Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole La Fleur
Hi Nicole, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up and throughout high school I always wanted to open my own bakery due to my love of being in the kitchen and baking desserts. As I went off to college, and took my first accounting class I found myself enjoying learning more about the logistical side of business, so I changed my major from entrepreneurship to accounting. Throughout the years of learning I had decided that I would work in public accounting for a while and get my CPA license, putting my business dreams on the back burner.
After graduating college and working I realized after a few years that I couldn’t do the long hours each week for the rest of my life. I changed jobs while still working in accounting but was able to have more time for myself outside of just working.
Throughout all of this time from high school to after college, I always knew in the back of my mind that I wanted a better quality of life for myself. I had always struggled with my weight, and tried all the programs, meal plans, etc. but nothing seemed to work for me.
At the end of 2022 I finally decided that I was tired of not liking who I saw in the mirror. I hired a coach at the beginning of the year, and little did I know that decision would change the trajectory for my life. Since then, not only have I created a life I look forward to each day but I’ve found a new passion inside of me for health and fitness. I want to help other people who are in a similar place I was and help them feel empowered in their life by finding their potential and love for themselves through loving for and taking care of their bodies.
Outside of working I spend my time baking sourdough bread, enjoying the outdoors and watching the sunrises, being involved with my church and small group, and spending time with my friends and family.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been far from a smooth road, but I wouldn’t change the challenges I’ve gone through as they have helped shape me to be who I am today. One of those challenges I had was relearning and changing my relationship I had with nutrition and exercise. Being overweight for the majority of my life, I had always viewed exercise as a punishment for how my body looked, and that I had couldn’t eat certain foods because I they were bad for me. Now through my journey, I’ve come to view moving my body as a way of taking care of myself and what I eat is fuel for my body to function properly.
Another challenge was coming to the realization that I didn’t want to pursue becoming a CPA anymore. Having this goal since college I had always assumed it was something I would achieve. Through my health journey though I found a new passion for wanting to help others and praying about it felt that God was leading me in a different direction than what I had for myself. As hard as it was to accept it, I knew it was something that will truly make an impact in other people’s lives and also bring me fulfillment in my heart.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
my full time job is working as a tax analyst for an oil and gas company. Outside of that, I also have my own business of selling holistic skincare, that focuses on beauty as a whole starting from within. what sets it apart is that the skincare is waterless, which means instead of using water as the first ingredient like most products, it uses olive leaf elixir which contains hydroxytyrosol. This is what sets these products apart from other skincare on the market. Hydroxytyrosol is one of the most powerful antioxidants which helps to protect against oxidative stress and reduce the effect of free radicals, which is what allows olive trees to live for up to 4,000 years. With replacing water with the olive leaf elixir the products are more concentrated and potent, and therefore less likely to cause inflammation since most skincare products that use water must contain some form of preservatives to keep the water stable and not breed bacteria.
One thing I am most proud of is prioritizing myself and my health journey. Being overweight I never thought I would ever come to fully love myself and the life I live that I do now. This journey has turned my life around and I am proud of myself for starting in and now not wanting to go back to who I was before, but to be an inspiration and encouragement for others who have been where I was to know that a new way of life is possible.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the accessibility to nature, especially where I live being right by the bayou, it’s nice to go for walks through the park and see other people also enjoying the outdoors. Another thing I like is how friendly everyone is, no matter where you go there are people to meet and get to know more about their story and create new connections. On the other hand though I dislike how humid it is, as most probably do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://us.olivetreepeople.com/account?referral=Nicolelafleur
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolelafleur?igsh=MWQ3aTV4cjR5aGd3Mw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
N/A
