Nutrition & Wellness Solutions
Author: HEATHER FINK, MS, RD, CSSD
For 15 years, Heather has been providing nutrition, fitness and wellness programming to individuals, corporations and athletic teams From an endurance standpoint, Heather has worked with beginner through elite athletes who are participating in events ranging from 5Ks and sprint triathlons through marathons, Ironman’s, and ultra-endurance cycling events. She has written two books: the "Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Half Marathon Training" and "Practical Applications in Sports Nutrition." She has earned a degree in Dietetics as well as a Master of Science in Kinesiology. Since college, Heather has enjoyed swimming, biking, and running. She also earned a gold and silver medal at the World Championships for duathlon.
For 15 years, Heather has been providing nutrition, fitness and wellness programming to individuals, corporations and athletic teams From an endurance standpoint, Heather has worked with beginner through elite athletes who are participating in events ranging from 5Ks and sprint triathlons through marathons, Ironman’s, and ultra-endurance cycling events. She has written two books: the "Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Half Marathon Training" and "Practical Applications in Sports Nutrition." She has earned a degree in Dietetics as well as a Master of Science in Kinesiology. Since college, Heather has enjoyed swimming, biking, and running. She also earned a gold and silver medal at the World Championships for duathlon.
My name is Heather Hedrick Fink, MS, RD, CSSD. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Runners Forum regarding sports nutrition education! I will be writing articles for the Runners Forum newsletter quarterly. If you have any requests for topics, please let me know.
I am originally from the Chicago area – the south west suburb of LaGrange. I went to the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign for my undergraduate degree in Dietetics. After graduation, I headed to the University of Wisconsin, Madison for my one year dietetic internship. During my internship, I realized that I wanted to focus my career on sports and wellness nutrition. Therefore, I headed back to the University of Illinois for my Master of Science degree in Kinesiology. After graduate school, I moved to Indianapolis and have been here ever since.
Beyond my degrees, I have two specialty certifications and have written two books. I am certified as a Health Fitness Specialist® through the American College of Sports Medicine. I am also a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics through the Commission on Dietetic Registration. My first book was published in 2005 – the Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Half Marathon Training. The first edition of my second book was published in 2006 – Practical Applications in Sports Nutrition. This book is used as a textbook at colleges and universities across the country. We are currently developing the fourth edition which will be published in 2014.
For the last 15 years, I have been providing nutrition, fitness and wellness programming to individuals, corporations and athletic teams. My sports nutrition practice ranges from acting as the sports dietitian for a collegiate athletic department and entire clubs, to working with individual athletes, trainers and coaches to optimize their nutrition and hydration strategies. From an endurance standpoint, I have worked with beginner through elite athletes who are participating in events ranging from 5Ks and sprint triathlons through marathons, Ironmans, and ultra-endurance cycling events. One of my career highlights was when I was the sports dietitian for the first 4-man team of men aged 70 or older (“70+ Team”) to successfully complete the Race Across America.
Three of the four athletes hadn’t even starting exercising until in their 50s. One guy started his exercise program by putting on his construction boots and running one time around his backyard. He was our best cyclist, and since then has completed the Hawaii Ironman multiple times and has competed in the Senior Olympics. What an inspiration and proof that it is never too late to start exercising!
Personally, I have enjoyed swimming, biking and running since college. I have participated in sprint through Ironman-distance triathlons, including qualifying for and competing in the Hawaii Ironman. I am also a gold and silver-medalist at the World Championships for duathlon. I have run many marathons, including three Boston Marathons. RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) is one of my all-time favorite vacations (I have been 15+ times). If you have never experienced RAGBRAI, try it – you will love it!
My approach to working with athletes is very individualized. If you would like to work with me privately, our sessions will be based on your questions, concerns and goals. However, common discussion topics include:
Typically, our first session will be 60-90 minutes; follow-up meetings are usually 30-60 minutes. Appointments can be scheduled at my office near 116th and Allisonville Road, or via phone. Before our first meeting, I will ask you to complete a health history questionnaire and three day food log. I use this information for a baseline assessment and analysis which we will review together during our consultations.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please contact me at 317-443-6811 or [email protected]. I look forward to working with you!
I am originally from the Chicago area – the south west suburb of LaGrange. I went to the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign for my undergraduate degree in Dietetics. After graduation, I headed to the University of Wisconsin, Madison for my one year dietetic internship. During my internship, I realized that I wanted to focus my career on sports and wellness nutrition. Therefore, I headed back to the University of Illinois for my Master of Science degree in Kinesiology. After graduate school, I moved to Indianapolis and have been here ever since.
Beyond my degrees, I have two specialty certifications and have written two books. I am certified as a Health Fitness Specialist® through the American College of Sports Medicine. I am also a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics through the Commission on Dietetic Registration. My first book was published in 2005 – the Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Half Marathon Training. The first edition of my second book was published in 2006 – Practical Applications in Sports Nutrition. This book is used as a textbook at colleges and universities across the country. We are currently developing the fourth edition which will be published in 2014.
For the last 15 years, I have been providing nutrition, fitness and wellness programming to individuals, corporations and athletic teams. My sports nutrition practice ranges from acting as the sports dietitian for a collegiate athletic department and entire clubs, to working with individual athletes, trainers and coaches to optimize their nutrition and hydration strategies. From an endurance standpoint, I have worked with beginner through elite athletes who are participating in events ranging from 5Ks and sprint triathlons through marathons, Ironmans, and ultra-endurance cycling events. One of my career highlights was when I was the sports dietitian for the first 4-man team of men aged 70 or older (“70+ Team”) to successfully complete the Race Across America.
Three of the four athletes hadn’t even starting exercising until in their 50s. One guy started his exercise program by putting on his construction boots and running one time around his backyard. He was our best cyclist, and since then has completed the Hawaii Ironman multiple times and has competed in the Senior Olympics. What an inspiration and proof that it is never too late to start exercising!
Personally, I have enjoyed swimming, biking and running since college. I have participated in sprint through Ironman-distance triathlons, including qualifying for and competing in the Hawaii Ironman. I am also a gold and silver-medalist at the World Championships for duathlon. I have run many marathons, including three Boston Marathons. RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa) is one of my all-time favorite vacations (I have been 15+ times). If you have never experienced RAGBRAI, try it – you will love it!
My approach to working with athletes is very individualized. If you would like to work with me privately, our sessions will be based on your questions, concerns and goals. However, common discussion topics include:
- Daily nutrition needs to support training and competition
- Development of a personalized daily meal plan
- Pre- and post-workout and competition nutrition guidelines
- Creation of a personalized race day nutrition plan
- Hydration strategies based on individual sweat rates
- Healthy weight loss or weight gain guidelines
- Disease management through nutrition (e.g., cholesterol lowering)
- Travel nutrition tips
- Tasty snack preparation
- Quick, easy and healthy meal planning ideas
- Grocery shopping tips and hints
- Evaluation of supplements
Typically, our first session will be 60-90 minutes; follow-up meetings are usually 30-60 minutes. Appointments can be scheduled at my office near 116th and Allisonville Road, or via phone. Before our first meeting, I will ask you to complete a health history questionnaire and three day food log. I use this information for a baseline assessment and analysis which we will review together during our consultations.
For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please contact me at 317-443-6811 or [email protected]. I look forward to working with you!