I was a science educator with the NYC Board of Education for over 25 years and for many years have been an advocate of integrative and holistic practices to improve my own lifestyle and health. Through my journey to achieving and maintaining a substantial weight loss (over 100 pounds) and good health, I have incorporated into my life a variety of holistic practices, including physical, spiritual, and emotional disciplines in my daily routines. I have experienced the powerful effects of transformation through rebirthing, Rubenstein synergy, Feldenkreis, energy therapy, hypnotherapy, meditation, and 12-step programs. I hold a BS from Cornell University in addition to doing extensive graduate work at the Cornell Graduate School of Nutrition, Columbia University, and Hunter College. I am certified by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in NYC, together with Columbia Teachers' College, where I received my training to practice Health Counseling. The Institute for Integrative Nutrition is the only nutrition school integrating all the different dietary theories—combining the knowledge of traditional philosophies with modern concepts like the USDA food pyramid, the glycemic index, the Zone and raw foods. I am also certified by the American Association for Drugless Practitioners. 

To tell you a bit of my personal journey, after my divorce back in 1984, I went on the antidepressant Elavil, and just seemed to have a disconnect between my body and my mind. Somehow, I thought I could eat anything I wanted without any effect. Suffice it to say, I ballooned up to over 240 pounds, having started at about 132 pounds. I couldn’t even bend over to tie my shoe laces. At the time, my children (twins) were 9 years old.

The second spring after my divorce, I took my children and myself on a vacation to Williamsburg, VA. One afternoon, we stopped at a MacDonalds and I ordered the works, including a large milk shake. All of a sudden, my son started crying hysterically and told me he didn’t want me to die. Needless to say, I was devastated and knew I had to do something. I made a resolve to look into weight loss programs when I returned home.

As luck would have it, (synchronicity?), when I got home, there, in my mailbox, was a unique advertisement for a group called “Metamorphosis”. This group claimed to have a unique program for weight loss. The advertisement just drew me in and I called and made an appointment. Once there, I decided to pursue the program. The unique aspect about it was that it combined both emotional and physical aspects of obesity, which I had never heard of before. I was hooked. By this time, I was off the antidepressant.

Once I began attending, it was an eye opening experience. We had both group and individual meetings where we bared our souls. We were told about nutrition, but basically, we had the responsibility to make up our own food plans. We had to make a contract with ourselves on a weekly basis as to what we were going to do. Needless to say, I took the easiest way out at first, my first contract being to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. After that, I took responsibility for other aspects of my food, such as fruits and vegetables, fats and carbohydrates. We were told not to look at the scale with horror or fear, but just as a piece of information, telling us how our eating of the previous week affected us. Of course, the scale would reflect our eating behavior. In addition, we were made cognizant of “issues” in our life that may have been contributing to our eating behaviors. This was a huge component and key to my later success.

I lost quite a bit of weight, but because I dealt with the aforementioned issues without the help of an anti-depressant, it proved a very anxiety provoking time. One of the things the director told us was that the key to losing weight was the ability to be uncomfortable and not have all the answers; to wait until things unfold and bear the anxiety in the meantime. This bit of advice was crucial.

When I left, my weight was down to 170 pounds, from 240 pounds. However, I couldn’t seem to get below that. I decided that it was an OK weight for me and I would live with it. At one point, the director had me close my eyes and tell her what came up for me at each weight she mentioned. She started at 170 pounds and went down in 5 pound increments. The lower I got the more I pictured myself as sexually powerful and the more afraid I became. Obviously, this was one thing that was preventing me from getting below 170 pounds.

For quite some time, I stayed at 170 pounds. Finally, I started to gain weight again and got scared. At that point, I started attending Overeater’s Anonymous, and learned that there were 3 components to my inability to lose weight – the physical, the emotional and the spiritual. By working the 12 steps, clearing out my life and changing my food plan to where it included no wheat or dairy and included reasonable portion sizes, I was able to drop to 137 pounds and keep that weight.

I still attend this program, because for me, I am a food addict and I eat for emotional reasons. Unless I keep up with the program, I am liable to relapse, which I don’t want to do. I have been this weight, more or less, for the past 7 years, and am so grateful that I found my way.

Attending the Institute for Integrative Nutrition has finished off my education regarding eating, stress, emotions, and nutrition. I have learned so much and would love to help others to find this same well-being and health

For more information about my education, please go to www.integrativenutrition.com.