In the past 27 years, we have certified over 130,000 health, nutrition and fitness professionals. Each month, we honor one of our outstanding alumni who uses what they have learned to inspire others and make a difference.
Meet our distinguished alumnus of the month for October, Megan Seibel, A AFPA Certified Holistic Dietitian.
How did you initially become interested in health and fitness?
I became interested in health and fitness in college when I was studying acting. We had a yoga class to help us get into our bodies as actors, and I fell in love! I was a dancer as I grew up, and movement is second nature to me. I love the way you make me feel! Therefore, I started practicing yoga daily at the age of 22 and became a certified yoga teacher at the age of 25. And I went to do different ways like fitness classes in pilates, barre and dance. At 26, I had a healthy fear of cancer, and I was starting to learn everything I could about nutrition, wellness, and healing. I became a vegetarian overnight and continued to teach and take yoga regularly. After I became a mother, I found it difficult to attend classes, so I started using home fitness programs to work out and get back in shape as a busy mom. I fell in love with the online accountability groups that I was a part of and decided to start an online fitness training. It felt like a natural progression in my journey, and I’ve been doing it for seven years.
What degree did you choose, and why did you choose AFPA?
I have a few different certifications from AFPA, but the first certification I had was the Comprehensive Nutrition Certification. As a fitness trainer, I wanted to increase my knowledge on how to help clients and increase my knowledge of nutrition. I liked the program very much and learned a lot. I also have my autoimmune and gut-healthy nutrition certification, vegan sports nutrition certification, and rainbow eating science certification. I chose AFPA because it was affordable, credible and previous students had a great experience! I also love that it is online and easy to access, learn and complete as a very busy mom!
What was your career like before you became certified?
Prior to getting my degree in nutrition, I was only able to help people as a virtual fitness trainer, and while that was great, I wanted to diversify my expertise and experience and be able to help people with nutrition! I knew from experience that nutrition is the key to healing the body and living a completely healthy life, and I wanted to be able to help people in this way. Getting the certification gave me the tools and confidence to expand my business and help more people.
What does your profession look like now?
Now my career is thriving as an online fitness trainer and holistic nutritionist. I love what I do, and I feel that every year I am able to build my training and health brand and help more people. I love learning, sharing knowledge and encouraging people to live healthy lifestyles. As a busy mother of two, staying healthy and helping others become healthy is very important to me! The future of my career as a nutritionist and wellness coach looks very bright and busy!
What are your favorite parts of your career?
My favorite parts of my career are training people and helping them figure out how to eat better, make time for movement, and feel better! I love running online wellness camps, making meal plans, and creating social media content that educates and entertains! I love to see my clients succeed and shine in their health and life.
How has being certified with the AFPA affected your life?
Earning my AFPA certification has affected my life in many ways. It gave me another way to make money as a wellness professional. I was able to go from teaching yoga classes to virtual health bootcamps, training 1-1 people and in a group environment. I feel AFPA makes learning about nutrition the best fitness and health professional more accessible to busy people. It gave me the confidence to build my dream project!
Do you have any customer success stories you would like to share?
A client came to me during the pandemic who was struggling with her nutrition and sanity and wanted to get pregnant. We worked together for a month making 1-1 calls, meal plans and healthy training, and within a few months, she got pregnant and now has a baby girl!! It was an unforgettable success!
What advice would you give others to consider becoming certified?
The money and time you will invest in your knowledge and experience will be invaluable! Don’t let the fear of building a training project stop you from taking the first step and becoming a health and fitness student first! I promise that you will make a positive difference in someone’s life with your degree – even if it is only you or a loved one! Knowledge is power! I highly recommend getting certified!
To connect with Megan, follow her Instagram For more information or Visit her website To learn more.
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