If someone told me back in my twenties or even my thirties that I would be a health coach one day, I would’ve laughed at them. From an early age, I always found myself oversubscribed in life, giving my energy and my time to everything and anyone else – never prioritizing my own health. I was completely caught up in popular diet culture letting society decide for me what I should weigh and how I should look, and letting my inability to reach these ideals determine my worth. The guilt, shame and embarrassment I felt over my constantly changing size was exhausting and demoralizing and did a number on my self-esteem and body image.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I had some wins. With each new diet I tried I would lose some weight and feel that confidence boost and relish in how amazing it felt to be taking care of myself. I would vow never to return to my old ways. But, as soon as life got in the way, all my new habits would go out the door. I found that maintaining the restrictions and food rules I had created for myself was just not possible, and so I would completely abandon feeling good in my body, let the stress take over, and put my health on the back burner until I had time to focus on it again.
It really wasn’t until the world shut down as part of the COVID pandemic that I took the time to reflect upon how I was living my life and treating my body. I was completely burnt out and realized that being oversubscribed in all aspects of my life and reaching for food to soothe the overwhelm was just not sustainable. I knew there had to be a better way and I was happy to learn that to be true.
I learned to nourish myself on AND off the plate and I focused on how I was talking to myself. I built up a toolbox full of strategies to help me stave off burnout and prioritize my self-care. I now know that healthy living is a continuous journey where “perfect” has no place. Life happens! I learned to stop listening to what everyone else said I “should” do and to trust my body and find what works for me. And now, I am dedicated to helping other busy people explore what healthy living means to them and to provide the support and accountability that I wish I sought out.
As part of my wellness journey, I studied at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition specializing in Emotional Eating Psychology and am a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. I am so grateful to now be able to help others on their own health journeys. My goal is to inspire and empower my clients to foster self-awareness and create their own path towards body confidence and overall well-being.
