A Nutrition Career Over 20 Years in the Making
Blending dance, fitness and nutrition has always been my dream. After graduating high school I enrolled in college to become a registered dietetic technician (DTR). I loved the material and the program but did not want to work in a hospital or nursing home and those were the main career paths with that degree. I had done clinical rotations in both places and did not enjoy it. Feeling discouraged by my job opportunities and career path as a DTR, I switched majors to focus on business. I figured no matter what I did having some business courses under my belt would be beneficial. After graduation I worked in the corporate world for a few years while also accumulating multiple dance and fitness certifications. In 2013 I opened an adult dance and fitness studio in Kenmore, NY called Nickel City Dance & Fitness Center.
The COVID pandemic was another turning point for me and my career. I ended up closing my studio at the end of 2020 which was hard on me. While COVID took so much from many of us, it also gave me the time and opportunity to go back to school to pursue nutrition again. I’ve been blessed to be able to offer dance and fitness classes and now it was time to add nutrition counseling into my offerings.
This time around I chose Bauman College’s Holistic Nutrition Consultant Program because it is a science based, non-dogmatic education based on whole-foods nutrition as it contributes to the prevention of illness and the promotion of optimal health. University programs like the one I was previously in are conventional in that they follow the USDA dietary guidelines, are based upon standard dietetic and nutrition texts, and apply guidelines established by major health and medical associations. After years of following those guidelines my own health had actually deteriorated (as has much of America’s). I was dealing with stubborn weight gain, I was catching more colds and viruses, I didn’t feel vibrant and energetic, and I was experiencing hormonal issues. With the guidance of a functional medicine doctor and lots of my own outside research and reading I started implementing dietary and lifestyle changes that helped address the root causes of my complaints, and I began seeing real improvements. It was becoming clear to me how important diet and lifestyle factors were in determining overall health. Every cell in our body is built from and runs on the food and drink we consume. Our diet can be our best ally or our worst enemy and is the most powerful determinant of our overall health and wellness.
I really enjoyed the Bauman program and gained real life experience through doing research papers, case studies, working one-on-one with real clients, and teaching a nutrition education class series. I also worked as a tutor for the college and supported nutrition consultant students with assignments and questions and lead twice weekly group tutoring labs.
Since graduating from Bauman College I have become a Professional Member of the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP). NANP is the only organization that offers a board certification exam in holistic nutrition. I am proud to say that I am a Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition® (Candidate). I have passed the Board Exam and now must document client contact hours and submit case studies for review by the Board in order to have (Candidate) removed from my title.
As a holistic nutrition consultant I’m excited to help people of all ages achieve optimal health by educating and empowering them so they can live a fuller and happier life. My areas of interest and specialties include:
- Perimenopause and menopause symptoms
- Hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
- Blood sugar imbalances/insulin resistance
- Adrenal fatigue or insufficiency and the stress response
- Digestive concerns (GERD, reflux, constipation, diverticulitis)
If you are tired of dealing with hormonal issues, fatigue, weight struggles, anxiety or digestive discomfort and have gotten little to no relief from allopathic or conventional approaches you need a holistic, whole-body approach to target the root cause. If you’re not sure whether holistic nutrition consulting and wellness coaching is right for you, I encourage you to sign up for a complimentary Nourish to Flourish Strategy Session with me. We will discuss your concerns, how I may be able to help you, and I will answer any questions you have about my practice.
Please stay in touch with my journey by following Nickel City Wellness LLC on Facebook and Instagram. I will be doing a weekly “Ask the Nutritionist” series where you can e-mail your food, diet, and digestive related questions to me and I will answer one or two questions every Wednesday.
In health,
Amanda Watson
