Holistic Health Coaching
I've grappled with my relationship with food for as long as I can remember. In high school, I maintained a relatively healthier lifestyle, engaging in a rigorous strength and conditioning class and actively participating in sports like volleyball and horseback riding. However, post-high school, my eating habits took a turn for the worse. Growing up, I was accustomed to highly processed foods, and the lack of home-cooked meals persisted into my early adulthood.
By the start of my first pregnancy, I already tipped the scales at 200 pounds. Although motivated to adopt healthier eating habits during pregnancy, the changes were short-lived. While I managed to drop to around 180 pounds before my second pregnancy, I gained even more weight during that period, surpassing 200 pounds again. It was between my second and third pregnancies that I truly began prioritizing my health, incorporating regular Zumba classes, and paying careful attention to my diet. I was thrilled to reach 170 pounds, only to find myself gaining more weight during my third pregnancy.
Despite the challenging circumstances, spring brought an opportunity for outdoor activities after my third baby's birth. Unfortunately, the joy was short-lived, as the weight of grief and depression overwhelmed me following the sudden death of my husband and the father of my three children when the baby was just five months old.
My relationship with food spiraled into a full-blown addiction, becoming a crutch for coping with grief alongside nicotine. The effects were tangible – my weight soared out of control, leaving me perpetually tired, irritable, and barely able to keep up with the demands of motherhood. A nap was a daily necessity before my kids returned from school, and I found myself relegated to the sidelines, far from the active and engaged mother I aspired to be.
In the winter of 2018, a glimmer of hope emerged when I took a leap of faith and applied for a job at a sprawling college equestrian center. Surrounded by horses and immersed in the outdoors, it felt like the perfect antidote for my mental health struggles. Miraculously, it worked. My mental well-being improved, and, as a welcome side effect, I began to pay attention to my physical health. The first year brought about positive changes, with a 30-pound weight loss attesting to the transformative power of my newfound job.
However, as winter approached and the holiday season unfolded, my commitment wavered, and the scale started its upward climb once more. Yet, in January 2019, a beacon of hope emerged 3.5 years after my husband's passing. Introduced to a life-altering program, I reluctantly but nervously agreed to give it a shot. What did I have to lose? With little expectation of success, I embarked on a one-month trial, fully anticipating a return to square one.
To my surprise, this decision changed the trajectory of my life. Over seven months, I shed an additional 80 pounds, achieving a level of physical and mental health that surpassed anything I had ever experienced. Suddenly, I transformed into the active mom I had always envisioned – outrunning my children, and possessing more stamina for running and hiking than ever before. In this journey, I found not only a path to physical wellness but a rediscovery of the
vibrant, engaged motherhood I had once only dreamed of.
Engaging in yoga stretches almost daily, incorporating regular 6-mile runs twice a week, and embracing weightlifting became not just a routine but a joyful expression of movement. The weight lifted off my body, allowing it to function optimally. Over five years have passed since that nervous but pivotal "YES!" and I couldn't be more thrilled about the transformation in my health.
Today, my physical well-being takes on a new form, and my mental health has found a more stable ground. Navigating the postpartum journey with our fifth baby has proven to be the healthiest experience I've encountered. Having grappled with postpartum depression and anxiety in varying degrees after each previous pregnancy, I approached this postpartum season armed with better preparation and nutritional education.
While there are still days shadowed by postpartum depression and anxiety, my awareness has increased significantly. No longer seeking comfort in food, I've adopted healthier coping mechanisms aligned with my hormones, providing the peace and nervous system regulation my body craves. The journey, my sister, holds hope. Whether you aim to shed a little or a lot of weight, seek enhanced energy and structured habits, or wish to refine your nutrition to complement your workouts, there's a path for you.
Perhaps you're in the preconception season, aspiring to cleanse your body and cultivate healthy habits before embarking on a pregnancy. Whatever your lifestyle or goals, let's connect and explore how we can elevate your health together!
