Hi, I'm Wal Herring, a Nutritionist and Women's Lifestyle Health Specialist.
I help women who already know what healthy eating looks like, but can't seem to make it stick, or have a health complaint that they need someone to help them know what to do.
My approach is practical and science-backed: eat for your changing physiology, move with purpose, protect sleep, and build a stress tool kit.
No perfection. Just the fundamentals, done consistently.
If you're here, you're probably deciding whether my advice will actually work for you. Honestly, I don't know. I'm good at breaking down the actions. Only you can take them.
To know me is to know why I care. Here are the life experiences that shape how I coach.
1. I grew up on a farm.
Life is practical, not theoretical. If I can't put something into practice, I won't ask you to. My goal is simple systems you just do, until healthy living becomes second nature.
2. I put on 10kg in early perimenopause, and didn't feel like myself.
It happened without changing a thing about how I was eating. Some days I just wanted to stay in bed. I tried, I failed, I tried again. What actually brought me back wasn't trying harder, it was coming home to the frameworks I already knew, and letting them be simple again. The weight came off eventually, but that's not the part I'm proud of. I started dancing in the car again. Singing at the lights like nobody's watching. That's what this work is actually for.
3. I was sport mad as a kid.
I ran half marathons at fourteen, for fun. I've always been intrigued by the body and resilience. Today, that shows up as small daily actions that make the biggest difference.
4. I represented New Zealand age-group basketball.
I still play socially. We slow down as we age, but we get to play smarter. Same goes for food and training in midlife.
5. I've moved a lot.
More than thirty homes, five countries, one adult life. Sometimes life asks you to keep moving. The grass isn't greener, just a different shade. Wherever you are in your health right now, own it, and find the good in it.
6. Stoicism helped in tough seasons.
You can't control everything. Know what you can control, and what you can't. You may not control your symptoms today, but you can control how you eat and how you move.
7. I had cancer in my early twenties.
Treatment means I'm more susceptible to future cancer. A healthy lifestyle isn't optional for me, it's non-negotiable. Roughly 20% of disease is genetics, the rest is lifestyle. I can't choose my genes. I can choose my habits. Don't wait for a diagnosis. Lifestyle is your best insurance policy.
8. I have four kids.
I'm aiming to raise individuals. Parenting showed me my own stories about food and body, kids hold up a clear mirror.
9. I was the kid who loved school.
I still love learning, research, books, podcasts. Health, nutrition, exercise, resilience. New perspectives keep me curious, and useful to you.
10. I completed a Masters in Nutrition, on energy intake and expenditure.
I went deep on the science, and I've never counted a calorie. Being food-aware matters. Filling your head with constant sums doesn't. Health isn't a spreadsheet.
11. Nutrition only works when you actually live it.
There's theory, there's experience, and there's the wisdom that comes from reflection. I value all three. This only works when it's applied and reviewed in your real life. That's how you find out what actually works for you.
If you want practical, doable steps that fit your actual life, you're in the right place. Let's keep it simple, make it consistent, and get you feeling capable in your own body again.
