Courtesy Athena Nutrition
By Carol Ann Conover
Katie Margison officially launched Athena Nutrition earlier this year, but the foundations of her coaching practice were laid several years ago through her own personal transformation and extensive professional development.
In December 2023, a former member of Lake George Community Fitness approached Margison about nutrition coaching. At the time, she declined, still navigating her own wellness journey. But by mid-2024, after beginning her sobriety and focusing on her health, she reconsidered.
“I very naively thought I will lose a lot of weight because I’m not drinking anymore,” Margison said. “But the opposite happened, and I sought a dopamine response from food wherever I could.”
That realization ultimately shaped her philosophy: sustainable, evidence-based coaching focused on behavior change, not quick fixes.
Margison named her company after her dog, Athena, but the symbolism runs deeper. In Greek mythology, Athena is the goddess of wisdom and practicality — qualities Margison brings to her craft as both a coach and an educator.
Over the past several years, Margison invested heavily in her training. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management; a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration; and an extensive list of coaching and fitness credentials, including Precision Nutrition L1, WAG Certified Nutrition & Sports Performance Coach, CF-L2 Trainer, USAW-L1 Coach and Referee, and multiple CrossFit specialty certificates in Gymnastics, Kettlebell, Anatomy, Lesson Planning, Spot the Flaw, and Scaling. She is also a Chronic Disease Self-Management Peer Educator through Stanford University.
After years of informal work, additional certifications, and mentoring, Margison soft-launched Athena Nutrition with a small group of free pilot clients to refine her approach. The business officially launched more recently, supported by ongoing guidance from business coaches and a steadily growing client base.
Today, she works with 38 clients — 37 women and one man who has been with her from the beginning.
Her process begins with an online application detailing a client’s history, eating habits, and past attempts at weight loss, followed by a 30- to 40-minute Zoom consultation to assess compatibility. Using the Trainerize coaching platform, Margison builds individualized nutrition and fitness plans without requiring in-person intake.
“What can you commit to?” she asks clients. “If we can’t commit to these three things, OK, what about these two?”
Clients enroll for at least four months before transitioning to month-to-month support. Through her app, she provides daily accountability, customized meal planning, and, when appropriate, fitness programming rooted in her 13 years of CrossFit experience and six years of coaching at Lake George Community Fitness.
Client Amie Gonzales said Margison’s style is unlike other programs she’s tried.
“She’s very communicative with her clients,” Gonzales said. “She puts together group sessions so you can feed off each other’s energy. She’s not just sitting there cheering you on — she’s guiding you every step of the way.”
Gonzales also noted that weekly check-ins and monthly face-to-face meetings help prevent clients from getting “lost in the shuffle.”
“It’s motivating, even when there are ups and downs,” she said. “Katy reassures you and helps you stay on track.”
Margison avoids labeling foods as “good” or “bad,” instead using nonjudgmental terms such as “off-track meals” and reminding clients that food choices are not moral failures.
“You eating a cookie doesn’t make you bad. It doesn’t mean you’ve blown everything,” she said.
She also helps clients unpack lifelong beliefs about food formed in childhood — conversations that can be uncomfortable, but necessary.
For Margison, success is defined by identity shifts as much as physical ones. One client who has worked with her since June lost 18 pounds and recently told her she finally feels comfortable calling herself an athlete.
“That’s the kind of identity shift I went through getting sober,” Margison said. “And I want to show women they are capable of so much more than they allow for themselves.”
As the new year approaches, she encourages clients to create vision boards — a practice she credits with helping her manifest a full-time career in coaching.
Looking ahead, she hopes to broaden Athena Nutrition beyond health and fitness to support women in personal, professional and financial growth.
Margison works exclusively online, serving clients locally and across the country. Despite offering high-touch support, she notes that her rates remain lower than 90% of comparable coaches.
Her journey through addiction and weight struggles continues to fuel her work.
“If I can do it, you can do hard things, too,” she said. “I got so sick of my own toxic patterns that I knew I had to change. And nobody could have told me two and a half years ago that I had a problem. I had to come to that realization on my own.”
Now, she helps other women reach their own pivotal moments — and stay supported through the transformation that follows.
Learn more at https://athena-nutrition.com.