Meet Amy
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
I have always known I wanted to make an impact on this world, but didn’t know how until I found my passion in nutrition and fitness. This all began in high school when I started running cross country. As I began to develop as a runner, I realized that the food I ate affected how I felt on and off the trails. As I began to take control of my nutrition and fitness, my image of myself changed. I felt empowered and accomplished things that I never could have imagined. I began to be proud of who I was and that seemed to seep into every area of my life. At that time I realized the positive impact I could have on this world was helping others take control of their health by eating in a way that supports their goals.
Education +
My educational journey began at the University of Portland, where I ran Division I Track. I transferred to Montana State University where I graduated with my degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. I then headed to Spokane, Washington to complete my Master’s Degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at Washington State University. Through this program, I spent over 1200 hours with various populations gaining experience and knowledge to help you know how to eat healthy for your goals. This preparation allowed me to pursue my licensure as a Registered Dietitian. My journey has provided me with a large toolbox of knowledge and experiences to pursue my passion of working 1-on-1 with individuals to help them create lasting lifestyle changes. I have since then become a USAT Level 1 Triathlon Coach, Crossfit Level 1 Certification and ACSM Personal Training Certification so I can properly coach endurance athletes to improve their performance.
Amy’s Health Journey +
As I work with people to improve their lifestyle habits, I am continually working on mine as well. My husband, Kevin and I devote a lot of time to training for triathlons and the fueling that is necessary for that. We qualified for the Half Ironman World Championships 2020. We also enjoy Crossfit, which is a part of our trining. We love to cook and bake and eat, and are constantly exploring new recipes and better ways to fuel ourselves.
Some of My Favorites
I was the kid that kicked my feet to the side when I ran and ate strawberries dipped in sugar (like a lot of sugar) as a snack… so yea… there is hope for you too!
If I could travel anywhere I would go to any beach, Italy or Greece.
My mom taught me the basics of cooking, but Cooking Light Magazine taught me how to really cook.
My favorite races are half marathons and Half Ironmans. I haven’t done a full marathon or Ironman, but I likely will at some point!
Favorite Ice Cream: chocolate anything. The more chocolate the better!
My daily staples are peanut butter, chocolate milk, bananas, apples, carrots, eggs, and yogurt.
I am terrified of snakes!
My husband, Kevin, and I started dating in high school and have been best friends since.
Meet Lisa
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
I have always had an interest in traveling and helping people. Growing up, I thought I would want to travel overseas and help with world hunger. I haven’t yet done that but that is how I ended up in a career in nutrition. I completed my Bachelor’s degree at Washington State University and my internship at North Oaks Health System in Louisiana, following Hurricane Katrina, while simultaneously working for a small disaster relief organization in Southeast Louisiana where I had the opportunity to feed volunteers. I then became a Registered Dietitian in 2008 and later became certified as an ACSM Personal Trainer in 2018.
I have had the opportunity to gain experience in a wide variety of nutrition/health settings including Clinical Nutrition, Public Health, Fitness/Personal Training, Food Service Management, Health and Wellness Consulting, as well as Behavioral Health.
Lisa's Health Journey +
Running, weight-lifting, spending time with my family and eating good food are my favorite hobbies. I have completed 3 Boston Marathons. I am passionate about being healthy and feeling my best in all aspects of life. I believe exercise and nutrition play an extremely important role in mental health as well as physical. I am fascinated by this connection and love to share this passion with others and help them find a sustainable way to meet their health and wellness goals within a busy schedule. I wasn’t always this way. I decided when I was 24 that I didn’t want to “get fit” but instead I was going to “be fit.” From that point on I made a few small changes and stuck with them. I now have 3 kids and keep a busy schedule and I have a ton of tricks to keep it simple and sustainable! The truth is I don’t like to feel deprived so I never go a day without chocolate! Nutrition and health is a puzzle. You get to piece it together to find a way to build what you need and want in relation to your life and health while fueling your body to function and perform at its absolute best.
Meet Courtney
Where it all began
My love for nutrition and exercise began in my undergrad, where I was pursuing my degree in exercise science. I was blown away to see only one nutrition class was offered during that time, seeing how important it is to properly fuel your body during exercise. I began my own research where I became lost in the internet sea of nutrition myths, calorie counting and fad diets. I found it impossible to decipher what was true and what was the best nutrition route specific for me, my body, and lifestyle. This is when I knew I wanted to become a credible resource who provided sound, evidence-based nutrition education that individuals could utilize and incorporate into their everyday life to reach their personal goals.
Education +
I received my Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Eastern Washington University (Go Eags!). This is where I discovered my passion for nutrition and fitness and decided to further my education and experience. From there, I completed my Master of Science Coordinated Program in Dietetics, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at Washington State University, along with my dietetic internship throughout the Spokane and Seattle area. Shortly after graduating, I obtained my licensure as a Registered Dietitian as well as certification as an Exercise Physiologist.
Courtney’s health Journey +
I have always believed that food, along with physical activity are the keys to a long, healthy life. But diet culture has overcomplicated the subject and made it impossible to find the balance between fueling our bodies to achieve our goals, while still enjoying the foods we love.
I strive to help individuals break that mold of unrealistic diets that lead to unhealthy relationship with food and negative body images. I believe all the foods you enjoy can and should be a part of your balanced diet. I am a firm believer your nutrition should be two things: enjoyable and sustainable. I practice this myself daily and take pride in educating and encouraging others to do the same.
Meet Nick
Where it All began
The road leading me to where I am now was quite an unorthodox one! I spent most of my teens and early twenties as a musician and working in restaurants. It wasn’t until I adopted a healthier, more active lifestyle that I shifted onto a more health-focused career path. During my undergraduate studies, I found a deep-love for running and was always training for the next big race. Since being involved in endurance racing, I’ve become fascinated with how much nutrition can impact the quality of your training - and how often athletes underestimate that! I’ve personally experienced an improvement in my health, weight, and performance by focusing on nutrition, so I want to help others do the same.
Education +
I attended Texas State University, where I earned my BS in Nutrition & Dietetics, summa cum laude. In 2020 I moved to Spokane to attend Washington State University and earn my MS in Nutrition & Exercise Physiology, and complete a 1,200 hour dietetic internship. During my education, I’ve worked in various settings, including a hospital, endocrinology clinic, pediatric health care, food banks, an elite performance gym, and in Sports Nutrition for the WSU Cougars! I became a Registered Dietitian in 2022 and look forward to offering nutritional counseling and training at Fuel to Thrive!
Nicks’s Health Journey +
It wasn’t until my early twenties that I was able to find joy in my own health and fitness. In high school I was overweight, knew nothing about eating healthy, and wasn’t active. And because I was living in the South, our food choices weren’t exactly ideal. I didn’t have an “extreme” weight-loss journey, but over a few years I gradually improved my diet and became more active. I maintained a much healthier weight and lifestyle for a few years, then during my undergraduate studies I began to enjoy running for distance, rather than weight loss. I found it as a way to meditate and challenge myself, while staying fit. Since then, I’ve run multiple marathons and qualified for the Boston marathon. Through these years I’ve been able to experience the impact that nutrition can have on training and well-being, which is why I’ve chosen to pursue a career working with athletes looking to improve both their health and performance.
Meet Elizabeth
Where it all began
Growing up on a wheat farm, food has always been part of my daily rhythm of life. I played sports growing up and ran cross country and track through college, but it wasn’t until I had the opportunity to work with a sports dietitian during a physiology internship in graduate school that I saw the impact that proper fueling can have on performance and health. I also discovered that I love teaching and working one-on-one with individuals to help them meet their unique goals while also looking at the long game of fostering a healthy relationship with food.
Education +
Like most first-year college students who like science and want to help people, I started college at Whitworth College (now University) wanting to be pre-med. I double-majored in Biology and Chemistry and ran cross country and track all four years. I realized my junior year that becoming a physician wasn’t for me but that I wanted to stay in higher education as a professor and/or coach. I packed up and moved to Duluth, Minnesota where I completed an accelerated master’s program in Exercise Physiology. I landed a summer internship as a physiology intern at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs where one of my supervisors was a sports dietitian. Even though I had been an athlete for most of my life, that was the first time that I really made the connection between proper fueling and performance. I spent the next year as an AmeriCorps member working with food insecure populations in Duluth and then started working on my PhD at Virginia Tech. After four years, I completed my doctorate in Nutrition for Sport and Chronic Disease while also picking up my coursework to become a registered dietitian. After graduate school, I completed a one-year dietetic internship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and passed my board exam to become a credentialed RD. The timing couldn’t have been better, because a position in Whitworth’s newly formed Health Sciences Department opened up, and I was hired as a lecturer and the tenure-track professor where I have been ever since. I continue to teach courses in nutrition, personal health, sport nutrition, and food systems full-time but relish the opportunity to work with clients one-on-one. Finally, I am also a Wellcoaches Certified Health and Well-being Coach and incorporate coaching skills into my practice.
Elizabeth's Health Journey +
As a dietitian, education, and health and well-being coach, I am constantly learning and incorporating evidence-based information into my own lifestyle habits. While I ran competitively for several years, including multiple marathons, my primary focus now is pursuing a path to flourishing not perfection. One way that I love my body is by letting it move every day. I enjoy running, hiking, cycling, and yoga (though I am the least flexible person on the planet). I think that our relationships impact all aspects of health and having communal meals with others is a great way to foster that. My husband, Tim, is literally a Master Gardener. He grows it, and I enjoy finding creative ways to make meals that taste good and help us feel good.
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Are you looking for guidance with your diet, training, or sports performance? Let me help you!
