Fascinating Women 2024: Nutritionist-Dietitian & Social Media Star Jo Sebastian | ABS-CBN
ADVERTISEMENT
Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!
Fascinating Women 2024: Nutritionist-Dietitian & Social Media Star Jo Sebastian
Fascinating Women 2024: Nutritionist-Dietitian & Social Media Star Jo Sebastian
Chuchie Ledesma
Published Mar 22, 2024 06:56 PM PHT
|
Updated Apr 24, 2024 05:01 PM PHT
Jo Sebastian, a registered nutritionist and dietitian, has carved out a unique space on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and podcasts (The Donut Box Podcast), where she delivers no-nonsense health and wellness anecdotes and advice topped with a refreshing approach that resonates deeply with her audience.
Jo Sebastian, a registered nutritionist and dietitian, has carved out a unique space on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and podcasts (The Donut Box Podcast), where she delivers no-nonsense health and wellness anecdotes and advice topped with a refreshing approach that resonates deeply with her audience.
Jo Sebastian Photography by Pat Buenaobra
Jo Sebastian Photography by Pat Buenaobra In an in-depth interview with Metro.Style, Jo shares the many challenges she was able to overcome and breakthroughs she has experienced in the span of her career as a nutritionist and dietitian, as well as a well-loved content creator. Through her insights, you’ll see why and how she has evolved to become the wise healthy-eating advocate that she is today, and why she's indeed a Fascinating Woman.
In an in-depth interview with Metro.Style, Jo shares the many challenges she was able to overcome and breakthroughs she has experienced in the span of her career as a nutritionist and dietitian, as well as a well-loved content creator. Through her insights, you’ll see why and how she has evolved to become the wise healthy-eating advocate that she is today, and why she's indeed a Fascinating Woman.
Metro.Style: The TikTok world already knows you as the cool nutritionist-dietitian who gives realistic health and wellness tips; someone who empowers her followers to make better decisions instead of imposing ideals. Given all these, we are curious how and when you started on this #healthtok journey. Why health? Why not travel, beauty, food, etc?
Jo Sebastian: Honestly, I actually started with beauty and fashion and makeup. That’s how I started off online. But, I guess my interest just really shifted. Since I graduated as a dietitian I felt like I did have the responsibility to use that information and that knowledge to share online and to debunk myths, especially with somebody who struggled with their relationship with food in their body. Seeing all of that content online that was focused on restrictions and fads, all of those things were just too much for me to sit back and watch. That is why I decided to start talking about it. I still sometimes want to do beauty and travel…but I think where my strengths lie are definitely around health and fitness.
Jo Sebastian: Honestly, I actually started with beauty and fashion and makeup. That’s how I started off online. But, I guess my interest just really shifted. Since I graduated as a dietitian I felt like I did have the responsibility to use that information and that knowledge to share online and to debunk myths, especially with somebody who struggled with their relationship with food in their body. Seeing all of that content online that was focused on restrictions and fads, all of those things were just too much for me to sit back and watch. That is why I decided to start talking about it. I still sometimes want to do beauty and travel…but I think where my strengths lie are definitely around health and fitness.
MS: What were the challenges you faced when you were starting your health and food-related TikTok and podcast? How did you get through them?
JO: I still face a lot of challenges now. I think it’s really more about how I make health engaging. Because it’s easier to make travel and food and like beauty, something that people would [pay attention to] because it’s more of an everyday thing. But health has this idea of being very expensive, inaccessible, difficult, and judgy. I think that’s one of the barriers, which is how I make it more relatable for everyone. You can be healthy in many different ways in many different contexts. It doesn’t just have to be one way of looking healthy, and hopefully, it will resonate and get people to think “Oh yeah, this is relatable to me. This is true and I am interested in this content.”
JO: I still face a lot of challenges now. I think it’s really more about how I make health engaging. Because it’s easier to make travel and food and like beauty, something that people would [pay attention to] because it’s more of an everyday thing. But health has this idea of being very expensive, inaccessible, difficult, and judgy. I think that’s one of the barriers, which is how I make it more relatable for everyone. You can be healthy in many different ways in many different contexts. It doesn’t just have to be one way of looking healthy, and hopefully, it will resonate and get people to think “Oh yeah, this is relatable to me. This is true and I am interested in this content.”
ADVERTISEMENT
MS: What is it about your chosen field that helps the people around you feel empowered or inspired?
JO: I think it’s because food, well not just food but struggle with food in our bodies, is very relatable to everyone. I’ve been talking about this with a client where she’s like “Every time I make a decision on what to eat I’m thinking about so many things and it’s exhausting.” And [I’d say] “Oh my gosh, same!” I thought it was just me before. I thought it was just me thinking about the calories and the workout after, and how this one meal is going to impact the rest of my life. But [I’d find out that other people] were struggling with that, too. The empowering and inspiring [part] comes from the relatability that anyone and everyone could be struggling. Not in a “Yay we’re all struggling!” but in a way that everyone’s going through this. It’s not just me and it is possible for me to get out of this. I just have to be aware and I have to take those steps to do it.
JO: I think it’s because food, well not just food but struggle with food in our bodies, is very relatable to everyone. I’ve been talking about this with a client where she’s like “Every time I make a decision on what to eat I’m thinking about so many things and it’s exhausting.” And [I’d say] “Oh my gosh, same!” I thought it was just me before. I thought it was just me thinking about the calories and the workout after, and how this one meal is going to impact the rest of my life. But [I’d find out that other people] were struggling with that, too. The empowering and inspiring [part] comes from the relatability that anyone and everyone could be struggling. Not in a “Yay we’re all struggling!” but in a way that everyone’s going through this. It’s not just me and it is possible for me to get out of this. I just have to be aware and I have to take those steps to do it.
When people start thinking less about food and their bodies, they start to have more energy and power to do other things in their lives. In relation to my life, when I was younger I was only focused on ballet, food, and my body. Now that I’ve healed my relationship with food and my body, I have so many more interests. I wish I was into reading, but I like to play tennis, create content, try new clothes, and like fashion and style. These are all things that I would not be able to do before because I was so trapped in that cycle of dieting.
When people start thinking less about food and their bodies, they start to have more energy and power to do other things in their lives. In relation to my life, when I was younger I was only focused on ballet, food, and my body. Now that I’ve healed my relationship with food and my body, I have so many more interests. I wish I was into reading, but I like to play tennis, create content, try new clothes, and like fashion and style. These are all things that I would not be able to do before because I was so trapped in that cycle of dieting.
MS: What makes you feel accomplished and fulfilled as a health advocate and authority?
JO: I don’t know if I could consider myself an expert. I am just somebody who is constantly learning to learn as much as I can every single day. But I think the biggest thing that makes me feel accomplished is to hear messages from other people who tell me that my content has helped them in any way shape or form. They’re able to eat the food that they used to not eat without guilt. They’re able to take a rest they need to. Those are the times when I feel like I’m doing the right thing. Most of the time I feel like I’m doing the wrong thing especially when you are a content creator. You are stuck with looking at your worth and your value through numbers whether it be views, likes, comments, and engagements.
JO: I don’t know if I could consider myself an expert. I am just somebody who is constantly learning to learn as much as I can every single day. But I think the biggest thing that makes me feel accomplished is to hear messages from other people who tell me that my content has helped them in any way shape or form. They’re able to eat the food that they used to not eat without guilt. They’re able to take a rest they need to. Those are the times when I feel like I’m doing the right thing. Most of the time I feel like I’m doing the wrong thing especially when you are a content creator. You are stuck with looking at your worth and your value through numbers whether it be views, likes, comments, and engagements.
When you’re so focused on that as your metrics for success, it is very very difficult. But when I get a message from somebody who said something like “Same, same I feel the same way.”, “This resonated with me.”, or “Hey, I can eat my favorite foods now [because] before I was struggling!” it reminds me of why I was doing this in the first place.
When you’re so focused on that as your metrics for success, it is very very difficult. But when I get a message from somebody who said something like “Same, same I feel the same way.”, “This resonated with me.”, or “Hey, I can eat my favorite foods now [because] before I was struggling!” it reminds me of why I was doing this in the first place.
MS: At some point, we all want to make a change in this world. You have successfully sparked one and you are continuously making ripples not just in the digital sphere. As someone who made it, what pieces of advice can you share with the new generation of women (or anyone!) who want to make a change as you did?
JO: Don’t give up. It might be cheesy but don’t give up. I’ve been creating content since 2015. Nothing really hit. It was super slow up until last year. Last year in May, it was when my TikTok really picked up. But it was [also the same month and year] that I was literally thinking of quitting. My views on TikTok were getting below 200 views all the time. I was like “Well if it’s going to be like this, it just shows me that my content does not have enough value and does not have a purpose. I’ll take the hint okay I get it. That’s fine.” But then there was that one video I posted and that really just rippled from there. So don’t give up because maybe the moment you are about to give up is actually the moment that a breakthrough is about to happen.
JO: Don’t give up. It might be cheesy but don’t give up. I’ve been creating content since 2015. Nothing really hit. It was super slow up until last year. Last year in May, it was when my TikTok really picked up. But it was [also the same month and year] that I was literally thinking of quitting. My views on TikTok were getting below 200 views all the time. I was like “Well if it’s going to be like this, it just shows me that my content does not have enough value and does not have a purpose. I’ll take the hint okay I get it. That’s fine.” But then there was that one video I posted and that really just rippled from there. So don’t give up because maybe the moment you are about to give up is actually the moment that a breakthrough is about to happen.
Related Story: Fascinating Women 2023: Candy Drilon-Dalman
Figure out what your message is; and what you offer as a human being. [Find] your message and your purpose, what you want other people to know and to feel, and work through that. I want people to feel like they have a safe space around food and they can eat food without worry stress and guilt so in everything I do I try to focus on creating that. Figure out what your message is and what you want to impart. Don’t give up.
Figure out what your message is; and what you offer as a human being. [Find] your message and your purpose, what you want other people to know and to feel, and work through that. I want people to feel like they have a safe space around food and they can eat food without worry stress and guilt so in everything I do I try to focus on creating that. Figure out what your message is and what you want to impart. Don’t give up.
Photographer and Videographer: Pat Buenaobra
Editor-in-Chief: Geolette Esguerra
Sittings Editors: Red Dimaandal, Kate Paras-Santiago, and Grace Libero-Cruz
Makeup retoucher: Team Muriel Vega Perez for Dior Beauty
Hair retoucher: Dwayne Santos Bautista of Marqed Salon BGC
Shoot assistant: Mika Yusay
Shot on location at Moda Interni
Special thanks to Jenica Chuahiock, Nikki Sindiong, and Manam Comfort Filipino
Photographer and Videographer: Pat Buenaobra
Editor-in-Chief: Geolette Esguerra
Sittings Editors: Red Dimaandal, Kate Paras-Santiago, and Grace Libero-Cruz
Makeup retoucher: Team Muriel Vega Perez for Dior Beauty
Hair retoucher: Dwayne Santos Bautista of Marqed Salon BGC
Shoot assistant: Mika Yusay
Shot on location at Moda Interni
Special thanks to Jenica Chuahiock, Nikki Sindiong, and Manam Comfort Filipino
Read More:
wellness
jo sebastian
jo sebastian dietitian
metro fascinating women 2024
fascinating women 2024
jo sebastian metro fascinating women
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
