Functional Medicine Is My Heart

My path to wellness started when I became a fitness instructor in 2003. I chose to teach fitness classes to help prevent the notorious “Freshman 15” in college. Little did I know that choice would turn into a lifetime of dedication to wellness way beyond physical appearance.

My education and career path in nutrition and fitness could not have been better suited for me. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Health, Human Performance, Recreation, and Coaching while working as a personal trainer, fitness instructor, and CNA in the neuro ICU and short stay surgical at a local hospital. However, my life was turned upside down in 2013 when Iost my mother to ALS after her 10-month excruciating battle with the disease. Shortly after she passed away I developed autoimmune symptoms conventional medicine failed to help me with. I dealt with infertility for 3 years prior to my first miscarriage. I battled with autoimmunity after each of my 7 pregnancies (3 miscarriages, 2 cesarean sections, and 2 vaginal births), symptoms which completely disappeared when I was pregnant.

I was at my rock bottom with no one to guide me, when I learned about functional medicine. Having a medical background mixed with nutrition and fitness, it all made sense and gave me the hope I had not had in years, so, I dove in head first!

I studied functional medicine books, providers (MD’s, DO’s, nutritionists, PA’s, etc…), published research, and resources through The Institute for Functional Medicine (I am now a practitioner) and applied all the concepts I learned diligently

AND IT WORKED!!

I have never felt better, and I am not the only one.

Thousands of practitioners are becoming certified each year with IFM, most of whom are MD’s, DO’s, and nutritionists. This is a movement that is long overdue and I imagine will vastly change the future of medicine. Functional medicine is a root cause approach to disease prevention that looks at the entirety of the individual including antecedents, triggers, and mediators, to find an individualized approach to health.

We have a saying in functional medicine – “if you are sitting on a tack, you wouldn’t put a band-aid on the tack, right? You would remove the tack”. Yet we have to find the tack, and that is the joy I feel when I work with every individual I meet. Everyone is unique, coming from a different place of readiness to change and disease state/s. Many of my clients just want to eat better or find a fitness plan. Some have debilitating autoimmune disease/s. All, however, come to me with hope, and that is why functional medicine is my heart. It offers hope, empowerment, healing, and a means of resilience.

I obtained my master’s degree in Human Nutrition Functional Medicine and Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Western States. In addition to helping clients with their nutrition and fitness goals, I can be found parenting 4 kiddos (all two years apart), helping my hubby with his construction business, walking my dog, reading fiction, and listening to music.

People often ask me how I do it all. Am I a crazy type A go-getter who should probably relax a little more? Probably (though I am getting better at that as I get older). However, I love this life and everything it has to offer. I wake up (nearly) every morning with energy for my day and a positive attitude, much of which I attribute to taking care of my body and mind by eating well, staying fit, resting when appropriate, and applying functional medicine practices I have learned throughout my journey.

I know what it feels like to not want to get up in the morning, to have debilitating joint and muscle pain, to feel like you are in a rut that you will never claw your way out of, to have anxiety, panic attacks, gut issues, the list goes on. I also know there is power in you to fix it, when you are ready to make the changes! It’s hard work, but it’s worth it.

Choosing Resilience

I choose to have a positive mindset daily even when life is difficult. I attribute that personality trait to my mother. One of my favorite quotes is “My mother worked too hard for me to be anything but great.” I share my personal story in hopes that it will encourage others to be resilient in the face of hard times. Everyone has a story to tell. From this point forward, you are the author of yours.

Credentials

  • Doctorate Clinical Nutrition
  • Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist
  • BCNS Certified Nutrition Specialist
  • Master’s Science degree in Human Nutrition Functional Medicine.
  • Bachelor’s Science degree in Health, Human Performance & Coaching.
  • NCHEC Certified Health Education Specialist.
  • CAPPA Certified Childbirth Educator.
  • ACE and AFAA Certified Personal Trainer.
  • ACE certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist.
  • Birthed and am raising four kids, the most “credentialed” credential of all.