If you asked me at 31 if I would go to a nutritionist, I'd ask you why I needed one. Little did I know, Jonna would help me in ways that doctors and therapy could not help me. I had been diagnosed with hypothyroidism which turned to Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I was already going to a ton of doctors for various reasons (stress and anxiety disorder and chronic migraines) and therapy to deal with everything. Thankfully, my therapist knew there was more help I could get and recommended me to see a nutritionist. I was hesitant because I already have many food allergies and don't do well with diets. Finally, I came to terms with the significant weight I saw on the scale and decided to try my chances with a nutritionist. What's the worst that could happen?
Exactly one week before my 32nd birthday, I had my initial consultation with Jonna and I have to say, I walked out of there so happy and excited to go on this journey. Jonna took her time to listen to everything happening, recorded my scale numbers, and said she could absolutely help me. She was so incredibly friendly and personable and not the least bit judgmental. I instantly felt comfortable with her and was able to be open and honest about everything, including when I would indulge on sweets or things I was supposed to be eliminating.
My amazing journey with Jonna started December 29th, 2017 and here we are February 2021 and I am still working with her. Since the start of my journey, I have found foods that trigger responses in me, such as gluten and dairy, have changed my eating habits, have gotten back into exercising and most importantly holding myself accountable. She is much more understanding of life than I am and she reminds me that it's okay to slip as long as we get back up and continue moving forward. I have been able to get a handle on my eating habits and a healthier lifestyle that I have put my Hashimoto's into remission and lost weight. I still see her once every two weeks and I absolutely look forward to telling her everything, the good, bad, and ugly. I honestly would not know what I do now about food, lifestyle, and exercise if it was not for taking the leap to begin seeing a nutritionist, and I am forever grateful that it was Jonna.
I met Jonna Morales- Thompson at a women’s health information session and I knew then I needed to go the next step with her. I had been wanting to lose weight and be healthier. I set up a consultation with her and after a short time I knew she could help me learn about healthy eating and exercise. Jonna is so kind and knowledgeable about her field of work. As a result of her guidance and encouragement I have lost weight and now also work out more then I had been. She gave me the information I needed for a healthier way of life.
When my wife asked me what I wanted for Christmas last year I said: “A nutritionist”. Thankfully we chose Jonna Morales-Thompson…the best gift for my health and wellness that I have ever received!
With Jonna by my side I have significantly improved my health and completely changed the way I approach diet, exercise and wellness. Jonna is highly dedicated to me and is a trusted partner as I work to achieve my goals. She is honest and direct without making me feel bad. Her suggestions are practical and tailored to fit my lifestyle. She holds me accountable, and has taught me that ultimately, I have to hold myself accountable.
Jonna conducted a very thorough health assessment that provided me a comprehensive baseline and starting point to set goals in numerous areas – weight, BMI, muscle mass, body age, etc. Thanks to Jonna I quickly identified several bad habits from over 20+ years of working, commuting, traveling and raising a family – eating late at night; stress eating; social eating; eating when I’m not hungry; drinking too much coffee; poor sleep hygiene; not eating well or exercising regularly when I travel for work – and over the course of several weeks I replaced them with positive, healthy habits. I still eat foods I like, I enjoy social situations, while making better choices and feeling a lot less guilt!
Jonna takes a holistic and practical approach to health and wellness, looking at the whole person, and identifying strategies and solutions that work with my lifestyle. She did research on my specific health issues to ensure any changes in diet, supplements, etc. would address these issues while being complimentary with prescription medications and my doctor’s advice.
I’ve learned how to better manage social situations; eat healthier during stressful situations; make better food choices and exercise more when I am traveling; and find pockets of time when I can exercise even when my work/family/social schedule is cram-packed. I now have a framework for how to approach my day, and I’m much more intentional about my food choices, and how and when I exercise. I’ve even improved my breathing, and adjusted my desk/chair at work, which has improved my posture.
The results have been impressive and sustainable: weight loss (nearly 20 pounds, with about 8-10 to go); more energy throughout the day; more muscle mass, less body fat; better sleep habits; less shoulder and neck pain; a better routine when I travel.
When I have a bad day, or even a bad week, I have the confidence and discipline to go back to my framework, get back on course, and not spiral out of control (which is what happened with diet and weight loss programs in the past). Not only have I lost the weight, but I’ve kept it off for 8 months, and feel confident I will achieve my goal weight and will be able to maintain it in the long-term.
Thank you Jonna, for being my nutritionist, my coach, my partner in health!
While going through the program I became acutely aware of the foods that I ate and how they affected me physically and emotionally. As someone who has tried various weight loss programs and who has lost and then gained back the weight plus some, I was looking for a program that would help me to develop a healthy life style and control my weight. The sessions were structured in a manner that allowed me to actively participate in recognizing and deciding on the activities and foods that worked best for me. With your guidance I am now much more conscious of what I eat and why I yearn for and eat certain foods. Armed with this new awareness I no longer focus on losing weight, but on living right, I am committed to a healthy lifestyle. I review our session notes often, plan my meals and make time for regular exercise. I want to thank you for caring and sharing, you have provided me with the tools and the rules, I use them every day and I know that because of the knowledge gained from our sessions I now enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
It's been some weeks since our last session and this week I have been reviewing my notes and recalling those "light bulb" moments. I just want you to know that our sessions together have been a life changing experience. I came into the sessions expecting to become fully versed in everything healthy and nutritious to eat. For most of my life my weight had always been a major issue. What I came away with was so much more. I am now in possession of a deep and undeniable understanding of the behaviors that drive my attitude towards not only food but living in general. One of the major facts that came home to me was how important every aspect of our life is towards the fulfillment of a complete life. Your sensitive and insightful guidance helped me unearth and face many of the deep seated and sometimes uncomfortable emotions that affected not only my physical but emotional well being. With knowledge comes understanding and with true understanding comes power. I carry our enlightening and thought provoking sessions with me and thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing with me the tools that are helping me everyday achieve my personal best.
After this program I have become much more aware of what I eat daily. I no longer eat any junk food, my diet has improved considerably, and so has my overall health. I do not purchase anything at the supermarket without reading labels for sodium, cholesterol and fat content. As a result I do not need as much medication to maintain my blood pressure normal. I have increased the amount of time I exercise, and I meditate more; both have helped to reduced stress. Overall, I am a happier and healthier person.
