About Me

Cara Strong

Hello! My name is Cara Strong and helping you make changes to your health and wellness that you can stick with is my passion. I partner with you to educate, inspire, and support you as you transform your health a step at a time, advancing you toward your wellness goals while empowering you to add life to your years and to continue your healthy lifestyle into the future. 

it’s all about

Lifestyle Exercise Attitude Nutrition*

I have been a lifelong learner of health and wellness.  When my father was diagnosed with heart disease during my teenage years, I decided right then to educate myself on fitness and nutrition to avoid the same fate.  This decision significantly impacted my life and led me on a lifelong journey towards better health.

Years later, I met a certified health coach, and it was then that I started to understand that nutrition is more than just considering how many calories are in food.  I began to understand the importance of the QUALITY of food used to fuel our bodies.   I came to the realization that many of the foods at the grocery store are processed, fake, and filled with artificial colors, preservatives, and chemicals. No wonder our bodies are rebelling, and many suffer from chronic illnesses, obesity, and diabetes. Our bodies are designed to eat whole, real food instead of laboratory creations! I also discovered that complete wellness goes beyond food.  Lifestyle and attitude, in addition to physical activity, are also crucial!  I realized I had been misled and became passionate about sharing my newfound knowledge.  My coach saw potential in me and recommended I pursue a health coach certification. I saw this as a great way to apply my passion and help others.

I earned the Certified Health Coach (CHC) credential from the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute (DSWI)  in 2020, which combined nutrition education with an emphasis on families, adults, and seniors. In September 2022, I earned the Master Certified Health Coach (MCHC) designation, the highest level of certification with the Dr. Sears Wellness Institute, and it is approved and accredited by the National Board of Health and Wellness Coaches (NBHWC). My bachelor’s degree in accounting from George Mason University and years of corporate experience have given me a strong business background for my coaching practice.

My decision years ago to do my best to avoid heart disease has impacted my life more than I could have imagined.  I’m imperfect, though, and I must deliberately choose to live healthy daily.  I love this lifestyle because it fulfills my desire to be healthy for my family, be able to serve my Creator and Lord, and enjoy a full, active life while trying to prevent chronic illness and pain.

 

I believe that we all want to live happy, healthy, and robust lives and understand how lifestyle, exercise, attitude, and nutrition affect every aspect of our health. As a Master Certified Health Coach with personal experience and education, I have a heartfelt desire to partner with groups and individuals to help motivate, educate, and empower them to add life to their years and live them to the fullest. This is why I started Step Forward Health Coaching, LLC. I can help you. Take that “step forward” and contact me to find out how.

Cara was a tremendous help to me on my health journey.  During the time we worked together, I dropped several pounds, improved my A1C, and even with neuropathy, I felt stronger and healthier while working with her.  She was thorough, understanding, and very knowledgeable about various methods necessary to achieve my health goals.  I highly recommend Cara without reservation!

Individual Consultation Client

If you are wanting to feel healthier, mentally, and physically WITHOUT DIETING, then Cara is the health coach to help you make those changes to get there.

Working with Cara is a true partnership! She took an active, passionate interest while listening and working with me to develop ways I could make healthy permanent lifestyle changes. If something wasn’t working for me then I wasn’t pressured to keep doing it. That was very important to me! We collaborated to find other solutions! With her commitment, support, and respect I was able to achieve many of those goals while learning more about myself than I thought I would.  I feel great and lost some weight!

Cara is very knowledgeable! She wants to share that knowledge because she genuinely wants everyone to have a longer, healthier, and more robust life.  I highly recommend Cara!

8-week Individual Coaching Program Client