When you think of a nutritionist you probably think of someone who has been a “health nut” their whole life. That wasn’t me.
Though I grew up playing soccer and living an active life, I was less concerned about my health than I was about my appearance. Which is, in part, why I developed an eating disorder in high school. Like many people, I was never thin enough to warrant alarm, so my eating disorder went undetected for decades.
My interest in nutrition didn’t develop until I was in my mid-twenties. Before graduating with my bachelor’s degree I started to develop symptoms that no medical test or professional could explain.
The only thing that brought me relief was yoga. I became a yoga instructor and then eventually started experimenting with other forms of alternative healing. That is how I stumbled into nutrition.
My early experiments with nutrition were troubling. While altering my diet led to relief from my physical symptoms, it fueled my still undiagnosed eating disorder. I yo-yoed between extremes of “healthy” and “unhealthy” eating. My weight yo-yoed up and down as well.
I decided to get more education and pursued my Master’s degree in nutrition. I was fortunate that after graduation I was able to get the help I needed to overcome my eating disorder.
When I started my practice I had become disenchanted with the worlds of conventional and functional medicine. While I still firmly believed nutrition helps us heal, I could see the massive amount of harm being done by the typical way we practice medicine and functional nutrition.
What I saw is that our pursuit of health has become problematic. First of all, most people have confused being thin with being healthy. They aren’t the same thing. Yet, from all sides, health professionals spout that most people “need” to lose weight.
Secondly, there is a narrative that being healthy makes a person morally superior to those who cannot achieve the same level of health. Health looks different for all of us. This stigmatizes people who are chronically ill or disabled because our narrative assumes that they must have done this to themselves.
Thirdly, because we confuse thin with health, we are unbelievably cruel to fat people. The assumption is that all fat people are lazy and choose to not achieve what morally superior people achieve. This is false.
As I started practicing, I realized that these assumptions are extremely wrong. Research does not support that everyone can achieve health or thinness for that matter. Additionally, as I started to hear the stories of my clients I was blown away by the harm these assumptions in the health world have caused. I had also experienced this firsthand.
I blamed myself for my health problems. I blamed myself for not being able to control my body size the way I wanted. Yet, all the interventions I had tried with nutrition had ultimately ended in a worsening of my mental health as well as my physical health. These experiences influenced the direction I ultimately took in my clinic.
I am passionate about helping people break free from the guilt and shame that accompanies dieting and wellness. While I love nutrition and love helping people with their nutritional goals, I knew that I had to help people with the perspective of improving their relationship with food in the process.
If I had never experienced an eating disorder, weight cycling, and health problems I doubt I would have ended up a clinical nutritionist. Yet, I am profoundly grateful for where my path has led me. I am humbled by the incredible clients I get to work with who are willing to be vulnerable with me and sit in the discomfort of letting go of diet culture. I love what I do.
When I am not working with clients or on my business, I love adventuring with my partner and our 3 kids. We love hiking, rappelling, and spending time outside. I enjoy solo hiking as well. I am an avid reader, enjoy playing the piano here and there, and belting out songs at the top of my lungs. When I have time I enjoy crafting and creating…, especially crocheting.
If you are here on this site you are likely looking for a nutritionist. Maybe you have tried other dieticians or nutritionists before. Maybe you have spent a lot of time googling and searching for answers. You’ve likely tried more than a couple of things, but you have found the “solutions” wanting.
You are not alone. There is a lot of noise out there when it comes to health, wellness, and nutrition. It can be overwhelming and confusing. I know how that feels. I’ve lived that too. I hope you will find some answers on this website and will feel seen and less alone. And if you need more support than a blog can provide, reach out. I’ve been there and I’m here to help.
Warmly,
