Welcome to my first blog post! I hope to bring you, the reader, interesting and factual information regarding all things nutrition. Thanks for stopping by!
I'm a Registered Dietitian currently living in Fort Collins, CO. I'm a wife, a dog mom and a future human mom (baby girl coming in just 4 short months)! I was born and raised in Memphis, TN and I come from a big, loud family. I wouldn't have it any other way! I am the youngest of 6 kids, and my 5 older siblings have produced 15 nieces and nephews just for me. So fun! When I wasn't competing with my siblings for the phone, a second helping of dinner, or the rights to the TV remote, I was competing on the softball field. I played competitively from age 9 until the end of my Freshman year of college when I found myself just plain burnt out. No longer playing softball created a void in my life that needed to be filled, and that fill came from running. My running started out as a way to stay in shape, but quickly developed into a desire to compete in races and try to improve my skills. Once a competitive athlete, always a competitive athlete.
I moved to Chicago after I graduated from college (the first time) in 2010 with a degree in Art History from The University of Memphis. My path to becoming an RD started in 2012 after I ran the Chicago Marathon, my first marathon of eight so far. Yes, I am that crazy lady you see running outside at 5:00 AM training for a marathon, or, more currently, trying to stay healthy at 22 weeks pregnant! My goal with the first marathon was to run the whole race without walking. I met that goal but wanted more as soon as I crossed the finish line. I knew I had it in me to run a faster, stronger marathon. When I signed up for the 2013 Chicago Marathon, I took my training to a new level. I started focusing on how I was fueling my body before, during and after my training runs. I did research on foods that would be best for my training goals. I started eating more whole foods and learned that what I ate after my runs was more important than what I ate before my runs. Fast forward to race day for the 2013 Chicago Marathon where I was lighter, quicker and stronger. Not to mention my finish time was 45 minutes faster than my 2012 time! I knew instantly that the reason my time was improved was because of my nutrition and thus began my journey to becoming an RD.
Not long after that second marathon, I met my husband, Benn, at a wedding in Los Angeles. Totally random and unexpected (isn't that the way they say it happens...when you least expect it?)! He was living in southern California and I was still in Chicago at the time, but we knew we were meant to be together from early on. We decided to end our long-distance relationship and begin our in-person relationship in my hometown of Memphis, where we could both go back to school for a much more affordable price than our current cities. Plus, I wanted him to spend more time with my family before we took any more big steps. If he could handle my family, he could handle anything in my opinion. I re-enrolled in The University of Memphis, but this time in their Dietetics program. I needed to complete my bachelor's degree in Dietetics before I could apply for the highly competitive Dietetic Internship that I would need to complete before I could sit for the RD board exam. For my Dietetic Internship, I was matched with The University of Memphis...I would finish my education once again as a Memphis Tiger! The great thing about this program was that it included an opportunity to complete a master's degree in Clinical Nutrition. After 16 months of intensive graduate classes, a graduate assistantship at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and 1200+ hours of supervised clinical practice, I graduated with my master's degree as well as eligibility to sit for the RD board exam. I took and passed the RD exam quickly and finally became a real-life Registered Dietitian after 4 and a half years of hard work and sacrifices! Shortly after obtaining my RD credential, I was offered a position at an outpatient Oncology clinic in Fort Collins, CO.
Which brings us to today...I am still an Oncology RD in Fort Collins and while this has been an excellent position for me, I am ready to realize my dream of working for myself. I've always loved writing and am so excited to start this blog. I see this as step one to launching my own business...eventually. I can't wait to bring my readers evidence-based information on a wide range of nutrition topics from vitamins and minerals, how to navigate the grocery store, mindful eating, metabolism, how to improve your energy through diet and exercise, hydration, and more! Disclaimer: I believe fully in clean, whole food nutrition, but I also believe that sometimes you just need a piece of pizza or a some ice cream. It's all about balance! I find that many people find food confusing and scary, but I'm here to show you that that's not the case at all!
I hope you find this blog fun and informative. I plan to one day be able to write posts based on reader requests, but I'll take this one day at a time.
Check out a pretty cute picture below of me and my husband from the day I completed my master's degree and clinical rotations! And then check out the REALLY cute picture of my dog, Winnie, with her very own regal self-portrait!
-Brittany
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