Hey there! I’m Hallie Loy-Roby, and I’m a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. My mission is to help you adopt a bio-individual approach to health, focusing on foundational support to empower the body with what it needs to restore balance and so that it can begin to heal itself. In fact, it was this bio-individual approach that transformed my health journey, leading me from chronic symptoms and frustration to lasting wellness. But before we dive into how I can help you, let me take you on a little journey —my personal health journey— because it shaped everything I do today.
The Illusion of Health and Chasing the Wrong Goals
Health has always been a priority for me. Or at least, I thought it was. For years, I equated health with numbers on a scale and the size of my jeans. Sound familiar? Since I was 12, I have jumped on every diet trend you can imagine. If there was a new fad, I was the first one in line, believing that it would be the solution. The magical key that would unlock my goal weight and, by extension, my happiness.
Low-fat diets, diet shakes, calorie counting, diet pills — you name it, I tried it. I even spent two years as a vegetarian. And yes, the numbers on the scale would dip from time to time, but the weight always came back. Sometimes it brought friends — extra pounds that I hadn’t invited to the party. I lost weight, but I didn’t find health. The disconnect between the two is something I didn’t fully understand until much later.
It wasn’t until I found the Nutritional Therapy Association that I began to understand that weight loss and health are not synonymous. The truth? I was chasing the symptoms, not the root cause. And guess what? Chasing the symptoms are like trying to plug a leaky boat with a sponge — it’s a temporary fix at best. The real transformation began when I started to dig deeper. That’s where my journey on the “right” path begins.
The Summer That Changed Everything
Fast forward to the summer of 2017. This was the turning point in my journey. Out of nowhere —literally overnight— I woke up with hives covering my entire body. Head to toe. No explanation. No warning. I hadn’t changed my diet, my skincare products, or even my laundry detergent. It was baffling, frustrating, and terrifying.
The diagnosis? Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria, which is a fancy way of saying “hives for no reason.” I wasn’t just dealing with hives, though. I was also struggling with extreme fatigue and random bouts of angioedema (swelling). Imagine living every day not knowing when your body would rebel against you. I was living in constant discomfort, and the traditional medical world wasn’t offering any solutions.
I saw an allergist who ran all the tests. And guess what? I wasn’t allergic to anything. Not a single thing. They gave me cortisol shots and prescribed antihistamines, but nothing worked. At best, the meds made the itch a little more tolerable, but the hives and the exhaustion were relentless.
I felt defeated. And angry. How could my body be betraying me like this?
Becoming My Own Advocate
Here’s the thing about hearing “we don’t know what’s causing this” over and over again: at some point, you get fed up. You realize that the only person who can truly advocate for your health is YOU. That was a lightbulb moment for me. I decided to take control of my health journey. And that decision led me to the NTA.
To be honest, when I enrolled in the Nutritional Therapy Practitioner program, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting into. I just had a gut feeling that this was where I needed to be. Turns out, I was right!
During my time at the NTA, I discovered something that no doctor had ever mentioned: my hives were rooted in poor digestion and, more specifically, in the fact that I had my gallbladder removed in 2013. Wait, what? A surgery from four years earlier was causing my autoimmune condition? It seemed crazy at first, but when I looked at my lifestyle, my food choices, and my overall health history, it all started to make sense.
My gallbladder removal was a symptom of a bigger problem — years of poor food choices, stress, and lifestyle habits had caught up with me. And here’s the kicker: no one told me that after my gallbladder surgery, I would need to take bile salts to help my body digest fats properly. I just assumed everything would be fine without it. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t fine.
The gallbladder is not a “worthless organ,” as I had been led to believe. It plays an important role in digestion, and without it, my body struggled. My autoimmune condition was a direct result of years of me chasing symptoms and ignoring the root cause of my health issues.
Healing the Right Way—From the Inside Out
I wish I could tell you that I found the solution overnight. I didn’t. Healing is not linear. There is no magic pill, no quick fix. But I slowly started to see changes as I focused on supporting my body’s natural ability to heal itself.
I began to nourish my body with nutrient-dense foods and made intentional lifestyle changes. Supplementation played a role as well, but it was never about masking the symptoms. It was about supporting the root cause. Over time, I was able to say goodbye to the medications, and best of all—I was able to say goodbye to the hives! YES!
I’ve been hive-free (and medication-free) since June 2020, and trust me, that’s worthy of some serious celebration. Cue the confetti! But this wasn’t just about getting rid of the hives. It was about transforming my entire relationship with health and wellness. The changes I made weren’t just physical — they were emotional and mental, too.
Small Steps, Big Results
Getting to this point wasn’t easy. It took work, patience, and a willingness to be my own health detective. The first step? Identifying which foods were truly nourishing my body and which ones were causing inflammation. That’s where real healing starts — by finding balance, not by chasing the symptoms or a number on the scale.
From there, I began to focus on food quality. I didn’t have an unlimited budget, but I made the most of what I had, prioritizing nutrient-dense options as much as possible. Each meal became an opportunity to fuel my body, not just fill it.
And let’s talk about self-care for a minute. This is something we often overlook, but it’s essential. My healing wasn’t just about food — it was about taking care of my entire self. Movement, meditation, and breathwork became daily practices that helped me listen to what my body needed. When we slow down and tune in, we can give our body the support it truly craves.
A New Perspective on Health
Looking back, I can honestly say I’m not the same person I used to be. Yes, I eat differently, but my entire outlook on health has shifted. I don’t stress the way I used to. I laugh more, I dance around the house, I sing. My husband and son probably think I’ve lost my mind, but I’ve never felt more in tune with myself.
Health is about so much more than food. It’s about how we live, how we think, and how we care for ourselves. My journey isn’t over, and it never will be. Health is an ongoing process, and I’m okay with that. My focus now is on supporting my body day by day, nourishing it with what it needs to thrive.
The Power of Knowledge and Gratitude
When I think about where I started and where I am now, the overwhelming feeling I have is gratitude. I’m grateful for the knowledge I’ve gained through the NTA, for the friendships I’ve made along the way, and for the clients I’ve been able to help — and will continue to help in the future.
But most of all, I’m grateful for the challenges. Yes, you heard that right. Those health challenges I faced — the ones that made me want to scream and cry — they were gifts. They forced me to become my own advocate, to dig deeper, and to take control of my health.
We all face challenges in life, but it’s what we do with those challenges that define us. We can let them defeat us, or we can use them to grow and evolve. The choice is ours.
What’s Next?
As I continue on my health journey, my passion is to help others do the same. Whether you’re struggling with an autoimmune condition, digestive issues, or you’re just looking for a way to feel better in your own skin, I’m here to help. My goal is to empower you with the tools and knowledge you need to take control of your own health, just like I did.
So, let’s get started. Together, we’ll uncover the root causes of your health issues, nourish your body with what it needs, and help you thrive.
Remember, you are your own best advocate. And I’m here to help you every step of the way.