Inspiration Sunday with Claire Stone

Inspiration Sunday is a 7 question interview with people I admire and that inspire me, I hope they will inspire you in some way too.

Today's guest is another course friend, Claire Stone. Claire is a nutritionist for sporty types, and she adores sharing the knowledge that energy (for pretty much anything you want to do) can come from food. She is a total realist, so makes sure it all works well in real life. 

1. Tell us a bit about yourself.... 

My name is Claire Stone, and I am from beautiful Bristol in the South West of England. I am a nutritionist, and a mum and I love being outdoors - the sea, the mountains, the snow or just camping! I am eternally optimistic, which annoys the heck out of some people, but I truly believe that there is no point worrying about something until you actually need to. And even then, it probably makes more sense to try to sort it out, rather than just worrying about it. 

2. Where do you get your inspiration from?

I love learning about anything and everything and learning totally inspires me - if I am learning something, I am happy! I really love people - grown ups, kids, the internet, hippies, business people, fitness types and lazy ones too - they all inspire me! 

The outside world is just where I am supposed to be - I might be pondering something, with no answer in sight, but as soon as I get outside, it all becomes clear! I’ve recently discovered running, and just being out in the mud is somehow really inspiring too! 

3. Tell us about your business? 

I am a nutritionist (or nutritional therapist, but no-one has any idea what that actually means - and here in Bristol, people tend to call me a nutritionalist - which I love!) and I work in a very fluid, easy-going way. I see clients on a one-to-one basis - either in person here in Bristol, or on the phone/skype if that isn’t possible. I also work with a company running fitness/weight loss programmes as their nutritionist, so that folks lose weight properly. 

I am really getting into my email newsletter, which goes out twice a month and I have been working really hard on my on-line offering. I am very aware that for most people, the offer of a nutritionist is way too vague and wishywashy (and that there are literally hundreds of thousands of ‘nutritionists’ out there), but the offer of a 5 day mini-detox (which is seasonal!) and the prospect of eating the right foods so you can enjoy your life and whichever sport you fancy, are much more specific and appealing! 

4. What led you to start your business? 

I decided to turn my love of food into something a bit more formal by studying nutrition in 2008. I had no idea what I would actually do with the qualification - my kids were very young, and I had never done anything quite so crazy as work for myself before. But, bit by bit, after qualifying and working with clients in a very part-time fashion, I realised that this is what I want to do, and that I would need to get a bit more serious about it. So, I’ve been learning lots, and last year launched my online 5 day detox which combines my love of food and nutrition with my knack for writing jolly emails! Yeah. 

5. What does an average day look like for you? 

Oooh, well, since my youngest started school in September, my average day has suddenly become so very different! It used to be all about squeezing in a bit of work, or the odd client here and there, and it was all very chaotic. Now, I find myself sitting down, planning things (what!?) and actually being able to do what I’ve planned. I might be heading out to do a client consultation - or it might be from home on the phone. 

I am really trying to figure out the website/social media stuff at the mo, so there will be some blog writing or planning. And I am currently working on my next 5 day detox for the Spring, so there is a lot of trying out new ideas and recipes, and writing and planning - I love it! 

I always make sure that I get outside for a bit - it might be a bit of a mountain bike ride, or a run, a bootcamp session or just a walk to the shops. I just need that fresh air - even if it is cold and dank outside. 

6. What is the one thing about your job that makes your heart sing? 

Ooh, can I say two? The first is that I get to write emails for my detoxes which actually make people laugh - and I get paid for it! I’ve always loved writing emails (even in previous jobs, people always commented on my emails) and it’s great that I have figured out how to use that skill in my work. The other thing that makes my heart sing, REALLY sing, is that moment when people realise that the foods they eat CAN make a difference - whether to a health issue, a weight problem, how well they can do their sport or even how they feel emotionally. It is such an amazing feeling when I am part of making a change for someone. 

7. Share a secret with us that has never been shared online before... 

Something that people who grew up with me know about, but pretty much everyone else wouldn’t know about: I was in a marching band from the age of 5 (as a pompom majorette) until I was 15/16, by which time I had graduated to clarinet and saxophone. We weren’t just any marching band though - in 1985 (yes, I am that old!) we won the World Marching Band Championships - something that has always filled me with pride and makes me realise that I can, actually, do just about anything! 

That's not all, Claire has a special offer for you... 

My newsletter is where you’ll get the super mega early bird offer on my Spring Detox - the detox hasn’t even been launched yet, but if you are thinking that this is the Spring for you to shrug off the Winter coat and jump into the Summer, sign up to hear the details first. 

If you just can’t wait that long, I’d love to offer you a 10% discount if you sign up for four one-on-one consultation sessions with me. Drop me a line, and we can have a quick chat to make sure that what I can do is what you want!!

How to find Claire:

Website: Out and In

Facebook: HERE

Twitter: @claire_stone