I was where you are.

My Path to Nutritional Therapy.

Mellani DeJesus
Nutritional Therapy practitioner (ntp)

I was born in Manila, Philippines and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area with my family when I was 5. Food was everything in our household. Every family gathering meant enough Filipino-American dishes to feed a whole island, and I was the little girl who ate until she passed out on the couch. My family couldn't afford vacations, but mom made sure there was always steak and rice with Lea & Perrins on the table. That was her love language, and I loved every bite of it. But my body was quietly keeping score.

I was the skinny kid with a voracious appetite who grew up skipping breakfast, eating pizza rolls for merienda (snack), and living on Sara Lee pound cake and Mug root beer all summer. My interest in wellness started early. In my 20s I was a massage therapist, always curious about the body and how it works. I was the person researching paleo, experimenting with biohacking, and chasing the latest wellness trends before most people knew what they were.

But my body kept sending signals I couldn't ignore. In my mid-30s, a massive gallbladder attack landed me in surgery for gallbladder removal; the doctor found so many stones! Almost overnight, the fatty foods, alcohol, and caffeine I loved no longer loved me back. I was also dealing with infertility issues and had allergies and eczema since I was a child. My body was clearly asking for something different.

I've been consistent with exercise and overall eating what I thought was healthy since my early 20s, so when my mid-40s hit, and the weight started creeping up anyway, I was confused. Then came the mood swings, the energy crashes, feeling ragey one minute then crying the next, the interrupted sleep, and labs showing my A1C and cholesterol were climbing.

I went to the doctor. I got the tests. And every time I heard the same thing: "Everything looks normal. It's just part of getting older. Just eat right." But what did that even mean? Nobody taught me how, and I've always been someone who questions everything.

For my 50th birthday, I hired a health coach who focused on counting macros and calories. I lost weight, but it was stressful, and stress is the last thing your body needs when you're trying to get healthy. Every meal became a math problem. Every social event felt like an obstacle course. It was exhausting and unsustainable, especially given my perfectionist tendencies.

I knew there was more to this than counting calories and macros. Then I found nutritional therapy. I learned how to balance my blood sugar, add more nutrients, and make small shifts that actually fit my life. And everything changed. Not what I was eating, just how I was eating. No restriction required. I finally felt in control without giving up a single thing I loved.

That's why I created the Well With Mari community, because you shouldn't have to choose between feeling good and eating the food you love. You just need a smarter strategy, and I'm here to guide you.