I brought my daughter Norah, who is an elite gymnast at Chows Gymnastics, to see Jen for a sports nutrition consult. Jen was extremely helpful. She checked Norah's resting metabolic rate and calculated how much calories Norah needed daily to gain the lean muscle mass she needed to enhance her performance. She also suggested certain foods for pre- and post- work outs that would help maintain a strong and healthy performance. If you need nutritional advice for a child athlete, I would recommend Jen DeWall.
Ann Flatley Cumming, IA
I have exercised and trained for almost every type of event from 5Ks to marathons for several years. Throughout the last year, I noticed my weight had plateaued. I knew, as much as I didn’t want to admit, that I needed to change my diet. That’s when I visited Jennifer DeWall at Nutrition in Motion. She performed a Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) test on me to give me the exact number of calories I should be taking in at rest. She calculated in my average weekly exercise and body mass goals to get a daily target of calories. It was so helpful to have the comfort of knowing that if I followed that caloric total number each day, I could achieve my goals. Jennifer made the entire experience educational and comfortable. I couldn’t be more satisfied with my results and the service I received. Thank you for everything Jen!
Brian Hatch Knoxville, IA
My whole life I was active in sports and never had an issue maintaining a healthy weight. Given my activity level, I didn’t need to focus on what I ate, and I thought this would continue after having my first child in April 2014. Although I began working out 4-5 days a week, I seemed to plateau at a weight level ~25lbs. higher than my pre-baby weight. After months of struggling with this issue, I decided to meet with Jen to figure out a plan of action. During our discussion, we decided to test my Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) to determine the amount of calories my body burns at rest and (more importantly) the level I needed to maintain in order to lose my extra weight. Once we determined the appropriate amount, I began monitoring my daily calories on MyFitnessPal which was daunting at first but very eye opening. Now that I’ve been following our plan for more than 5 weeks, I can happily say that I have lost 4lbs! This is a huge step forward, given that I’ve continued the same activity level but became more aware of what I was putting into my body. Jen has been a great motivator and I would highly recommend her to any of my friends!
Dana Huey Des Moines, IA
I have struggled with fluctuating weight and body image issues all my life. I had been stuck in my “college student” ways for some time, was hardly cooking at home and eating out up to 5 nights per week. It was getting to a point where I had no desire to eat at all because I had no taste for the limited variety of food I was allowing myself to eat. I found Nutrition in Motion after doing some research online. I really liked Jenn’s profile on her website and the prices were very reasonable. After meeting with the Jenn during my initial consultation, I immediately signed on. That was approximately 10 weeks ago and although there have been many ups and downs, I am well on my way to a healthier lifestyle. I now work out 3-4 times per week, I have banned the majority of fast food restaurants from my diet and I am slowly working toward clean eating. Jen is very knowledgeable, open minded and down to earth. It was a blast working with her and I will definitely continue doing follow-ups until I have mastered the process J
Brey Higgins Des Moines, IA
After being diagnosed with Graves Disease, which is an auto immune disease affecting the thyroid, I did some studying and realized changing my diet would be the best thing I could do for myself. I investigated what nutritional services were offered in the Des Moines area. Jen DeWall at Nutrition in Motion seemed like the most affordable and informative option for me. Jen listened to my health concerns and we talked in a relaxed setting about my health and my current diet and what I had learned about Graves Disease and why I thought a change in diet would help me. Jen had an understanding of the thyroid in a nutritional sense and an understanding of the diet changes I wanted to make and why. She gave me a goal of adding more protein to my diet and helped me find protein sources that fit my life style and food preferences. She discussed vitamins and supplements with me, along with how different foods interacted with my body. She offered me recipes and advice on where to get different food items in our area. Jenn made me feel like we were two friends working together to help me achieve the health level I wanted for myself. Now I am still making positive changes in my diet and I always start off, as Jen taught me, by making one obtainable goal for myself and working it. My Graves Disease test results are coming in as normal now and I will just continue to build on what Jen taught me.
Laura Dickinson West Des Moines, IA
As a business woman always on the go, I have struggled to consistently eat healthy and get regular exercise. My quest for a healthy lifestyle can be equated to a runner speeding out of the blocks with enthusiasm, only to stop abruptly once I've cleared the first few hurdles. This starting and stopping has led to repeated cycles of weight gain and weight loss, but no enduring change in healthy habits.
I came to Jen DeWall at Nutrition in Motion to lose the latest round of weight gain. Initially, I thought I knew how to eat right--I just needed to be accountable to someone. I discovered very quickly that my notions of "healthy eating" were outdated and had been deterring my weight loss. Jen has dispelled several food myths and I have restructured my daily eating to be more focused on vegetables and less focused on processed foods. Now I find myself naturally choosing foods that are healthier without consciously thinking about calories, carbohydrates and fat content. With Jen's guidance, I've gained a different perspective on "healthy nutrition" and developed intuitive eating habits.
In addition to the nutritional consultation, I have worked with Jen to begin incorporating exercise and other stress reduction techniques into my daily lifestyle. I've come to learn that a healthier lifestyle isn't checking off boxes on a goal sheet. It's an intuitive desire to treat yourself well, both in body and spirit.
Jan Wilson Ames, IA
I enjoy working out and do on a regular basis along with eating healthy; health and wellness are important to me. I constantly worry about the proportions I’m eating and whether it correlates to my weight goals. I was searching online for a nutritionist, because if you want real facts about food you go to the correct people, and came across the Nutrition in Motion website. What were particularly interesting to me were all the certificates and accreditation that this business carried, as well as the varied services/pricing that could accommodate my needs. My half-marathon training was underway and I was interesting in eating what was needed so as to not drive my body into starvation mode. I wanted to make sure I was providing my body with the right proportions of nutrients at the correct times, but also not over eating. Jennifer met with me, listened to me, and did not judge my feelings or concerns. We discussed options openly. I ultimately chose to have my Metabolic Rate tested and then see how things unfolded. To my surprise, this has made a huge difference in both my training performance and my overall body structure. Perhaps you are reading this and you already know about when to eat certain foods , proportions, and the like, but if you are like me, and do not have a 100% clear-cut idea of where to begin, then I would suggest giving Jennifer a call.
Jane Cavanaugh Ames, IA
I started working with Jen a little over a year ago. I was struggling with losing that last bit of baby weight but also with balancing my life with a 1 year, working full-time and being an active runner that was trying to get back to Pre-baby weight and Pace. The baby weight is done and I will run a half marathon PR this year! I've learned a lot from Jen and I will continue working with her moving forward to get stronger, leaner and faster!
Kari Anderson Johnston, IA
My name is Nick Stahly and I first reached to out Jennifer at Nutrition in Motion in the fall of 2014 after was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. This was a pretty big shock to me because I work out 5 days a week have was runner through college and continued to run 5K’s and half marathons. It was shortly after my 36th birthday was I was weighing 155 pounds with a 5’ 7” frame when I was diagnosed. Not the typical picture of a someone who is pre-diabetic. About a week after I was diagnosed I searched for someone to help dial in my food not only for my active life style, but to also help keep my blood sugar levels in check. After about a month of working with Jennifer my energy levels were up and my weight was 150. Not much of a change, but I was feeling better and the energy reminded high during workouts and throughout the day. During my time with Jennifer I have completed another half marathon with a personal best, and was also was able to be a tester for the TV show American Ninja Warrior’s Kansas City finals course in 2015. I still keep in touch with Jennifer as I prepare for new challenges such as rock climbing and obstacle course testing. Needless to say I would recommended Jennifer to anyone.
Nick Stahly West Des Moines, IA
I have been working with Jen at Nutrition in Motion for a little over a year now. My health and fitness goals are pretty aggressive and I was struggling to overcome my plateau. Jen checks my RMR once a year and makes suggestions regarding exercise, healthy eating choices and what calorie levels I should be eating to meet my objectives. Whether you are where you want to be or struggling to get started, I am confident that Jen can be a great asset to you in your journey!
Shelby Cork Clive, IA
If you are looking for a dietitian who understands how to effectively council Celiac's patients, I highly recommend Jennifer DeWall at Nutrition in Motion. I met Jennifer as a recently diagnosed Celiac patient after I began to gain weight trying to eat gluten free. Even though I was eating mostly healthy foods and exercising, this change in my diet caused about an eight pound unwanted weight gain. After meeting with Jennifer, she helped me adjust caloric intake and the types of gluten free foods I was eating. After sticking with her suggestions and continuing my exercise regimen for several months, I was able to lose the excess weight and have successfully maintained it. Because I also work in the wellness field, it was important for me to find a dietician who knew her stuff and could effectively guide me to successful results eating gluten free! Jennifer had the expertise to develop an effective gluten free nutrition plan and had a compassionate heart that helped me through the process.