This is My Story...

Hi!

I am so happy you stopped by.

My name is Kim Cooke and I grew up here in West Michigan.  I have always been very active with dance, teaching fitness classes and lifting weights.  I taught fitness classes in college while I pursued my degree in Exercise Science from Western Michigan University. I have always believed I could exercise my way out of anything.  Until I couldn’t.

While exercise and daily movement is absolutely essential for our mind, body and spirit, there are many other factors that contribute to total wellness and feeling our best.  I knew what I ate was important but I never put any weight on it for healing purposes, What?!  I always thought I could exercise my way out of a bad diet. I continued to eat whatever I wanted and what I thought was "healthy."  I now know so much more!

It wasn’t until I began seeing changes in my late 30’s and early 40’s.  I was exercising seven days a week.  I was exhausted.  I was 20 pounds overweight. I ached all over with muscle and joint pain.  I craved more and more sugar everyday.  I was a mess and I was very confused about what was happening to me.

What really made me wake up was when my Dad was diagnosed with Dementia. He was such a happy, energetic, fit man.  I grew up with this man singing at the top of his lungs while walking uphill, on our treadmill, in the basement.  He would walk for miles on end with our dogs. How the heck did he have Dementia?  As my family cared for him over the course of 4 years and watched him decline so rapidly, I needed to know more.  What was happening to my Dad?

After my Dad passed away in March of 2022, I began to dive into books.  I began to listen to podcasts. I started following medical experts on social media. I began to read research studies. I learned about Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Health.  I even started my own personal library of resources of books written by my favorite wellness practitioners and researchers. However, that wasn’t enough.  I needed more if I wanted to start sharing this knowledge with others.  I began researching programs.  I wanted to take a class.  I wanted to gain more knowledge and earn a certification. 

For about 8 months, I researched and finally landed on one program in particular, The Nutritional Therapy Association.  I loved their curriculum.  They literally had a whole module on Blood Sugar Regulation, my obsession.  I wanted this certification so badly,  but how can I do this at age 54?  I had not been in school in over 30 years.  It was the most inspiring conversations and encouragement from our 26 year old daughter, Rylee, that gave me the courage to do it.  I enrolled into the program in September of 2023.  I graduated from the NTA on September 11, 2024.  Now, I am a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner.  My knowledge goes deep into our biology and how our bodies function.  I look at people through the Bio-Individual lens and study their unique systems and lifestyles. I look at the individual foundations and support them in order to heal, thrive and decrease chronic disease.  Along with being a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, I also work as a Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab Therapist at Trinity Heart Center.  My love of exercise and nutritional therapy has allowed me to work in the clinical setting, educating patients, in a closely monitored exercise environment.  Our lifestyles and nutritional choices are essential for longevity and aging joyfully.

I truly believe, Food is Medicine.