About
Welcome to Savvy Eats! My name is Julie, and I am a 23-year-old recent college graduate and newlywed.
In the winter of 2008/09, I gained approximately 16 pounds in 8 weeks, despite my eating healthy and walking everywhere. I knew this wasn’t normal, but chalked it and my other symptoms up to the new medication I was on. After switching meds, I still couldn’t lose a single pound and felt sick as ever, so I finally went to the doctor. Five doctors later, I was finally diagnosed with hypothyroidism in August 2009. Now, I have more control over my weight via exercise and healthy eating.
My philosophy in life is “Smart Food, Smart Fitness, & Smart Life.”
Smart Food
I aim to eat whole, fresh and local foods whenever possible. In the past, I have tried both gluten-free and vegetarian diets in the quest to improve my health and lessen my hypothyroidism symptoms. However, I have found that I feel my best when I eat a little of everything in the world of natural foods. Recently, I have started a “Savvy Garden,” attempting to grow my own vegetables and herbs using no chemical fertilizers or insecticides.
Smart Fitness
In the fall of 2008, I took up Pilates and running. Due to a string of IT band injuries, I switched my focus from running to cycling in the beginning of 2010. Cycling allows me spend more time with my husband, Dan, an avid biker. We’re actually planning on biking through Italy for our honeymoon at the end of September.
Smart Life
I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I received a degree in Biological Systems Engineering–Food and Bioprocessing. I know, its a mouthful! Essentially, I am half Chemical Engineer, half Food Scientist.
I believe in pursuing your passions and doing what makes you happy. That’s why I’m choosing not to pursue a “traditional” engineering career, instead focusing my energies towards some other ventures that I hope to announce in the near future.
– Julie
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at savvyjulie@gmail.com
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow girl thats alot on one plate. I went to University of Wisconsin-River Falls, graduated May 12, 2007 and got married June 16, 2007!
It’s hard but all worth it in the end. Also I was born with hypothyroidism, do you take synthroid?
Anyway, found your blog and love it!
Oh my goodness I think you could be my twin. I had my thyroid removed when I was 15 (four years ago), so I know where you’re coming from there.
BTW…Can you get Armour anymore? I started taking it in August and my pharmacy keeps telling me that Armour is on back order. =/
Great blog…I’ll definitely be sticking around. =)
-Lindsey
Thanks girl! I’ve been on Levoxyl since ’06, but my body stopped converting t3 into t4 (and synthetic thyroid medicine is only t3 whereas the armour/natural medicine is BOTH), so my endo thought it was the better option for me…but it’s so FRUSTRATING trying to find it!
-Lindsey
andshelostit.wordpress.com
Thanks, Leianna! I don’t take Synthroid, I’m on Armour because it is what my doctor prefers and it works better for me.
You are the cutest EVER girl! You have so many great things going on right now, and i’m so excited to read about them!
2 cousins of mine actually have hypothyroidism as well, so i know how challenging it can be.
Can’t wait to read more!
http://saladdiva.wordpress.com
Hey Julie – thanks for visiting my blog! First off, congrats on getting married…it is such an exciting time, I wish I could re-live the planning period all over again. Second, I also have hypothryoidism, so it seems we have some things in common. Great job on the half marathon. And I would loooooove to go to Greece!!!
Thanks, Lindsey! I’ve been having some trouble getting Armour too. The pharmacy I usually go to when I’m at home was out last month, so I had to call 5 other pharmacies before I found one that had Armour in stock. Now I’m back at school and need more Armour, so I’ll be calling more pharmacies today!
From what I’ve heard, the FDA is looking at natural thyroid meds as “unapproved drugs,” which is why all the natural thyroid meds are on backorder. I’m going to my doctor sometime in the next two weeks to see if I have other options for treating my hypothyroidism; I’ll let you know what I find out!
Cute pictures love them! loved reading your about me!!
I am a fellow Badger! I just found your blog and LOVE it! I’ve been wanting to start my own actually, but am not the most computer savvy. Maybe we could meet up sometime for some foodie-ness!
What a great blog! Nice to meet you
I love the engagement photos.
i have hypothyroidism too! i’m still struggling to lose the last 10 pounds of my 20 pound weight gain. i just started my own blog to help me stay on track!
Hi Julie
I love what you are doing. Food scientist, eng. aweseome. Mom-I-L has the other thyroid prob-loses weight from here to there, under meds easier to control. I wanted to maintain my weight after I had children, been active and hardbody half my life. I am losing inches-working out and eating smaller portions but throughout the day. Arbonne has a great weight-loss program you may want to look into. My two friends are testimonials-they both lost 30 lbs. in one year-regular exercise, meal replacements. Our products don’t have sugar but stevia, all natural sweetener. Need producs for makeup, etc.? Please visit my website-vegan, non-toxic-this is another way to take care of yourself, not just by eating but what you are putting on your skin. I am researching for a foodie website I am creating (Chinese culture and cuisine, can’t give too much away-thinking about WordPress), so any tips, etc. you offer on your website will interest me. I met a nutritionist who I hired to come into my kitchen to teach me and six friends how to make meals more nutritious without using low fat ingredients. We live in a world of over-processed everything and she taught us low-fat can mean more additives of sodium, sugar, etc. to accommodate. I am looking forward to the lesson! I wish you success with your health and your upcoming nuptials. Will stay tuned . . .
Your engagement pics are ADORABLE! Congrats on the upcoming wedding. Isn’t planning so much fun?
PS. You have some of the most delicious looking food on your blog!
Thank you!
Hi Julie! Thanks for sharing your story and blog. I found Savvy Eats through Oh She Glows.
I am a fellow Wisconsin blogger based out of Milwaukee.
Cheers!
Hey Julie!
I just came across your blog from Oh She Glows and it looks great! I can’t wait to read more about food science
Sounds really interesting.
I saw your moving to Ithaca in January. I’m currently living in Ithaca for Grad School at Cornell. Hope you like it!
Great blog!
Excited to keep reading. Great blog!
- Hillary
Beautiful photo’s! You were meant for each other!
Enjoy and blessings!
There is a group of ladies from Cincinnati and Dayton training to do the Princess Half. Our local running store – Fleet Feet and Miles that Matter are conducting the training sessions. I’ll have to have them look at your training schedule.
I’m going to be running the Disney Princess 1/2 in March 2010 too!!!
My degree is in Food and Nutrition Science
I’m a mommy though and the only food science I’m doing is in my kitchen…and loving it! 
Maybe we’ll get to know one another between then and now and will see each other on race day?! LOL
That would be great!
Hey! Just found your site and love it! Great stuff..what kind of biking do you do?
Thanks for stopping by! I’ve been getting into road biking lately, thanks to my fiance!
We have a lot in common. I got married on May 30,2009… two weeks after I graduated from college! Good luck!
These pictures are so beautiful! Looking at them I kind of regret not getting any engagement pictures. I guess it is never too late for some nice pictures!
Thanks for the inspiration!
I am sorry about your condition. I am glad you figured it all out! You seem like such a sweet person! Love reading your thoughts!
- Christina
Hi Julie -
Struggling with Thesis1.6 over here. Must I be self-hosted to install thesis? Do you know if I can use it in conjunction with WordPress? Will you share with me how you when about downloading and getting it into WP? Your site looks great =]
Hi Julie. It was so great to meet you this weekend. I wish we could have spent more time getting to know one another! Hopefully we’ll get to see each other again sometime!!
Awww! Love the engagement pics- thanks for sharing them
~Christie http://rollerkoesterrun.wordpress.com/
What were your symptoms of hypothyroidism besides the weight gain? I gained 15 pounds last year because of some medication I was taking. I recently stopped taking it and had yet to lose that 15.
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Can’t wait to keep up with your blog! Loving the pictures. How sweet
So glad I just found your blog. I have knee problems too (chondromalacia in both knees) so I feel your pain. Can’t wait to read more!
You and your fiance are gorgeous. You’ve got a lot of exciting life changes coming up- can’t wait to read about it all!
What beautiful engagement pictures!
I’m a rising sophomore chemical engineering student who has a passion for food! How would you recommend building the bridge to fuse chemical engineering and food science into a future devoid of cubicles and nerdy male coworkers? :p
Hi Robin! A LOT of the big food companies hire Chemical Engineers for Product Research & Development, Quality Control, etc. I’ve noticed, too, that a lot of consumer product companies have a higher ratio of women in their R&D departments than the average engineering job. If you have more questions or want to hear more about my internship experiences (including one with one of the ‘big names’ in food), send me an email at savvyjulie@gmail.com !
Hi Julie! Glad to connect in blogworld – can’t wait to meet you in Chicago at HLS!
Thanks Lizzy, you just made my day!
Sure! Feel free to email me at savvyeat *at* gmail *dot* com to set something up or ask any questions you have about starting a blog. Wordpress is super user-friendly!