Meet Evelyn LeVasseur | Fitness and Mindset Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Evelyn LeVasseur and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Evelyn, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
Quote: Be the change you wish to see in the world – Mahatma Ghandi

I love this quote because it reinforces the idea that our purpose is meant to bring some benefit to others. It takes me out of the thinking that “it’s all about me”. When I think of my role as a mom specifically, I’m able to let go of thoughts that are centered around me. My purpose isn’t about me, it’s about the legacy I will leave for my girls.

If I want my daughters to grow up to be strong, confident, self-loving women, then I have to be one. They learn more from my actions and behaviors than just my words.

So, if I want to change the world, I have to start at home.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a transformational speaker, certified nutrition coach, personal trainer, and have a specialization in behavior change. I also have a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s in education. And despite all those accomplishments, I spent most of my adult life feeling secretly horrible about myself.

You see, growing up I was athletic and fit and received A LOT of attention for my body. So much that it became a huge part of my identity. Evelyn has a great body, therefore, who is Evelyn if her body isn’t “great”. Once I went to college and found that “freshman 15”, I also found dieting and lost myself. That started an almost 19-year cycle of losing and gaining and shaming.

In that time, I married my favorite person. My husband wanted children immediately. It took me about two years to feel ready. Getting pregnant seemed to be the easy part. Staying pregnant, not so much. After two losses, we waited a year and tried again. And this time, even though I watched my body change and felt that baby move, I couldn’t release myself to excitement because I was overcome with fear.

BUT…. On February 10, 2009, I had my first baby girl and when I heard her cry, I felt like I took my first real breath in nine months. In that moment, I vowed to be the best mom I could be. To make my decisions with intention. What I didn’t account for was the impact other women would have on her too. Like, at the picnic we attended one day. I gave my daughters (yes, I have two daughters now) their lunch. Someone said to my then 10-year-old, “Honey, if you want to keep that figure, you better lay off the burgers”.

That’s when I knew I had to do something. That we women are a huge part of the problem. And even though we want our children to live their best lives, we teach them to shrink themselves in the name of acceptance.
But I also knew, to make any real change, I had to start with myself. Which meant I had to heal my pain so it wouldn’t become theirs. I could not strive for a perfect body anymore. I had strong women to raise.

I changed my focus from myself to my legacy. Because I won’t always be here, but I can leave the best parts of me behind.

And I was able heal and let go of dieting forever, in three very specific steps:
1. Mindset: I had to change how I valued myself. And that had nothing to do with my exterior.
2. Intuition: Dieting left me disconnected from the very person who know me best, me.
3. The five pillars of health. Because real body change doesn’t just come from food and exercise.

Now I coach women to do the same: to start with mindset first and unlearn the habits that got them to where they are. To focus on healing on the inside first, and watching the body change more organically. And the best part is, as we heal ourselves, we arm our children with the foundation that hopefully ensures that they will not fall victim to the same diets traps we did.

I no longer strive for an “ideal” body. I’m living to leave a legacy of generational health, and helping other moms do the same.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In my city, there are not many attractions, but we are super close to some great hiking trails and beautiful water falls.

So…. We’d definitely plan at least one hike and one lunch date by the waterfall at Kent Falls CT. We’d visit at least two vineyards (my favorite thing to do): Sunset Meadow in Goshen, CT and CT Valley Winery in Litchfield, CT. And go to lunch at Brass City Bistro, where I’d have the chicken salad and of course, an espresso martini. We’d definitely walk the Middlebury Greenway and stop for lunch at Cavallo’s before heading home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Patrice Washington – @seekwisdompcs on IG. I joined her program, Purpose to Platform (P2P) in June 2020 and literally came out a different woman. Her guidance, expert coaches, framework, and incredible community of like-hearted women truly changed my business, and how I showed up in my personal life. I am forever grateful.

“Untamed” – the book written by Glennon Doyle. I felt like she was speaking to me directly. Reading this book helped unleash so many thoughts I had that were truly holding me back.

Website: www.evelynfit.com

Instagram: @evelyn_levasseur_fitness

Facebook: Evelyn LeVasseur Fitness

Image Credits
Danielle Way, Rogue Studios