What sparked your initial desire to pursue and practice Functional Medicine? It was a combination of things. From a young age, I witnessed several family members suffer from lifestyle-related diseases. I was compelled to find a way to help them as well as prevent myself from going down the same path. I also had health issues of my own that improved only after I changed my diet. Using food as medicine made sense, and I quickly developed a passion for it! Then, a couple of years into studying nutrition, I discovered author Eckhart Tolle whose teachings opened my eyes to a completely different way of looking at the world. He woke me up to the truth of who we are underneath our suffering and where that suffering comes from. This sparked my interest in a more integrative, root-cause approach to healing which eventually lead me to discovering Functional Medicine.

How would you define living an Ultra Life? Living according to your most authentic self. There are so many conflicting messages out there of who you should be, what you should value, do, have, etc. Yet, unless your actions are aligned with your unique purpose and what brings you authentic joy, something will always feel like it’s missing. Don’t settle, always do your best, and value yourself enough to treat your mind, body, and spirit with the love and respect they deserve. THAT is living an Ultra Life!

What is your morning routine? I wake up and immediately write in my gratitude journal (https://www.intelligentchange.com/products/the-five-minute-journal). Then, I brush my teeth, boil water for my tea, and take my dog for a walk while listening to a podcast or audio book. When I return, I shower, get dressed, put my breakfast and lunch (which I prepped the night before) in my bag for work, pour my tea, feed my pup, and off I go!

Favorites + Firsts:

• Favorite movie? So many favorites, but I’ll say The Dark Knight.
• First concert? Warped Tour
• Favorite Indulgence? Parmesan truffle fries
• Favorite way to relax? Drawing
• Favorite Podcast? Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu

What is the most rewarding aspect of your position at UWC? The work I do every day is inherently rewarding. I love supporting people achieve their goals by using food as medicine. Watching people feel better and get more out of life because of the food they put in their body never gets old.

Tell us about your most rewarding case study. I work with a young woman who developed a rare tumor that required invasive surgery to remove part of her stomach, pancreas, the spleen, and gallbladder. She lost a lot of weight and had to relearn what and how much to eat. After working together for several months, she reported that my nutrition plan was able to help her get to and maintain a healthy weight, improve the absorption of her nutrients (as reflected on blood testing), and improve how she felt overall. Yet the most rewarding part was when she told me how helpful of a resource I have been throughout this journey and how grateful she was to be working with me.

 If you had to choose one life mantra that consistently strikes a chord with you, what would it be? “You are never given a dream, without also being given the power to make it come true.” -Richard Bach

Your biggest goal for 2019? Begin my journey toward becoming an Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner.