Nutritional Therapy?? I thought you were a pharmacist?!?
Well, I was! Technically, I still am (licensed in Canada and all up to date on my continuing education units!) So why the switch? Most of you probably know my story, but for those of you that have somehow stumbled upon this newbie’s blog – let’s catch up!
I had been working in the health care system as a pharmacist for nearly 20 years (I graduated when I was 9 😉 ) when my husband was offered a dream job in the Seattle area. We certainly weren’t looking for a huge life change, we had just finalized plans to build our dream house, both our families lived nearby and we enjoyed a close circle of friends – but after a lot of discussion and sleepless nights, we decided to take the leap and I hung up my lab coat, joining the ranks of the unemployed.
Initially, I fully intended to write the myriad of exams that would allow me to practice pharmacy in the States. Having spent the first 6 months reviewing subjects I hadn’t thought about since pharmacy school (I’m talking to you Organic Chemistry!), I soon realized that maybe the fact that I was dragging my feet in applying to write the exams was evidence that I really didn’t feel excited about returning to the dispensary. What I had, though, was an opportunity to pursue a whole new passion!! The only catch was that I had to figure out what that passion was.
I’ve always loved the sciences and learning about what makes us humans tick, it’s kinda my comfort zone at this point. I also knew that my interest in all things food runs a lot higher than the average person who is just trying to get a meal slapped together at the end of the day. I first started eating Paleo about 9 years ago when it was introduced to me through my Crossfit gym. I’ve gone back and forth, tinkered with a more Primal style of Paleo, tried Keto and intermittent fasting. Sometimes I was consistent and sometimes I was very inconsistent – but I knew from my own experience that a whole food, nutrient dense diet was a key foundation to health and vitality. One of my biggest frustrations as a pharmacist was seeing people come to the counter to pick up their prescriptions for diabetes, heart disease etcetera and then seeing the junk they had in their grocery carts!
Combining these two interests led me to looking at different Nutrition programs. I was feeling pretty defeated since most were very expensive and wouldn’t recognize the pre-requisites I completed all those many moons ago. I didn’t want to go into debt and I DEFINITELY didn’t want to repeat Biology or English 101! But the biggest reason I kiboshed these programs was that the curriculum offered in most of them didn’t align with my personal beliefs regarding nutrition. Finally, I came across the website for the Nutritional Therapy Association and I thought “WOW – This is exactly what I’ve been looking for!” Being the over thinker that I am, I talked myself out of it several times. I have no experience in creating and fostering a business – how could I possibly make it work? But I kept coming back to that website and, finally, took the leap.
My hope in pursuing this area of study is to educate and empower people to be proactive, not reactive, with their health and to encourage clients and other health care professionals to see proper nutrition as the first step in optimizing wellness. I want to be a part of creating a positive shift in the healthcare system where people don’t just survive, they thrive.
Next time – We talk Nutrition and what makes the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner program different!! See you soon!