JBFit 2023: Healthy Starts Here!

Embarking on a journey toward optimal health and well-being requires not only passion but also a profound understanding of nutrition, fitness, and holistic wellness. Meet Jen, a powerhouse in the realm of health and nutrition. Armed with a diverse array of qualifications, including being a Licensed Dietician Nutritionist across multiple states, a Certified Nutrition Specialist, a Board Certified Holistic Nutritionist, a Health Coach, Personal Trainer, and a Cancer Exercise Trainer certified through the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), Jen stands out as a multifaceted expert dedicated to guiding individuals towards their health goals. Having conquered challenges such as half-marathons, triathlon sprints, bike races, and even an NPC fitness competition, Jen embodies the philosophy that maintaining fitness is not merely a destination but a continuous, goal-driven journey. In collaboration with JBFit, Jen invites you to explore a holistic approach to health and wellness, where expertise meets passion to empower individuals in achieving their fullest potential. Get ready to embark with Delivery Rank on a transformative journey guided by an extraordinary expert who not only talks the talk but walks the walk, inspiring a life of vitality and well-being.

Given your extensive educational background, including a Masters of Science in Applied Clinical Nutrition, and your current enrollment of a Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition degree, how do you integrate the latest scientific research into your practice as a Licensed Dietician Nutritionist and Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner?

Integrating the latest scientific research can only be accomplished by constantly reading and staying informed.  This is one of the reasons I am now pursuing my Doctorate degree because I want to ensure that I am only ever providing the most relevant information that is useful and accurate.  My patients deserve science-backed recommendations that I can find to help with their goals.  For nutrition recommendations, I like to do a lot of research and figure out the root cause of any symptoms or complaints that may be experienced.  I never want to mask a problem but try to find the cause of the issues which can only be accomplished if we take the time to properly research.  Treating each person as an individual is also important, you cannot assume what worked for one patient will work for another.  Each patient is a case study and you always start from scratch, even if there are similarities.

With certifications in Health Coaching, Personal Training, and Cancer Exercise Training, how do you tailor your nutrition recommendations to complement individualized exercise programs for clients with different health goals or medical conditions?

Listening! The most important and effective part of what I do is hearing my clients’ goals and finding what is important to them.  Meeting my patients where they are and finding strategies to help support them through challenging circumstances or difficult changes.  Dietary changes can be very difficult, but you do not need to make 5 changes at one time.  Some people need to focus on one or two changes at a time so creating a realistic plan is important.  As a personal trainer, whether for weight loss or cancer support, I must be always listening.  If my client feels something does not feel right then it is my job to adjust and find another way to make it work. This is true for personal training and as a dietician, otherwise, you are doing your patients and clients a disservice.

As a practitioner with licenses in multiple states, how do you stay informed about and navigate the varying regulations and guidelines in each jurisdiction to ensure compliance in your practice?

Staying informed and checking the various changes within each State is necessary to stay compliant. Fortunately, each state’s licensing board hosts a website with regulations and guidelines that are available to the public that I periodically review to remain informed. These same boards host meetings open to the public that I may attend occasionally to help keep me current on any changes that may have occurred.   There are also emails occasionally sent out by these licensing boards and the state representatives from the states I am licensed contain information about the specific licenses I currently hold. Another way I keep informed is by my credentialing board and governing organization, the Board of Certified Nutrition Specialists (BCNS- credentialing board) and the American Nutrition Association (ANA- governing organization), which are leaders in helping Certified Nutrition Specialists (CNSs) stay up-to-date and compliant through emails, their website and their social media outlets. Additionally, I have a unique background working as a paralegal before starting my health and wellness career as a Licensed Clinical Nutritionist and Personal Trainer, which has helped me in many areas, including interpreting state laws and basic business forms and filings which were very useful when starting my business.

With a background in Exercise Science, how do you collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as physicians or physical therapists, to create a holistic approach to your clients' health and wellness?

I believe the best I can do for my clients or patients is to stay within my scope of practice and to communicate with their physicians with written permission from my patients.  I have forms to help me gather as much information as my client’s healthcare professionals are willing to share.  I have found that many doctors and therapists are willing to provide areas for me to focus on and precautions, you just have to ask!  Never be afraid to advocate for your clients or patients.  The information obtained in the forms can be very valuable for the goals of your client and can help with formulating an effective plan whether that includes the fitness side or for clinical dietitian recommendation.  One example would include times when I was working with patients who were heading into knee replacement surgery, communication with their orthopedist was very important before surgery and again once released from physical therapy, the therapist can help provide precautions for your client.  You cannot provide a holistic approach without being open and willing to communicate. 

With a diverse skill set encompassing Health Coaching, Personal Training, and Nutrition Specialization, how do you create personalized and sustainable wellness plans that empower clients to make lasting lifestyle changes?

This is a great question! When I meet with an individual and they present their needs or long-term goals, I will keep that in mind but I also think that it can be very daunting and overwhelming so setting smaller short-term goals can be very exciting to accomplish.  This can create confidence which is very empowering and can help with making changes one goal at a time.

If you would like to find out more about JBFit, visit https://www.jbfit.training/