About Beyond the Box Nutrition
Co-founded by Gwen Holtan and Sheena Lawrick, we help women in perimenopause and beyond reclaim their energy, strength, and clarity, without diet culture, burnout, or BS.
Beyond the Box Nutrition is a women-owned virtual health coaching practice co-founded in 2017 by Gwen Holtan and Sheena Lawrick. We specialize in functional nutrition and strength coaching for women in perimenopause and midlife who are tired of being told to just try harder.
We’re based in Chicago and California, but we work with clients virtually, anywhere in the world.
The health industry has lied to you
You’ve been told to just “eat less and move more.” You’ve spent years trying to willpower your way through exhaustion, weight gain, brain fog, or bloating. You’ve felt dismissed, overwhelmed, or straight-up gaslit by the wellness industry.
We get it, because we’ve been there. And we built Beyond the Box Nutrition for women just like you.
Our philosophy
We believe that health is about so much more than a number on the scale. It’s about how you feel (physically AND emotionally), what you can do with your body, and what’s going on with your gut, hormones, thyroid, and metabolic health.
We’re here to help you ditch the BS you’ve been told about doing everything perfectly, counting every macro, or crushing yourself at the gym.
It’s time to embrace your inner resilience, strength, clarity, and energy — the badass woman you are (she just needs some help stepping into the light).
Meet your virtual health, nutrition, and fitness coaches
Gwen Holtan
Virtual Nutrition Coach
Functional Health Coach
San Francisco Bay Area
With years of healthcare experience and a functional medicine background, Gwen saw how often the system failed to address the root causes of burnout, weight gain, and hormone chaos. Now, she helps women take their health into their own hands, before illness forces the issue.
As a health coach for The Heart of Wellness Integrative Medicine, collaborating with Dr. Hillary Bassett, MD, Gwen works alongside physicians to guide lasting change through food, movement, and mindset. Her approach is science-backed, trauma-informed, and fiercely practical.
Forget restrictive plans and empty motivation. Gwen helps women feel stronger, more energized, and deeply connected to their bodies — for good.
Gwen is based in the San Francisco Bay Area but works with clients virtually, anywhere. For clients in the Bay Area, Gwen also offers in-home nutrition and kitchen consultations, helping clients put their personalized plans into action in their own kitchens.
Nutritional Coaching Institute
- Level I certification
- Level II certification
- Hormone Specialty certification
- Mindset Specialty certification
- Mentorship program participant
- Motivational Interviewing course certificate
Functional Nutrition Metabolism School
- Certification
- Weight Loss and Nutrition Coaching Affiliate
Sheena Lawrick
Virtual Fitness Coach
Two-Time Olympian
Chicago, IL
As a two-time Olympian, former Team Canada softball player, certified CrossFit coach, and NASM certified personal trainer, Sheena knows how to help women build strength that lasts — physically, mentally, and metabolically. Her movement-first approach supports hormone balance, energy, and confidence, without extremes or burnout.
After retiring from elite sport and navigating her own health struggles, Sheena turned her focus to helping others feel powerful in their bodies again. With a background in functional nutrition and years of hands-on coaching, she meets clients where they are and creates plans that actually fit their lives.
Whether you’re navigating motherhood, a hectic career, or midlife changes, Sheena meets you with real-world strategies, expert guidance, and zero guilt. Her approach helps clients build strength, resilience, and results that last.
Sheena is based in the Chicago area but works with clients virtually, anywhere.
Learn more about Sheena’s fitness coaching services here
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
- Certified Personal Trainer
Nutritional Coaching Institute
- Level I certification
- Mentorship program participant
- Hormone Specialty certification
- Mindset Specialty certification
- Level 1 Certification
Functional Diagnostic Nutrition (FDN)
- Coursework
- CrossFit Level 1 and 2
What we stand for
We run our business and support our clients through the lens of six guiding principles:
Real talk, backed by science
No fluff, no fear tactics. Just clear, compassionate coaching rooted in evidence and honesty.
You're not failing, you're just fried
Burnout isn’t your fault. We help you reset, rebuild, and feel like yourself again.
Strong looks different here
We help you feel powerful, capable, and confident in your body. No shrinking required.
Health that fits your life
Your plan should work with your schedule, energy, and reality, not against it.
Experience you can trust
We blend lived experience with clinical expertise to meet you exactly where you are.
Progress that lasts and evolves
We celebrate the small, sustainable wins that add up to real, lasting change.
Book a free call
Grab a time on our calendar for your free consult
