Dr. Michele Burgess

My Approach

It’s rare for anyone to get an hour to explore their wellness goals with a trained professional. I am Michele Burgess, Ph.D., INHC, and as an Integrative Nutrition* Health Coach, I create a supportive environment that enables you to articulate and achieve your goals.

Throughout my education, I have been exposed to the most cutting-edge dietary theories and studied highly effective coaching techniques to help you find the right lifestyle that works best for you.

Most approaches to healthy eating dwell on calories, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Instead of creating lists of restrictions and good and bad foods, I coach my clients to explore basic improvements and implement gradual changes during our work together. As these pieces accumulate, my clients find these changes collectively creating a much larger impact than they originally anticipated. We work on what they want to improve within the circumstances of their unique situation.

Energy within your home and work environments can have a harmonizing or dis-harmonizing effect on the human psyche.  You can enhance and complement your lifestyle and nutrition objectives with the application of the Ancient Chinese Art of Feng Shui. For over 20 years, I have worked with my clients to help them energize and achieve balance in their homes and lives by addressing the Feng Shui principles – love and marriage, wealth and prosperity, fame and reputation, children and creativity, travel, health and spirituality.  Applications can include energizing and balancing your space for building, buying or selling your home or where to locate and improve your business.

Integrative Nutrition Plate †

The Integrative Nutrition Plate emphasizes the importance of local and organic produce, whole grains, high-quality proteins, plant-based fats, and water. It shows you how a plate should appear at mealtime and emphasizes the importance of proportions and portion size. To complete the picture, the plate is surrounded with lifestyle factors that create optimal health: relationship, career, physical activity and spirituality. I’ll introduce you to some of the healthiest foods on the planet and teach you how to find what’s healthiest for your unique body!

Primary Food †

It’s easy to overlook all of the things that contribute to our sense of nourishment and fulfillment. It’s not just the food we eat that affects our health, but all of the other factors present in our daily lives. Healthy relationships, a fulfilling career, regular physical activity, and a spiritual awareness are essential forms of nourishment. When these primary foods are balanced, what you eat becomes secondary. I will support you in achieving all of your goals, from eating the right foods for your body to living an inspired, fulfilling life.

Crowding Out ††

Many nutrition experts give their clients a list of foods to avoid and foods to eat, which explains why so many people are turned off by nutrition. My approach is different – by eating and drinking foods that are good for you, you will naturally have less room and desire for unhealthy foods. Simply put, you will crowd out the unhealthy food in your diet. This takes a little practice to make happen, but I will support you along the way.

Bio-IINdividuality *

The concept of Bio-IINndividuality is the idea that each of us has unique food and lifestyle needs. One person’s food is another person’s poison, and that’s why fad diets tend to fail in the long run. Working on the principle of bio-individuality, I’ll support you to make positive changes that are based on your unique needs, lifestyle, preferences, and ancestral background.

Deconstructing Cravings ††

Cravings play a critical role in understanding what your body needs and shouldn’t be ignored. When you learn how to deconstruct your cravings and understand what they’re really telling you, you will be able to reclaim a sense of balance and harmony.

Vitamins and Minerals

Some clients want to augment their health and wellness goals with vitamins and minerals. We know that no one formula works for everyone. The question becomes, “Are we getting enough nutrients from our fruits and vegetables as we strive towards perfect natural health? ”  Ideally, Yes. But, unfortunately, studies have shown the answer is No. A Scientific American article on “Dirt Poor: Have Fruits and Vegetables Become Less Nutritious” identifies a study done at the University of Texas that examined 43 fruits and vegetables from 1950 and 1999, and found “reliable declines” in the mineral and vitamin content. Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/soil-depletion-and-nutrition-loss/

What does this mean for those who want to follow the natural health program? It might mean that one may consider supplementing their food program (I don’t like the word – die-t) with plant derived vitamins and minerals. I was introduced to Dr. Wallach and the need for the body to have 60 Essential Minerals, 16 Essential Vitamins, 12 Essential Amino Acids, and 3 Essential Fatty Acids. If you are interested in boosting your daily food program to include plant based vitamins and minerals, click the button to learn more.

“As a coach, I put the power back in YOUR hands.”  

Dr. Michele Burgess

An Integrative Nutrition Health Coach is a guide and mentor who empowers you and provides ongoing support and guidance as you set goals and make sustainable changes that improve your health and happiness. 

As your Health Coach, I will listen carefully and we’ll navigate the world of contradictory nutrition and health advice together to explore what truly works for you.

Together we will:

• Connect the dots between who you are and who you want to be
• Create your personal blueprint
• Decipher your body’s unique needs
• Set your personal goals and work towards sustainable change

What you get:

• Two 50-minute sessions per month
• Email support between sessions
• Simple healthy recipes
• Handouts specific to your needs and goals

To decide if health coaching is right for you, I invite you to schedule a free initial consultation with me. During this session, we will discuss your health and lifestyle to determine how I can best support you in achieving your goals.