Here’s some hysterical and heart-warming praise from my client MT. She was as much fun to work with as she sounds. Be prepared to be entertained!

1. What were your eating habits before our work together?

Easily every doctor or nutritionist's worst nightmare: Caramel Macchiato for breakfast; turkey and cheese sandwich for lunch (if I had time); and a block of cheese or nachos for dinner (and that's only if I hadn’t eaten whatever was left around my office after a meeting).  And at Girl Scout Cookie time, there was nothing like a 9pm dinner of Thin Mints.

2. What was eating you?

I was eating the above "diet" and couldn't figure out why I had such little energy and constantly lost the battle with my alarm clock.  Also, I had made a concerted effort to exercise regularly – which is where I was lucky enough to meet Ali - and decided that if I was spending all that energy working out, it couldn't be much harder to make better nutrition choices.

3. What did you discover in our work together?

I actually like several foods I previously swore I'd never try!  At my first session, I boldly told Ali there were 3 things I wouldn't do: (1) give up coffee, (2) drink green juice, and (3) give up alcohol.  Our next meeting there was a jar of what looked like green slime sitting on the table. Ali asked me to try it. I did and said something like, "well I'm not gagging."  I then proceeded to drink the entire jar. I couldn't believe I actually liked it!  I have since replaced my morning caramel macchiato with one of Ali's green smoothies and cut my coffee intake to about twice a week.  I discovered that green smoothies woke me up better and faster than coffee in the morning and gave me a ridiculous amount of energy before I went to workout (so much so that I must have looked a little manic during those first few classes).  I had a similar experience with other foods.  For example, pre-Ali, I thought quinoa was some sort of birdseed I couldn't pronounce - now it is a weekly staple of mine.  I could go on and on.  In a nutshell, Ali helped me discover that trying new, fresh and healthier foods is just as fun as trying on a new pair of shoes or corking a new bottle of my favorite wine!

4. What are your eating habits now?

Drastically different; despite the things I said I wouldn’t do, I've cut back on the coffee, and can't go without a green smoothie (haven't given up the booze but Ali helped me find ways to be healthier with that).  Before working with Ali, I let my day and job get in the way of my health.  There were many days where I'd go without breakfast and not grab my sandwich until 3:30 because I had somehow "forgotten to eat" and at that hour, wasn't really hungry anymore.  Then, I'd go home at about 9pm and eat a block of cheese.  I was Ali's proverbial roller coaster on crack.  Ali helped me to make my health and self a top priority and something fun so I wanted to change.  Now, I never miss a meal and planning what I'm going to eat for the week is right up there on the priority list with picking out my outfits.

5. What's nourishing you?

I feel great!  I know I am putting myself first and making better choices.

6. What was the biggest unexpected perk?

Ali!  I can't say enough about her.  She is so much more than a coach or consultant and I couldn't wait to schedule my next appointment just to spend more time with her.  She is completely relatable and has a way of explaining things so that you just "get it."  She couldn't have been more supportive through the entire process and I now find myself in the grocery store thinking, "what would Ali buy?"  She always had something new for me to try and she went above and beyond her job researching and finding holistic approaches to a health problem that surfaced during our work together.  She is everything: a listener, a motivator, a counselor and a dear friend.  I was really sad when my sessions were done, but (to borrow an over-used line from the Bachelor) I am excited to continue this journey and I know that as always, Ali is just a phone call, email, or office visit away.

MT Soltis

If you want what MT is having, sign-up for my Truce with Food program. You’ll understand the power of the green smoothie and much more. Details here