Read about me in Washington Post
I received my training to practice Holistic Health Counseling at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) in 2005. IIN is the only nutrition school integrating all the different dietary theories—combining the knowledge of traditional philosophies with modern concepts like the USDA food pyramid, the glycemic index, the Zone and raw foods.
As a certified Holistic Health Counselor (HHC), I inspire clients to create the life they desire by forming a new relationship with food, health and well being.
I also received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Coastal Carolina University and worked in Human Resource Management for seven years where I motivated individuals and groups to create meaningful and lasting changes. I saw first hand how healthy employees contribute to the success of an organization. I now deliver wellness workshops to groups and organizations, give healthy cooking classes, in addition to providing individual and small group nutrition and lifestyle counseling.
As a wife and a mother of two little boys, I apply the principles of 'Simple Well Being' to my own family. I am an avid gourmet cook and an ardent follower of Vinyasa Yoga. I was a three time Icelandic National Champion in Gymnastics and represented Iceland in many International tournaments. I am also a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners (AADP). I integrate my fitness, psychology & nutrition background paving the way for my clients to balance mind, body and spirit and to set the stage for the rest of their lives.
For more information about my education, please go to www.integrativenutrition.com.
Testimonials
Working with Linda has been life changing! She quickly helped me establish my nutritional goals and began helping me meet them in interactive sessions that were both challenging and enjoyable. Linda is a wealth of knowledge on nutrition and healthy living, I've learned so much in the 4 months that we've been working together. She is enthusiastic and motivating - and her cooking classes are fantastic! - Caroline Daggit, Bethesda, MD
What do you do if you struggle to get to your desired weight or fitness goal after several attempts? You call in a pro to help get you on track and hold you accountable to your goals.
Prior to working with Linda of Simple Well Being I struggled with my diet and nutrition to get down to my goal weight for my triathlon and bike racing. With Linda, I got practical and very helpful advice to help me work towards my personal goals. I learned a lot about the foods I should be eating more of and some eye opening food errors on my part. I have since made several small tweaks to my eating and meal preparation that have paid big dividends. Linda has helped me focus on my meal planning, basics to have in my kitchen, and foods to avoid. I have since lost weight, increased my energy level, and friends are asking me what I am doing differently since the changes are so pronounced.
- Haig Colter (Ironman triathlete), Bethesda, MD
If you are looking for someone to help you tweak your diet and get you into living a healthier lifestyle then I strongly recommend Linda and Simple Well Being."I attended a "Kick Your Sugar Cravings" seminar that Linda had given in Potomac about a year ago. Sugar had been a constant battle in my life as I had an insatiable sweet tooth. I had been on diets as long as I could remember and my weight had gone up and down all over the scale. I could tell from listening to Linda during this seminar that besides being passionate about health and nutrition, she really knew what she was talking about, so I asked for a follow-up telephone call.
One thing has led to another, and I have been seeing Linda for about a 7 months now. Not to sound cliché, but she has changed my life. I no longer crave sweets, although I do have them on occasion. I am just pickier on which sweets I choose to eat. I am mindful about keeping my blood sugar level throughout the day and reading labels. I keep hearing Linda in my head 'plan, plan, plan'. I pass by the candy in the kitchen at my office and now have a cup of soup. I make popcorn or have nuts and raisins at work if I want to munch on something. I usually keep some type of granola bars or nuts stashed in my purse and car for those times when I'm ravenous, just to tide me over.
It's a lot of constant work (and shopping), but I have found that it has truly been worth the effort. I find myself teaching my friends and family about healthier foods they could use for substitutions. I still have certain 'stress moments' when keeping the balance is definitely more difficult, but with 50 being not so far off, I'm trying to focus on my long-term goals of health and longevity, just one day at a time! Thank you Linda!" -Rochelle Wiener, Rockville MD
"When I first came to Linda, I had recently lost 40 pounds and was an avid gym rat. Why go to a nutritionist, you ask? Through much personal research and study, I had come to believe, to KNOW, that diet was an integral part of one's health. Losing weight was only part of the puzzle, and I had done it by reducing caloric intake and adhering to a low fat diet. Well, guess what? Low fat diets don't necessarily include healthy food. In fact, I had become an expert at the system, and was able to lose weight by consuming lots of prepackaged, processed foods loaded with sugars, simple carbs, and ingredients that are too long to pronounce. I was ready to tweak my diet further by eating for my health, but I needed a teacher.
Linda started me off slowly with simple homework assignments like getting rid of High Fructose Corn Syrup and trans fats. Over the course of our work together, I have learned so much about HOW food works for our bodies and since everyone is different, how to tweak MY diet for MY body. But beyond that, Linda is a lovely person who has a unique ability of helping people, not just with their diet but the health of the whole individual. What I have learned from my program with Linda has not only changed my diet, but in so many ways, has vastly improved my quality of life. Linda is an expert at what she does!" -Paige Schreiner, Damascus, MD
"With all of the diets and eating programs out there it can be very confusing determining which ones to follow. You provided me with a wealth of nutrition information and delicious recipes that have changed how I think about food and what I eat. I truly feel this information will allow me to live a longer, healthier life. You didn´t just focus on my diet, you also helped me with other aspects of my life. You assisted me in the development of my career, family, and personal development goals. You also supported me by giving me thoughtful feedback and following up to keep me on track. I can highly recommend you to anyone who is ready to make a positive change in their health and overall wellness." - Shelley Goodrumm, Bethesda, MD
"I love my new way of living through your guidance thus far. I believe I have a long way to go, but Im very happy that I have begun this journey with you. I thought I knew what health and spirituality was before you, but I am now realizing I only understood the surface." - Leslie Grimes, Germantown, MD
"I heard about Linda at a time when I had started to pay more attention to the way I was eating and wanted it to be as wholesome as it could be. After my first meeting with Linda, I was surprised at how much of what I was still eating was processed. And so my education began and I learned how to discern whole foods. I have been pleased with the result of focusing on the effect of food on my energy levels and feelings of well-being. But Simple Well Being isn?t just about nutrition. She helped me to set goals around work and relationships, and guided me to focus on the steps needed to reach them. I have experienced the deep satisfaction from this process and plan to always use this strategy in life. Linda, along with her family, truly lives the lifestyle she teaches. With great finesse, she works her style to fit each client?s personality. She has a very special gift and I would recommend her and her program heartedly!? - Donna Roberts, Bethesda, MD
"For years, I tried to make up for my bad eating habits by solely relying on exercise for staying healthy. It wasn?t until I severely pulled my leg from over exercising and received blood work results indicating that my overall cholesterol levels were abnormally high, that I decided things had to change. I signed up for Linda?s six-month health counseling program. She showed me how to substitute healthy food for unhealthy ones, how to more carefully read nutrition labels, how to put together a more balanced work out program, and how to shop smarter. At the end of those six-months, her efforts paid off. Not only have my cholesterol levels dropped back to a healthy level, my weight has stabilized, I feel great and I?ve started cooking. So proof positive that Linda?s program gets measurable results." - Glenn Daigon, Rockville, MD
"I really enjoy your cooking classes; keep me on your mailing list! I always leave your house inspired to eat healthier." -Joan Tissue, Bethesda, MD
"I had to write and tell you how much I enjoy receiving your newsletter. Frankly, this is kind of big deal for me because it's not my usual fare. I'm a conversative executive who sadly gives little thought to what I eat and exercises because it keeps my stress level down so I'm a better boss. There's something about your newsletter that fits even a life where it wouldn't seem to fit" -Natalie Sincevich, Suywanee, GA