Dr. Iina Ester

Dr. Iina Ester Life is a Verb Dr. Iina Ester is a health, fitness, and motivation expert. Her techniques can be used to change any self-identified behavioral goal.

She holds a doctorate degree in exercise physiology with a research focus in psychology of physical activity from Georgia State University and a bachelor's degree in exercise science from University of Florida. Dr. Ester specializes in motivation and behavior change through belief and knowledge based learning. Her clients come to her for physical health and fitness related goals, career goals, for increased motivation, and to learn skills to focus and adhere to a plan of action. She also specializes in prevention and reversal of lifestyle related illnesses. Dr. Ester is currently based out of Destin, Florida and she is available for private coaching as well as for seminars and workshops across United States and travel regulations depending, also internationally.

Interesting snack of the day. I was in a tuktuk headed to the grocery store, when we stopped over and this lady sold us ...
11/11/2025

Interesting snack of the day. I was in a tuktuk headed to the grocery store, when we stopped over and this lady sold us these bags of raw kassawa, coconut, ginger, carrots, and peanuts. Couldn’t be much healthier!
It was interesting, and I think I’ll really end up liking these as an on the road snack.

My brunch today was simple and delicious. Vegetable coconut curry with quinoa, avocado, cucumber, and tomatoes. With so ...
11/11/2025

My brunch today was simple and delicious. Vegetable coconut curry with quinoa, avocado, cucumber, and tomatoes.
With so few “luxuries” at the grocery store I’m learning to eat even more whole foods. I’m definitely getting my fruit and vegetables in abundance every day!

This meal is from one of my favorite local restaurants in Moshi. There are a ton of tasty veggies, two types of beans, g...
11/07/2025

This meal is from one of my favorite local restaurants in Moshi. There are a ton of tasty veggies, two types of beans, grilled Lake Victoria tilapia, pilau, and white rice. I love the variety. I didn’t eat all the rice, but I polished off everything else for lunch, and I wasn’t hungry again until the next morning! 😆

How long have you been in Tanzania? Long enough to start making soup for breakfast. 🤷🏽‍♀️🤣This one has carrots, sweet po...
11/07/2025

How long have you been in Tanzania? Long enough to start making soup for breakfast. 🤷🏽‍♀️🤣

This one has carrots, sweet potatoes, onions, ginger, and habanero pepper and other seasonings… added a drizzle of coconut cream at the end. So, so yummy!

11/07/2025

When I was about 37, I was in the park in New Orleans, playing around on the parallel bars at the exercise station. There was a guy, in his late 20s, doing pull-ups. After his set, he looked at me and said, “That’s cool. I wish I had gotten into gymnastics, when I was a kid.” I smiled, and responded, “I felt like that too. That’s why I started doing stuff like this about 4 years ago.”

You’re not too old to learn a new skill, to start a new career, or to do something that you always wanted to do. 😉

So, I finally decided to focus on one of the skills that I always wanted to learn as a child. This is my six month progress video. 😍

I went to a local spot for lunch the other day. They never have menus. So, you just ask the Mamas, who are cooking, what...
11/05/2025

I went to a local spot for lunch the other day. They never have menus. So, you just ask the Mamas, who are cooking, what they have. You try to understand what they tell you, and then you cross your fingers. I ordered chicken, and they had me select from a variety of boiled pieces one that they threw into the pot. I didn’t know what else was coming with it.

This is what I was served. The side items are veggies, and meal bananas, with a bowl of broth. Eating boiled chicken is still pretty foreign to me, but I appreciate that everything on my plate is real food, and the meal only cost $2.15.

Also, the neighborhood cat got fed well, because there’s just no way that I’m eating that boiled skin, when I barely like it fried! 😂

Here is one of my go to meals at local restaurants: beans and greens with rice. Sometimes, I get rice pilau with spices ...
10/29/2025

Here is one of my go to meals at local restaurants: beans and greens with rice. Sometimes, I get rice pilau with spices and some chicken or beef mixed in, instead of white rice. The little drumstick was forced onto my plate by a friend, who wasn’t convinced that my meal was enough food.

In reality, most local restaurant meals here are way too much food for me, and without proper take away packaging, it’s hard to get the leftovers home without making a mess on the way, so ordering tilapia or Nile perch (a few of my actual favorites), means that I will walk out feeling way too stuffed!

I found some canned red beans, so I seasoned them a bit, tossed them on top of some quinoa, and made a side of steamed c...
10/28/2025

I found some canned red beans, so I seasoned them a bit, tossed them on top of some quinoa, and made a side of steamed cabbage and carrots.

Eating healthy in Tanzania is overall easy. The only issue is that ingredients are a bit limited, so the meals get a little redundant. I just need to get a bit more creative… 🤔

Also, my fridge and freezer are tiny (although I’m fortunate to have them at all.) But it means that I have to shop in small quantities, and I can’t freeze a lot of meals for later, so I have to plan more carefully. For example, I found dry red beans also, but I can’t cook a huge pot of them for later, like I would at home. That’s why the canned version might end up becoming my go-to here. The good news is that they aren’t very salty. 😊

My recent bike rides in the Kilimanjaro region. I’m back on my bike. My goal is to be able to ride my bike from Himo to ...
10/23/2025

My recent bike rides in the Kilimanjaro region.
I’m back on my bike. My goal is to be able to ride my bike from Himo to the Marangu Gate. I just spent a weekend riding in Marangu, and the hills are brutal… but so fun! 😃

Soup for breakfast… 🤔 The first time I ate this about a year ago, I wasn’t impressed. But now, I find it comforting and ...
10/20/2025

Soup for breakfast… 🤔
The first time I ate this about a year ago, I wasn’t impressed. But now, I find it comforting and filling. I am beginning to enjoy it because it feels good. It’s made of a specific type of banana cooked with potatoes, carrots, and beef. I ask for mine without the beef pieces, so it’s a soft, think broth. It’s mildly flavored, and the habaneros and lime come on the side for you to season it to taste.

10/12/2025

I found quinoa! My last two trips to Tanzania, I have found it pretty easy to eat healthy. Fresh fruit and veggies are abundant, food here isn’t salty, deserts aren’t common, and most of the unhealthy treats I enjoy aren’t easily available.

The one problem I had was finding whole grains. The local diet here has a lot of processed, white wheat and corn flour, and white rice. There are some local whole grains that can be used to make a porridge, but I couldn’t find any of my favorite grains - oats, rye, and quinoa… until now!

It’s also a very delicious quinoa. It’s pricey, but I’m just glad it exists here, because I’m in Tanzania too long this time to not have whole grains in my diet.

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Dr. iina ester antikainen

Dr. Iina Ester is a fitness expert and a lifestyle change specialist. She holds a doctorate degree in exercise physiology with a research focus in exercise psychology from Georgia State University and a bachelor's degree in exercise science from University of Florida. Iina guides her clients in designing their very own, personalized path to well-being by combining her scientific knowledge in anatomy, physiology, and nutrition with motivational techniques and a gentle push to excel. She helps her clients discover the pleasure in living a healthier lifestyle and the joy in movement while guiding them through a hands-on experience to changing their lifestyle. Dr. Ester is a speaker at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Belle Chase Naval Base in New Orleans, LA. She conducts health, lifestyle change, and motivational seminars and workshops at fitness centers, community centers, and private event.