HER STORY ⟡ Amanda Holt
Hi! My name is Amanda Holt and my journey to becoming a healthcare provider was anything but a straight path. In fact, I changed my major five times before I found my way to nursing. After graduating from the University of Central Florida in 2007, I quickly realized that being a floor nurse in a hospital setting was not for me. Within less than a year, I felt burnt out and overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for so many patients with little to no support as a new graduate.
An answer to prayer came at my wedding when I met my husband’s aunt, a professor of nursing at Binghamton University in New York. She encouraged me to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner. The idea of spending more time with my patients and giving them the care they truly deserved resonated deeply with me. It felt like the opportunity I had been searching for.
After earning my master’s degree in 2011, my first job as a family nurse practitioner took us to Charlotte, North Carolina. I began my career in primary care, but unfortunately, my supervising physician had a vastly different approach to medicine that did not align with my values. His standards of care were not in the best interest of his patients, and I quickly realized that this was not the right fit for me. Disillusioned, I turned away from primary care and never looked back.
I then found my way into medical weight loss—and it changed everything. I had discovered my calling. The joy of helping patients regain their health and get off multiple chronic medications simply by losing weight was immeasurable. Seeing them happy, thriving, and improving their quality of life reaffirmed my purpose. While I prescribed medications for weight loss, I was also helping patients discontinue other, more harmful medications that had negative side effects. By addressing the root cause of their conditions through sustainable lifestyle changes, I empowered them to take control of their health.
Medical weight loss became my passion because it was not about placing a Band-Aid on chronic conditions; it was about preventing and even reversing them. I had the opportunity to truly get to know my patients, seeing them every four weeks, celebrating victories, and supporting them through life’s challenges. I walked with them through job losses, divorces, relocations, and family struggles. How many providers truly get to know their patients on such a deep level? For me, this was the most fulfilling aspect of my career.
What I Love About Being a Business Owner:
HA! I always dreamed of owning my own practice, but wow, it comes with so much more responsibility and work than I ever imagined! That said, I wouldn’t change a thing. Having the autonomy to practice in a way that aligns with my values and seeing the direct impact on my patients' lives makes it all worth it.
The Impact I Hope to Have:
I want to empower people to take charge of their health, to help them realize that they have control over their well-being. I hope to inspire them to believe in themselves, to push through their struggles, and to never give up on their goals.
Who or What Inspires Me?
Recently, I have been deeply inspired by my fellow business owners and the incredible women I've met at networking events. Their support and kindness have been invaluable, and I am beyond grateful. Seeing so many of them push through challenges and achieve success gives me hope that I, too, can take my practice to new heights and make a meaningful impact. Of course, my family is a huge inspiration. Providing for them and working towards my dream of creating mobile showers for the homeless motivates me every day.
My Favorite Piece of Advice
"You have to remember, you have to give it ALL to God. He will provide, and you have to trust in His process."
What Beauty Means to Me:
To me, beauty is about genuinely striving to be a good person in all that you do. It’s about helping, supporting, and encouraging others to fight the battles that weigh them down. Beauty is providing hope for those who feel they have none.
A Message to Beauty Boost Members:
I am so excited to be a part of this amazing community and everything it stands for. In a world filled with competition, it is incredibly refreshing to be part of a group that offers nothing but support to women of all backgrounds.
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