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Marlene Hillyer, RDN, CLT (she/her)
Hi there!
I bet I know why you clicked on this 'about' page... 1) you want to make sure I'm legit. And most importantly, 2) you want to make sure I've got what it takes to help YOU. That I know your eating and nutrition-related struggles well enough to help you out of them. Am I close?
Addressing your first question is easy... just scroll down to see my credentials and experience.
The second one takes a bit more explaining. You see, I was a "picky eater" as a kid. I wasn't ever forced to eat anything I didn't want to, but I also was given free rein to eat whatever and whenever. This evolved to teenage years fraught with anxiety over food and generally chaotic eating habits. Feeling on my own to tackle the issue, I became intensely interested in cooking and baking, and even earned a culinary arts degree in specialty desserts and breads.
As part of the program, I took a nutrition class which sparked my interest and I soon shifted gears and went on to become a RDN. While studying nutrition, I made a point to try new foods... even if I felt scared or sure I wouldn't like them. And you know what? My food preferences gradually broadened. I even grew to really enjoy trying new flavors! Having worked in pediatric nutrition since 2008, I now understand what parents can do to help their picky eaters avoid the same struggles I went through. I know what its like to feel lost with eating, and how to go about regaining eating competence.
Another issue I've dealt with for nearly my whole life is migraine headaches. My first one was at age 7... I remember it so vividly. I was told they'd likely go away after puberty when hormones shifted but that didn't happen. In fact, they got worse. I tried everything... literally dozens of prescription preventive and abortive medications, injections, supplements, diet eliminations, biofeedback, PT, acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, relaxation exercises, you name it. Most of them helped somewhat, but I was still having headaches every couple days and taking a ridiculous amount of pain relievers. I had identified a few foods that seemed to be triggers but were hit or miss, and avoiding them completely didn't stop the headaches from coming. So I stopped looking to blame food.
As the years went on, I started developing more and more other symptoms that were seriously getting in the way of me living the life I wanted... things like chronic fatigue, digestive problems, skin issues, depression & anxiety, trouble sleeping, and more. And with all the new diagnoses, I just kept getting prescribed more and more drugs to take.
Then I found out about MRT+LEAP. Wanting to know all the nitty-gritty sciency details of how it works and to be my own best advocate, I signed up for the training to become a Certified LEAP Therapist and took myself on as my first patient. The results have been nothing short of life changing!
My headaches reduced to just a couple per month and they're no longer debilitating. Other changes occurred too -- my energy, mood, mental clarity, digestion, sleep, skin, and even confidence also improved. Within a few short months on LEAP, I was able to say goodbye to most of my meds, including OTC pain relievers, triptans, mood stabilizer, sleep aid, topical steroid, and even caffeine (because I used coffee like a drug). My liver is forever grateful!
Even as a registered dietitian, I wasn't able to identify my food sensitivities until I had a blood test... and not until I did LEAP did I truly understand just how powerfully food affects our health. That message is reinforced over and over again when my clients experience results equally as impressive as mine. I'm incredibly grateful to be in a position to help spread the word and empower more people like you to take control of your health and well-being.
Specialty Practice Areas:
Food sensitivities associated with a variety of chronic inflammatory and auto-immune conditions
Pediatric & adolescent nutrition
Credentials & Experience:
Owner and LEAD Dietitian
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN #994239)
Washington State Certified Dietitian (CD #DI60202010)
Certified LEAP Therapist (CLT)
Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition (CSP) 11/2014 - 1/2020
Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) 5/2015 - 7/2020
Former clinical dietitian in top-tier healthcare facilities including the University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle Children's and the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
