As I wrote in the "About Me" section on my website, food and healing has been an important part of my life. With a doctor and a nurse as parents, health and nutrition were important in our household. Coupled with an Italian grandmother, thus began a long, strange relationship with food. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been fascinated with food. Food as comfort, food as punishment and a deprivation technique, food that heals, food that burns fat, food that increases energy, food that embodies a culture...
The list goes on. As you can see, food has been my best friend and my worst enemy. My friends in high school and college used to make fun of me because I knew all the vitamin and nutrition contents of any fruit or vegetable you put before me. My weight fluctuated. One year I was binging, the next year I was starving myself. I worked out three or four times a day, used laxatives, I developed IBS, and was diagnosed with ADHD, depression. It was exhausting for my friends to deal with, and they grew distant. I saw therapists, nothing truly helped me to love and respect my body. I was weighed every week to make sure I wasn't losing more weight, but I would put on more jewelry and layers. I was in complete and utter denial.
Denial got me nowhere. I was so obsessed with working out and my tiny meals, that at my first job out of college, my supervisor sat me down as my boss and as my friend. We decided I needed to leave to address the thing that no one, including myself, wanted to say or talk about: I had an eating disorder.
Sad, depressed, and very scared, I moved back in with Mom & Dad and got treatment. I sat back and thought about what the heck I was going to do with my life, and I certainly knew that I did not want others going through the same health problems and stress about food and body image that I went through.
I popped onto the internet, typed in nutrition and holistic health schools, and there it was, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. While also working at a mostly organic restaurant, I spent a year learning about every single dietary system out there, the food-mood connection, how to counsel others, and most of all, I learned how to heal myself.
I always knew about healthy food, but this took it to the next level. Studying the ancient healing systems such as Ayurveda, macrobiotics, and Chinese elements, alongside contemporary diets such as the Zone, raw foods, and glycemic index, PLUS getting spiritual guidance from teachers like Deepak Choprsa, Ilyanya Vanzant, and Debbie Ford filled me to the brim with positive love and energy. I learned it's not just about the food, but also about your relationships, spirituality, exercise, and career.
Founded by Joshua Rosenthal, the Institute for Integrative Nutrition is at the forefront of holistic nutrition education, offering cutting-edge training that enriches minds, careers and personal lives. Graduates of the program become agents for positive change in their families, communities, the healthcare system and beyond.
Not only did we learn, we also danced, laughed our faces off, met amazing friends over lunch breaks, and watched the most inspiring videos about food and nutrition in America.
IIN not only gave me the tools to help others, it also saved my life. The education, lifelong friends I made, and consistent support are priceless.
Whether you are considering a new career, you feel as though something is missing from your life, or you want to exponentially boost your health and happiness, please visit www.integrativenutrition.com. Mention my name (Michelle Butler class of 2007) for a great discount!
The best investment you can make is for yourself. Take it from me. I overcame an eating disorder, moved across the country, and am now living my dreams as I guide others to vibrant health. Whatever you're yearning for, don't let another day pass by without taking an action step towards your goal or dream.
And of course, if you have any questions regarding the program, please don't hesitate to email me. michelle_lee_butler@yahoo.com. Much love and gratitude,
Michelle
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