Scottsdale Nutrition Coach

My Story

Here’s a little bit about me…
(okay a lot!)

Here is the story of 3 experiences in my life that shaped me as a person and as a Nutritionist.  Enjoy!

It took me awhile to find my way to nutrition.  Growing up my favorite foods were chicken fingers and pizza.  I went through phases where I would sit down to a bowl of “little trees” (broccoli) at my grandmother’s house but it didn’t last very long.  We, as in most families, soothed and comforted with food.  We couldn’t visit without food being involved in someway and we certainly took advantage of the “comfort” food very often provided.  I wasn’t very overweight growing up but I was always aware that I wasn’t the most fit or slim among my peers. 

Experience #1 Food Allergies

During grade school I had horrible hives.  Some were the size of large pancakes and they covered my body.  It was miserable to say the least.  My Mom took me to multiple doctors and I had many blood tests to determine what was causing the outbreaks of hives.  Unfortunately no one had any answers except that it was definitely NOT a food allergy.  I admire how stubborn and determined my mother was to disagree with them and take matters into her own hands.  She took everything OUT of my diet except for boiled chicken and rice for 2 weeks. — It is now that I admire her because at the time I wasn’t too happy about my new diet. –Anyway, she made everything from scratch, read labels religiously, and slowly introduced me to more foods.  I am happy to say that my hives have never returned!  We figured out that I had a build up of artificial ingredients in my system, especially red dye. (Did I forget to mention my love of Red Vines and Hawaiian punch as a kid?)

 

I actually remembered getting frustrated with my Mom when we would go to the grocery store and it would take FOREVER to get through the store because she had to read every ingredient on the food label.  Now no one will go to the store with me (except client of course) because I do the same thing!  Amazing how some things can come full circle.

 

That was my first experience with the power of food and how it can positively and negatively affect my body.

 

When I got older I had learned that I need to keep some foods out of my diet but healthy lifestyle pretty much stopped there.  As long as I avoided a lot of artificial ingredients I was able to not experience any more hive outbreaks or migraines, which is what I got now instead of hives as the years went on.  My diet was somewhat better but not much overall.

 

Experience #2 The results of supplementation 

College came and I took a few nutrition and science courses but was focused on psychology and the social sciences.  I knew I wanted to help people and was intrigued by human behavior.  Before graduation I started working with a health and wellness company that introduced me to the power and benefits of what you put into your body. 

 

I had always hated taking pills so vitamins were not on the top of my list to take on a regular basis.  Through this company I was introduced to a liquid multi-vitamin/mineral supplement that I fell in love with.  Not only was it easy to take on a regular basis but I noticed that I felt better.  I had more energy, slept better, and didn’t have as many cravings. 

 

After about 6 months on the product I went to visit my Mother who had moved to Minnesota with our cats.  Now when I lived with my Mom before college I was around the cats all the time with no problems but I did have seasonal allergies that were pretty bad.  After being away for good amounts of time, the first 3-4 days of visiting my Mom were miserable.  I would take prescription allergy medicine before and during my visit but I still had watery eyes and sneezed constantly.  On this particular visit it was the second day of being there that my Mom casually asked me what new allergy medication I was on because I wasn’t having a problem whatsoever with my allergies.  I had honestly forgotten to take any medication before my visit so the only thing I was doing differently was taking my supplement.  From that point on I realized that it is not only what you take out of your diet but also what you put in it that can make a huge difference.

 

 

Okay one more story to bring it all together!

 

Experience #3 Weight Loss

It was after this experience that I delved deeper into educating myself on nutrition and its different aspects.  I was motivated to know how this worked.  How food affects the body and how to optimize it.  After 4 years of self study on the subject of nutrition I decided to get certified as a nutrition consultant so that I could share my experiences with others in hopes of helping them through their own journey toward health.   Although I had another challenge to face before I could truly help others, my weight.  

 

 

After the college 15-20, bartending and waiting tables in a not so healthy restaurant getting free food, and getting comfortable with my future husband, I had reached my heaviest weight.  I had reached the moment when I stepped on the scale and gasped instead of saying “its only 5 lbs no worries”. This panic number is different for everyone but we usually all reach that point of needing to do something right then and 165 was it for me.  I felt it.  That dread every morning searching for something that fits and looks at least somewhat decent.  The pictures that you don’t want to have in frames.  The horrible feeing inside that you’re fat!  As I said before I was never that overweight, or at least that’s what I told myself and kept telling myself as I saw the 5lbs on the scale increase steadily.  Thank God for the panic number on the scale that day, because if it weren’t for that I would be in a very different place and size right now.

 

From that point I knew that before I could help others find better health through nutrition, I had to do it myself.  My previous experiences had taken things out of my diet and put others in.  Now I needed to find a balance between the two.

 

My weight loss journey began in July of 2006 and by April of 2007 I had lost 30 lbs.  Just in time for my wedding!  It was a rocky road and it certainly wasn’t easy but after losing weight and then gaining it back from July to November on “diets” I found a lifestyle change that worked for me and I have kept the weight off since.

 

I learned that it’s not only about what you eat.  It is more importantly about why you’re eating it and how you put your plan into action that makes the difference.  It was really changing my behavior of eating that helped me change my life. 

 

 

And so my passion and philosophy of nutrition and eating behavior was born.  I am now happy to share my experiences with others and help them modify not only what they are eating but their behaviors as well.

 

 

Thank you to everyone who helped shape me into the person I am now and Congratulations to all of my clients for taking the steps to change their life! Thank you for letting me do what I love each day! I am so proud of all of you!

~Tiffany