FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Yes! In order to retain my professional certification as a Nutritionist and a Wellness counselor I must regularly complete continuing education courses that relate to health, fitness, nutrition and behavioral counseling. Each new client presents a specific challenge and as all programs are tailored to the individual, there is a fair amount of research that goes into each one. New Leaf strives to offer the most accurate and up-to-date information to our clients, as well as to keep you posted on trends in the health industry and news.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
I've been working in the healthcare industry almost my entire career and had always been a health-conscious person. But years of working nights to pay for college, and the resulting lifestyle choices slowly added extra pounds. I changed jobs and began focusing more on my health and eating habits, while increasing my activity level. I started teaching exercise classes again and was working out on my own, but my weight wasn't going down. (As a side note, this is when I decided scales are really more trouble than they're worth!) I began to study nutrition and the effects of different foods in our body. I started carrying a big water bottle with me everywhere and drank as much as I could during the day. If I got hungry, instead of waiting until lunch, I'd have a small snack of fruit, nuts or trailmix. I started incorporating more raw foods (fresh veggies, seeds, fruit, etc) into my diet. Those small changes were like putting a key into a lock and hearing the tumblers click open. My body responded quickly, by dropping the weight faster than I could've expected. Within a few months, I'd lost almost 50 pounds. I know what it's like to feel uncomfortable with your weight...it's always lurking in the back of your mind, and jumps out when you're at your most vulnerable. You're likely to try anything you think will help you lose weight. Fad diets, pills to speed up your metabolism, pills to supress your appetite, pills for more energy, laxatives, diuretics, pills that make you sick if you eat too much fat...the list goes on, and all of them can do more harm than good. If you give your body the puzzle pieces it needs, it will put it all together on its own. People deserve to know this simple truth, and to receive realistic, practical knowledge they can use every day. That's New Leaf's mission!
- What types of customers have you worked with?
Personalized exercise and nutrition plans for weight-loss. Clients from all over the United States begin their health journeys here, staying from a few days to several weeks; and programs up to 7 weeks long are offered for those seeking significant weight loss and healing. The average stay is about a week; and a typical program schedule follows this structure: *Morning beings with quiet-time, reflection, prayer or meditation and journaling. *After a healthy breakfast, we divide the morning between wellness counseling activities and physical training. *Lunch is often followed by a period of rest and rejuvenation. *The afternoon hosts a variety of physical activities that focus on the individual's needs and health goals. *A cooking demonstration for dinner provides a hands-on learning experience that you can eat and enjoy! *Time in the evening can be spent relaxing and soaking up the serenity and beauty of the area or indulging in a massage or other spa treatment. We frequently go on field trips, that offer a practical application of the things you've been learning (like healthy shopping, for example). As each client's needs are different, the overall program differs from low-impact and an emphasis on mobility and eating behaviors to a more intensive workout-orientented program with a healthy eating plan. Many clients simply need help getting started on their personal health journeys and seek New Leaf's services for nutrition and exercise coaching. These can be conducted long-distance for clients that live out-of-town.