Faith, Fitness, and Lasting Health: An Interview with Olivia Hill

Behind every successful health journey is a story of perseverance, purpose, and transformation — and Olivia “Liv” Hill’s story is all three. What began as a personal decision to reclaim her health and steward her body has grown into a thriving nutrition coaching company dedicated to helping others do the same. After losing 150 pounds and maintaining that transformation for 17 years, Liv turned her passion into purpose by founding Liv Hill Nutrition, a faith-based coaching company centered on flexible nutrition, mindset, and sustainable wellness.

In this interview, Liv shares her inspiring journey from corporate executive to certified nutrition coach, the role faith plays in health and wellness, and why she believes progress matters more than perfection. From debunking common diet myths to encouraging others to simply “start,” Liv offers practical wisdom, heartfelt encouragement, and a refreshing perspective on caring for both body and spirit.

DJ: Welcome, Olivia! Tell us a little about yourself. What inspired you to start your journey in nutrition and fitness coaching?

OH: My name is Olivia (Liv) Hill. I live in Knoxville, TN with my husband, Jeremy, and two daughters, Giada and Bianca. I have been a member of First Apostolic Church of Knoxville for 30+ years. Six years ago, I was fully immersed in the corporate world, working as a VP. When that position was suddenly eliminated, God opened doors for me to stay home with my girls and begin building my dream. I got my certification in Precision Nutrition and am now a certified nutritionist with focuses in the science of nutrition and behavior change, with additional mentorship in practical coaching and client psychology. Five years later, Liv Hill Nutrition has blossomed and continues to grow exponentially and I could not be more thankful.

DJ: Can you share a pivotal moment that shaped your approach to health and wellness?

OH: One day I woke up and realized that I didn’t love the life I was living nor who I was living it. I started to work on myself both spiritually and emotionally, and that led me to understanding that I was not stewarding the body that God had given me. That if I were to have children, I wouldn’t be around to enjoy life with them the way that I wanted to. So that got me moving. And now I’m proud to say that I’ve lost 150 lbs and kept it off for 17 years.

DJ: How has your perspective on “healthy living” evolved over time?

OH: I have tried every “diet” known to man. I’ve counted calories and exhausted myself exercising, doing so much cardio that I would be miserable at the end of the day and completely spent. Over time, I realized that exhausting myself and stressing my body to the maximum wasn’t helping me or my family. I might have been getting physically “healthier,” but mentally and spiritually I was drowning. And then I started researching macronutrients and decided to really commit to learning how to be healthier, not just doing what I thought I should or had done in the past.

DJ: What makes your approach different from traditional fitness or diet programs?

OH: At Liv Hill Nutrition, we don’t focus on calorie cutting or exercising until our clients are exhausted. We focus on flexible nutrition and stewardship of the body. We do not encourage our clients to completely eliminate all of their favorite foods. If you like pizza, you should be able to eat pizza! We teach clients how to factor that pizza into their day so that it works WITH their nutritional needs, not against them. We also teach our clients that progress is better than perfection. Nobody is perfect, not even me. But what can I do better than I did yesterday? I don’t have to be perfect, just do a little bit better today than I did yesterday. That is progress over perfection.

DJ: How do you tailor your plans to fit each client’s unique lifestyle and goals?

OH: We start with a 1:1 free assessment with the client to get an idea of where they are in their health journey and what goals they have. Then, that client is paired with the coach that I believe is the best suited for them. From there, coach and client meet 1:1 each week and go through all aspects of their journey. Are they hungry? Are they struggling to meet their goals? What’s the best thing that we can do to help them and what resources and support can we provide? We try to meet every client where they are and how they best communicate. We focus on figuring out how our program fits into our client’s life, not the other way around. We have helped our clients lose anywhere from 10-100 lbs while navigating menopause, pre-post natal care, Hashimoto’s and other autoimmune diseases, mobility limitations, and many other roadblocks. It’s our job to teach each client how to appreciate their body and faithfully steward it to the best of their ability.

DJ: What role do you feel mindset plays in achieving long-term health success?

OH: Mental health is just as important as physical health. That is why we have a Mental Health group in our firm and encourage our clients to reach out to our mental health providers if and when they need to. We have clients from all walks of life, and no one person’s journey is the same as the next person. Ephesians 4:23 says “...to be renewed in the spirit of your minds.” God designed our minds just as he designed our physical bodies.

DJ: What are some common nutrition myths you often debunk with your clients?

OH: The biggest one is that you don’t have to be at the lowest possible calories at all times to lose weight. You don’t have to starve yourself. You don’t have to completely eliminate all the foods you like to eat. Another common misconception is that cardio is the only way to lose weight – that exhausting yourself with exercising for extended periods of time is the most effective way to lose. We want to shift our client’s focus to strength training and eating enough food to fully nourish their body.

DJ: Are there any simple nutrition habits you think everyone should adopt?

OH: Getting at least 30 minutes of intentional walking a day and eating a protein and plant at every meal. Sounds simple because they are!

DJ: What types of workouts do you personally enjoy the most, and why?

OH: I enjoy strength training, walking and Crossfit (when I have the time to go).

DJ: What advice would you give to someone just starting their fitness journey?

OH: GO! Just go. Make a decision and START. Commit to a walk. Prioritize whole foods, plants and proteins. The best thing you can do is to just start doing something.

DJ: How do you balance your own health with a busy schedule and personal life?

OH: With Jesus! Ha. I have made the decision to live this lifestyle, so I make it work. I get up early every morning and get a walk and Bible study in before my girls get up, I get my workouts in while I’m on my lunch break during the day when they are at school, and I make sure my phone is put away late at night so that I am as present as possible. Is the right balance always there? No. Am I constantly trying to make it work? Yes. And that’s what really matters.

DJ: Do you see a relationship between a healthy physical body and a healthy walk with God? If so, can you expound upon this?

OH: 1,000% yes. The Bible instructs us in Romans 12:1 “to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” And 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit. God gave us these bodies and through His Word directed us to care for them. We are also at our best when we feel good. Fully nourishing our bodies and giving them the sustenance they were designed to receive gives us the fuel we need to be witnesses for Him. 

DJ: What are your goals for the future of your coaching business?

OH: To be the premier Pentecostal Nutrition Company. I want every Pentecostal man and woman to know that they have a resource they can reach out to that understands being Pentecostal and how to navigate our lifestyle. We have coaches from all different backgrounds – some were born in church and some found their home church later in life, some with young children and some with adult children, some that have all of their family in church and some that don’t. We as a company do a weekly spiritual fast together; that is something we all have to navigate in our own nutritional journeys. We know. We live it every day. And that gives us the ability to structure our program around what works best for both the spiritual and physical health of our clients.

DJ: Before we go, Olivia, are there any upcoming projects, programs, or offerings you're excited about?

OH: Yes! We have many exciting things coming down the pipeline. We are, of course, continuing to build up Liv Hill Nutrition Coaching – we have recently hired a handful of new coaches and are steadily increasing our client load. We have also expanded our Mental Health department. I am expanding my Seminar series and am fully booked through the end of 2026. I love speaking at churches and spreading this as far as I can! And as a mother of two precious girls, I am most excited that we are participating in Dear Girls Conference this coming July. This will be in conjunction with developing a pre-teen and teen program in order to promote stewardship of the body for all ages.

What an incredible impact Olivia Hill is making in the fitness industry! Follow along with Liv Hill Nutrition on Instagram @liv.hill.nutrition or visit the website at livhillnutrition.net.