Hi! I’m Nicole and I am a Registered and Licensed Dietitian! I work as a renal dietitian in several dialysis clinics in central Ohio and run a nutrition practice, Mid Ohio Nutrition Specialists, with 2 other RD’s on the side. As of recently, I am also a college nutrition instructor. I specialize in diabetes, weight management, renal disease, and bariatrics. I live in Columbus, OH with my husband (Mark), puppy (Lily), and snake (Pinky). I am originally from Chicago – GO CUBS! I enjoy playing ice-hockey, running, cooking, and reading. Oh, and wine — Chianti, preferred 
My “story” is probably different from most dietitians, and it goes something like this. Since a very young age (practically birth, according to my mother), I was overweight. I was happy, smart, and had the most of supportive family and friends a girl could ask for. The ONE thing I battled was my weight. At 14 I went to my first of many Weight Watchers meetings. My leader’s name was JoAnn, and she was a saint. To this day, I can quote many of JoAnn’s sayings. Over the course of several months, I dropped from my highest weight of 190 lbs to 142 lbs. At 142 lbs, I was wearing a pair of size 6 Gap khakis and I thought I looked great. Having such success at the scale, I ditched Weight Watchers with the intention of going the distance on my own — down to my goal of 115lbs. Needless to say, this didn’t happen. With my new-found physique and uplifted confidence, old habits slipped back into action. Before long, I was back at Weight Watchers (with JoAnn), admitting defeat. I needed accountability. And JoAnn.
While my first 50 lbs just about melted off me, I eventually hit a plateau and dieting was not enough. I required exercise to continue losing. So, I joined a gym within walking distance of both my high school and my home. Every day after school, religiously, I went to the gym. I would workout anywhere from 1-2 hours a day. I also joined my high school cross-country team and the boy’s ice-hockey team. While cross-country was a struggle, it increased my endurance drastically and sparked my love for running. Ice-hockey, however, created some social turbulence, to say the least. High school boys don’t really fancy the idea of being on the team with the girl. Hockey and I, however, were a match made in heaven (I was a former figure-skater for 10+ years) and I play on a weekly basis to this day.
During my junior year of high school, 1 year and 1 week into my weight-loss journey, I had met my goal. I weighed 115 lbs, down 75 pounds. I felt great, I looked great, and JoAnn even had a tiara I wore for the occasion. And you’d better believe mom was sitting in the front row taking pictures. I can remember what I was wearing, even though I haven’t seen that picture in YEARS.
After my weight-loss journey, I had no doubt in my mind that I wanted to enter into the nutrition and health field. I ended up at the University of Illinois at Champaign, majoring in Food Science and Human Nutrition, Dietetics option (an approved Didactic Program in Dietetics), with a minor in Chemistry. During my four glorious years on campus, I played club ice-hockey and met the love of my life (awww!). And did I mention working for Weight Watchers? Yep, that’s right. JoAnn was my rock and I wanted to provide that support for others. I lead Weight Watchers meetings for 2 years during college and my meetings were a great success.
I went on to complete my master’s in Nutrition and Wellness while simultaneously completing my Dietetic Internship and a thesis at Benedictine University, graduating in December of 2008. I passed my RD exam in March of 2009 after a LOT of intense months of studying!
I have completed 4 half-marathons and 2 full marathons (PR 4:07:09), and I look forward to completing some distance races in the future!
I started this blog as a way to stay “up to date” in nutrition as I was undergoing a job search in a poor economy. I fell in love with the blog community and have found this to be such a rewarding activity. I hope to inspire, teach, and humor those nutrition and health guru’s out there, and in the process, to form some great friendships and to learn a thing or two, too!
Disclaimer: I am a dietitian, not a perfect person or consumer. I sometimes struggle with my weight and body image like a lot of people. While this is something I strive to better, I do believe health is about much more than weight or inches but about happiness and balance, and achieving a person I love and admire.
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I love mail! Question? Comment? Send it over to me at Nicole@midohionutrition.com
If you are seeking nutrition consultation, please visit my business website, Mid Ohio Nutrition Specialists, for upcoming programming and information on phone/email consultation.
I receive lots of emails daily. Please allow 48 hours for a response! Thank you!
Thanks for reading!
![Photo](http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy280/preventionrd/webshotcopy.jpg?t=1302742583"V")
I love the new site boo bear! You’re doing great things and I’m very impressed with your creativeness and motivation. Keep it up!
-Your Boo
i love your blog!! i just found it and find your story amazing
cant wait to read more
xoxo
shelley
http://findinghappinessandhealth.wordpress.com
Great story!!! You should be so proud of yourself!!!! Congrats on the marathons too!! That rocks!!! Go Cubs!! My fiance is from Chicago!! We love it there!! Going there for New Years!! Happy Holidays to you!!!!!!
SO glad I came across your blog! I have always dreamed of being an RD! Cannot wait to add you to my blogroll and start reading!
Great Marathon PR girl !
I like this section! I ran cross country in high school too. It changed my life. What marathons did you do? I’ve done several, but none of them as fast as you!
Wow! Your story is amazing! You’re an inspiration!
Hi Nicole. After I e-mailed you in response to your comment on MY blog, I realized that you too have a blog. And a very nice one at that!! It is nice to see that there are other dietitians out there that think as I do about weight loss. Unlike you, I was never overweight, but I remember being AFRAID of becoming overweight. You have done a beautiful job with your site, and you offer others a valuable service. Right on, girl!
Great story!
You should be so proud!!
I like the bottom part “I do believe health is about much more than weight or inches but about happiness and balance, and achieving a person I love and admire.” I totally agree with that.
So glad you found my blog!!
Great story. Looking forward to reading your blog.
I love love love your story (its similar to my own). I cannot wait until the day I can finally say that I too am a REGISTERED DIETICIAN. Because that will mean I’m done with school (for a while). Phew.
Nicole – we are very similar! I struggled with my weight through high school, was a competitive figure skater for 12 years, skated in college (Miami of Ohio), gaining even more weight (freshman 15++), and have made various life changes in the 10 years since then. Still not at my completely happy place, but working on it with a positive attitude! Looking forward to sharing stories!
I enjoy your blog! I love Chi-town. I live in Maine but have visited my boy’s family several times.
I am on Weight Watchers right now. I just started 2 weeks ago. I like it so far and started a blog for accountability. I just started my blog– its pretty boring however I am getting a camera soon!
WOW, what an amazing story!
That was a wonderful story, you’ve come a long way! Your website is very insightful and I enjoy browsing through it.
I had a small weight issue which had to do with me eating nothing but chocolate and cookies and being very sedentary. But I decided to change all that over a year ago and have now evolved into a vegan, who spends all her days cooking up healthy recipes. I have a blog called UnReFiNeD http://nocrapdiet.wordpress.com that focuses on eating a healthy diet the right way, with a bunch of tips, picturse and recipes. I’d like to know if you could add it to your blogroll, if you like it.
Thanks and keep up the great work!
Such an amazing story! I love your determination. I something find it hard to keep myself motivated to work out. I love eating healthy–that’s not my problem but for some reason it’s hard for me to go to the gym! I recently started getting in Yoga which I love. Thanks for sharing. I’m glad I found your blog : )
xo
Jocelynn
Your blog is awesome! I just found it! I just created my own blog a few weeks ago
Wants2bfit.wordpress.com
I am a Southern transplant too! Moved to Houston from Indiana (my husband is a HUGE Cubs and Bears fan!).
I didn’t see that you’re from Chicago and a cubs fan. Maybe one of these years we’ll figure it out.
Oh my gosh…I am so inspired by this story!! Thanks for posting on my blog so I could come find YOU! This is GREAT!!!
Just found your blog!!! Definitely great because I am a freshmen majoring in dietetics!! Do you know of any other blogs like yours/other RD’s that have blogs? Love learning more!!
That’s wonderful! Where are you going to school?? Always love hearing from nutrition students!
Other RD blogs I follow:
http://nutrfoodtrvl.blogspot.com/
http://candidrd.blogspot.com/
http://swankyrd.wordpress.com/
http://eatingrd.com/
http://weeklybite.com/
Hope to “see” you around! Off to check out your blog
I just stumbled upon your blog! I am so excited that I did!! You live in Tulsa!!?? That is where I am from. I lived there until I was 19 and decided to move to Sweden and then recently, Charlotte, NC. I will definitely be following along with your blog. Best Wishes!
Wow! You’ve been around! We really like Tulsa…it’s a much slower pace from Chicago and a great place to start a marriage
Helps that we both love our jobs, too! Thanks so much for stopping by…I look forward to “seeing” you around 
Hey girl! I’m so happy that you came across my blog because I’m really enjoying yours so far =) It’s so great to come across bloggers who are dietitians because I am ALWAYS looking to learn more about health/nutrition. I look forward to following you!
I’m graduating from U of I in May!! Can’t wait. I took FSHN 120 and wanted to change majors just last semester. Haha.
Wow your PR marathon time is awesome! Congrats.
I love chianti wine too
Wow..cool you play hockey! My hubby plays on a co-ed team and I enjoy watching the girls kick butt!
Love your site, will definitely be back to read more!!
http://happinessiswithin.wordpress.com/
Hey girl! I’m so happy that you came across my blog because I’m really enjoying yours so far =) It’s so great to come across bloggers who are dietitians because I am ALWAYS looking to learn more about health/nutrition. I look forward to following you!
+1
You are an interesting person…. enjoy your life and keep up the good work.
Hey there, nice to meet you! We just found your blog, and love your weight loss success. Becoming RD’s is one of our aspirations
Hi! I just came across your blog and love your recipes. I have already tried one out and *loved* it. I look forward to reading more!
Megan, thanks for your comment! I’m so glad you’re enjoying some of the recipes I’ve tried!!
Hope to “see you around”!!
Hi! Very inspiring! Let me introduce myself. I’m Henry, a rd wannabe! I have been interested with nutrition and dietetic. Even for it, i have create a blog too! please pay visit to my blog at wordpress (if you could, why don’t you promote it ;p)! anyway, please support me senior! i have long way to go! thanks
I just found your blog! I love learning about nutrition…I just wish I was better at actually following the information. I absolutely love your blog and can’t wait to try some of the recipes! Thanks for sharing your knowledge, it’s very much appreciated!
Hi, nice to meet you !
This actually answered my downside, thanks!
love your story and your disclaimer! so happy you commented so i can follow you now, too!
Hey! Found your blog on The Nest where I lurk and I just love it. Great health and fitness advice as well as healthy recipes….perfect!
Thanks for sharing your story! I look forward to reading more!
You’re in Ohio?? Me too!
Just found your blog by googling “whole wheat blueberry muffins.” Enjoyed reading your story and look forward to enjoying your site!
Thank you!
I just came across your blog after reading “My Kitchen Adventures”.. (for the protein pancakes!). And I’m so glad I did. I’m 18, just graduated from high school, and am attending Ohio State in the fall! I am entering their honors Nutrition program and couldn’t be more excited! I hope we can keep in touch; it’d be great to know somebody in Columbus with similar passions as mine.
By the way, your recipes look great!
Congratulations! There are lots of local RD’s and bloggers, we’ll have to catch up! Thanks for reading!
I just stumbled upon your website through your comment on another blog! The reason you caught my attention was because of the ‘RD’! I’m actually venturing back to school for a second undergrad degree (the first was a BA) in Applied Human Nutrition, hoping to get the internship and become a dietitian after that. Your story is truly amazing.
I don’t know how you balanced getting your masters while doing an internship and writing your thesis…seriously, do tell! lol I look forward to finding more out about you through your blog!
Thank you for your sweet comment! I love what I do, and I would recommend the profession to anyone! My internship was unique – it was Tuesday-Friday during the day and we had classes at night. It was busy, but doable
I wish you all the luck in the world – let me know if you have any questions or anything I can help with!
I found your blog when looking for a healthy crock pot chicken taco recipe. I saw your picture and actually recognized you! We were both on theknot.com Chicago board back in 2009 and you gave me inspiration for my invitations. Now you’re giving me inspiration on weight loss (a never-ending battle) and eating healthy. What’re the odds? Keep up the good work!
Wow! Small world!! Thanks for your sweet comment, Gina…and thanks for reading
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I am so glad I found your blog! It is so inspirational! I am currently an undergrad senior in nutrition and dietetics and my journey to the field is similar to yours! I love coming across RD blogs and cannot wait to keep up with yours!
Thanks, Mariah!
Excellent!! Absolutely wonderful blog. Cannot wait to try your recipes. Your story is an inspiration, and I can relate. Now, I need to turn your inspiration into my own personal action!
XOXO,
Megs
I absolutely love this blog! I once again had the same resolutions for the new year with lack of motivation. I found awesome recipes and your story gives me the motivation I lacked, thank you!!!!!!
Thanks, Ronda! We all need a little motivation sometimes…glad you found some here! And thanks for giving me some, too!