Here’s Where It All Started

Hi! I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve really enjoyed building Topflight Performance Nutrition and sharing it with you. I figure now it’s time I finally share how it all started and why the work I do here matters so much to me. For a long time, I possessed a passion for food, nutrition, and athletics. But for many years, I didn’t even know it. This story is about how I came to find that passion and turn it into something that can help others.

I grew up in a rural town of Idaho. It was small, quiet, and quite frankly, sometimes boring. So, when you’re a young kid with an overload of energy and not a lot to do, your parents put you in sports. It started out as city league baseball and soccer. I suppose for some parents and kids, it was a way to burn up that extra energy and make some friends. But for me it stuck. When I got into middle school, I asked my parents to sign me up for track and field and softball, two sports they had very little knowledge or experience with. So, despite their surprise that I even knew what those activities were, they sent me to try-outs. Let me paint you a picture: I was probably the shortest girl on both teams and was so small I looked like I would blow away in the wind. Not exactly a coach’s first pick. But hey, at that age they let anyone participate. I also had some attitude (probably too much if you asked my parents). Growing up with 3 siblings, and brothers who wrestled and played football, I had an interesting perspective on what “tough” was and I just wanted to prove I could do anything the boys could do. So, in efforts to fulfill that expectation, I signed myself up to run the hurdles, the 100-meter sprint and the high jump. It took weeks before I could get my tiny, short legs over those hurdles. Honestly, as I look back on it, I’m surprised I didn’t quit. All the other girls were outperforming me by a long-shot, and I wasn’t exactly the most popular so the looks when I knocked over the hurdle (many times) were not exactly friendly. The high jump was also a fun adventure. Stature was not exactly on my side and I was told to give up because I was too small. However, I loved competing (even though I never came in first) and I loved seeing what my body was capable of. So, I kept working and saw the rewards of that hard work. Eventually, I was no longer finishing races near the back of the pack but was in the front group. I even made it over the high jump bar… once. But I still made it! In high school I made the varsity softball team as a freshman, so I of course instantly thought softball was my destiny (lol). But then I made the soccer team and loved it even more. I loved playing, I loved moving, and I loved going home, win or lose, knowing that I gave it my all.

Let’s fast forward. I did not go on to play college sports. Shocker. What I did do was begin pursuing another deep interest of mine, healthcare. I went to college to become a Surgical Technologist (CST) and after graduation, hopped the border and settled in Utah. For nearly 10 years I worked in Operating Rooms throughout the state assisting in various surgeries such as orthopedic, sports medicine (my favorite), general, OB/GYN, etc. I loved it! And at times I do still miss it. But I can’t say I was passionate about it. While in the OR, I saw many conditions and diseases that could have been prevented with proper lifestyle changes. This inspired me to go back to school and study preventative care. After only two years as a CST I moved to Logan, UT and enrolled at Utah State University, home of the Aggies (still one of my favorite places on this earth). Long-story short I went the rounds trying to pick a major. I started out in general nutrition, then pre-med for a good chunk of time, but then ultimately landed back to nutrition, specifically dietetics. I dual majored, completed an internship, and graduated with honors in Dietetics and Human Movement Science. Then I sat for the RD exam, which still gives me nightmares, and became an official Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. While all this craziness was going on, I met and married my best friend and husband (A). He has supported every wild idea I’ve ever had, even this one, and is a major reason why I’m even sitting here writing this out. Together, we moved from logan to Salt Lake City and I got my first job working as an outpatient Dietitian. I have since worked in the outpatient setting for several years and have loved it!

During this entire academic journey, sports never left me. I dove deeper into new hobbies and became an avid skier, competing in novice freestyle competitions, runner and mountain biker. Sports now had a recreational meaning and became an outlet for me. But that didn’t mean I didn’t want to perform at my highest level. So, the love of nutrition and physical activity came together. I should add that like many teenage and college girls, I struggled somewhat with body image in those early years which caused my nutrition to suffer. That all changed for me when I started taking my nutrition and performance seriously and focused less on my body size. My performance significantly improved. I was injured less often, could train more efficiently, was getting stronger, had more energy, and found a deep appreciation for my body. By the time I was ready to take on my first triathlon, I had found the passion I had been looking for. It was to use food and nutrition to help me and you perform at the absolute highest level we are capable of. Why? Well, there’s no way to really describe that feeling of pushing the limits, running faster, riding stronger, feeling your body move, and setting new personal records. All I know, is that the journey to reaching for your full potential is unlike anything else. And I promise good nutrition helps you get there.

A and I decided we should continue to pursue what we were passionate about. So, I continued to pursue and develop my skills as a sports dietitian, and he began studying to become a pilot. His story is also a fun one if you ever have the chance to ask him about it. But basically, we joined the U.S. Navy and A was selected to become a Naval Aviator (which is a really cool way of saying pilot for the Navy). This was a huge change for us, and I could probably write a whole post just about that (maybe someday I will). We’re still pretty early in that adventure but we’re so excited to see where it takes us and our family. As we began adjusting to military life, and with the support of A, I decided it was time launch my practice. And thus, Topflight Performance Nutrition was born.

These adventures, including starting my own practice and joining the military, have been a ride; getting to meet new people all over the country, helping others sharpen their nutrition, and improving their performance. What kind of ride you may ask? One worth taking over and over again.