Shawn Portwood

About Shawn

Hey! My name is Shawn, I’m a Registered Dietitian who believes healing your relationship with food and movement starts with feeling truly seen and supported. My background includes multiple years of hands on lab centered gut microbiome research and how it affects inflammation and major depressive disorder. I have also spent over a decade as a personal trainer, but the heart of my work is helping adults move away from restriction, body distrust, and all-or-nothing thinking. I also have to stress, I do not use restrictive dietary approaches such as keto, carnivore, Atkins, etc. I specialize in binge eating disorder, body dysmorphia, chronic dieting, and gut health concerns, as well as supporting people who want to pursue weight-related goals without slipping back into unhelpful patterns.

Approach to care

My approach is direct, compassionate, and grounded in science. My top priority is meeting YOU exactly where you are, with the primary goal being to help you stay aligned with your goals while avoiding extremes or all-or-nothing thinking. You can expect practical strategies, honest conversations, and a collaborative space where YOUR experience is always valid.

Your first session with Shawn

Our first session is all about you: your goals, your habits, and your lived experience. We’ll take time to talk through what’s brought you here to work with me, what you’ve already tried, and what you’re hoping to achieve. I’ll ask questions to understand your relationship with food, movement, and health. We will begin to dig into a deeper understanding of what your primary motivation and goals are. If you’re looking for someone who gets the nuance of food, fitness, and health goals, without judgment than I’ve got you. Together, we’ll make a plan that feels good in your real life, not just on paper.

Location

📍 Madison, Wisconsin

Education

Bachelors of Science - Clinical Nutrition/Dietetics with a minor in Biology - Metropolitan State University of Denver Masters of Science - Public Health Nutrition - University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Hobbies

Reading (fantasy, thriller, sci-fi and historical fiction), running, lifting weights, cooking and watching WWE wrestling!

Licenses and Certifications