Kat Berglas's life story is one of remarkable resilience and unwavering determination. Surviving a harrowing battle with anorexia nervosa, a condition that brought her heart to the brink of stopping, she made a courageous decision to reclaim her life. Fueled by her own experiences, she founded her own nutrition business, Kat Berglas Wellness KBW, with a mission to support individuals wrestling with disordered eating and those simply seeking a path to holistic health and balance. She aims to help people find love with food and within themselves, and understand that food is not only nourishment but also fuel for living their best lives.
Kat Berglas, Certified Nutritional Health Coach
Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better.
Hi! My name is Kat Berglas. I am Siberian/American and grew up in London. I grew up playing sports and have always had a passion for a healthy lifestyle, but things dramatically changed for me from the age of 17..
What inspired you to start Kat Berglas Wellness, and what do you hope to achieve through your platform?
Starting Kat Berglas Wellness (KBW) was deeply personal and transformative for me. KBW was born from my profound journey of discovering a love for nutrition and wellness, which began under challenging circumstances. I was hospitalised with anorexia nervosa after my heart struggled to beat due to severe starvation. This life-threatening experience flipped my entire world upside down. In the face of such adversity, I began to see life as the beautiful gift it truly is and became determined to live it to the fullest.
Through Kat Berglas Wellness, my mission is to inspire others by sharing my journey and the lessons I've learned. I aim to illustrate how our lives are far more valuable than any number on a scale. Prioritising our mental health and finding a balanced approach to wellness is crucial. I want to show people that true health encompasses physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and that embracing a holistic perspective on life can lead to a more fulfilling and joyful existence. My goal is to create a supportive community where everyone feels empowered to pursue their healthiest, happiest selves.
Can you tell me more about the philosophy behind your approach to wellness and how it's reflected in the services and products you offer?
The philosophy behind my approach to wellness at KBW: our relationships, stress levels, sleep quality, and emotional health. These elements are the foundation of our health and significantly impact our ability to thrive.
Secondary food, on the other hand, is the actual food we consume to nourish our bodies. While it is crucial, it is deeply influenced by the state of our primary food. When our relationships are fulfilling, our stress is managed, and we sleep well, we are better equipped to make healthier food choices and fully benefit from the nutrients we consume.
This holistic philosophy is reflected in all the services and products I offer through KBW. My wellness coaching focuses on helping clients achieve balance in their primary food areas, such as developing healthier relationships, reducing stress, and improving sleep hygiene. Additionally, I provide nutritional guidance and meal planning to ensure that their secondary food supports their overall wellness journey.
How do you ensure that the wellness experiences and products provided on your site are both effective and safe for your customers?
Ensuring that the wellness experiences and products provided on Kat Berglas Wellness (KBW) are both effective and safe for my customers is my top priority. I achieve this through a combination of evidence-based practices, personalised support, and ongoing communication.
First and foremost, I maintain constant communication with my clients. From the initial consultation to follow-up sessions, I ensure that my clients feel safe, heard, and supported throughout their wellness journey. This ongoing dialogue allows me to tailor my services to meet their specific needs and address any concerns they may have in real-time.
I provide thorough follow-ups to track my clients' progress and make necessary adjustments to their wellness plans. This ensures that any issues or questions are promptly addressed, and clients feel comfortable and confident in their wellness journey. If there are any worries or uncertainties, I am always available to provide guidance and reassurance.
What sets Kat Berglas Wellness apart from other wellness platforms or products in the market?
What sets KBW apart from other wellness platforms or products in the market is my unwavering commitment to bio-individuality. I recognise that each person is unique, with their own specific needs, preferences, and circumstances. My approach is not a one-size-fits-all solution; instead, it's tailored to honour and celebrate these individual differences.
At Kat Berglas Wellness, I focus on understanding each client's unique biology, lifestyle, and personal goals. This allows me to create highly personalised wellness plans that are truly effective and sustainable. By addressing both primary food (relationships, stress levels, sleep, etc.) and secondary food (the actual food consumed), I ensure a holistic and integrated approach to health and well-being.
Could you share some success stories or testimonials from customers who have benefited from
your wellness offerings?
I am proud to share that Kat Berglas Wellness has many success stories from clients who have experienced profound transformations through my wellness offerings. One of the most common and significant achievements is helping clients who had lost their periods due to eating disorders to regain their menstrual health after working with me.
For example, one client came to me after struggling with an eating disorder that had caused her to lose her period for over a year. Through our work together, focusing on both primary and secondary food, she was able to restore balance to her body. We addressed her nutritional needs, improved her relationship with food, and worked on reducing stress and improving her overall well-being. Within a few months, she joyfully reported that her period had returned, marking a crucial step in her recovery and overall health.
Another client had a similar experience. She had been battling anorexia nervosa and had not had a period for two years. By following a personalised wellness plan that included tailored nutrition, stress management techniques, and support in improving her sleep and relationships, she regained her menstrual cycle. This success was a testament to the effectiveness of a holistic and individualised approach to wellness.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?
If I could change one thing about the wellness industry, it would be to shift the narrative around social media. While social media has the power to connect and inspire, it can also be harmful, fostering a culture of constant comparison and feelings of inadequacy. In our generation, it's easy to get caught up in the polished, curated images and stories we see online, leading many to feel that they fall short in some way.
I would advocate for a greater emphasis on authenticity and bio-individuality within the wellness community. It's crucial for people to understand that what we see on social media is often not a complete or accurate representation of reality. Everyone's journey to health and wellness is unique, and comparing ourselves to others can be detrimental to our mental and emotional well-being.
By promoting the idea that we are all bio-individuals with different needs, goals, and circumstances, we can create a more inclusive and supportive wellness industry. This would encourage people to focus on their own progress and well-being rather than measuring themselves against unrealistic standards. Emphasising authenticity and individuality can help foster a healthier relationship with social media and, ultimately, with ourselves.
Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.
A pivotal moment in my life that brought me to where I am today was my battle with anorexia nervosa. Strangely enough, nearly losing my life to starvation and causing my heart to leak turned out to be the biggest blessing in disguise. That harrowing experience flipped my world upside down, forcing me to confront my deepest fears and reevaluate my relationship with food and my body.
The severity of my condition was a wake-up call. It was in the darkest moments of my struggle that I began to see life as the precious gift it truly is. This profound realisation ignited a passion within me to not only heal myself but also to help others who might be going through similar battles.
Today, I am fortunate to be doing what I love. Having a business that helps people find a loving and healthy relationship with food and themselves is the greatest blessing. My journey through anorexia has shaped my approach to wellness, emphasising the importance of both physical and mental health. It's incredibly fulfilling to see my clients transform their lives, much like I did, and to witness them discovering their own paths to health and happiness.
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