Today we’d like to introduce you to Dasha Agoulnik.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Dasha. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Four years ago my fitness journey began. I was tired of being called skinny, small, and frail. I got so fed up I made a change. I started lifting weights and tracking my intake to make sure I was eating more. I secretly started an Instagram account to post pictures of the food I was eating and have an outlet to reflect on my journey. In just 5 weeks I strategically gained 7lbs, and I actually got a six pack because of the amount of muscle I had put on. The fire was lit and a new passion was found. I became more interested in exercise physiology, kinesiology, and nutrition. I began coaching others through their journeys and am now a Nutritional Epidemiology MS/RD candidate at Tufts University. My passions lie in lifestyle coaching, sports nutrition, and gut health.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Neither my fitness journey nor my lifestyle was a smooth road. I remember crying (numerous times) because I would hear people making fun of my Instagram or my physique. “That’s pretty weird she posts her food?” or “Ok well just don’t get too bulky and big”. It felt like fake support and no one really understood why I was doing what I was doing.
My greatest advice is to focus on yourself and your passions. If it makes you happy, if it’s something you’re excited to share with loved ones, go for it full force. There will never be a time in your life when you can please everyone around you. Someone is always going to give you a hard time. I still get rude comments to this day. What has changed is my perspective. I’m proud of my hard work, I’m proud I have a passion that brings me such happiness. The road will never be a smooth one, but if you can learn to love every step of your journey- that is a life worth living and a journey worth embracing.
What should we know about Fit With Dasha? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My passions lie in fitness and nutrition coaching as well as gut health. I am well versed through peer-reviewed literature on optimized methods of building muscle and losing fat. I am a multi-sponsored athlete and award winning NPC Bikini Competitor with over 100+ client transformation stories.
I recently launched a research based gut healing protocol, designed to restore your core so you can eat more, build more, and achieve more. It balances the microbiome, optimizes hormones, and rejuvenates mitochondria for sustained energy. This program has boomed and exceed my expectations. Every single client has reported significant improvements. One client last week lost 8lbs from water retention, and another lost 5lbs. Others in that group challenge also reported better mood, less anxiety, more energy, and less acne. Although weight loss is not a focus of the program, it is often a side effect of decrease bloating and inflammation.
That’s how I work with clients; helping people achieve their health goals. On the opposite spectrum I’ve also worked closely with over 50+ companies doing promotional and consulting work. Whether that be creating posts for social media or research and development on their product.
Overall I’m most proud to have a research based approach to coaching. That’s what sets me apart. I have read studies, books, interned at the top professional performance institutes of the country. I know the science, heck I’m the biggest nerd you’ll meet. I love what I do and I put time into educating myself so I can help others better than the rest.
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
I’m thankful to have a mom who inspires me and teaches me daily. I learned my strength from her and learned to never give up. I could go on to all of the other things she has taught me, like the importance of family and support- but I’ll leave it at that.
What do you feel are the biggest barriers today to female leadership, in your industry or generally?
Honestly? I could say image and marketing but that’s the name of the game in any business. Your image and your body represents you and your work ethic, especially in the fitness industry.
Instead, I want to focus on pay. We can all relate to that. I’m starting my job search and I’m in shock. After spending the past 6 years paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to go to college, now I’ll be applying to a dietetic internship…where I have to pay tuition? What kind of internship does the intern have a 3% acceptance rate, and then have to pay for the ‘opportunity’ to work 40hrs a week for a year? The worst part is that at the end, I should only expect to make 50k a year as a registered dietitian with all of my graduate school credentials.
With such a low pay, it’s no wonder ‘health coaching’ is booming instead of registered dietetic nutritionists (RDNs). No credentials required- just a pyramid scheme to have you sell a company’s product. More value should be placed in women with an education and we need to continue supporting women in science. I want to help show females are strong, females are smart, and females are supportive.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fitwithdasha.com
- Email: fitwithdasha@gmail.com
- Instagram: dashafitness
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fitwithdasha/
Image Credit:
Andrew Inception Photo
Bobby FNX Photo
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