Success Stories

Participant changed eating and activity

Since class ended I have managed to loose 12lbs. I'm exercising everyday and have changed my eating habits.

Nutrition Class Participant

Family keeping with lifestyle change

I just wanted to let you know that I am still using the diet analysis software and my son and I still are not going to any of the fast food restaurants.

Nutrition Class Participant

Thankful class participant

Thanks again for all the valuable info you provided. I just wanted you to know that it has paid off.

Claudia W.
Nutrition Class Participant

Class made positive impact

I must say this has been one of the most useful/relevant/needed classes I have ever experienced. Your web site is spectacular, with all the resources one needs to be successful in this class. You are a brilliant instructor. You are contributing an urgent message to people that we are in control of our destiny. This class should be mandatory for all entering freshman, no, make that 6th grade and again in the 9th grade and again as freshmen. Our healthcare costs would go down. The health insurance companies would be sending fish wrapped in newspaper to you to stop teaching because the population would have no more need for them and they would be losing money on premiums.

I am so much more aware of my lifestyle than ever before because I understand the nutrition pathophysiology. Know what I bought for my sister-in-law for her birthday?? "Diet Analysis" version 8.0.

Thanks again for turning my life around.

Carol (gotta go walk)
Nutrition Class Participant

Speaking to Eating Disorder Support Group

Kathryn Fink, RD spoke to the eating disorder support group that I facilitate. She addressed the issues of intuitive eating, good foods/bad foods problems, hunger and fullness and techniques for building a healthier relationship with food. She is an excellent, dynamic speaker who is a delight to listen to. I highly recommend Kathryn as a speaker and nutritionist. Her approach to nutrition is sound and hope inspiring for those struggling to overcome eating disorders.

Jacquelyn Ekern
Founder of www.EatingDisorderHope.com

A therapist’s thoughts on Kathryn’s work

I am an Eating Disorder Specialist. I believe that working with people who have Eating Disorders requires multidisciplinary therapies in order to achieve recovery. While I provide psychotherapy for patients, I prefer to refer to Kathryn for meal plans and other dietary needs. I have found that she has a special touch with my patients and helps them to feel safe with healthy eating on many levels from understanding proper nutrition, being comfortable with grocery shopping, dining with friends and family and being successful at sticking with a meal plan. Her calm non-judgmental attitude with focus on change is a positive element of the healing process and I highly recommend her services.

Judy Keith., LPC-S
Eating Disorder Therapist

Eating Disorder Patient in Recovery

Kathryn was an instrumental part in my recovery from an eating disorder. Her positive attitude and encouragement helped motivate me when I did not think recovery was possible. Kathryn has an infectious enthusiasm that is very catching. Even when I could not see the positive in my recovery journey, Kathryn still believed that recovery was possible and life without an eating disorder was an attainable goal. Although I often times did not believe everything she told me and the affirmations she said those words stuck with me and eventually I started believing her. Without the guidance, support, encouragement and can-do attitude that Kathryn offered, I do not believe I would be where I am at in recovery today.

Anonymous

A new way of thinking about food from a client

Kathryn Fink offered me a non-conventional method to working with a dietitian. During my sessions with her, she offers an experiential approach to dealing with eating problems. The traditional style of meeting with a dietitian does not work for me. In order to fully address my eating disorder it helped me to go out and work with the food.

I am able to go out to eat with her and talk about what I should order and what is a good sound meal. Then once the food gets there I am able to discuss my fears about eating it and talk through it and realize that the food is ok. Another good aspect about eating with a dietitian is that someone is actually watching me eat and observing my eating patterns and behaviors.

Kathryn has also helped me with grocery shopping. I was able to assess what I had at home to eat and then what I needed to buy in a store in order to have a balanced meal plan. She showed me how to pick out good produce. During that shopping trip I was also given the chance to deal with some of my fears and work towards overcoming them.

Kathryn has really helped challenge me to eat like I should. Each week we develop goals that I can accomplish throughout the week. Kathryn is very flexible with appointment times and works around my busy schedule to accommodate my obligations. She returns phone calls and e-mails in a timely manner. After working with Kathryn, I would never work with another dietitian again. She offers so much more then a traditional dietitian can offer.

Jennifer
Eating Disorder Patient

Decreased cravings, depression and increased energy

Kathryn,

I wanted to say a quick thank you for all your help this past 6 or so months. My initial goal was to develop healthier eating habits, some weight loss, and ultimately work towards a healthier lifestyle overall. You helped me move in that direction, and much more. The feedback you provided based on my daily food intake records uncovered nutrition-poor food choices that were ultimately setting me up for similarly poor food choices later in the day. You also helped me realize the effect of food on my mood and bouts with depression, which helps me to break the cycle. I would have never made the relationship between my diet and depression without your insights. Now I know if my mood or energy level is low, to focus on more nutritious foods, much of that will clear up in a day or so. Along with water water water.

And by helping me determine nutritious snacks to incorporate during the day as needed, I've also been able to keep my energy up and avoid the unhealthy binge cycle effect of waiting too long between meals. I still struggle at times with the chocolate, diet soda and chip cravings, but by balancing those foods with lean meats, vegetables, fiber and nutritious carbs, I'm able to enjoy without overdoing it.

Thank you so much and I look forward to working with you again in the future.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Linda G.

Kathryn Fink, R.D., L.D. was associated with Performance Health Care during 2002 & 2003. She interfaced with our Medical Director, Physical Therapist, Vocational Consultant and Psychologist to provide our clients a complete multidisciplinary work hardening or chronic pain program. Her colleagues were very pleased to have her on our team and found her enthusiasm, knowledge and great attitude refreshing. She is extremely easy to work with and has the ability to be flexible when needed for the greater good of the program and the patients she serves.

Our patients found her with the ability to understand their circumstances and provide them with educational materials and real ways to solve dietary issues. Kathryn met twice a month with our clients in a group setting and then individually when needed. She also participated twice a month in a team conference setting to develop or augment plans of care for the patients that are in work hardening or chronic pain programs.

We were pleased to have her as an integral part of the Performance Health Care team and recommend her for developing and improving programs to better serve patients.

Rodney Robbins
Director of Operations

Kathryn is the perfect package

I've never met anyone who had as much of the full picture as Kathryn. Her expertise in nutrition, her knowledge, motivational skills and enthusiasm in exercise and personal training and her desire to make it all work for you are the perfect package."

Donna C.
Personal Training Client

Kathryn's creative, energetic, interactive presentation made for an informative time with our audience. She has the ability of taking her years of training, experience, and expertise and condensing all of that into a challenging and very helpful session. The visuals and audience participation make for memory-stimulating and lasting thoughts. Everyone who was in our audience went away armed with information that will help in everyday decisions to be made in order to eat differently, and in a much more health conscious perspective.

Conference organizer comments:

The speaker evals and the comments were positive. Thanks again for your flexibility and for bailing me out! I hope we'll cross paths again.

Attendees comments:

• Great interaction and great information
• One of the best speakers I have ever heard!
• By far my favorite speaker. Very approachable after her talk
• I loved this presentation. I have never heard intuitive eating explained so well
• Great speaker
• This is a subject that hasn't been covered in this fashion before

Meeting coordinator comments:

Kathryn Fink was a joy to work with for the Oct DDA meeting that focused on exercise. She was able to combine an educational presentation with a fun and interactive exercise class. She has a high energy level that keeps the audience engaged and learning. As the meeting coordinator, I really appreciated her willingness to assist in the coordination of the meeting location and necessary equipment. I look forward to working with Kathryn again in the future.

Kendal Ecker, MS, RD, LD
Dallas Dietetic Association Meeting Coordinator 2010-2011

Attendees comments:

• "Excellent"
• "Fun with Peers"
• "Enjoyable and Informative"

Kathryn was the coordinator and speaker for a 4-month corporate weight loss intervention and health screening in Texas. Her enthusiasm and presenter’s skills helped to attract over 400 employees at two worksites to join the campaign. Kathryn’s knowledge, professionalism and communication skills are at their best at the workplace!

Denice Ferko-Adams, MPH, RD, LDN
Wellness Press, President
www.wellnesspress.com

I wanted to thank you again for speaking at our November meeting. We received a great deal of compliments for your presentation "Low Carb's Declining, What's coming In?" Your energetic and interactive style was key in drawing participation from our members which can be a challenge given such broad interests of the audience.

The multimedia aids you used were relevant and timely which punctuated your presentation and appealed directly to our members' interests.

It was clear that your presentation hit the mark with everyone's interests. I would further recommend you to any association needing a dynamic and engaging professional speaker.

Lorene Carroll
www.longhorn-ift.org

Equally Fit - Third Annual North Texas Girls Coaches Clinic

Thank you again for speaking at our Fourth Annual North Texas Girls Coaches Clinic. The information you presented to our middle school and high school girls coaches was very informative and easy to understand.

Your PowerPoint presentation was excellent and the handouts had good, useful information.

Thank you for making this a successful clinic.

Monica Strini - Co-Director
www.equallyfit.com

I would like to thank you for the fantastic job you did in presenting the workshops Nutrition-Eating on the Run, Women's Health, and Fad Diets.

The feedback that I received proved the incredible value of your information - packed programs. Attendees noted your enthusiasm and professional presentations skills.

Judy Keller
Assistant Dean
Chair, Professional Development Committee
North Lake College

6 month Nutrition/Wellness Package Results

I am so excited with my new life! I came to Kathryn Fink when I felt like I was losing my battle with weight. I had totally given up. Not only was it a belt expanding problem, but it started causing high blood pressure.

Kathryn was ideal for me. I wasn’t looking to be an Olympian or turn into a vegan. I enjoyed eating and wasn’t ready to give up 'the cherry on top'. Unfortunately, I was also the kind of person that thought I 'knew it all'. During my time with Kathryn, she made me realize the difference between knowing it all and actual application. I have learned subtle things that changed my eating, drinking and attitude in LIFE. It is truly incredible how her tips and hints have affected and effected my mind and body.

I’ve lost 15 pounds, increased my resting metabolic rate, resized my wedding ring from a 6.5 to a 5, can get up off the couch without a struggle, and best of all, my blood pressure has improved. I did all this without feeling deprived or starved. Kathryn’s teachings are a part of my life now…. And I never gave up chocolate!"

Angela G.

From size 12 to 10
Wt from 161.6 to 146.6 (15#)
Overall ↓18”
Waist – 4.25”
Hips – 5.25”
Arm -1”
Thigh – 3.5”
Calf -0.95”
Bust – 3.5”
↓Body fat 6.1%
Body Mass Index from 31.6 to 28.6
Resting Metabolic Rate increased 110 kcal

↑ Awareness of hunger and fullness signals
↑ Vegetables/fruits from 0-1.5 day to 3-4
↑ Hearing RD thoughts while eating and making choices
↑Water awareness, was 24 oz now 144 oz on exercise days
↑Awareness of sleep hours and focusing on getting more
Exercise from none to 5 x week for an hour
Feels healthier
Does not feel fat anymore
Using light sour cream versus full fat
Haven’t felt deprived
Picking ↓salty foods
BP more stable
Periods- decreased severity of feeling fat and feeling bad, not as long and decreased PMS symptoms
Recognition of mindless snacking
↓dr. pepper and caffeine and decreased cravings
↓portions
↓high BP readings
Just got wedding ring resized because it fell off 6 ½ to 5
Listening to what body wants
If she has a craving and looking for something, tries something and then tries sugary and then not what I want, then try salty and then not what I wanted, and/or yes, that is what I wanted. Realizes it’s not food and actually stops eating it and realizes it is water
Clients doctors response……. He was very impressed - I could tell because his eyes bugged out and he sounded startled.

Angela G.

RESULT:
Weekly e-mail exchange and goal setting. Monthly in person monitoring of physical assessments, quarterly nutritional and calorie assessments. We decreased stress about the scale and comforted by focusing on health behaviors that produced maximal
health benefit.

Doctors use Kathryn's services for themselves and think highly of her work with their clients

I feel confident and honored to refer clients to Kathryn. Not only has she been valuable to my clients, but for my personal sports improvement goals. She is a remarkable professional who thrives on challenges. She has worked with challenging professional athletes, who think they know everything about proper fueling.

A well educated patient should know how nutrition improves their well-being. Kathryn Fink motivates and counsels clients of mine who are professional athletes, musicians, and executives. Healthy muscles and joints provide lasting endurance and stamina. Kathryn understands the balance and can help clients eliminate deficiencies in their diets.

Her practical approach looks at the ultimate goal of improved functional health and long term weight management success.

She has been an asset to my training regimen and readily provides sports nutrition information and assists my clients in wellness goals.

Sincerely,
Dr. Mary Collings

Kathryn Fink offered me a non-conventional method to working with a dietitian. During my sessions with her, she offers an experiential approach to dealing with eating problems. The traditional style of meeting with a dietitian does not work for me. In order to fully address my eating disorder it helped me to go out and work with the food.

I am able to go out to eat with her and talk about what I should order and what is a good sound meal. Then once the food gets there I am able to discuss my fears about eating it and talk through it and realize that the food is ok. Another good aspect about eating with a dietitian is that someone is actually watching me eat and observing my eating patterns and behaviors.

Kathryn has also helped me with grocery shopping. I was able to assess what I had at home to eat and then what I needed to buy in a store in order to have a balanced meal plan. She showed me how to pick out good produce. During that shopping trip I was also given the chance to deal with some of my fears and work towards overcoming them.

Kathryn has really helped challenge me to eat like I should. Each week we develop goals that I can accomplish throughout the week. Kathryn is very flexible with appointment times and works around my busy schedule to accommodate my obligations. She returns phone calls and e-mails in a timely manner. After working with Kathryn, I would never work with another dietitian again. She offers so much more then a traditional dietitian can offer.

Jennifer
Eating Disorder Patient

I wanted to say a quick thank you for all your help this past 6 or so months. My initial goal was to develop healthier eating habits, some weight loss, and ultimately work towards a healthier lifestyle overall. You helped me move in that direction, and much more. The feedback you provided based on my daily food intake records uncovered nutrition-poor food choices that were ultimately setting me up for similarly poor food choices later in the day. You also helped me realize the effect of food on my mood and bouts with depression, which helps me to break the cycle. I would have never made the relationship between my diet and depression without your insights. Now I know if my mood or energy level is low, to focus on more nutritious foods, much of that will clear up in a day or so. Along with water water water.

And by helping me determine nutritious snacks to incorporate during the day as needed, I've also been able to keep my energy up and avoid the unhealthy binge cycle effect of waiting too long between meals. I still struggle at times with the chocolate, diet soda and chip cravings, but by balancing those foods with lean meats, vegetables, fiber and nutritious carbs, I'm able to enjoy without overdoing it.

Thank you so much and I look forward to working with you again in the future.

Have a safe and happy holiday!

Linda G.

Kathryn Fink offered me a non-conventional method to working with a dietitian. During my sessions with her, she offers an experiential approach to dealing with eating problems. The traditional style of meeting with a dietitian does not work for me. In order to fully address my eating disorder it helped me to go out and work with the food.

I am able to go out to eat with her and talk about what I should order and what is a good sound meal. Then once the food gets there I am able to discuss my fears about eating it and talk through it and realize that the food is ok. Another good aspect about eating with a dietitian is that someone is actually watching me eat and observing my eating patterns and behaviors.

Kathryn has also helped me with grocery shopping. I was able to assess what I had at home to eat and then what I needed to buy in a store in order to have a balanced meal plan. She showed me how to pick out good produce. During that shopping trip I was also given the chance to deal with some of my fears and work towards overcoming them.

Kathryn has really helped challenge me to eat like I should. Each week we develop goals that I can accomplish throughout the week. Kathryn is very flexible with appointment times and works around my busy schedule to accommodate my obligations. She returns phone calls and e-mails in a timely manner. After working with Kathryn, I would never work with another dietitian again. She offers so much more then a traditional dietitian can offer.

Jennifer
Eating Disorder Patient

I came to Kathryn when I was at the point of making a decision between getting gastric bypass or some form of surgery to help me lose the weight I needed to so I wouldn't die too young. I am part of a "fat" family with a family history full of things like diabetes, heart disease, and high BP. I am an ex college and pro football player that rapidly became out of shape after I was finished playing. I have always been active and I love playing ice hockey, basketball and many other sports, but I found myself unable to enjoy them anymore.

I love to eat and I really enjoy food and I always thought that that was my problem. I had become emotionally attached to food and I associated eating with any kind of emotion - happy, sad, depressed - whatever I felt I ate.

After making the initial appointment with Kathryn I decided to give her a whole year to educate and counsel me and so I purchased a one year plan with her. Since February of 08' I have made the most amazing improvements to my life that I have ever seen. I no longer see food as my enemy and I rarely eat because of emotions. I have learned to "feel" how hungry I am and to eat until I am satisfied.

I eat for health, for fuel and for fun now and I still take time to really enjoy what I am eating. I still have struggles but with her teachings I have learned how to overcome and adapt to any situation. I have lost 60 lbs and I have had my medication reduced for my high blood pressure. I have increased my activity levels and I am doing things in the gym I have never done before (CORE Training, Pilates, running and eventually Yoga).

The most amazing thing is I have kept this weight off, no more roller coastering through "diets" and no more feelings of failure or depression. I still have about 40 lbs to go to reach my goal weight but I know I will be able to do it because of what I have learned from this amazing woman.

I can truly recommend her to anyone that has ever felt like they can not be healthy, that they will always be fat and that there is nothing they can do to beat it. I do not diet, or count calories (although I am mindful of them) or obsess endlessly about food anymore. I drink a ton of water throughout the day and I eat 6 - 7 well balanced meals. I am never hungry and I never feel deprived.

There is always room for your favorite foods. Kathryn has helped me reach every goal we have ever talked about and I know this was the greatest decision I have ever made. It has changed my future and has changed the quality of my life. I know as I grow older and I am faced with many health challenges that I will be enjoying myself the whole way. I look forward to my future now instead of dreading it, thanks for everything Kathryn, you have made this once pipe dream of mine come true.

Sincerely,
Jayson H.