We were lucky to catch up with Yali Cristina recently and have shared our conversation below.
Yali, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Mom asking me to move out of the house when I was 15 helped me draw resilience from various factors.
This experience instilled fierce independence and a strong work ethic.
Navigating couch surfing at family friends’ houses and finding a way to survive demanded a lot of resourcefulness and determination.
Being a homeless teenager constantly forces you to adapt to new situations and challenges.
(Sink showers, eating Vienna sausage and bread for many meals.)
This experience likely honed my ability to learn quickly and adjust to new environments, which would be crucial for the rest of my life.
Being on my own at a young age forced me to become self-sufficient and resourceful. I learned to rely on myself, solve problems, and care for my needs.
External Support
Positive role models (even inconsistent ones) were a source of support. Some people helped along the way, like my eldest brother, my best friend, her family, and school counselors helped, too. I also received sporadic help here and there with a meal, clothing, a loan, or a place to stay until I turned 16 and could work legally and rent a place on the outskirts of my hometown, Laredo, Texas.
The most powerful motivator was my desire to escape my difficult situation. The Navy sounded promising, so I joined at 19. I had nothing to lose.
“Sink or swim,”
I’d repeat to myself when I wanted to give up. If I failed, I had nothing to go back to.
The military lifestyle gave me structure, stability, routine, and a sense of belonging. My early life is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to overcome adversity. The combination of inner strength and support I found along the way gave me the resilience to achieve what I desired.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As a boxing-focused Nutrition and Holistic Wellness Coach, I help boxers of all levels, from professional contenders to boxing enthusiasts, optimize their gut health, hormone balance, and overall nutrition for peak performance. Being a registered second in California and Nevada gives me a unique ringside perspective, allowing me to understand the specific needs of boxers throughout their training and competition journey. I’m certified in Nutrition, Hormone and Gut Health, and Holistic Wellness Coach.
What truly excites me is witnessing my clients’ transformations. I’ve seen clients come in struggling with weight management, stress, or underlying health issues. Together, we create personalized plans, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see them implement them into their exercise routine to achieve their health and performance goals.
I had a client who was 200+ lbs. We made a meal plan and created a target fat percentage loss, and he did the work. He lost over 50 lbs and is now even fighting at the amateur level!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Holistic Approach: A healthy lifestyle encompasses all aspects of life—physical, mental, and emotional. This translates into my coaching, where we address diet, stress management, and sleep hygiene to achieve optimal results.
2. Active Lifestyle: I’ve always been active, from cheerleading in grade school to the Marines JROTC in high school and active duty in the Navy. In my day-to-day life, I practice boxing and bodybuilding despite having had two hernia repairs and an autoimmune disease. I don’t let that limit me; it shouldn’t limit you!
This allows me to understand athletes’ challenges and guide them by example.
My coaching may incorporate relaxation modalities, breathwork, stretching, or strength training to complement their boxing training and nutrition and supplementation guidance.
3. Project Mentality: View every goal as a project with a defined start and end date. This empowers my clients and me to stay accountable and make consistent progress. Aspiring coaches, I recommend partnering with a mentor or accountability buddy who can support your professional development. Look outside of your industry! You’ll find a lot of inspiration from people in healthcare. Be coachable and have a learning mindset. I don’t have all the answers, but curiosity has brought me this far.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Absolutely, I’m seeking collaboration opportunities with healthcare professionals! Specifically, I’d love to partner with general doctors, chiropractors, and plastic surgeons in the North County San Diego Area who treat patients struggling with weight management, chronic stress, or hormone imbalances.
Often, doctors lack the time to provide detailed nutritional coaching.
Here’s where I can bridge the gap – by translating their recommendations into actionable plans that patients can adhere to.
Studies show that combining medical guidance and personalized coaching significantly improves patient outcomes.
I’ve successfully collaborated with professional boxers like former WBA Champion Alexander Espinoza and rising stars Anthony Hollaway and Alfredo Quiñones. I will gladly help and collaborate with professional boxers in need of a licensed second/cutman in California and Nevada.
I’m open to working with boxing enthusiasts, amateur, and professional boxers looking to elevate their performance through comprehensive nutrition, gut, and hormone health coaching.
Interested in connecting?
Reach out to me via my contact form at https://www.savageboxinggym.com/yalicristina
Contact Info:
- Website: https://savageboxinggym.com/yalicristina
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/yalicristina
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