My Story
I have been in your shoes.
I will take the time and effort to get to the root cause of what is going on inside your body. As a nutritionist in CT, my goal is to help you create lasting changes through personalized nutrition counseling and practical cooking instruction.
Meet Your Trusted Nutritionist in CT
Before
After
How I Lost 140 Pounds and Reclaimed My Health
I was once 320 pounds, struggling with hypertension, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and more. But through determination, learning, and self-care, I turned my health around. Today, my experience allows me to provide compassionate nutrition counseling that meets people where they are.
Early Struggles
I was a chubby kid and a victim of bullying in middle school because of my weight. In high school, I watched all my friends have boyfriends. I remember one of my friends telling me that a guy would date me if I lost 15 pounds. I never focused on taking care of myself—even from a young age. By the time I was 15, I was the primary caregiver for my two sick parents.
After having kids, I really started to gain weight.
Battling Weight and Health Issues
I was always interested in being healthy; I just could never get there or take the time to care for myself enough to make it happen. I lived a life of shame and felt like I had to prove myself in most situations. People think that if you’re overweight, you’re lazy. We are not lazy people!
I had some success, but nothing I tried was sustainable, and I always gained the weight back. I read many nutrition books and hired a coach who taught me how to lift weights, but I never stuck with anything. I knew how to cook and bake, but I focused more on foods that were not good for me. I wasn’t connecting the dots or even thinking about how food could help me. Food was a source of comfort, masking the pain from my trauma, but I didn’t realize it.
Needless to say, I had not created a healthy food environment in my home, and it affected the rest of my family. Looking back, I wish I had access to nutrition counseling and cooking instruction that focused on building lifelong habits.
The Turning Point
I traveled internationally for work, and it became difficult to fit into airplane seats and buckle my seatbelt. In 2018, I started taking a GLP-1 medication. Shame drove my motivation to finally do something about my weight. It wasn’t sustainable. I lost about 50 pounds, but over five years, I gained most of it back. I eventually reached 320 pounds, the heaviest I had ever been.
I wasn’t well. I had hypertension, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and edema in my left ankle. I didn’t feel good, and I was taking many medications. I was 57 years old, and both of my parents had passed away at age 60. I was scared.
Learning to Take Control
Discovering New Information
I started listening to podcasts about health and nutrition, and I began learning things I had never been taught before. Despite taking numerous medications and seeing three or four doctors regularly, no one explained how important sleep, food, light, water, and a healthy nervous system were to overall well-being. I was also never told that many of my conditions could improve.
I didn’t understand that I was accountable for my own health. I didn’t realize that what I was putting into my body was contributing to my illnesses. I’m not blaming anyone—I simply didn’t know that I could take control of my health.
I had outsourced my health to the traditional medical system. But I started learning, trusted my intuition about who to follow, who to listen to, and what to read, and I began making meaningful changes. That journey eventually inspired me to become a nutritionist dedicated to helping others.
The Changes That Changed My Life
Prioritizing Sleep
The first thing I did was improve my sleep.
I started going to bed at 9:00 p.m., created a relaxing skincare routine, and purchased a quality air purifier for my bedroom. I slept better, tracked my progress, and quickly noticed improvements in how I felt.
Personal Coaching and Self-Love
Then, I invested in personal coaching. It taught me how to love myself despite years of shame. It reminded me that I was worthy of care and helped me develop habits that produced lasting results.
Daily Habits for Health
I started walking every day with my dog, Rusty.
Within a month, I was walking two miles daily in nature and sunlight. I moved better, started lifting weights again, and built a simple home gym in my basement.
I began eating whole foods and preparing healthy meals that tasted great. I removed seed oils from my diet and started paying attention to what my body was telling me. Learning healthy meal preparation became a form of cooking instruction I gave myself every day.
Reconnecting with My Body
I had become so disconnected from my body that I no longer recognized true hunger or fullness. Over time, I learned to listen.
I also learned how to regulate my nervous system through coaching and support. Within a year, I had lost significant weight and discontinued most of my medications.
To date, I have lost 140 pounds, and at 59 years old, I feel the best I ever have. I feel strong, healthy, and grateful. My journey now fuels the nutrition counseling I provide to others seeking lasting wellness.
Self-Care, Healing, and Purpose
Understanding the Importance of Self-Care
I realized that self-care has to come first. I started discovering who I truly am and what gifts I have to offer.
I became accountable for my health while partnering with my healthcare team. I asked questions and advocated for myself.
Moving Away from Traditional Medicine
I have eliminated most of my medications because I no longer need them. That experience taught me that traditional healthcare often follows standard protocols, while every person is unique.
Traditional medicine often focuses on symptoms instead of root causes, even though the body is designed to heal when given the proper support.
Founding Cool Cookster
Certification and New Career
I became certified in Functional Nutrition and left my 30-year corporate career to launch Cool Cookster. Today, I proudly serve as a nutritionist, helping individuals improve their health through personalized guidance.
None of my doctors ever told me I could heal. In fact, they believed I would need medication for the rest of my life.
Empowering Others
I want to help you empower yourself to get well.
I am here to help you heal through food. Together, we’ll discover which foods work best for your body through personalized nutrition counseling, and I’ll provide cooking instruction so you can confidently prepare meals that support your health.
The Support I Can Provide
Role as a Functional Nutrition Counselor
I am a Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor. My goal is to uncover the root cause of what is affecting your health, especially when conventional approaches have not provided the answers you need.
As a nutritionist, I combine individualized nutrition counseling with hands-on cooking instruction. Many nutrition professionals provide food lists, but not everyone teaches you how to shop, organize your kitchen, and prepare nourishing meals that fit your lifestyle.
Cooking for yourself is an act of self-care. It strengthens relationships with your partner, family, and loved ones. It keeps you active, provides a positive example for your children, and supports your healing journey. Through practical cooking instruction, I’ll show you that healthy cooking doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
Support without Judgment
I will fully support you throughout this journey without shame or self-doubt while focusing on your unique needs to identify the root cause of your health concerns. Whether you’re looking for a trusted nutritionist, personalized nutrition counseling, or supportive cooking instruction, you’ll receive compassionate guidance every step of the way. Contact me today to schedule your personalized nutrition counseling and take the first step toward better health.