Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Kalmar.
Hi Natalie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
FitnessFoodieSTL was born out of a bit of an identity crisis — and, eventually, a pretty fun rediscovery of myself.
After 17 years in marketing, education and sales with a cosmetics giant, I left my corporate career a few years after COVID. By that point, I’d moved back to St. Louis from New York City, had become a mom of three after having twins, lost my dad, and experienced a lot of change in a relatively short period of time. My career had always been a huge part of who I was, so walking away from it was both terrifying and liberating.
I decided to take a year to focus on my family and get back in touch with myself. Somewhere along the way, I rediscovered how much I had missed group fitness — it was bringing me back to life. My gym had closed during COVID, and when it reopened, I realized I really didn’t want to go back. Instead, I started trying different workouts and exploring the St. Louis fitness scene.
And I was hooked.
After spending years working from my basement on Zoom, I loved having a reason to get out of the house, try something new and meet people. I also realized just how much of St. Louis I hadn’t experienced yet. Apparently, it only took me leaving my corporate job to discover my own city!
With my marketing background, creating content felt natural, and fitness was something I genuinely loved. Adding the food component made even more sense because I’ve never believed fitness is about earning your food or looking a certain way. I love moving my body, I love trying new things, and I really love eating — so the name FitnessFoodieSTL felt authentically me.
What started as a blog has grown into something I never really planned for, but I’m incredibly grateful for where it has taken me.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — although I think that’s probably part of the fun of starting something from scratch.
Starting over is hard. Putting yourself out there and knowing people are going to have opinions about you, your work and what you’re creating is hard, too. There have definitely been moments of imposter syndrome, especially coming back to St. Louis after being away for so long and essentially changing industries.
Then there’s the whole “influencer” thing. I still cringe a little at the word! It’s not a label I ever set out to pursue, and it can come with a lot of assumptions. I’ve had to figure out how to create and share in a way that feels authentic to me in an incredibly crowded space — and that’s something I’m still learning.
But perhaps the biggest lesson has been realizing that you don’t have to have yourself completely figured out at every stage of life. I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to find our “thing” early and stick with it. Sometimes you have to get a little lost first.
So, is this a midlife crisis? Maybe. 😂 But I’m actually pretty grateful for the journey. I feel more comfortable in my own skin than I ever have, and I’m building something that feels genuinely aligned with who I am. If FitnessFoodieSTL can encourage someone else to stay active, try something new, get out of their comfort zone or simply find a little more joy in their everyday life, then I’m pretty happy with where this unexpected path has taken me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Today, FitnessFoodieSTL is part local fitness guide, part community connector and part excuse to try something new!
I help people discover fun, approachable ways to move, eat and experience St. Louis. My website typically features 70–100 local fitness and wellness events each week, along with classes, running and walking groups, outdoor activities and more. I also create wellness and food video content, share recommendations on social media, send a weekly newsletter and partner with local businesses to create community events.
What I’m most proud of is the connection piece. I love discovering a local business, instructor or experience and then introducing it to someone who might never have found it otherwise. I think of myself as the friend who is always saying, “Have you tried this yet?” — and then actually going to try it myself!
What sets FitnessFoodieSTL apart is that I don’t approach fitness from a traditional “get in shape” perspective. The mental benefits are what keep me coming back. I believe fitness doesn’t have a look, and that movement should be about feeling good, getting stronger, finding community and making time for yourself. And food is absolutely part of that equation.
I’m also not interested in pretending I have wellness all figured out. I’m a mom of three, and some days it’s a group fitness class; other days it’s a walk around a soccer field. Sometimes I’m eating a protein-packed meal and sometimes I’m ordering dessert. That’s real life — and that’s the kind of balance I want FitnessFoodieSTL to represent.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’ve learned that the best networking doesn’t really feel like networking. It’s about being genuinely curious about people, showing up consistently and looking for ways to create something valuable together.
When I started FitnessFoodieSTL, I was essentially rebuilding my network in a city I had been away from for years and entering an entirely new industry. I made a point of getting out there — taking classes, attending events, introducing myself to business owners and instructors, and simply having conversations. Some of those casual conversations have turned into partnerships, collaborations and friendships.
My biggest advice would be not to approach every person you meet with, “What can you do for me?” Instead, think about, “What can we create together?” I’ve found that when you genuinely support other people and their businesses, relationships tend to develop naturally. And don’t underestimate the value of simply showing up. You never know which casual conversation over a workout or coffee might lead somewhere unexpected.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fitnessfoodiestl.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitnessfoodiestl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FitnessFoodieSTL1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FitnessFoodieSTL-zk5pd
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@fitfoodiestl
