My Story

I'm happy you've landed here to learn more about me.  My story below takes you on a journey of sickness to health.  I can help you also discover and become your best and healthiest self with what I've learned in my own journey.

In my previous career as a Virtual Assistant/Online Business Manager, I would sit for hours before taking a break and getting out of my chair. My diet was fair; I thought I ate well because I love to cook. I rarely made time for exercise. I have a driven work ethic and I can easily work a 10-hour day, if I let my work rule me.  I was 50 lbs overweight and felt lazy - never having enough energy to do more than work and come home to make dinner.  My life was out of balance.

Years ago, I started exploring different diets to lose weight and increase physical activity to feel better. None of the diets seem to work 100% for me. Before long, I was living with constant pain in my foot and hip, a hot prickly rash after I ate, brain fog, muscle weakness, dry skin, thinning hair, erratic mood swings and my auto-immune condition was flaring up daily. Following that, our house was on the market for sale, my dog was diagnosed with diabetes and my finances were stretched way too thin. With all these stressors, I was losing time with my client work. Needless to say, I was under incredible stress both personally and professionally. I had lost all passion for my work. I was exhausted. I felt I had hit a brick wall. I literally had no energy or passion left in me.

It was then that I ran into a friend who recommended I see her Integrative M.D. I was impressed because the doctor spent time with me to learn of all my stressors and to look at me as a whole person to see what was going on with me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. He ran tests and diagnosed me with leaky gut, systemic inflammation, hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue and my autoimmune condition came out of remission.   This was the turning point for tackling my health issues.

After 8 years of continued personal and professional development, I now understand that all of these conditions originated from imbalanced hormones (reproductive, thyroid and adrenals) due to lifestyle factors -- meaning that these conditions could have been prevented with awareness, education and healthier lifestyle habits.  

Hearing this convinced me that I needed to take better care of me.  I decided to step off the merry-go-round and concentrate on healing me. I reduced my work hours, scheduled daily exercise, learned to eat better with whole foods that were free from chemicals, antibiotics, hormones and additives, and implemented daily self-love activities like spending time with family and friends, laughing more and doing more fun things.

While my body healed, I realized that my passion for my former career didn't return. In fact, it became more of a stressor to me. What I was becoming passionate about was finding the healthy holistic way out of my pain, eating to heal my body and practicing self-care to bring balance and energy back into my life. I soon discovered the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. A school dedicated to teaching students about nutrition and nutrition science, wellness concepts, coaching methods and healthy lifestyle habits. That's when I decided to become a health coach. I wanted to help others find their way to better health through the holistic approach of diet and lifestyle changes, just as I had.

Even though I respected my Integrative M.D.'s approach to my health, there was still something missing - a gap of sorts - for how I was going to carry out his recommendations. I did find my own way eventually but I realized that not everyone knows how to make these changes on their own or have the self-discipline to see it through to the end goal. Health coaches offer assessment of lifestyle imbalances, a guided action plan and accountability to help clients reach their personal health goals. Sometimes it takes a health coach to bridge the gap between medical professionals and successful implementation of healthy habits. Health coaches work with medical professionals to ensure that their patients are compliant with their recommendations. This is something that medical professionals rarely have time to do with their patients.

Changing my career in my mid-50's has been an integral part of my health journey. I now have a purpose that is fulfilling, rewarding and brings me much joy; and I am equally passionate about empowering men and women to choose health over sickness. Through working with me, you will create a balanced diet and lifestyle, reduce your pain, shed unwanted pounds, increase your energy and live a happy life!

Schedule a free 30-minute session with me using the button below.  During this call, we will identify your top health goals and your deepest motivation that will move you from where you are now to where you want to be.