top of page
beautiful teal and pink.jpg

 "Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." - Anne Lamott

MS RDN CDCES CIEC

Joanna created Bodacious Nutrition because she is passionate about providing women with the support they need- and may otherwise not get- to thrive. As a modern working woman, she is all too familiar with the demands of society and family.

​

Personally

 

  • She believes we should unapologetically take up space, be bold, and give ourselves all the self-compassion we need.

  • She enjoys working toward functional movement goals and recently completed her first Super 10k Spartan race with her best friend of 26 years. She has also run 4 marathons and several half marathons.

  • She is a PCOS-er as well as a ADHD-momma who knows the importance of self-care and having systems in place to optimize overall well-being and decrease unwanted physical or mental health symptoms. 

  • In her free time, she loves to draw, cook yummy plant-forward meals, spend time with her family and friends, do yoga, and attend as many concerts as possible.

  • She lives in Arlington, VA with her husband, 3 young kids, and little Chorkie, Lady. 

Bloom Summit speaker.jpeg
(she/her)
Speaking at Bloom Summit about fertility nutrition, 2022
Joanna Pustilnik

Professionally

 

Joanna has worked as a nutrition counselor since 2011. Previous to this, she completed a Master's in Nutrition Science from the University of Cincinnati and her dietetic internship at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. During graduate school, she worked as a personal trainer and dietitian assistant. In her early career and for several years, she worked with chronic disease management, namely diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease as well as gestational diabetes, and this work informs her current work. She also gained in-depth experience with women's hormonal concerns and fertility nutrition, bariatric surgery, plant-based nutrition, sports nutrition, gastrointestinal disease, and mental wellness and nutrition. 

​

She earned her Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist credential in 2016. 

​

She started Bodacious Nutrition in 2017 and began training and work in eating disorders and the food relationship as well, becoming a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor in 2019. She is a Health At Every Size® -aligned clinician who rejects restrictive dieting and promotes a mindful acceptance of our here and now bodies, but she also believes we can work toward health-related and value-symmetric goals through a non-diet and weight neutral lens. Read more about her philosophy here. 

​

She currently supports several clients on GLP-1 weight loss drugs who also desire to work on the food relationship and find a sustainable plan long term plan for overall health and well-being. 

​

She has expertise and training in motivational interviewing, acceptance and commitment therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. She is a supporter of positive psychology and believes we should all work to focus on what is going well. She believes in meeting clients where they are and collaborating to work toward self-compassion and food peace. 

​

She has a special professional interest in working with women who have both medical or health concerns and food relationship or body image struggles. She also has a special interest in working with clients before, during, and after divorce. She believes sustainable self-care is possible and helps create overall resilience and purpose.

Joanna has a wide range of experience. She has worked with all ages and genders- from 9 years old to 90 years old. She has chosen to niche down, but if you have a question about whether you'd be a good fit, please reach out! 

Education and Training

  • Master's in Nutrition Science from University of Cincinnati 

  • Dietetic Internship at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, 2011

  • Working in eating disorders and the food relationship since 2017

​

Certifications 

  • Nationally Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN), 2011

  • Washington DC and Maryland Licensed Dietitian 

  • Nationally Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), 2016

  • Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, 2019

  • Certified LEAP Therapist

​

Continuing Advanced Trainings

  • Ongoing professional supervision for eating disorders

  • PCOS Training Course for Dietitians with Angela Grassi

  • Body Image Training 2.0 with Marci Evans

  • Rouxbe Plant-based Nutrition course

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy training for dietitians

  • Binge Eating Disorder Treatment Course for Dietitians

​

Areas of Focus

  • Eating disorders in women 35+

    • ​Binge eating disorder***

    • ​Bulimia

    • ​OSFED

    • ​Anorexia

    • ​Orthorexia

  • Intuitive Eating Coaching

  • Women's Health

    • Nutrition for pre, peri, and post-natal period

    • Irregular menses

    • Perimenopause and Menopause

    • PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)

    • Metabolic Health

  • Body image concerns:

    • Body dysmorphia

    • Body hatred/disgust

Values

Connection

Fostering healing and growth through virtual support groups and 1 on 1 collaborative relationships

Inclusion

Offering inclusive pricing, rejecting all forms of oppression, acknowledging our own privilege, and valuing diversity in all forms

Sustainability

Offering a virtual, zero-waste model of sustainable care, and working to support plant-forward, environmentally-friendly dietary patterns

Collaborative

Working with clients and care team to optimize care and collaborating with client to access own body wisdom and lived experiences to guide treatment process

Curiousity

Offering kind, non-judgemental and transparent care with openness to whatever comes up

Michele, VA
"...She had such a warm and encouraging presence and I truly felt that she understood my struggles and knew how to help me through them. Joanna introduced me to intuitive eating principles that really allowed me to practice self compassion and get in tune with what my body needed..."
bottom of page