
As I sit here in my new favorite coffee shop, I am thinking a lot about my goals as a health coach. I explained in my last post what a health coach is, but while I am trained in all of those areas of coaching, my main focus is elimination diets and women’s nutrition.
I follow the belief system that there isn’t one diet and/or lifestyle suitable for everyone. As a coach, I will get to know you, your habits, and your preferences and together we will design a nutritional program customized for your unique needs and specific health goals.
I believe that the struggles we endure are insights into our life’s purpose. Struggling with food in my personal life started as a major frustration, but turned into my biggest passion. I want to share my story with you in hopes to inspire you, give you hope, and let you know that if you share in any of these feelings, you are not alone.
Throughout my late adolescence and into my early twenties, I struggled with disordered eating. Initially it was all about losing weight, but then it became more of a mind game. I loved the feeling of having power over my body and felt proud for being so “disciplined”. I thought I was in control, but in truth, my disorder took complete control over me. After years of treating my body poorly, filling it with artificial sweeteners, fat free and low fat garbage, counting calories, and eating just enough to keep my heart beating, I passed out off the toilet. This was my wake up call. I started to educate myself about whole foods, real foods, the importance of proper nutrition, and the relationship with food and wellness.
In the years to follow, I began another health journey. I was suffering from bloating, breakouts, IBS related symptoms, joint pain, and fatigue. I saw many doctors and all left me with same useless diagnosis. They said I had “IBS”, but provided me with no information regarding why I had it or what I could do to help myself. This is when I began to be my own best health advocate. I was discouraged by the professionals and new the one person who cared the most about me getting well was me. I began researching holistic ways of healing, and it always came back to the same thing – food. The quality, the source, the ingredients, and the food groups. To make a long story a little shorter, I discovered that I was intolerant/sensitive to dairy and gluten. When I cut these from my diet, my skin never looked better, and I had no more belly bloat, painful gas, and irregular bowels. I felt light, lively, and free for the first time in a long time.
After years of researching for my own wellbeing, I realized that I am not unique. Hundred of thousands of people suffer with discomfort on a regular basis and accept it as normal. I have something to tell you. While this may seem “normal” because so many people experience it, it certainly isn’t natural. You are meant to feel alive and nourished after you eat, not sluggish and in pain.
Now that you know my story, do you consistently suffer from acne, eczema, bloating, or IBS? Are you unhappy with your weight or do you often feel lethargic? By learning about your body and discovering your unique nutritional needs, you can get to the root cause of these symptoms and begin to feel comfortable in your skin from the inside out.
Everything comes back to what we eat. When we eat well for our bodies, we feel well in our bodies. Treat yours well and live the beautiful life you deserve.
With love & gratitude,
Brittany
P.S. For recipes, tips, and support follow me on Instagram and Facebook.
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