Choosing a different path in life is not always easy, yet many life lessons have inspired and guided me along the way. Growing up in Arizona, I cultivated a familial connection with food, gardening, and southwestern cooking, not to mention I fell in love with the infinite outdoors. Noticeable shifts in my life led to experimentation with diets, and eventually food restrictions. Starting with the discovery of yoga in 1999, and running a few years later, I slowly began to reignite that mind body connection with the beneficial effects of movement and mindful eating. I was able to add back the foods that I loved, move in a way that felt right, and balance my body. After living abroad, settling back in the United States, and starting a family, pregnancy and parenting brought a whole new level of cultivating healthy food choices. The decisions I made were no longer just about me, but also my family. The impact of food planning for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and nurturing a growing family, had me convinced that my passion for healthy eating and cooking should become a new career. At this time, I started competing in multi-sport racing, having trained and competed in distance running, triathlons, trail running, road biking, mountain biking, paddle boarding, and snow-shoe racing. Endurance racing was a new way to move my body and fueling with food for performance became my aim. This passion for fitness led me to multisport racing coaching, teaching as a certified fitness instructor, and eventually becoming a registered dietitian. I have enjoyed helping my clients reach their goals and it is my absolute desire to help others make peace with food and find joy in how they move their bodies.

I invite you to follow along while I share helpful tips, recipes, and ways to help you discover your connection to movement and nourishment. When life takes you in different directions, awareness and intuition can help you encompass your complete health!

Colleen Orbegoso MS, RDN, LDN