Prior to joining The Pursuit of Healthiness course I had been struggling with balancing all that was coming at me on a daily basis. I am a busy mom, with kids in high level sports, working full-time downtown, and running our home acreage outside the City. I spend A LOT of time in my car and away from home. 

I was finding that my health overall wasn’t where I wanted it be. My energy levels were low and I wasn’t making time to really be mindful about what I was eating for each meal. I would be in this constant cycle of rushing, eating poorly, beating myself up, starving myself and gaining weight.

What prompted me to join this course was it wasn’t a quick fix, or “follow this exact plan or just eat/drink this supplement” approach. It was a comprehensive approach based on sound nutritional expertise and science. It was online and at my own pace, with support from a group of others also trying to change how they eat. Sharing stories and encouragement from others I found extremely helpful to move me along the path of change. ​The exceptional coaching on a weekly basis helped me to stay on track with the lessons, answering any and all questions from the group.

I was surprised about what I learned, I thought we would dive right into portion sizes and calorie intake but what I found and what I needed more, was to explore my relationship with food. I learned that my thoughts about myself and the guilt I impose when I don’t quite get it right are detrimental to my health and good food choices. I learned to be forgiving of myself, to put myself first and to be a little more accepting that eating my soulful foods is a way to stay healthy and enjoy food, not feel guilty about it leading to one of my favourite mantras from the course - You can eat anything, you just can’t eat everything!!

I am still learning, still on my journey to my best weight but after taking the course, I have a system. I now have the knowledge and tools I need to plan for and manage the chaos of meal planning and using the tools in the course, have been able to adapt them to a system that works for me and my family. I even have my kids helping out more and making meals from our favourite “back-up suppers” on those most chaotic days. The course has helped me to focus on “the one thing” that I needed to make a change - this one thing could be different for everyone but the course helped me figure out where to start.

Gillian Gray

As someone who has had struggles with food most of my life I've found the Pursuit of Healthiness course has really helped me settle the "noise" in my head around food.

I've learned to change the way I think about certain foods, have added those "forbidden foods" back to my diet and am learning how to not stress about slip-ups and enjoy eating again. I forgot what butter tasted like.

​The approach, non-judgemental support and course materials are a no-nonsense way of thinking and learning to have a much better relationship with food. You work at your own pace to complete the modules and there is no pressure to be where everyone else is. The material is very helpful to work through your own personal struggles and is well laid out and easy to follow. Having a lifetime access is great as you can go back and refer to the information anytime. For me, I'm on a journey not a race.

I've gained so much more confidence in my food choices. I’m enjoying food more, cooking more and accepting life challenges without using food as a crutch. If I hadn't made the decision to take this course I would still be trapped in my poor choices and allowing all that " negative noise" to control my eating habits. I'm moving in a more positive direction.

Thanks so much ​for your support.

Joanne MacDonald 

I have been a subscriber to the Health Stand Nutrition Sound Bites email newsletter for some time, and found the articles to be enjoyable and useful. When their Pursuit of Healthiness Online Nutrition Course became available, I jumped at the opportunity for more in-depth information and learning.

This course felt like something I could do for me. Because of the online format it didn’t matter that I live in a rural community where I don’t usually have access to quality courses, and it could be fit into any schedule.

The Pursuit of Healthiness Online Nutrition Course far exceeded my expectations.

In the video modules, ​information was presented in an enjoyable, informal style that made me feel as if we were sitting across the kitchen table together. This informality allowed ​the course instructors warmth and enthusiasm to reach out and truly touch the course participants. You can tell that she has worked with many people about healthy eating, because she knows just what information to present and anticipates exactly what concerns you may have and offers solutions for them.

To make the course accessible to different types of learners with varying needs, the course content is extremely well organized. 

There are:

-Warm, informative and motivational video modules.

-Written transcripts of the modules. 

-“Cheat sheets” which summarize the lesson and offer additional information. I found these great to re-read as I was going

through the course materials.

-Worksheets for “homework” to guide you through processing and actually using the information.

-And bonuses! Recipes, meal planning aids, shopping lists, and more are provided and explained so that all this knowledge can be used in your real life.

-There is ongoing support through a member’s area and a private facebook group. These provide a safe place to share and get/give support.

I appreciated getting information from a credible and obviously experienced source.

This is gradually shutting off the noise in my head about good/bad foods and how I should/should not be eating.

I learned not only about what to eat for a healthful life, but

how to actually make it happen on a day to day basis, despite life’s busyness.

My biggest take-away from the Pursuit of Healthiness Course is that not only is there room in a healthy diet for “soulful foods”, eaten strictly for your love of them, but that they can be eaten guilt-free. What a concept!

Since taking this course, I have a lot more relevant and useful nutrition knowledge. I have the tools to implement that knowledge. I’m loving the planning resources that simplify healthful eating. And, most importantly, I’m coming to remember that food can be appreciated and enjoyed in a healthful way.

I highly recommend the Pursuit of Healthiness Online Nutrition Course for anyone who would like to move toward a more healthful and soulful life. I’m excited to keep moving forward in my Pursuit of Healthiness.

Cindy Periard 

After becoming empty nesters it seemed like our eating habits had become unhealthy or maybe even more unhealthy. We knew we needed to change but being a very analytical person I also wanted to make sure we were making the right changes. We wanted to be sure the changes we made were based on the latest nutrition and health science available in order to get the most benefit.

I signed up for ​the Pursuit of Healthiness Online Nutrition Course and am so glad I did. I’m not sure where to start on how amazing this course was without going on and on. ​

I really liked the flexible approach to eating healthy, the online support, webinars, the unlimited access to the materials and so much more. I learned not only about the science of a healthy lifestyle but how to go about making those changes. If you want to change to a healthier lifestyle and aren’t sure where to start I highly recommend starting right here with In Pursuit of Healthiness. I give this course a 10 out of 10!!

Thanks you so much.

Glen Beaver 

As someone interested in health and fitness, I jumped at the chance to take ​this course. Given nutrition can be confusing and overwhelming, I was able to revisit how much I thought I knew and what areas I can improve on.

You could tell the amount of time and effort put into this comprehensive course based on the content and the delivery. Each module had a number of lessons and each had both video sessions and supporting materials to follow along. I really liked that she released the modules one at a time as this gave me time to go through them, but at the same time, kept me on track as I am a bit of procrastinator. I also like that we have unlimited access to the materials to go back and review them as needed.

One of the things I appreciated was that ​we were not told there was only one way to do something. Instead the course provided overall strategies and then ​we could ​ask questions in our members area and live chat sessions to help provide specific advice. After taking this course I now appreciate the benefit of experimenting, since this allows you to pay attention to how you feel and not be so mindless when you are eating. I now don't underestimate the value of planning ahead (even if it is only one day at a time which is what works for me). 

I also have a better understanding of portion sizes and that when it comes to weight management, more pounds are lost in the kitchen than in the gym. Lastly, it is great to be part of a community that doesn't eliminate soulful foods chosen for taste and enjoyment (after all life is too short to note enjoy every day - and that includes what you eat).

Nicole Heuer 

I have been following Health Stand Nutrition for over a year and was pleased to sign up for 'The Pursuit of Healthiness' as both a personal and professional development opportunity. I have always enjoyed ​the Health Stand Nutrition newsletters and online information, but I was ready to learn more. I have had great success with meal planning in the past, however with new life developments and an increasingly busy schedule, found it difficult to eat as I once had before. For the past year, I had found myself grabbing easier food sources and doing less food preparation for lunches, etc. 

​The course gave me an entirely new outlook on a relationship with food, meal planning and preparation, how to encompass it into everyday life and to continue to work at being healthier in general. Once a baseline is developed, this information is so easy to use and adapt for any type of dynamic and regime. 

The self-exploration, fun activities, and ability to customize everything to your own personal needs is a small reason to sign up for this awesome course.

Courtney K, Lethbridge 

My name is Mavis, I am proud to say I participated in the inaugural session of Pursuit of Healthiness. I had previously met ​the course instructor about 18 years ago through a referral from my doctor. At that time in my mid 40’s, my blood pressure was beginning to rise (which we found out later was due to stress from my father’s recent passing). The young ​nutrition consultant provided me with a great deal of info on the management of hypertension which I followed and my blood pressure went down.

Fast forward to 2017, older and somewhat wiser with 20 or more years after trying diet programs from Weight Watchers, Diet Centre, Dr. Lefebre, Jenny Craig, Slim for Life, L.A. Weight Loss and a few more, it was time to get control of my eating habits. ​

In the fall I ​found the online course The Pursuit of Healthiness. I signed up right away, and am I glad I did! The incredible amount of information in each module was the approach I was looking for and the ability to sit in my den and participate in webinar’s and closed Facebook sessions was simply great! I created a binder for all the module information, recipes and helpful worksheets, the best tools I have been provided in over 30 years!!! Also, as a participant in a group of like minded people was the best part, we all have our stories and journeys through the world of food, we all realized we were not alone in the journey. Welcome to this 'stop’ on your journey through the pursuit of healthiness!

Mavis Taylor 

​Why is it that we wait until something goes wrong before we take action to ensure our body gets the proper nutrition it needs to stay healthy. I made it all the way to age 53 before my balloon popped. I’d always thought I was eating properly, boozing socially and often congratulated myself that I didn’t smoke. My problems were cholesterol related and became evident at my annual medical examination. My Doctor was shocked when he passed me the results of my blood work. He gave me six months to get my ducks back in order and a requisition to repeat the blood work by year end. If I could not normal my cholesterol level I was going on the pill. I hate pills! I then met with a Dietitian from Health Stand Nutrition. In six months and three short meetings my Dietitian passed her nutrition experience to me. I followed her plan and made some lifestyle changes. Together we shocked my Doctor again! This time a positive shock. Will I be staying with the plan? You bet….. Thanks. You do great work. Yours now with: Normal Cholesterol.

Charlie

​When I found that my weight gain was beginning to interfere with my lifestyle, I decided that it was time to engage some professional assistance. From the day that I first met my Dietitian, her bouncy enthusiasm for her work was infectious. She is a very knowledgeable professional who brings a down home approach to her advice. She works with her clients in a manner that best suits their needs. My Dietitian and I agreed on a reasonable objective and then developed a strategy to achieve it. The objective was to lose weight at a reasonable pace until I had the overweight problem under control. The strategy was for me to develop a better understanding of the nutritional value of various foods and how they worked together in the human body to aid in healthy living. We mixed the nutritional discussion with other lifestyle commentary which enabled me to put the whole issue in context. One thing that I felt was very important from the beginning was to have fun doing it and not to lose energy as a result of lowering my caloric intake, as I exercise regularly as well. In fact, eating smarter increased my energy level. My Dietitian had many helpful hints in day to day living which enabled me to make the “dieting” aspect of the strategy very manageable. The simplest piece of advice that my Dietitian gave me was that there wasn’t anything that I couldn’t eat while on the program as long as I understood what I was eating and the impact it would have on my progress. A simple, initial target to lose 5 -10 pounds turned into an updated goal of losing 30 pounds. When that was achieved over six months, without ever feeling hungry, I decided to go for 40 pounds, which is where I was many, many years ago. Having achieved that milestone, my Dietitian and I are now working on a strategy to stabilize my weight loss and to ensure that the eating habit improvements achieved are embedded into my normal routine. I recommend Health Stand Nutrition very highly to anyone who would like to better understand the value of the food they are consuming and to learn some helpful, customized hints to improve their eating habits in a healthy, user friendly, way.

John Watson