Praise from Clients
I don’t remember how I came across your site, but contacting you was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! You helped me clearly understand how my diet and lifestyle (particular emotional stress) were negatively impacting my hormones and how I felt. Through this understanding, I was deeply inspired to revisit the choices I’ve made regarding lifestyle and made major changes. Through following the protocol, my hormones rebalanced (I knew because I felt better!) and my menstrual cycle regulated for the first time in my entire life!! I was also able to get pregnant on the FIRST TRY using the fertility awareness method (obviously the balanced hormones helped)!!! I am now 17 weeks pregnant and we are so happy and excited for the next phase of our lives. I am beyond grateful that I met you and how you’ve helped change my life! I’m still a work-in-progress but you definitely helped set me on a better path. THANK YOU AND BEST WISHES!!!!
–K.M., Pennsylvania
Today I am 78 lbs. down. I can’t believe it. I found Mary through Pinterest when my Mother-in-law sent me Mary’s pin entitled, “8 Steps to Reversing Autoimmune Disease”. I had been struggling with issues since I was 15 years old (now 36 years old) and seemed to be getting no where. I had seen at least 8 different doctors over the most recent 10 year period with no results. In 2013 I was finally diagnosed with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and I had hoped with the diagnosis and starting medication I would see some results. Unfortunately, the diagnosis and medication did very little for me. My symptoms continued to spiral out of control and I continued to subscribe to the insanity of having labs done, my levels being out of the desired range and increasing my medication for two years. Finally at 255 lbs and sick and tired of doctors telling me that if I would just lose some weight (I had tried countless times with minimal results only achieved through nearly killing myself with exercise of at least 2 hours a day 7 days a week), feeling exhausted all the time, and terrified of entering my 40s without getting a handle on my health I decided it was time for a change. Enter the pin from Mary. The decision to work with Mary is the best decision I have ever made. Mary has helped me revolutionize my health. She is phenomenal! She gives you all the tools and resources you need to succeed. She is great to work with you right where you are at and doesn’t push you to make changes until you are ready but at the same time she is real with you about what making the changes could mean for your health. She is also a great cheerleader and encourager. Mary has helped me to get at the root cause of some of my issues and helped guide me to a great doctor who is treating my thyroid in a more natural manner, simply a medical extension of what Mary does. Mary has helped me achieve what no doctor was able to. I have lost 78 lbs by simply changing my diet, resolved an issue I have had since I was 15 years old that was hormone & diet driven (none of the doctors I have ever seen had a clue what to do or even treated it like it was a real issue when in fact it had started to rule my life), no longer feel tired all the time, am seeing a huge improvement in my thyroid symptoms and am unbelievably getting to decrease my thyroid medication. I still have a ways to go to meet my goals and to achieve the optimal health I desire but I would not be where I am without Mary. I would recommend her whole heartedly. Even though Mary & I don’t even live in the same state she has been along side me on this journey. We have Skyped, talked on the phone and we exchange emails regularly. She is so accessible. If you are fed up with your health, ready to make some real changes and have the control put back in your hands I encourage you to contact Mary.
–S.M., Oregon
Feeling great. Period is the most normal I’ve had in years and years. Pretty amazing really. Thank you thank you!
–T.R., Florida
Thank you! I am feeling the best I’ve felt in my whole life and that is so empowering 🙂 I got my period for the second month in a row woohoo, I’m losing weight and my overall health is good. Those were my main goals for this month, and this is only the start.
–E.T., San Francisco
I want to follow up to say THANK YOU. I can finally now eat like a (healthy) normal person! I write this to you after coming back from a trip where I could join everyone eating out etc. etc. and not have to throw up or feel dizzy and awful for hours afterwards. Before I could not even travel because it was too awful and stressful an experience to be away from the 4 foods I was able to tolerate. Now I can drink wine and try new cuisines! I feel like I have my life back and I really owe so much to you- you helped me enormously. I still use your dietary guidelines and recipes (for juicing, desserts, snacks etc) and so you are very much a part of my life. I know my anxiety was really, really high and that resulted in many emails to you so I want to thank you for your patience and understanding. It felt like I was underwater and it was so intensely scary to not know why I couldn’t eat and function normally at all. I wish you a happy new year full of love and happiness and thank you for being such a wonderful healer.
–L.E., San Francisco
I wanted to thank you so much for all your help and write a testimonial for all of the ladies out there wanting better health and fertility. I had not managed to become pregnant in years, and due to my age, I was starting to lose hope. After consulting with Mary and realizing that I had major inflammation and food intolerance issues, I really put effort into spending a few months avoiding my issue foods, going gluten free and doing a candida cleanse. We looked at my hormone panels and supplemented with natural progesterone to regulate my cycle. My concerted efforts bore a startling and surprisingly quick result! Here is a picture of my beautiful baby girl in her 18th month. She wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. THANK YOU!!!!
–S.L., Playa Del Rey, CA
Mary is a rock star. I have worked with her for about six months and she has helped me a ton. From nutrition to supplements to a healthier lifestyle–Mary knows her stuff. I love that she is devoted to women’s health and is so on top of cutting edge information that your regular doctor or a standard nutritionist would have no clue about. She is very thorough and easy to talk to as well. She is wonderful with communicating via e-mail too. I have recommended her to several friends as well.
–V.W., Aldie, VA
I just wanted to first say thank you! I definitely think I’m on the right track! I’ve lost 10 pounds and 7 inches from my waist and hips, and I’m feeling really good overall!
–L.H., San Mateo, CA
I had tried everything, not just to lose weight but to get healthy. I found Mary through a recommendation of her colleague and have never felt better. Where most nutritionist just treat you for being heavy, Mary took the time to figure out what was the root of the issue. I came to Mary because I had frequent migraines, was in constant pain, couldn’t sleep, yet always felt tired and I had tried everything but the correct eating lifestyle. Mary is very educated on every subject she reviews with you and freely offers up the knowledge and gears what you need to yourself. I felt that I had the support to go through the elimination of bad foods to really figure out what was going on and Mary was always responsive and checked in with me frequently. I have 3 different conditions that are all hormonal and Mary took that into account when she came up with my plan and going forward she has helped with adjustments and encouragement. Mary doesn’t put you on a diet, she helps you make positive changes in your life, the right way. I have not had a migraine once I eliminated Gluten and have naturally lost weight, my joints no longer hurt and I have the support I needed to make the change.
–M.S., San Francisco
I contacted Mary about her services after hearing such great success stories from others, and she definitely surpassed my expectations. I have been dealing with thyroid, adrenal and digestive issues that have plagued me for years, and Mary has been incredible. Mary is really knowledgeable not only about nutrition, but about the entire human body and the intricate connections between all the systems. Her protocol treats you from a very holistic standpoint rather than just looking to fix your symptoms. She has the gift of being able to explain things in a way that anyone can understand without feeling overwhelmed or confused. Mary has given me so many resources to help me not only physically, but also emotionally, heal. I still have a long way to go, but she has been there every step of the way. Any time I have a question, she always answers it; her support and guidance is very thorough and I really feel that she cares about her clients. I HIGHLY recommend her to anyone.
–M.B., Malawi, Africa
Mary is amazing and I highly recommend her for anyone who wants to learn how to eat healthier, feel better or has symptoms/health issues which are not being solved by conventional dr.’s. I thought I was doing the gluten free and dairy free diet correctly before I went to Mary and then found out I was actually doing it all wrong. With her nutritional direction I have never felt better. If it wasn’t for her I would not be functioning. She is wonderful and I cannot recommend her highly enough.
–L.E., San Francisco
I’m really glad I did a private cleanse with Mary and can see myself doing it a couple of times a year. It reacquainted me with food and my relationship to it. Really a great experience.I’m feeling better and am sleeping better. I lost of layer of something I don’t miss and am fitting into pants that I haven’t worn in a year or two! Yay! It feels great to have more energy and actually want to go to the gym.
–M.G., San Francisco
You’ve helped solve my 12 year problem of brain fog…Thank you! I ran 4 miles today in the fastest time I think I’ve ever done. I am shocked at how much clearer/sharper my mind is. Someone at work asked if I had gotten a promotion. She thought I’d been acting like I was in a different role at work! Thank you.
–L.J., San Mateo, CA
Hi Mary, Just a quick note to let you know that I have been on your program for 11 days and I feel wonderful! My energy levels have improved in so many ways– I feel like Wonder Woman now! I also feel so much less anxious. Thank you.
–C.R., Miami, FL
I have Chron’s disease and have had many health issues because of it. When I came to Mary, I was on 40 mg. of Prednizone and miserable. I had tried some diet changes in the past however, nothing seemed to work. Mary, with her incredible depth on knowledge, started me on a cleanse which began my road to recovery. I identified foods and products that were exacerbating the Chron’s. I took those things out of my diet and the healing began. I went off the Prednizone, started eating my new regime and felt better than I had since I was diagnosed with Chron’s 20 years ago. Because Mary is so knowledgeable and creative, together we were able to get my life to a place of health that I thought I would never be able to achieve. She is awesome to work with and someone I can trust with my health care. My life has changed because of her expertise and ability to support me while I made some major diet changes in my life. It is important to have a knowledgeable nutritionist with whom to work. However, it is more important that the nutritionist has skills to help one change their lifestyle as that is usually the product of working with a nutritionist. I am very thankful to Mary and recommend her very highly to anyone. She is a change agent and a delight with which to work!!!
–B.C., San Ramon, CA
Deciding to work with Mary is one of the best choices I’ve ever made. When we began, I suffered from constant fatigue, and depressed, unstable moods. We worked together to develop an appropriate (and surprisingly easy) diet plan, which identified a food allergy that I never knew existed. Not only have I learned a lot about healthy eating and human physiology, but I feel happier and more energetic than I have in years. I’m so thankful to have discovered a manageable solution based on whole foods and not prescription pills. I would recommend this process to anyone. It will change your life!!!!
–A.R., San Francisco
Mary, I just had to say THANK YOU! The information you are giving me is phenomenal. You changed my life in a day, and I am in awe of all that you know. I’m so excited and feel like I finally have the tools and guidance that I need to make positive changes in my diet and in my life as a whole.
–M.M., San Francisco
I am so happy I found Mary! I have struggled with stomach and digestive issues for over 10 years. I’d been to multiple doctors, none of whom could find anything “wrong” with me. I’d come to accept that having a chronic upset stomach was just normal. Then I met Mary. Now I’ve tried just about every diet out there–none lasting or providing the results they claimed because I couldn’t stick to it. I need consistency, nourishment, and satisfaction (not to feel deprived). I know pizza’s not going to provide me the nutrition (or the body) that I need. But I need to know why. Tell me what it does to my body. Tell me why what I eat affects me the way it does. At our first full session, Mary broke all of it down for me. “If you eat X, it does Y & Z to your body, and that’s why you feel like crap. Let’s try eating A, B, C instead and see how you feel.” Well A, B & C works! Finally I can eat a meal and not feel like crap afterwards. My stomach is happy now. Mary is incredibly responsive, providing compassionate, educated guidance every step of the way. I highly recommend her to anyone who knows there’s a better way to feel, and needs some help along the way. If your body feels “off,” or your stomach always hurts, or you just need a little help with weight loss, Mary is the way to go. Oh, and in addition to feeling fantastic, my skin is glowing, and I’ve lost 12 pounds in 8 weeks!
–S.T., San Jose, CA
After years of dragging myself through life with stomach pains, lethargy and depression, after trying anti-depressants, intense cleanses like the master cleanse and diets likes macrobiotic, being pissed off that Kaiser dismissed me as having a bullshit diagnosis of IBS, and trying to get myself motivated to cut out gluten, dairy and sugar from my diet with little success, I found Mary and she is helping me turn my life around. In-between sessions she is available to check in by phone or email and help give you guidance and make sure everything is going well for you. The support she gives is amazing! Because my digestive symptoms were so bad, Mary had me do a 30 day elimination diet. This was essential for me to see the horrible effects that dairy and gluten have on me. She also tested my adrenals and found they were low, and is helping me build them up my strength and energy through diet, supplements and lifestyle suggestions. Because my health issues are so intense, I am slowly getting better and gaining strength. Mary provides me encouragement and support all the way through. I don’t think I could do it without her!
–A.E., San Francisco
The reason I went to see Mary was for weight loss. I tried just about every diet out there, and have a strong fitness routine, but just couldn’t seem to lose any weight. I came across an article Mary had written and was so impressed I decided to give her a call. When we met, we discussed an issue I’ve struggled with for the last 12 years. I’ve suffered from bouts of dizziness, fatigue and feeling unbalanced. The symptoms would come and go, so I figured it was something I would just have to deal with. She immediately pinpointed the root cause of my problem and started working with me to change my eating habits. I came to her as a vegetarian, tired and lethargic and heavy. Once I changed my diet, I started seeing changes immediately. The “foggy brain” symptoms stopped immediately. I started dropping weight. I thought I was eating pretty well until Mary analyzed my daily food intake and pinpointed areas I needed to change. They were subtle, but what a difference they made! I no longer get those heavy sugar cravings at 3pm! Her recipes and recommendations have made a big difference in the way I eat. I have energy now and stay up later in the evening instead of collapsing at an early hour. I appreciate Mary’s phone conferences, book recommendations and general advice. She’s extremely knowledgeable and answers my questions on nutrition so I can understand them.
–L.J., Sunnyvale, CA
I went to see Mary after reading that your liver is connected to your lymphatic system. I needed to detox for my general health. Mary set me up with a liver cleanse that included a “magic powder”. She also included a diet that worked for my “on the go” lifestyle. I was surprised to find out that I am sensitive to gluten. I am a new person now that I have eliminated it from my diet. Thanks Mary!
–J.V., San Francisco
I’m an occasional “cleanser” and went to see Mary after being referred to her by a colleague. I was looking for a mild cleanse given that I’ve got a 15 month old at home and wasn’t in the mood for the “master cleanse” or other extreme cleanses that I’ve done. Mary’s cleansing program is great and she did a fantastic job of explaining everything and being a resource for me. The program is based on eating well rather than starving the body. I cut out all the allergens and cut out coffee and alcohol (ugh) but felt amazing after a week. My colleagues and friends actually noticed a difference in me after ten days. I also noticed that I didn’t have the fuzzy brain syndrome that I thought was normal for me. It’s now been a month, I just had my last follow up with Mary, and I still feel great. My diet is better, I’ve cut back considerably on gluten and dairy (which weren’t doing good things to my body) and I have a more moderate take on other foods/beverages.
–M.B., San Francisco
You are really, really good at what you do. I’ve lost 7 pounds and am happy to be on the path to optimum health.
–A.B., San Francisco
I consider myself very healthy, but since moving to SF I’ve experienced a number of health problems, allergies, asthma, stress, anxiety. My face would break out randomly into red splotches and I would get short of breath. I had had enough. I reached out to Mary again because I was experiencing major stress and anxiety as well as allergic symptoms and I wanted HELP! She walked me through my diet, which was really eye opening for me. I didn’t even know the things I was and wasn’t giving myself. After a 2 hour consultation I left the office feeling back on track and recharged to make a difference in my life with my relationship to food. What a difference it makes to listen and be mindful. And sometimes we forget or don’t even know what health feels like until we have it! Thank you Mary! I look forward to more of your good advice!
–S.H., San Francisco
I consider myself a pretty health-conscious consumer, and have done my fair share of reading about nutrition and fitness. I thought I had all the answers, but still wasn’t losing weight. In fact, when I became vegetarian, I GAINED weight! In the middle of a crazy cleanse, I decided to listen in on one of Mary’s informative conference calls to get some tips about cleansing. Let’s just say that after that call, I put down the lemon syrup juice and started attending Mary’s classes, and it has been a year and I am 20 lbs lighter. Under Mary’s guidance, I’ve totally changed the way I think about food, and while my diet may seem pretty different to some people (no counting calories, lots of rich foods, but gluten free), I’ve never felt better (and I never feel like I am going hungry)! Plus, Mary is so knowledgeable that she’s helped me figure out how the way I was eating was contributing to other health problems that I had been having. I really believe now that the belly is the center of the immune system because by making changes to my diet, I was able to control some issues that before I needed medication for.
–C.M., San Francisco
If you want to be healthy and more energetic, you need to work with nutritionist Mary Vance. I’ve seen her work first hand at my clinic and recommend her whole heartedly to my patients!
–Dr. Morgan Camp, Mill Valley, CA
I finally crossed a line, and it has been pretty incredible. I’m no longer as exhausted as I usually am, and I had gotten used to thinking that was normal. I forgot how it feels to be better!
–M.K., San Francisco
I feel awesome and my insatiable appetite is finally under control! Sugar cravings stopped after about 3 days; I am on day 5 now. My parents decided to do the diet with me for support and my dad has already lost 5 lbs! So you are helping more than one person 
–R.M., Overland Park, KS
Even though Mary focuses on women’s health, she successfully diagnosed my gluten intolerance and solved all of the resulting health issues I was having. For years medical doctors simply prescribed pills to treat my various symptoms and never bothered to look for the actual cause.
–D.M., Washington, D.C.
Mary has abundant knowledge on how to get you on the path to good nutrition and conveys it in a way that makes you excited about making changes for the better.
–L.S., San Francisco
I suffered from major gas, cramps and insomnia, until one day I decided my body was trying to tell me it was not happy. After my first consultation with Mary, I learned about doing a both a detox and a digestive cleanse, and I went into it with the intention of both helping my body function better and welcome a change of lifestyle. I did not even think the connection between the body and the mind would and did occur as strongly as it did. The clarity of mind that i experience and sound sleep were side effects of the detox that I most enjoyed. Not to mention the new way of thinking about food and weight loss that occurred. By the end of the 8 weeks, I was “gas- free” and had lost 10 pounds along with so many other changes in my life. I had not only “cleansed” my body but also many other unwanted things out of my life.
–L.P., San Francisco
