“When I first met Karen, I was seriously overweight, unhappy with myself and well on my way to having numerous health problems. I had been struggling with weight issues my entire life and had fluctuated back and forth without being able to keep it off. I am now in the best shape I have ever been in, happier than ever and have reclaimed the confidence I once had. Unlike most nutritionists I have met, Karen really went above and beyond in helping me reach my goals. She helped me dig to the root of my struggles instead of just fixing it on the surface. I cannot thank her enough for helping me change my life. Not only is she an amazing nutritionist, but now an amazing friend who is there whenever I need help.” Thank you Karen!

“I have been a person who has struggled with my relationship with food for most of my life. Growing up in show business I was told at the delicate age of 13 that I needed to lose weight. After that I waged a full forced war with food and a down right addiction to exercise and deprivation. Never a peaceful moment unless the scale reflected my victories. Food began to lose it’s taste, it was the enemy and only there to test my willpower. When I would finally succumb to my starvation, binges would occur, leaving me riddled with self-hatred. I felt truly imprisoned by my disorder.

It was not until I began working with Abra Pappa that everything began to change… Abra’s philosophy is not a quick and easy diet plan, but rather an investigation into our emotional relationship with food. It is a gentle, yet extremely powerful process where food becomes nurture and no longer the enemy. We took things from the inside out, which enabled me to really start to listen to my body’s needs. Abra educated me thoroughly about organic food, she provided fun, informative private cooking classes and I will never shop or eat the samebecause of that knowledge. Even the act of eating, which was once guilt ridden and mindless,is now about tasting every bit and celebrating the act of nurturing myself. Food has become a joy, a celebration rather than a never ending battle. It is after all the only art that nurtures. It is part of who we are and can draw us closer to ourselves and our communities. Don’t get me wrong, I have my bad days too! However because of my time with Abra I have a foundation to come back to. I have wisdom in myself. I recommend her to anyone who is interested in a life change. She will not give you the answers, but provide you the space to find them in yourself. 

Megan Bouchard , New York

“In the past I have been skeptical of nutritionists. I always thought they were there to only sell me something that I really didn’t need. Karen was totally the opposite! She always says there is no “one size fits all” for an eating plan. So many of the trainers I would see for nutrition were of that mindset and it showed in my poor results. Seeing Karen changed everything!! I now am excited about eating foods I enjoy, but more importantly I’m eating foods I thought I NEVER would and I’m loving it.”

Debbie O’Neil, California

“Being a vegetarian, I thought I was a healthy eater and I didn’t think there was anything more I could do to lose weight and be healthy. I struggled for years to lose the last 10 pounds and little did I know, the unbalanced nutrition I was getting from my diet was what was holding me back from losing those stubborn pounds.Working with Abra has opened my eyes up to practical and balanced (vegetarian) meal solutions as well as held me accountable to continue with healthy habits. She also helped me learn how to cook and live with a meat-eating boyfriend in a fun, enjoyable and creative way. Abra’s down to earth ways along with her passion for optimizing human potential not only led me down a path to becoming healthy nutritionally, but helped me grow mentally and spiritually. Since I began working with Abra, I have lost 20 pounds, become physically stronger and been on a journey that has enabled me to learn to love and accept myself. My life has been so much fuller and I cannot thank her enough for the amazing support she has provided thus far and the work that she continues to do.”

Ashley Short, New York

“After moving, I found myself exercising less and eating more (junk food) and, before I knew it, I had put on over 20 lbs. I had a severe issue with stress eating and found comfort in soda and pizza. The way I was living didn’t just cause me to gain weight, I also had less energy and relied on energy drinks to get through my day. I hadn’t gotten to the point of “obese” but if I didn’t make some changes I was on the fast track there. Luckily, I found Nutritious America whose amazing nutritionists got me back on track! Not only did I lose 23 lbs, I’ve learned to turn to healthy optionsinstead of a pizza-for-one after a bad day at work or when overwhelmed with life in general. They really listened to the core issues I was having with my eating habits and worked with me to correct them which is exactly what I needed. The information and support from the nutritionists was constant and I felt that I had a friend helping me through the experience. It’s a tough task to break bad habits and having that kind of a support system makes a world of a difference. Now that I’ve made the changes I needed I have more energy, my mind is clearer, and my jeans fit again! The services that Nutritious America provides to its clients are invaluable!

Nicole Riley, California

 

” I have always been more interested in losing weight through exercise. I had no idea how dramatically my eating habits can affect how I felt and looked!! You must see this nutritionist!!!! Totally not what I expected. I honestly look forward to checking in with her every two weeks to see how I’m progressing!

Milla P., California

 

 

“I have tried every fad diet, “real diet,” and exercise program out there. I have always lost a few pounds then gained back more. Then I met Abra and Karen of Nutritious America. I am now 45 lbs down and the thinnest I have been since high school! I feel amazing and frankly look even better. I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that the weight is gone forever.”

Nikky G., New Jersey

“Oftentimes it is difficult to find friends or family members who will be brutally honest. All it took was one comment, one honest smack in the face, punch in the roll that used to hang over the pants, comment of reality. “I’ve never seen you heavier”. That did it for me. Thank you for the honesty, now what the heck can I do about it?! I had come to my end. 5’4, 161 pounds, 31, overweight, and at the same time a marathoner, yoga practicing, healthy eating woman. It didn’t make sense. Maybe with the layer of clothes I didn’t look like I weighed that much, but I knew it, I felt it, and it was effecting almost every part of who I was. I relied on my 2pm coffee to get through the rest of the day, was dragging myself to yoga, out for a training run and falling into bed at night with every ounce of frustration that no matter what I did, the scale never changed. I was stuck, my body clearly thought that 161 was where I should be.

Then I talked to Abra and enrolled in the Healing Weight Loss program. This is a lifestyle change, and what lifestyle change isn’t a challenge? I can though, tell you exactly what keeps me going every day. I am 31 days into the program, I have lost 18 1/2 pounds, dropped from a size 10 to a baggy size 6, feel fantastic and know that I have the support, encouragement, coping tools, and all the resources I need to stick with it. Abra Pappa has been that support system to me, I consider her one of the best nutritionists I have ever met. She is a wealth of knowledge and knows what it takes to live a healthy life. I see the scale every morning and can not get over the fact that it keeps going down, and down, and down. 1/2 pound, or 1 pound. A day. Seriously?!? YES. I still have days and weight to go, and have gotten to somewhat of an “auto pilot mode”, plugging through each day with more energy then I have had in years. I know I will get to my goal weight, and soon. I have no doubt. And that my friends, is enough for me to dig deeper then I ever have. The journey is worth it. All so very worth it. You have it in you. Health and happiness to you!”

“I began working with Abra of Nutritious America because I wanted to focus on foods that could help anxiety and help me safely transition off of anti-depressants. I had come to a point in my life that I was feeling ready to get off of medication, but I wanted to be sure I was doing it safely, properly, and setting myself up to succeed. I worked with Abra in conjuction with my doctor and am thrilled and happy to report that I have been medication free for 2 years. I feel the best I’ve felt in a long time.

I learned that there are specific foods that I should be eating every day to help me feel my best. Working with Abra has empowered me to look at the foods I am eating as both a source of nourishment and happy brain food.
Thank you Abra!”

“I feel like the luckiest girl in the world for getting to work with Abra Pappa each week!
Abra possesses an incredible gift to meet you wherever you are in your journey yet push you beyond your comfort zone all in the name of living your best life. Our sessions are filled with hilarious laughter, healing tears and I always leave the conversation feeling empowered to handle whatever this crazy life will throw my way!”

Candice Hill, California

“I have struggled with my weight for most of my adult life. I have tried just about every diet out there. Nutritious America and Abra Pappa have changed my life. I have lost a total of 60 pounds and have never felt better. Abra was there to support me though my entire journey. I learned how to eat properly and how to deal with my feelings about food. It was a hard journey but worth it. I get so many compliments on how good I look from family and friends. My self esteem and confidence has soared. Thank you Abra!!“

In 2003 I received my last chemo. In 2005 my husband began his medications for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Although we were making healthy food choices, I knew we were not doing enough and needed guidance to change our eating habits. We met Abra in 2009 and began our six-month program towards that change. Although daunting at first, the pace of the sessions allowed us space to rethink our relationship with food. Today I do not worry about cancer because I’m doing my part to stay healthy. My husband has kept his weight down without “dieting” and the dosages of his medications have not increased. One day you wake up and you just feel better. Ah, the wonders of fresh, wholesome foods!

“Abra is awesome to work with. She makes you feel like a good friend instead of a client. I looked forward to our weekly sessions. It helped me make some good changes in my life from choosing healthier foods to eat to buying vitamins and supplements that built up my immune system.Because of my busy scheudle I was used to eating quick pre-packaged or frozen foods, but after taking a cooking class with Abra, my fiancé and I have been making QUINOA! as part of our dinner. It’s easy to make and lasts a few days. One cup goes a long way. Abra made me feel good about myself and kept reinforcing that Change is Good. I’ve experienced lots of positive changes in the past year and a half and I’m grateful to have met a great person like Abra to help through the tough times.”

Denise Guzzardo, New Jersey

“After hearing disappointing news about my cholesterol and blood sugar levels, it was suggested I meet with Karen. She evaluated my eating habits, medications, activity level, stress level, lifestyle, and sleep quality right away. Finally, someone was willing to help me fix my health from the inside out instead of giving me another pill to take. She suggested I begin to add more healthy fats, whole grains, fruits, veggies, and lean proteins to my diet. After only one week, I lost 4 pounds, and it continued this way for another month. The best part was I loved the foods I was eating! Within 3 months, my cholesterol had dropped significantly and I am no longer on insulin!!!!” A true lifesaver! I would recommend Nutritious America to anyone. Those girls really know their stuff!”