ABOUT ME

Hi there and welcome! :)

I'm Nicole, and I am here to help you reach your goals!

For those who want the short version, here is my story and background in lightning speed! :)

• Certified Emotional Eating Psychology Specialist

• Certified Nutrition & Exercise Nutrition Coach

• Certified Senior Nutrition Specialist

• Founder and CEO of Dark Horse Nutrition LLC

• Author of Emotional Eating Journal: Breaking Free from the Emotional Eating Prison. Available now on Amazon!

• Professional Memberships: Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and Prince William Chamber of Commerce

• Public Speaker and Educator

For those who want the longer version, this one's for you!

I am a New Jersey native but traveled the world in my 14-year Air Force career. I have always had a passion for nutrition and fitness. I was an athlete growing up, playing basketball, softball, track, and just about anything else I could get into! As you can probably guess, I have always been interested in nutrition and fitness. That all slowly changed when I was 11 years old.

You see, when I was 11 years old, I lost my brother. It was the first time in my life I experienced trauma to that magnitude and as a child, I had no idea what to do with all these emotions I was feeling.

My parents just lost their child, so they were also grieving and I didn’t know how to grieve. What I did was I turned to food for comfort. I ate my feelings. My vice was chocolate and sweets. This all happened in 1991, so you get a sense of just how long it took me to get help.

It wasn’t until about a year after I left my 14-year Air Force career in 2016 that I was at my heaviest at 200lbs sitting at 5’ short. I ate my feelings so much that I was nearly 100lbs overweight. I was essentially numb emotionally and didn’t even realize what was happening. It wasn’t until 2019 that I finally opened up and grieved the loss of my brother all of these years later through therapy. I went to cognitive behavior therapy, where I learned that the loss of my brother truly affected my outlook on myself and the world around me. I realized that I lacked self-confidence, I was afraid of close relationships, and I saw the world around me through a negative lens. It was through that experience that I was able to make a positive change!

I now am 70lbs down and am keeping the weight off and have more confidence and positivity than I have had my entire life! I am no longer just going through the motions of life. I am truly enjoying life and am completely present. I am healthier in my 40s than I ever was in my 20s and 30s. I want to help you do the same!

Don't let emotional eating define you. Take the first step towards understanding, healing, and empowerment. Join our community of survivors who are rediscovering joy, one step at a time.