Meet Christen Kaplan

Wholistic Nutritionist, Weight Counselor

For the last 15 years I have been fascinated with how nature always seems to have it right and the dance that fitness and nutrition does so harmoniously together. I became a Certified Personal Trainer and Nutritionist in 2002 and went on to get my Medical Exercise Specialist Certification in 2004 as well as several other certifications related to nutrition, fitness and post rehabilitation. I took some time off after getting married to have my youngest two kiddos’. Shortly after having my youngest child I was offered a position with one of the top fashion houses in world and became an Education Executive for them. It was an amazing experience and one that I am thankful for. The sacrifices made cost me and my family a lot so after years selling my soul to corporate America, I knew it was time to make some changes. I went back to school again for my Holistic Nutrition Counseling Certification and Weight Management Certification.

My journey in the nutrition and fitness industry fueled my passion for helping others get fit and healthy but I also lived in an area where most people were health conscious. I wanted to do more, I needed to focus my skills on those who really needed my help, people with extreme weight issues and medical pathologies associated with being overweight. I knew it was my calling and I started specializing in working with people who were considered morbidly obese and most of these clients had serious medical circumstances that were either life threatening or would be soon if they did not make some changes in their nutritional choices and lifestyle.

I had loved ones who were fighting everyday with type 2 diabetes, heart disease, breathing problems, and immune issues, all associated with being overweight. I had family members that could not, no matter how hard they tried, win the war against the Westernized diet and portion sizes that sabotaged their health and bodies. I was tired of watching people I love and care for dying of heart disease and type 2 diabetes complications unnecessarily. I would watch my parents take a handful of pills just, so they could function on a day to day basis. One day the phone call that I prayed would never come did come and changed my family’s life forever. My dad needed to have a triple-bypass heart surgery, but the doctors were petrified to do the surgery because my dad weighed 575lbs! This was most certainly a death sentence for my father. He was type 2 diabetic, hypertensive, had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, decreased kidney function, and he could not walk more that a few steps at a time without being winded. He was not ready to die, and we were not ready for him to die.

My dad, by nothing short of a miracle, survived the surgery. I sat by his hospital bed watching this man who raised me, loved me, nurtured me and became my best friend and confidant barely breathing on his own attached to numerous tubes to help keep him alive. We prayed a lot before the surgery, after the surgery, and did not stop praying until he woke up.

My dad not only survived but he made the decision he was not going to take this second chance the God gave him and waste it. We partnered up and for the next three months I would stay in the Mid-West. I fired his dietician who thought it was a good idea to give a recovering heart patient 4000mg of sodium, (Really???) and together we would buckle down and do this together as a family. Although my dad wanted to fire me a few times he eventually learned what he needed to know about nutrition and he eventually lost 375 lbs. It took him eighteen months, but he did it! It was not easy. Lots of tears, frustration, good days, bad days and a few “colorful” words along the way but he soldiered on and did not give up. Eventually he was able to go off his diabetes meds, his blood pressure came way down, his cholesterol improved dramatically and most importantly his quality of live improved and he is living and enjoying his life with our family that he came so close to losing.

It is because of him and my clients like him that I do what I do. I personally have had my own battles with weight gain in the past and I know what it feels like to be unhealthy and I know what it feels like to be healthy. Most importantly I have walked the walk with nutrition and I know for a fact, hands down, that you can change your life, health, and body through nutrition and I am ready to take that journey with you! I hope you enjoy this blog. I would love to hear your story and please know I am here for you.

If you would like Wholistic Nutritional or Weight Management counseling please contact christen@loveawholisticlife.com.

God Bless,

Christen Kaplan