Carla Nowicki, MS, RD, CSSD
I love food … now. It hasn’t always been that way. I grew up like tons of other athletic females. I started gymnastics at age 3. Because I had tons of energy and was good at it, I liked it. Before pre-teen years, being and looking “athletic” became my identity. By the time I hit high school, I was juggling Cross Country and Gymnastics, and throwing in the occasional Triathlon to do something with my Ironman triathlete dad. Underneath the layers of “looking my best” I was barely eating, occasionally purging, excessively exercising, and putting being the “leanest one” at my top priority.
I met my first Dietitian as part of my gymnastics team. Instead of following her invitation to help us “trim down before season”, she made a dramatic change to our team culture. She was the first person to make clear to me that I couldn’t be at my best until I actually fueled myself. It changed my life.
This change isn’t something I have “fixed”, because life is always changing; It’s something I have worked on, still working on, and made HUGE strides in. I have realized through my years of being a Dietitian that everyone I have worked with also is on a journey with their nutrition. It’s not perfect and never will be, because life isn’t either. It gets tweaked and changed along with the seasons in my life as they change.
Currently, my season in life is about being more in the middle and balanced. I still love to be active, but learning to no longer need to be “elite”. I am changing from primarily Olympic weightlifting, back into running. I am training for fun, enjoying some sprint triathlons & half-marathons. During the day, I am working as a Pediatric Dietitian with children (and adults) with Cystic Fibrosis. It is amazing and fulfilling work. I also am finding the opportunity to have In Pursuit Nutrition clients in the evenings and Fridays.
When I am not working, I love relaxing at home with my dogs, ducks, & cat, and working on my garden. I am so excited to use these fresh vegetables in my cooking. Cooking is a complete passion for us. My boyfriend and I both love finding new recipes and playing in the kitchen. I am excited to share with you some of the fun recipes we have made or tweaked.
My Professional Background:
Education & License:
Undergraduate BS in Nutrition at Appalachian State University
Graduate MS in Nutrition-Sports at Florida State University
RD License- South Carolina 2041, North Carolina L004620
Athletes I have worked with:
When it comes to athletes, I have found my niche working with exactly where I started. Youth athletes looking to improve performance through nutrition and a healthy relationship with food. I absolutely love helping kids gain confidence and weight in pursuit of their goals. I have worked with varying levels and ages. Some of my favorite individuals have been the Rowers from Ready, Set, Row. I have worked as a performance coach and nutritionist with individuals in the NFL, NHL, NASL, collegiate, Invicta MMA, the Chinese Olympic Women’s 8’s boat (who took 3rd at 2021 Olympics in Beijing) and at the national level in weightlifting. I was previously the Sports Dietitian for Texas State University, and am still the Sports Dietitian for Wingate University in North Carolina starting in 2016.