Scottsdale Health October 2019

Neslund’s structured scheduled is carefully planned to allow her
to set and reach obtainable goals while helping to motivate others
that look to her for inspiration.
“I set three-, six-, nine-, and 12-month goals to achieve each
year. They are spiritual, relationship, family, and financial, and
I write them down on my vision board which I display on my
wall so I see them each day,” she says.
Neslund plans and prepares her meals each Sunday
evening to minimize any distractions and make eating healthy
easy throughout the week. Typical foods in her weekly meal
prep plan include egg whites, lean cuts of meat, almonds, sweet
potatoes, vegetables, and bone broth.
“In the past I was all about instant gratification. When I
wanted something, I had to have it; but now I have realized that
significant change comes with time, repetition, and patience,”
she says.
Beyond the gym and the kitchen, Neslund is adamant that
those principles apply to life in general.
When she first began her fitness journey, her trainer suggested
that she should participate in bodybuilding competitions,
but Neslund had her doubts. Her perception was that female
bodybuilders were big and bulky but her trainer was persistent
and she eventually found herself in the spotlight, placing first
overall in her first show. Though she got her start in bodybuilding
later than most, her drive and determination led to positive
results and the performance element of the sport left her hooked.
“Take chances, risks, step outside
of the box, be uncomfortable, and
love every chance you get.”
HELPING OTHERS
Her newfound love for fitness and health was not the only major
life change that Neslund made. After decades of working in
office management in medical offices, she quit her job and got
her aesthetician license. She now helps treat people with skin
conditions as a part of Phoenix Family Medical Center and
Advanced Medical Aesthetics.
In addition to aesthetics, Neslund helps others on
their own lifestyle and wellness paths by providing inperson
and online training as a coach and accountability
partner. From on social media to in line at the grocery
store, she’s always answering questions and giving advice
to help others change their lives through fitness.
“[I tell people to] take chances, risks, step outside of the
box, be uncomfortable, and love every chance you get,” she says.
“Life is all about the lessons we learn along the way and how we
react and come out of them.”
In her free time, Neslund enjoys serving for her church,
going boating and paddleboarding, and spending time with her
family, who happens to be her motivation for starting anew.
Neslund says she is inspired by her mom and hopes to leave a
legacy of strength for her daughters. “I want to show my daughters
that anything is possible and you have it inside of you to
make it happen,” she says. “It is like Dorothy in the Wizard of
Oz – she had the power the whole time to go home but didn’t
realize it. We all have it, we just have to dig deep and find it.”
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