Meet The Team

Diane Sanfilippo

Owner, BS, NC
Certified Nutrition Consultant, C.H.E.K. Holistic Lifestyle Coach
Member: Weston A. Price Foundation, Nutrition & Metabolism Society

Diane is a Holistic Nutritionist specializing in Paleo nutrition, blood sugar regulation, food allergies/intolerances and digestive health.

Practice & Certifications

Diane holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, a Holistic Nutrition Consultant Certification from Bauman College in Berkeley, CA, and a CHEK Institute Holistic Lifestyle Coach Certification.

Diane specializes in helping clients resolve concerns around the following issues:

Regulating blood sugar levels related to hypoglycemia and Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes
Digestive distress, IBS, constipation, diarrhea, bloating and gas
Concerns about high or low cholesterol and high triglycerides
Increasing and stabilizing energy levels throughout the day
Food allergies, sensitivities and intolerances (including but not limited to gluten, dairy, soy & nuts)
Therapeutic nutrition coaching for autoimmune conditions including but not limited to Celiac Disease, thyroid conditions, arthritis, eczema, psoriasis, fibromyalgia and Parkinson’s Disease

Diane also works with clients who need additional assistance with making the switch to a Paleo, Primal or Ancestral/Weston A. Price-style diet; as well as those who have already made this change but are struggling to make progress with weight loss, digestive distress, low energy, autoimmunity or other health-related conditions.

Additional Education

Paleolithic Solution Seminar - Robb Wolf, March 2010, September 2010 & March 2011
Functional Endocrinology - Dr. Datis Kharrazian, July 2010
Understanding the Complexity of Gluten Sensitivity - Dr. Datis Kharrazian, January 2011
Breaking the Complex Web of Leaky Gut - Dr. Datis Kharrazian, February 2011
Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis - Dr. Datis Kharrazian, February 2011
The Brain-Gut Axis - Dr. Datis Kharrazian, March 2011.

To read more about the program Diane studied at Bauman College and about studying nutrition, check out this post. Read about her personal journey through different nutritional approaches here.

Liz Wolfe

Balanced Bites Partner, NTP
Board Certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner
Member: Weston A. Price Foundation

Practice & Certifications

Liz is a board-certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. As a holistic nutrition professional, she evaluates digestive wellness, hormonal balance, nutrient sufficiency, and a host of other pieces to the puzzle of fitness and well-being. Liz supports the health of her clients by integrating “Paleo” and “Primal” ideas with the wisdom of the Ancestral Health movement and the Weston A. Price Foundation.

Liz advises both individuals, businesses and non-profits regarding good nutrition, and has been a featured “nutrition expert” in OK! Magazine. She is an ambassador to Steve’s Club National Program, a 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to providing athletic training and mentorshop to at-risk youth. Liz is also a writer, both in the “blogosphere” and in print: she has a regular column in Paleo Magazine and writes the CaveGirlEats blog.

Additional Education

University of Kansas, Literature and American Studies
Paleolithic Solution Seminar - Robb Wolf, March 2010
Adrenal Physiology and the Stress Response: Cause or Effect - Loren Marks, DC, DACBN
Thyroid Function: A Holistic Approach - David Brownstein, MD
Autoimmunity: Advanced Concepts and Molecular Mechanisms in Nutritional Immunomodulation - Alex Vasquez, DC, ND, DO
Diabetes Mellitus, Insulin Resistance and the Paradox of Obesity Caused by Nutritional Deficiency - Alex Vasquez, DC, ND, DO
New Concepts in Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Cardiovascular Health - Mark Houston, MD, MSc

Charissa Vercellone

Communications Coordinator

From Charissa: A little bit about me…

My name is Charissa Vercellone. I am a proud Coast Guard wife, a mother of two furry four-legged children and a fitness trainer. My passion for health and fitness has evolved beyond just being a trainer, and I am currently studying Holistic Health Care at The Southwest Institute of the Healing Arts. I have been blessed with the opportunity to work for Diane and help others find their own path to complete wellness. (Insert happy dance here!)

My Path to Paleo

I use to live for KFC, pizza, bagels and Kraft Mac & Cheese. I did not step foot into a gym until I was 27; well – something stuck, because later that year I quit smoking and became a personal trainer. I received 200 hours of nutrition education and thought I knew it all. I recommend and followed a diet of lean meats, brown rice, low-fat yogurt, veggies, fruit, and “healthy” whole grains. I thought I was healthy, but I did not feel healthy – so began my run of diets. Jillian Michael’s meal plan, The Kind Diet, low-fat Diets, Clean Food diets – I even did the Master Cleanse. I counted calories, weighed my food, ate 6 meals per day and became more obsessed with all things health and fitness. One day, the owner of the Gym I worked for pulled his trainers and a few regular clients out back and had us do a strange workout. At the time I had no idea I was doing CrossFit! I have to thank him for that – because of that workout, I found my way into a CrossFit gym and shortly thereafter I found myself sitting in a Balanced Bites seminar. That is when I had my “Ah-Ha!” moment.

What “Paleo” has done for me

Before Paleo I had to sleep sitting up because of heartburn. I had painful gas, my digestive system was all “messed up,” and my menstrual cycle was all-over-the-place. I also suffered from bouts of depression and anxiety; I would even have the occasional anxiety attack. After just 30 days of Paleo, everything changed. I have not taken a heartburn or Gas-X pill in over a year, and my menstrual cycle is normal. I have not suffered from depression or anxiety in over a year. On top of that, I have never felt better about myself, my life, and my health.