Growing up, breakfast during the week was cold cereal or nothing. Lunch was whatever school served. Dinner, lots of iceberg lettuce with canned veggies and fruits and large amounts of meat and potatoes. We always had dessert - cake, cupcakes, pies, brownies, strawberry shortcake, etc. My preferred snacks were diet Dr. Pepper, carrots, raisins, dried apricots, leftover dessert, or a dive into the always filled candy dish, or box of ever-present Russell Stover's candy. I don't remember a time growing up that I didn't love eating until I was stuffed. Whenever someone made fun of my weight or made me feel bad, food was my answer and alley.
As an emotional and stress eater, I've struggled with weight gain and weight loss since I was a teenager. I've lost and gained hundreds of pounds. I’ve tried many diets - counting calories, points, and carbs, different types of exercise and many forms of healing. I've gone from eating everything in site to a vegetarian, to eating practically nothing to try to control my weight. While working out at the gym 2-3 hours a day 6 days a week in my late 20's, I used to proudly say, ‘I want my sugar without the fat.’ Yep, I was definitely thinner (actually I was too thin and looked horrible) but it was a struggle to stay that way even with all the low-fat and no-fat food and snacks I ate. Over several years, I fell off the wagon and completely stopped exercising and gained back all the weight I lost, plus more.
I’ve been interested in healing and health for most of my adult years. In coming to the understanding that food is a part of the whole and that certain foods are not processed well by my body but affect the whole, I started eating right for me. Now I have more energy, time to move my body in an enjoyable way (I do not go to the gym - I much prefer belly dancing and walking), more time to pursue my interests and spend time with family and friends. I still love food but I rarely have cravings (do quinoa and kale count?), my digestive issues have disappeared, and most sweets are too sweet for me to actually eat more than a bite and enjoy.
I now know diets don't work. I've discovered that I'm gluten sensitivie anf that eating gluten makes me foggy and indecisive. Being gluten-free has made me more aware of all food allergies and how those food allergies cause inflamation and cravings. I still love food and like to eat but I've changed my relationship with my food one thousand percent, learned to nourish and take care of myself, AND I’ve lost 60 pounds without dieting, deprivation, counting calories, or carbs. Best of all, I love myself and my life!
I received my training to practice Health Coaching at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, which is the only nutrition school integrating all the different dietary theories—combining the knowledge of traditional philosophies with modern concepts like the USDA food pyramid, the glycemic index, the Zone and raw foods. My certification from the Professional Training Program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and Purchase College, State University of New York (SUNY) and Board Certification from AADP (American Association of Drugless Practioners) was received in July 2009. My graduate counseling certificate from the Immersion program at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition was received in June, 2010.
In addition to being a certified Health Coach, I am also a Seichim Reiki and a Karuna® Reiki Master/Teacher, an Emotional Freedom Technique Practitioner (holding Certificates of Completion for EFT-CC and EFT-ADV) and a trained herbalist.
Your six month program will uniquely combine all my training to create a custom whole health program to begin your individual path to wholeness.
If your ready to change your life, break the emotional eating cycle, get off the foods that cause your body to stay imfalmmed, and permanently change your relationship to food, contact me today to schedule a WHOLE NEW YOU BREAKTHOUGH session. If your local to Kansas City, we can meet in person. We can meet via phone nationwide.
For more information about my Health Coaching education, please go to www.integrativenutrition.com or contact me