Lindsay Christensen, MS, CNS, LDN
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Lindsay Christensen is a functional nutritionist who empowers individuals to live their most adventurous, active lives through holistic, personalized nutrition care. She primarily works with outdoor enthusiasts, including trail runners, climbers, mountaineers, mountain bikers, and skiers. Lindsay's unique approach is centered around functional nutrition, an evidence-based, holistic, and personalized approach to optimizing one's nutrition to address health problems and optimize whole-body health and well-being.
Lindsay's love of the outdoors and adventure began in childhood. As a child, she loved exploring the woods of Wisconsin and national parks on her family's many trips out west. As a teenager, Lindsay fell in love with cross-country running and excelled. However, her life took a significant turn when she was struck with Lyme disease in her late teens. After years of suffering undiagnosed, she was diagnosed in her early twenties. This personal experience with health issues, including Lyme disease, gastrointestinal health problems, chronic fatigue, and PCOS, fuels Lindsay's passion for using functional medicine and functional nutrition approaches to help others.
Moving to Colorado and immersing herself in mountain sports became pivotal in Lindsay's recovery. When she couldn't find sports nutrition advice that suited her unique health needs, she became dedicated to using her lived experience and professional training to provide sports nutrition support to active individuals seeking optimal whole-body health.
Lindsay's health journey led her to complete her B.S. in Biomedical Science and M.S. in Human Nutrition. She subsequently completed the 1,000-hour supervised practice experience and passed the board exam to become a Certified Nutrition Specialist. Lindsay is also a Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist and will soon complete a program to become a Certified Integrative Sports Nutritionist. Today, Lindsay is passionate about empowering outdoor enthusiasts to fuel their adventures using functional nutrition so they can live out their most adventurous lives!
Alpine Fuel Nutrition
I want prospective clients to know that working with me is a holistic experience. I’m not just here to create your nutrition plan for your ultra marathon or mountaineering expedition; I’m here to help you optimize your nutrition for overall health and wellness. After all, a healthy mind and body will allow you to engage in outdoor adventures as fully as possible and for as long as possible!
I view the human body as a series of interconnected systems and seek to support my clients’ nutrition, health, and performance holistically. For example, nutrition changes you make to improve gut and mental health can also help you feel and perform your best when trail running, climbing, or engaging in any other outdoor/mountain sport you love! I utilize a blend of the most current scientific evidence, my extensive clinical experience, and behavior change strategies to make comprehensive nutrition plans for my clients.
I am dedicated to providing highly personalized, close, and positive support throughout the nutrition care process. I use a variety of tools, including nutrition interventions, functional testing, supplement protocols, and lifestyle changes to support my clients. I will go above and beyond to facilitate your success!
SPECIALTIES
Integrative sports nutrition
Gut health
Autoimmunity
Metabolic health
Women’s health
LOCATIONS: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Idaho, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming
FEES: Self-pay, HSA, Superbill
“My experience with successfully completing many challenging adventures (mountaineering and running) brings me great pride. Many people quit on such adventures but I stuck it out.”
What drew you to adventure in the first place?
My family’s vacations to national parks when I was growing up fueled my love of nature and adventure. I especially loved the national parks out West!
Can you share a story of a time when an adventure changed your perspective on life?
When my husband and I went on a mountaineering trip to Mt. Bear in Alaska in 2023, we were trapped on the mountain for four days in our tents, unable to be picked up by a bush plane and weeks away from the nearest town on foot. The mental challenge of this experience made me realize that despite all of the planning and training in the world, challenging and unexpected things will happen and I need to be mentally strong and flexible to handle them.
What role does community play in your adventurous endeavors?
I lead a local women’s trail running group, Trail Sisters Conifer/Evergreen, to connect with ladies in the local trail running community! This has been a wonderful way to meet new runners, explore new trails, and grow my love of trail running.
How do you handle fear or uncertainty during your adventures?
Honestly, prayer helps me handle fear and uncertainty during adventures. I am not religious but I believe in a higher power and turn to it when I am fearful.
Have you ever experienced a sense of awe or wonder during an adventure? If so, can you describe it?
Yes, I experienced a sense of wonder on my latest climb on Gran Paradiso in Italy. The summit of the mountain is a tiny rocky point, with sheer drop offs on each side. It made me seriously contemplate my mortality and the precarious nature of life.
What aspect of your adventure experience brings you the most pride?
My experience with successfully completing many challenging adventures (mountaineering and running) brings me great pride. Many people quit on such adventures but I stuck it out.
Can you share a memorable encounter with wildlife during one of your adventures?
I was hiking with friends just outside of Boulder and came across two young adult mountain lions playing with each other. They turned their attention towards us and were clearly tracking us as we hiked. It was pretty scary!
What are your primary adventure motivators?
I continuously feel the need to challenge myself in nature and soak up all of the beauty of nature, especially glaciated mountains, while they are still here.
What's the longest adventure or expedition you've ever undertaken?
Nearly 14 days on Mt. Bear in Alaska. It felt like a month!
Are there any unique or special ways you prepare mentally and physically for your adventures?
I prepare physically for my adventures by rigorously following training plans. I’m a girl who likes to have a plan! I prepare mentally by exposing myself to difficult things, whether it is a particularly hard threshold workout, my sauna, or hot/cold contrast showers.
What role does nature play in your life?
Nature is the basis of my life. The desire to live close to nature in my home in Colorado and spend as much time in nature as possible have shaped my work, relationships, and lifestyle.
How do you incorporate mindfulness or reflection into your adventures?
I like to keep a journal on my adventures (usually in the Notes app on my phone). This helps me stay mindful and remember the important lessons I’ve learned and observations I’ve made on the trip.
What role does solo adventuring play in your life?
I love solo adventuring on my trail runs. It is a time for me to be at peace by myself. However, I prefer for my other adventures to include the people (and dog) I love!
How do you navigate setbacks or challenges during your adventures?
I navigate setbacks and challenges on adventures by thinking about how I can make the most of the situation.
Anything unexpected thing you've encountered on an adventure?
This past June, my husband and I traveled to France with the intention of climbing Mont Blanc. We had been planning the trip with a guide company for nine months. When we arrived in France, we learned that our reservations for the hut system on Mont Blanc fell through due to a logistical error on the part of the guide company. We ended up climbing two mountains in Italy instead, which were beautiful and wonderful experiences in and of themselves.
Can you share a moment from an adventure that pushed your limits?
My first marathon (Boulderthon 2022) pushed me to my limits, especially as I had the pleasure of dealing with some GI distress from miles 20-26.2. I was dead-set on finishing the marathon, continued to tell myself mentally that I could do it, and finished in just over 4 hours (not bad for a first marathon)!
Do you have any rituals or traditions germane to your adventures?
I have my lucky necklace that I wear on all of my adventures; to me, it is a token of safety and protection.
Do you have any favorite parts of your adventures, like day-of, planning, etc?
Summit day/race day are the most exciting parts of my adventures! However, as a nutritionist, I must say that I also love planning my food for adventures!
How do you define your comfort zone, and how do you challenge it?
I define my comfort zone as the line beyond which I have some doubts about whether I can accomplish something, but I try anyway. I try to challenge my comfort zone every day, whether by tackling a new project at work or running a new, challenging trail.
Do you have a bucket list of adventures? If so, what's at the top?
Climbing Denali is at the top of my bucket list of adventures. I saw it when I first visited Alaska in 2023 and knew that I needed to go back and climb it someday.
What's the most challenging aspect of planning an adventure for you?
Picking where to go! There are so many races and mountains to choose from!
Can you describe an experience you've had in nature that left you feeling humbled?
Getting trapped on a mountain in the remote Wrangell-St. Elias National Park in Alaska was an incredibly humbling experience. I learned that nature is gorgeous and frightening and we are at her mercy!
What would you say to someone who is hesitant to get started with outdoor pursuits?
Don’t be embarrassed about feeling out of your element. Your first adventures will push your limits, but you will feel so capable once you’ve accomplished them!
Are there ways you see your adventurous spirit evolving in the future?
My husband and I are expecting our first child in late spring 2025. My adventurous spirit will no doubt evolve to accommodate our child, who will be quite the adventure baby! We are already planning to take him backpacking, hiking, and on cross-country ski adventures!
