Exploring Life & Business with Alexis Brooks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Brooks.

Hi Alexis, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I knew since I was 15 years old I wanted to become a dietitian and own my private practice. This desire was sparked from watching a documentary that made me realize how impactful food is in our health. During my last couple of years of high school, I studied the profession and was mentored by a registered dietitian who provided insight as I completed my Senior project. Since then, I earned my Master’s in Nutritional Science and have been working as a registered dietitian for 10 years in a variety of settings. After experiencing personal health concerns, I started seeking out and studying integrative and functional nutrition. Many hours of research and several providers later, I was diagnosed with endometriosis. My deep dives and studies led me to additional training to become an Integrative and Functional Nutrition Credentialed Practitioner (IFNCP). I credit the root cause approach that is the cornerstone of functional and integrative medicine for putting my endometriosis in remission. During my journey to diagnosis and healing, it became clear that this is what I want to shift my focus towards – helping women with endometriosis and other hormone-mediated conditions such as PCOS and fibroids. I became a full-time private practice owner of Alexis Brooks Nutrition in the fall of 2022.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Despite knowing I wanted to have my own private practice since I was a high schooler, it took me many years to take the leap. Really, there’s multiple reasons why. For one, dietitians aren’t necessarily encouraged to go out and start businesses. Although there are many areas dietitians can work in, our schooling trains us to work in institutions. It is important to work and we’re needed there, but I never felt like it was for me long-term, so I was constantly fighting myself. I believed I had to work in certain spaces for a designated amount of time before I earned the ability to go off on my own. Then, I had to really search within myself and decide what population I would love to work with. For years, this was a tough one for me to decide on until I had my own experience with the diagnosis of endometriosis, a chronic disease. From then, there was no more second-guessing on who and how I was meant to serve. Fear can be a barrier, but my why is so much bigger!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Alexis Brooks Nutrition, I help women who are living with endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS, and hormonal imbalances reach wellness without restrictive diets. My practice is unique in that I work exclusively with women’s health-related concerns through an integrative and functional lens. I take a root cause approach that treats the person as a whole, not in parts or merely the symptoms. As a result, people are able to experience healing. As a registered dietitian, I understand the power of nutrition. At the same time, I have an understanding of the nuances of food and the profound role culture and our relationship with food play in our overall health. I work with clients to create a customized plan that is tailored to their life. In life, there is harmony and balance to everything. This is one of the things people who I work with appreciate the most about me. Additionally, in my practice I don’t focus solely on food and nutrition. I guide my clients through lifestyle modifications as well. This includes optimizing sleep and movement in addition to home and personal care products.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think the rewards you gain are relative to risks you take. I would say the biggest risk I’ve taken was quitting my full-time job as a clinical dietitian to backpack South America alone. I bought a one-way ticket and moved to Cusco, Peru. During my six-month journey, I lived mostly in Cusco but explored several other cities in Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Columbia. I didn’t know how long I would stay in South America, but I let my intuition lead me. I was focused on immersing myself in the culture and learning Spanish. I gained a lifetime of memories, new friends, stories, a different perspective of the world, and the ability to communicate in another language. This experience offered exponential personal and professional growth. Ultimately, it gave me the confidence to take another risk and quit my job to start my private practice. And once again, I am growing exponentially.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.alexisbrooksnutrition.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/alexisbrooksnutrition
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/alexisbrooksnutrition
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/alexis-brooks
• Other: https://www.tiktok/@alexisbrooksnutrition