So like WHY did you pick nutrition?
Nutrition has always been a passion of mine since I was young – the topic, if you saw how I ate you would question me – I’ve always played sports and at some point in time I figured out I liked nutrition. Probably because I love to eat, every meal. I was a picky eater too, the irony is now my parents are the picky eaters. I find myself saying “just try it”. So “why” do I choose to practice in the field of nutrition: To encourage individuals to build better habits to meet their overall goals, to make an impact on their lives through nutrition so that it propels them forward to achieve their version of greatness.
Let’s back up, how does one major in nutrition? When you’re looking at schools, be sure they are accredited program that offers “Didactic” option aka “to become a Registered Dietitian”. Many programs offer nutrition but you can go to school for 4 years, graduate, and realize you legally can’t counsel individuals in medical nutrition therapy. I am sure there are many successful individuals that do not become RD’s and use their nutrition degrees but trust me, it can get sticky if you don’t.
I practice Sports Nutrition in my full-time role. How did I become a profession in the field?
Coming out of high school, I went to a junior college because I am the first person to go to college in my family. Very fun two years of college; however, I also learned fast that I needed to go somewhere else because I wanted to become a Dietitian. I actually spoke to a high school classmate because her sister was becoming a dietitian. She told me she went to Stephen F. Austin State University. I picked up the phone and called immediately, did everything I was told to do, and next thing you know I was moving to into the dorm. I received my undergraduate degree in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics. From there, you actually have to apply for an internship, complete over 1000+ hours of rotations and received a verification statement before you get to sit for the Registered Dietitian exam. As my luck would prevail, I did not get in my first time sooooooo a Master’s in Kinesiology was my back up plan, which I wouldn’t trade for the world. My mentors and classmates were awesome. I mean I even convinced one of them to count footsteps on my thesis, still grateful. The mentors I had are still the smartest people I know and I still send random emails to one of them today, Dr. Faries—you are the real MVP in my graduate journey. After a year of waiting, I applied again, received an internship at Stephen F. Austin State University, completed the rotations, and couldn’t wait to see what the future held.
I always wanted to be a sports dietitian even when it really wasn’t a thing. I googled it and found an organization called Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitian Association. Joined immediately. Then when I was finishing up my internship, the Sports Nutrition Immersion Program was on its second year of applications. Applied and landed at Texas A&M. The Journey as a Sports Dietitian started.
Now that I have been in this field for a few years, I really started to notice my focus lands on the topics such as eating disorder recovery, disordered eating, relative energy in sports, and intuitive eating. As you grow in any field your passion narrows and your growth continues. Starting a private practice is something I have always wanted to do – I also want to sharpen my skills within this narrow focused population – as I continue to grow I noticed I needed to expand my target audience to include a wider range of people so that I can continue bring the best to where I’d like to be in the next 5 or so years!
I say that to say this..
What is your WHY? What is your passion? Are you having trouble getting there? Is nutrition holding you back? Do you hear yourself having a food conversation in your head every day?
Finding recovery from eating disorder and/or disordered eating isn’t so simple but it’s worth it. Are you tired of being trapped or listening to the eating disorder voice telling you what to do, placing fear about food, and it’s holding you back from your why? Working with me, we will target that why, water that small goal and make sure to work towards it during the recovery process.
Bill Bowerman said, “if you have a body, you are an athlete.” Do you find that body needs more energy to be efficient for the activity you are trying to put it through? Missing your period but not on birth control? Keep getting stress reactions or fractures and you cannot figure out why? Blood work came back with low iron, vitamin D, calcium, or any other lab that affects your activity goals? Maybe your why is tied to completing a marathon to raise money for a cause but cannot make it and you can’t figure out why? This could be relative energy deficiency in whatever sport you are competing in. Shoot maybe it’s not even sport related but you still have the symptoms mentioned above. It’s worth looking into because of your WHY!
Done with dieting? You have tried every last diet and you gain the weight back? Diet and gain more weight? Doctor told you, you would be healthier if you would “just lose some weight” but never really answered the real questions as to why you were there?
I bet you don’t know what foods you actually like because you have been following diet rules for years but you’re done with that now because you have a bigger why then starting a new diet. You have a new fire starting inside of you because you are ready to break free from the dieting rules – then reading Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch will be a great starting place – need an accountability partner? You got it dude!
All of these scenarios help me live MY WHY!
