The Green Door Life Team
Kristi Dunbar
Holistic Life Coach, Nutrition Coach & Yoga Teacher
Kristi is a passionate and dedicated Certified Holistic Life Coach (ICF credentialing in progress), NAMS Certified nutrition coach, and 200hr Registered Yoga Teacher. She is on a mission to inspire change and empower others to reach their full potential with a grounded approach that nurtures the whole person (mind, body, soul, and spirit). She brings a diverse range of expertise to her coaching practice, combining evidence-based methodologies with intuitive understanding and empathy.
Her coaching journey started in 2016 when she became a licensed Diet Doc nutrition consultant, with a desire to make a difference in the lives of others that were struggling with weight loss and healthy lifestyle habits. From nursing moms trying to shed baby weight, to CrossFit competitors, Kristi has guided countless individuals through their journey to better health and fulfillment. She has honed her expertise to address the diverse needs of her clients with a style that is deeply rooted in recognizing the challenges and transitions that individuals face, including the often-overlooked struggles of women in perimenopause and menopause. She has first hand knowledge of the physical, emotional, and mental complexities that accompany this phase of life and offers tailored support and strategies to help her clients navigate these rough waters with grace and resilience.
With a compassionate and supportive demeanor, Kristi creates a safe space for her clients to explore their goals, confront obstacles, and cultivate lasting change. Whether it’s achieving weight loss milestones, finding balance in daily life, or discovering a deeper sense of purpose, Kristi is committed to helping you reach your goals.
When she’s not coaching, you’ll find her shuttling her three kids to sports, whipping up delicious meals with her husband, and hiking and hand standing with her black lab. Kristi also finds immense fulfillment in contributing to homelessness outreach initiatives, and pursuing endless opportunities for growth, learning, and self- improvement.
Challenges I have Overcome Through Health Awareness
- The biggest challenge that I have overcome is bulimia. It was something that I wrestled with for 12 years. There was no amount of dieting or exercise that I could do to make up for simply eating, so I resorted to purging. After years of therapy, I learned that my eating disorder was rooted in my need to control everything, because of the intense anxiety I experienced in childhood. Learning to manage my anxiety freed up the space for me to learn how to eat in order to fuel my body and train properly.
- There were certainly new and different challenges that came along with being a new mom, such as body changes, limited time to work out, limited time to cook, and dealing with exhaustion. I learned very quickly that I had to food prep if I was going to eat in alignment with my goals. I was also reminded that food fuels the body and that I could not function well without eating properly (and breastfeeding was a nightmare without adequate calories).
- My most recent challenge has come with menopause. I went into menopause at age 45, due to a medically necessary hysterectomy. The biggest thing that I have learned is that the things that worked prior to menopause (high carbs, intense weight training 5 days a week, running on my rest days, less than 6 hours of sleep a night) will not support me in this new phase of life. My body chemistry is different: My training had to change, my food intake ratios had to change, I cannot run as much as I used to, I cannot process alcohol efficiently, and my body absolutely needs more rest. I would say that working through menopause has probably been my second biggest challenge due to the fact that credible resources for women in menopause are limited (outside of prescription drugs, HRT, and the advice to eat less). Despite all of the struggles I've had, I am so grateful for all of the amazing information and training that I have received. I am beyond thankful that I am in a position to share this information with others and walk with them on their journey to optimal health and healing.
