Tracy Konoske, MS, RD, LD
Medical Nutrition Therapy
~Virtually~
TEL: 406 534 9405
www.healthylifestylesmt.com
admin@healthylifestylesmt.com
Get Acquainted – Part One
FAQ
Virtual Medical Nutrition Therapy is a new concept for me. How does it work?
One of the greatest benefits to receiving medical nutrition therapy in a virtual setting is that you can do
it in the comfort of your own home or without leaving work and having to account for travel time on top
of appointment time. One of the biggest obstacles people encounter in trying to achieve a healthy mind
and body is “lack of time.” With virtual nutrition therapy, sessions are 100% telephone based (or via
Skype if you prefer). No travel time is necessary, making it easier for you to put your health first.
Does Healthy Lifestyles accept insurance, Medicaid or Medicare?
At this time, insurance companies do not pay for services rendered in a virtual setting
(phone/Skype/email). Even in a face-to-face setting, insurance will typically only pay nutrition therapy
costs related to diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
Some labs may be covered but it depends on which test is indicated, who orders it, and sometimes your
insurance benefits as well. It is important to remember that Tracy is a different kind of dietitian and as
such she utilizes different tests. The majority of people who hire Tracy do so because conventional
testing cannot find the source of their problem – only manage symptoms. Tracy’s goal is to identify and
correct the pathophysiology that contributed to disease. You won’t be her patient forever and so in the
long run, most people save money by getting the care they need, restoring health, and moving on with
their lives.
I am reading about the concept of “Functional Medicine” on your website. Can you
explain more about what this is?
Functional medicine is a paradigm shift in thinking. Rather than treat symptoms, it looks to find the root
cause. WHY do you have a headache? WHAT happened that resulted in the manifestation of chronic
fatigue or an autoimmune disorder? For example, what genes did you inherit? What messages have
you given your genes? What triggers along the way were the “final straw”? Then, HOW do we now turn
the tide and restore wellness? It involves understanding the body’s biochemistry, understanding how
the bodies systems interact, testing to identify imbalances, and supporting healing pathways.
Functional medicine is a new way to understand and treat chronic illnesses and it is the hope we need
for our broken medical system.
Functional Medicine is the medicine of the future. It makes sense. And it works.
- Food Is Medicine “A Different kind of Dietitian…..A Different kind of Result”
Tracy Konoske, MS, RD, LD
Medical Nutrition Therapy
~Virtually~
TEL: 406 534 9405
www.healthylifestylesmt.com
admin@healthylifestylesmt.com
Testimonial from a satisfied customer
“I used to suffer from asthma, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, IBS, acid reflux, lymphedema, and the list
goes on and on.
I tried every diet there was out there, including acupuncture and hypnosis. It was affecting my life and my ability
to even function halfway on a daily basis.
When I started, my symptom survey score was 130; now it is 6.
I feel like I’m regaining my life. I used to come home from work, sit in a chair and fall asleep for two or 3 hours just
to be able to cook dinner. Now I work longer at my job, can come home and do things that I’ve been wanting to
do for years. I have even gone shopping for several hours at a time, which is something I haven’t been able to do
in years.
Since beginning my work with Tracy, I have experienced more energy and more ability to focus. I’ve started
reorganizing my house and have been able to sew (which is my mental and physical therapy at times). While at
times I get a little bit frustrated with myself, I know that the progress I’m making is substantial and I DO NOT EVER
WANT TO BE THE WAY I WAS BEFORE! Having no energy, being in constant pain, and feeling like you have no
control over anything is not the way I want to live my life. With the changes I’ve made, I don’t think I’ll ever have
to be that way again.
Doctors kept telling me I ate too much or I was eating too much of the wrong foods in order to lose weight – when
I got the results I was really shocked – I was having reactions to things like tomatoes, celery, onions, garlic, and of
all things – green beans. How was anybody trying to lose weight not eat things like this and not lose weight. Well,
I was one of them. These foods were attacking my system and actually keeping me from losing weight. Now I stay
away from these foods; eat what’s legal without counting calories and I’ve lost over 20 lbs. in 3 months.
Working with Tracy has been wonderful. She helped me understand what was happening, has even worked with
my doctor to try to make things better on the prescriptions I was taking.
I highly recommend Tracy and her testing for anyone suffering from mysterious things that doctors just want to
keep trying to rule out and never find anything. If I had done this 5 years ago, my life would be totally
different. The cost is small in comparison to the results – good luck!”
-Faye Egolf
More testimonials here: http://www.healthylifestylesmt.com/testimonials/
- Food Is Medicine “A Different kind of Dietitian…..A Different kind of Result”
Tracy Konoske, MS, RD, LD
Medical Nutrition Therapy
~Virtually~
TEL: 406 534 9405
www.healthylifestylesmt.com
admin@healthylifestylesmt.com
Tracy’s Story
Before we get too far, perhaps you’d like to know my story.
I was born on my mom and dad’s anniversary…what a gift right? My mom had had a breast infection
with my older brother and so I wasn’t breastfed and apparently I didn’t like formula. I’m not so sure I
was a gift after I cried nonstop for 6 months. I was put on Phenobarbitol, a tranquilizer for months until
it seemingly sorted itself out. Around kindergarten, I began to have a lot of joint pain and was
diagnosed with Perthes disease - my hip sockets weren’t forming correctly; I wore corrective braces for
2 years. Around age 10, I began to have recurrent sore throats and ultimately had my tonsils out around
age 10. As I entered adulthood, I would often drink beer and experience diarrhea or loose stools the
next day.
Fast forward to age 24 and I am living in Arizona. I was married, doing well, and felt healthy. One day, I
was rear ended via a driver at high speed on the freeway. The doctors prescribed a plethora of antiinflammatory drugs, cortisone shots, and 3 times per week physical therapy sessions. My weight skyrocketed from 125 to 180 in months and I’ve honestly never been sicker. I felt like I had mono. I cried all
the time. If I had known the words “chronic fatigue,” I would have used them. I finally came to
understand that conventional medicine could not help me.
So I took what seemed like a gamble and reached out to natural medicine. My new naturopath
diagnosed me with hypothyroidism and put me on medication. She talked to me (a lot) about the
importance of a healthy diet and being active. I got massages. I took supplements. I ate whole grains,
experimented with vegetarianism, and avoided sugar. I hiked and road my bike. I recovered although
struggled with food and the effects it had on me for years.
I did however come to understand that food was powerful. I switched careers, went back to school and
completed my Masters in Nutrition from Bastyr University.
My own personal healthcare regimen
takes work and conscious decisions….and so will yours. At 47 years old, I still occasionally get carded at
the grocery store, I’m pretty fit for a girl with a desk job, and my energy and concentration are great
most days. I can only hope to provide the same for you.
I have been a registered dietitian since 1998 and I specialize in natural, integrative, personalized, and
functional medicine. I know drugs are necessary at times but as often as naught, they do as much harm
as they do good. I seek to heal, not manage symptoms. If you too are looking for a different approach
to disease management, then maybe you’re home. Thank you for considering my help.
- Food Is Medicine “A Different kind of Dietitian…..A Different kind of Result”
Tracy Konoske, MS, RD, LD
Medical Nutrition Therapy
~Virtually~
TEL: 406 534 9405
www.healthylifestylesmt.com
admin@healthylifestylesmt.com
About Working with Tracy
“In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired”
At Healthy Lifestyles, there are no single session options. This kind of healing requires time.
Remember, it is not about symptom management. It took a long time to get to where you are at. It is
going to take some time to truly heal. It will take more than 2 or 3 sessions and it’s a commitment. As
such, Tracy has a variety of bundled packages - and the two of you will sort through what kind of help
you need and how long it might take. IMPORTANT: If, at the end of the Get Acquainted session, either
you or Tracy does not believe her services are the right fit for your situation, there is absolutely no
commitment to purchase a package beyond this session. Tracy may be able to refer you to another
practitioner that could better meet your needs.
This kind of healthcare also involves a different kind of testing to identify the root cause or causes to
your ailments and then making diet, lifestyle and treatment changes to unwind the disease process. If
you would like more information, there are multiple drop down pages under the tab “Testing” on
Tracy’s website.
The purpose of the Get Acquainted Session is to review and discuss your medical conditions, history,
goals and your vision. You will talk about the level of support you desire, as well as a budget and what
package best fits your needs.
Tracy understands that this is a big commitment both in terms of time and finances. It is recommended
that you and other stakeholders in your healing all be on the call so that everyone is on the same page
and knows what to expect and what is required.
If you would like to move forward in working with Tracy, please complete Part Two and return it as
instructed within the form. Then use the PayPal link and purchase the 45 minute Get Acquainted
session. Once both steps are completed, you’ll be sent a link to schedule.
- Food Is Medicine “A Different kind of Dietitian…..A Different kind of Result”