Every Coach has a story as to how and why they dedicate their life's work to helping others. Most have overcome an obstacle in their health like a serious illness that put them on the path to healing themselves and wanting to help heal others after failed attempts by traditional doctors. I love those stories and find them incredibly inspiring! I'm fortunate that my story doesn't involve a life changing illness, but it is quite life altering and forever changed my purpose.
I was raised in a loving and supportive family, that didn't put much emphasis on exercise or nutrition, but we all played sports, had a strong focus on education, and family bonding. There were many family dinners focused around game nights, pizza delivery and lots and lots of nights eating out at the local franchise restaurants so my mom didn't have to cook. I also had the most loving and supportive grandparents who happened to also have very severe illnesses. I have family members who struggle with obesity, diabetes and heart issues. I remember seeing them as a kid and having a strong desire to do whatever I could to prevent these seemingly scary outcomes from happening to me. I wasn't sure how to prevent them or if it was possible, but it started a curiosity about my own health.
When I was about 18 and away at college, I understood the power I had in choices I made. That was a pinnacle time where I still made not-so-healthy choices when it came to my lifestyle (little sleep most nights, crappy food choices late night, and of course binge drinking at tailgates), but I started to see the correlation between food, activity and sleep and my overall mood, health and brain function. Self-care became more of a priority.
After college, I began my career in Corporate America, as a Hospitality & Business Manager and Coach but my free time was all about learning how to heal the body, optimize my health and detox from the inside out. I took every class I found, completed certifications and picked up cooking skills all throughout my 20's educating myself about nutrition, mind-body medicine, meditation, aerial yoga, body brushing and countless other life hacks to take better care of myself inside and out.
Eventually, when I was entering my 30's I started to question my purpose and what I really wanted to be doing with my time and career. That's when I wrote down all of the things I wanted to do in life and all signs pointed to becoming a wellness professional and advocate. So, I researched and researched until I found the most comprehensive accredited program that focused on a holistic approach. I began IFM's Functional Medicine Coaching Academy just a few months later and during that time, I also found out I was expecting! I had heard your 30s are better than your 20s, but I had no idea that within just a year's time I'd get married, start my new professional journey and become a mom!
After the initial shock, my husband and I realized we were behind. "Already 7 weeks pregnant!? What vitamins do I take, what can't I eat? Do I need more water? What do I do to make sure this little baby thrives?"
I began putting my expertise and resources to work to find the answers to these frequently Googled questions by all expecting mothers and put them into practice. Once I felt like I had a little control over my pregnancy and had the hang of the frequent doctor visits, middle of the night kicks, and everyone asking me how I'm feeling while touching my belly, it was time to deliver!
After an unwanted c-section, I was in for a rude awakening! Postpartum recovery was no joke! Just when you need to be your strongest to take care of your new little being and sort out this new life as "mom", you're hit with out-of-whack hormones, a foreign-looking body, an identity crisis and an overwhelming appetite and thirst that just can't be quenched. No one told me exactly what I was in for and I was a little shocked by it all.
But, the truth is it doesn't have to be this way. If I had the same amount of attention or resources during postpartum as I did throughout my pregnancy I would've been well equipped to navigate postpartum-hood but that just wasn't the case and isn't for most women. Why isn't there a class in school called, "Motherhood and the aftermath: how to prepare for everything to change"?
Once life started to fall into place, that's when I knew I needed to use my expertise in a very specific way. I began solely focusing on woman's health through transitional stages of life. I'm dedicated to helping women find their optimal joy and wellbeing. With a personalized functional medicine approach, I'm your ally while you’re resetting and transitioning to being your best self. I've got your back.