For as long as I can remember, I have LOVED food. In my family, every occasion was centered around the table, from the heat of a summer BBQ to the quiet comfort of a family dinner. As a child, I loved it all. I was the girl with a big appetite, fueled by a love for movement and the "meat on my bones" that my parents and grandparents praised.

But while my family saw strength, I began to see the world’s expectations. I wasn't the "petite or feminine" girl society seemed to demand. For a long time, I pushed those thoughts aside, using food as the high-octane fuel that powered my love of competitive volleyball until I was twenty.

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The Shift: When Fuel Became Control
Everything changed in college. When I walked away from competitive sports, I felt I had walked away from my identity. Without a court to play on or a team to lead, I felt adrift. I turned to the one thing I felt I could still master: my body.
Armed with my studies in anatomy and physiology, I began to treat my appetite like a math problem. I counted every calorie and monitored every morsel. I lost weight, yes—but I lost my spark along with it. The joy of a shared meal was replaced by the cold precision of a spreadsheet. Food was no longer life; it was a variable to be managed.

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The Revelation: Yoga, Science, and the Nervous System
The turning point came during a summer of transformation. After graduating with a degree in Exercise Sport Science, I trained to become a yoga teacher before heading to Dietetics school. It was on the mat that the "aha" moment struck. I realized that the science of nutrition and the soul of yoga were two sides of the same coin. I learned that for our bodies to truly digest and thrive, we must be in a state of rest. Yet, I was living in a state of constant internal war.

I began to ask myself: If food is healing and comforting by nature, why am I treating it like the enemy?

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The Messy Middle of Healing
I decided to stop counting calories and start listening. I’ll be honest—the transition wasn't a linear path to bliss. As I leaned into intuitive eating, my weight shifted, and I felt the physical and emotional discomfort of a body finding its footing again. But for the first time in my life, I didn't run back to a restrictive diet. I stayed. I kept learning, kept listening, and kept fueling.

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I realized that my body wasn't "broken" or "too much"—it was just waiting for me to trust it. After a year of radical self-care, the bloating subsided, my energy returned, and my weight stabilized at its natural, healthy equilibrium.

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The Freedom of the Table
Today, I don't fear the scale, the restaurant menu, or even the occasional fast-food run. I’ve reclaimed the joy of the summer BBQ and the Friday night celebration. Food is once again life-giving sustenance, providing me with the comfort and connection I grew up loving.

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Now, I have taken the clinical expertise of a dietitian and the mindful wisdom of a yoga teacher to create something I wish I’d had during my hardest days: Nourish & Flourish 90 Days to a Healthier You. I’ve poured my lived experience and professional education into a roadmap for women who are tired of the fight. It’s time to stop managing your plate and start nourishing your life.

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