About Lori
My Story
I used to be a processed food junkie. I ate sugary cereal for breakfast, white bread sandwiches for lunch and snacked on Swiss Cake Rolls, Doritos, and/or Bugles every day after school. Vegetables at dinner were mostly from a can.
My stomach ached constantly and I suffered from weekly headaches. I was overweight and unhappy. I attended my first Weight Watchers meeting when I was in 6th grade. By the time I started college, I was a lifetime member with an established pattern of yo-yo dieting.
For the first half of my adult years, I went through my days feeling tired, sluggish, guilty, and out of control. I lost and gained the same 20-30 pounds. After the birth of my first child, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and then Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease where your immune system attacks your thyroid.
At the same time, my baby girl had some serious gastrological issues and I was told to stop breastfeeding and give her elemental formula. Something inside of me told me that wasn’t the right solution. Instead, I took an unconventional approach and eliminated the major allergens from my diet and continued nursing. After a few weeks, every single one of her symptoms went away.
It was the first time in my life that I realized the extraordinary healing power of food.
I started thinking about diet in terms of health and began to learn about how our bodies work and understand how nutrient-dense food nourishes and fuels our cells. I unlearned everything I was taught about nutrition up to that point and was finally able to maintain a weight without “yo-yo dieting” and made peace with my body. I was fascinated and compelled to learn more so I went back to school and completely switched careers to help other women discover the power of proper nourishment and self care to optimize health.
In my early 40’s, I was diagnosed with another autoimmune disease: celiac. Even after eliminating gluten, I still was not thriving. Feeling overwhelmed and scared, I dove into the research about what could be going on with my body and how to use lifestyle changes and food – or the avoidance of certain foods – to heal. This shaped the work that I do today. I took a holistic approach to my autoimmune diseases and worked on healing my gut, restoring essential vitamins and minerals, managing stress, and figured out how to achieve a balance of living a full life.
My relationship with food is now harmonious. I enjoy eating whole foods that nourish my body and fuel my busy days. I believe eating should be an enjoyable experience that first and foremost nourishes your body with all of its goodness and healing properties. I have finally won an energy-zapping battle that I’ve been fighting since I was a child.
My passion is to help my clients achieve my hard-won balance: to give them the tools to live a joyful and fulfilling life, feeling good in their mind and in their bodies, and healing their relationship with food along the way.
I strive to empower women, men and children to live their lives with hope and zest and be active participants in their own health. Whether dealing with an autoimmune condition, digestive health issues, thyroid dysfunction, food allergies, or to prevent chronic disease, my research-backed approach teaches them how to eat, live, and be the healthiest version of themselves. And I always come back to the core principle that real, whole foods nourish our bodies and our health.
I’m a Licensed Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)
I am licensed and qualified to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy and nutrition counseling for health conditions. The Certified Nutrition Specialist is the highest of all the nutrition credentials, with the most requirements for education, experience, testing, and continuing education.
About Me
I hold a Masters of Science in Clinical Nutrition from Maryland University for Integrative Health. I received my training in holistic health coaching from the internationally recognized training program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
I am a Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN) by the Board of Dietetic Practice of the State of Maryland.
I completed a 14-month online functional nutrition certification program through FNA.
I received my certification through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP) and Continuing Education Units through the State University of New York (SUNY Purchase) as well as the Digestive Intensive Unit through the Holistic Nutrition Lab.
I also hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism and Communications from the University of Florida.
I am a Certified ServSafe® Food Protection Manager, accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ASNI).
I serve on the Advisory Board of the Celiac Disease Program at Children’s National in Washington, DC.
I am a nutrition coach for Sarana Health, a functional medicine practice providing integrated, whole-body care.
I am the mother of three children, Addie, Eva and Simon, two adorable cavalier king charles spaniels Jasper and Joey, and my husband Larry and I live in Bethesda, Maryland.
Listen to me talking about gluten and celiac disease on the “The Funk’tional Nutrition Podcast”
“Giving up gluten is the first crucial step but may not be the only step. For many people with celiac disease, following only a traditional gluten-free diet may remove a trigger, but does not necessarily heal intestinal permeability, reduce gut inflammation, or restore a damaged gut lining.”
I take an integrative, functional approach to healing through food and lifestyle. I counsel on a variety of health issues including the following:
- Autoimmune Conditions (in particular Hashimoto’s and Celiac)
- High Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Disease
- Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes
- Digestive Issues (such as IBS, SIBO, Celiac, food allergies/sensitivities)
- Thyroid Dysfunction
- Fatty Liver Disease
- Weight Control
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Adrenal Dysfunction and Cortisol Dysregulation
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Brain Fog and Fatigue
As your partner, I believe in your innate ability to heal. I will work with you to reach your health goals in areas such as healing your gut, achieving optimal weight, reducing food cravings, increasing sleep, managing stress and anxiety, eliminating brain fog, and maximizing energy.
Are you curious about how seeing me can help you?
Let’s talk. Schedule a free 15-minute introductory call with me today.