Building a Business Takes Time — I went into health coaching with passion and excitement, but I didn’t fully appreciate how much time and effort it would take to build a successful business. Patience, persistence, and continuous learning are key. It’s important to invest in marketing, business skills, and networking, just as much as in your health expertise.
Today, more than ever, wellness is at the forefront of societal discussions. From mental health to physical well-being, women are making significant strides in bringing about change, introducing innovative solutions, and setting new standards. Despite facing unique challenges, they break barriers, inspire communities, and are reshaping the very definition of health and wellness. In this series called women in wellness we are talking to women doctors, nurses, nutritionists, therapists, fitness trainers, researchers, health experts, coaches, and other wellness professionals to share their stories and insights. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Angela Longo.
Angela Longo is a Certified Holistic Health Coach helping women with hypothyroidism and thyroidectomy learn how to achieve optimal health with or without a functioning thyroid. After overcoming thyroid cancer and a full thyroidectomy at age 23, her passion for learning about the body led her to attain certification as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. Through her own personal experience paired with the training and knowledge she has gained, she helps women like herself take back control of their health and feel whole again — even without a thyroid. Angela lives in beautiful Mahwah, New Jersey.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?
The most interesting and pivotal moment in my career happened when I conducted a free, five-day online thyroid reset program. To my surprise, thousands of women struggling with thyroid dysfunction joined, which was incredibly inspiring. However, during the discovery calls that followed, I realized that many of these women could not afford the 1:1 coaching they desperately needed. This experience was a turning point for me. It inspired me to create an affordable, accessible online Thyroid Reboot Series so that everyone, regardless of their financial situation, could have access to the education, support and resources they need to improve their health.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
The biggest mistake I made when I first started my business was not defining a clear niche. I believed I could help everyone with everything, and the idea of leaving anyone out felt uncomfortable. However, this broad approach only led to unnecessary complexity and chaos when trying to create a program that was both scalable and highly personalized. It wasn’t until I focused on a specific niche that I found clarity and efficiency. By narrowing my focus to women with thyroid issues, I was able to develop a more structured and impactful program. Although tailored for this specific group, the program’s benefits extend beyond, helping anyone who participates improve their health and potentially minimize or eliminate disease. I learned the importance of this concept through The Health Professional Academy, and I’m incredibly grateful for that lesson.
Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?
I believe the work I am doing has the potential to make a significant and lasting impact on the world. By teaching and coaching individuals about the root causes of disease, I am guiding them toward meaningful nutritional, lifestyle, and mindset changes that can reduce their reliance on Western medicine, and in turn, minimize exposure to the side effects associated with it. Additionally, I am deeply committed to educating and empowering women, equipping them with the knowledge to positively influence not only their own lives but also the well-being of their families. As health coaches, our collective mission is to raise awareness for future generations, fostering a culture of wellness that promotes longer, healthier, and disease-free lives.
Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.
- Hydration Beyond Just Water — Most people are simply advised to drink more water, but I take it a step further by educating my clients about the potential dangers of plastic bottled water and contaminants in most tap water. I guide them in choosing the best option for clean, pure water that suits their needs. Additionally, I introduce them to hydrating foods and inform them about which foods, medications, and habits are the most dehydrating.
- Incorporating More Movement — Instead of focusing solely on a daily hour at the gym, I help my clients find ways to incorporate movement throughout their day. I provide a variety of creative examples, making it easier for even my busiest clients to stay active consistently, no matter their schedule.
- Eating Mindfully — In today’s fast-paced, high-stress world, mindful eating is often overlooked. I teach my clients about the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, helping them understand how to reduce stress before, during, and after meals. This practice is essential for optimal digestion, which is especially important for those dealing with thyroid health issues.
- Reducing Toxins — From the water we drink to the food we eat and the air we breathe, we’re constantly exposed to toxins that contribute to disease. I educate my clients on these toxins and guide them in making gradual yet impactful changes. My goal is not to have them live in a bubble, but to support their body’s natural detoxification pathways so they can stay healthier over time.
- Harnessing the Power of Mindset — I teach my clients how their thoughts influence their health and work with them to overcome limiting beliefs that may be contributing to their illness. By closing the gap between what they know and what they do, I help them implement lasting lifestyle changes for better overall well-being.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?
If I could start a movement that would bring the greatest amount of wellness to the most people, it would focus on banning harmful chemicals from our food supply and advocating for healthier food and beverages to be more affordable and accessible to everyone. The long-term health consequences of consuming foods laden with pesticides, additives, and artificial ingredients are undeniable, yet these harmful products remain widely available. By eliminating these chemicals and making nutritious, clean food more affordable, we could significantly reduce the burden of chronic disease, improve mental and physical well-being, and create a healthier, more resilient population.
What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?
- Define Your Niche Early On — When I first started, I tried to help everyone with everything, which made my work overwhelming and less effective. I wish someone had emphasized how important it is to define a clear niche from the beginning. Focusing on a specific group or issue allows you to provide more targeted, impactful solutions and helps you build a stronger, more recognizable brand.
- Coaching is More Than Just Knowledge Sharing — While expertise is important, I quickly learned that being a great coach is about guiding, supporting, and empowering clients to make their own decisions. I wish someone had told me that listening and asking the right questions is just as important as providing information.
- Clients Need to Be Ready for Change — Not everyone who seeks help is ready to make significant lifestyle changes. I’ve found that clients must be mentally and emotionally prepared to take action. I wish I’d known earlier how important it is to assess a client’s readiness for change and to set realistic, achievable goals to support them in their journey.
- Self-Care is Non-Negotiable — As a health coach, I’m constantly helping others improve their lives, but I learned the hard way that neglecting my own self-care would lead to burnout. I wish someone had stressed the importance of setting boundaries, maintaining balance, and practicing what I preach. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
- Building a Business Takes Time — I went into health coaching with passion and excitement, but I didn’t fully appreciate how much time and effort it would take to build a successful business. Patience, persistence, and continuous learning are key. It’s important to invest in marketing, business skills, and networking, just as much as in your health expertise.
Sustainability, veganism, mental health, and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?
Mental health is especially important to me because I’ve come to understand that many people don’t recognize the deep connection between what we eat, drink, and the medications we take, and how these factors impact our mental well-being. Nutrition plays a crucial role in mental health, as the brain requires specific nutrients to function optimally. Poor diet choices — like consuming heavily processed foods, excessive added sugars, or foods lacking essential vitamins and minerals — can lead to imbalances in brain chemistry, affecting mood, cognitive function, and even contributing to conditions such as anxiety and depression. Additionally, hydration is often overlooked in mental health discussions. Dehydration can cause fatigue, brain fog, and irritability, further straining one’s mental state. Proper hydration, along with a balanced intake of key nutrients, supports better cognitive function and emotional stability.
Another factor that many people don’t consider is how medications, especially those designed to treat physical conditions, can influence mental health. Certain medications may deplete essential nutrients in the body, such as B vitamins, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids — nutrients that are vital for maintaining a healthy nervous system and emotional balance. As a result, this nutrient depletion can manifest as mood swings, anxiety, or even depression.
I can go on and on about this because of how we, specifically Americans, are mislead through the marketing and promotion of big companies that sell items with ingredients that are slowly killing us.
What is the best way for our readers to further follow your work online?
The best way is to follow me on Instagram @withinhealth1 or Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/WITHINHEALTH1.
Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.
About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.
