a small farm. Between just the two of them there was always something to be done and the weekends were no exception. I rarely saw them rest, or vacation. They always did whatever needed to be done no matter how cold it was outside, and they rarely ever complained when challenges arose.
I was off to work as soon as I got my working papers at 14 years old. I went in to work in the very early mornings before the sun came up, with my father to work in food service at one of the hotels that he was employed at. We would listen to NPR radio which lulled me to sleep in the car back then, but is now an integral part of my daily adult routine.
I thrived in the service industry, where I met all kinds of interesting people and developed important, social and professional skills. Some of these skills included following through on a customer complaint or question, or learning that it was OK not to always have the answer, but to stay dedicated to finding it instead.
For me, providing high-quality service to others, was an intrinsic faculty employed seemingly intuitively. But my parents modeled for me early that dedication, reliability, thoroughness, and good communication are essential to success. My parents went above and beyond to help others. I recall time and time again, how they supported neighbors with their own farming challenges, or simply helped them get through a tough time.
And although neither of my parents went to college, both were avid readers and motivated to self educate. This has definitely inspired my own love of learning, and high standards for continuing education in any field.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a functional nutrition therapist, board-certified in holistic nutrition. My science-based nutritional training is rooted in the most up-to-date research focused on addressing the root cause of health imbalances rather than simply addressing symptoms.
As a level 2 restorative wellness practitioner, I have extensive training in functional testing tools that help me more rapidly and effectively identify the underlying causes of my clients’ symptoms for a more targeted and comprehensive wellness approach.
I help my clients address gut and hormone imbalances, optimize nutrition for healthy metabolism, pregnancy, weight management, cognitive health, and cellular aging. We work to address fatigue, blood sugar dysregulation, bone health, and everything in between.
From supporting children and teens with nutrition for optimal academic and athletic performance, to helping the elderly maintain vitality and well-being in their golden years, my clients represent a broad spectrum of ages and life stages.
One of my favorite populations to support however, is women during preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum. As a mom, myself, I’m tuned into the challenges of motherhood, and simply love supporting other mothers feel their best so they can give their best.
Guiding clients to understand their bodies’ unique landscape using functional testing methods and tools is one of the most exciting aspects of my work. “Test don’t guess,” is the adage that was so often repeated throughout my training and rightfully so.
Beginning January 31st I’ll be kickstarting the new year with my six week online “Real Food Rebels” workshop. I will guide my clients through a 21 day Whole Foods cleanse to optimize metabolism, gut health, hormones, detoxification pathways, and the microbiome. The program starts with a one hour session for goal-setting and cleanse planning. Weekly check-ins during the cleanse, provide support and monitor progress, leading to a critical session on food re-introduction. The final session focuses on, sustaining nutritional changes for symptom improvement and long-term wellness.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
It’s definitely a combination of qualities, skills and areas of knowledge that culminate to prepare one for their profession. And equally important are our life experiences.
As far back as I can remember, I have always been certain of a connection between good nutrition and vibrant health. Growing up on a farm, I had access to high-quality fruits, vegetables, and animal products. I was well aware of how fortunate I was, and took pride in the farm. I noticed when I went off to college, how my energy, my skin, and my gut health was not as robust as I relied more heavily on processed foods. I began implementing different dietary strategies and quickly saw powerful results. I knew that nutrition was something I could control and manipulate in order to explore how different foods made me feel. My dedication to and patience applying different protocols helped me to really see the value in food as medicine.
My undergraduate work in psychology, with a focus on health and healing, has most certainly played a role in preparing me for coaching my clients. Listening deeply to another person may sound like a simple task, yet this skill is really more of an art, requiring considerable self-awareness and presence. When we are truly listening, we become aware of the speaker’s body language and silent cues, are able to internalize their experiences and emotions, and engage with them by reflecting back what was said, and offering validation. I often wonder if this skill might be traced back to my early childhood days when I was quite shy, and was much more comfortable listening than speaking.
In addition to my background in psychology, my experience and training in early childhood education led to a career in Waldorf education. Much like the holistic approach to nutrition, the Waldorf school offers an educational model for educating the whole child. Not only with an emphasis on developing the mind, but equally focused on educating the spirit, the heart, the body, and the creative life of the child. It was here that I cultivated a passion for working with families, and established a camaraderie with other mothers, influencing my decision to pursue a postpartum doula training.
In 2010 I would lose two family members to cancer, fueling my desire to redefine my career, prompting my enrollment at the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Arvada, Colorado.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I have several go-to strategies.
Even though it may seem counterintuitive when you’re overwhelmed to take a break (since there is so much that needs to get done) this often is the best medicine.
Sometimes just going for a walk or exercise is the most effective way for me to clear my mind and start fresh. Meditation is incredibly helpful for some, but it’s not for everyone. I personally do most of my self reflection during a good mountain bike ride.
In addition to exercise, picking up a novel that has nothing to do with my work is another way that I find release from stress. Escaping reality with a good story helps me to come back to my work with renewed perspective.
And lastly, just calling up a friend. There may be no better way to get a different perspective than to ask for advice from a friend. We don’t have to manage everything alone. Sometimes just the act of expressing what is overwhelming is enough to relieve its hold on you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rebelrootsnutrition.com
- Instagram: @rebelrootsnutrition
- Facebook: Rebel Roots Nutrition
