Meet Mackenzie!

Welcome to Balanced and Built – I’m So Glad You’re Here!

If you’ve landed on this page, I’m guessing you’re tired of quick fixes, confusing advice, and symptoms that just won’t go away. You’re ready for real, lasting change—not just a new diet or a workout plan, but true healing from the inside out. You're in the right place.

Who Am I?

I’m Mackenzie Suggs—an Integrative and Functional Nutritionist, Certified Personal Trainer, and Wellness Bodybuilding Athlete. I hold two degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nutrition and Integrative Health and have spent years diving deep into the science and practice of holistic wellness.

But beyond the credentials, I’m someone who’s walked the journey myself.

My love for movement began at 16 when I found strength training—and with it, a sense of purpose and empowerment. That passion quickly expanded into nutrition, and eventually into the world of functional and integrative health, where I discovered the profound connection between our habits, environment, and overall well-being.

My Health Journey

I wasn’t raised with the clearest picture of what "healthy" really meant. Like many, I grew up surrounded by processed foods, diet myths, and a “genetic destiny” narrative that said chronic illness was just a matter of time. But I began questioning that. I started noticing how much lifestyle and environment shape health outcomes—and how many of our habits come from the people and systems around us.

From a young age, I knew I wanted more for myself, even if I didn’t yet know what that looked like. My curiosity turned into passion, and eventually, it became a calling.

On a personal note, I’m also a cancer survivor. At age 2, I underwent surgery and chemotherapy for a germ cell tumor. I’ve now been cancer-free for over 20 years. While I don’t remember the experience, I truly believe my body does. That journey—though early in life—hardwired me to care deeply about health. Not just for the sake of looking good, but for living fully.

Later in life, I experienced the ripple effects of hormonal disruption after being on birth control (Depo-Provera) from a very young age. It wasn’t until I began preparing for my second bodybuilding show that I realized something deeper was going on. Despite doing everything right—nutrition, exercise, stress management—my body wasn’t responding. I pulled all the stops and began digging deeper, doing the labs, coming off birth control, and focusing on healing my reproductive system.

It became clear: when one system is off, they all are affected. My journey to true health began not with another plan, but with listening to my body and restoring balance. That experience changed me. It taught me that health isn’t just about aesthetics or numbers—it’s about function, connection, and honoring the whole person.

Why I Do This

This isn’t just a job or a passion project—it’s my mission. I’ve experienced firsthand the confusion, frustration, and fear that can come with health challenges, especially when you're “doing everything right” but still not seeing results. That’s why I now use my education, research, and personal experience to help others uncover root causes, restore balance, and build the strongest version of themselves.

Whether you're struggling with fatigue, hormonal imbalances, gut issues, or just feeling off, I’m here to tell you: you’re not crazy, and your symptoms are not random.

Your body is always talking to you—it's time to start listening.

I am excited to get you to your best self through my challenges, programs, and guides.