I’m a wife, a mother of two, a grandmother of two, a recently retired elementary school educator and a Certified Adapt Functional Health Coach.  Like you or someone you know I was struggling with all kinds of health challenges.  I was anxious, not sleeping well, felt like I had no energy and my brain wasn’t working the way I wanted it to. 

I was a third grade teacher and needed the energy to handle all the responsibilities of my career and raising my children. At work I was constantly rushing from one task to the next, always feeling behind and after work was spent preparing dinner, getting kids to after school activities, helping with homework, and trying to catch up on my own schoolwork and household chores.  There didn’t seem to be any time for me.  I had so many dreams, things I wanted to accomplish and I wanted to make an impact on the world, but was too tired and stressed out.

I went to a doctor specializing in fatigue related illnesses.  He started me on the path to wellness.  With his help I worked on my health one piece at a time, like a jigsaw puzzle. I found out I was intolerant to gluten and many other foods, had some nutrient deficiencies and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. He suggested I eliminate gluten and the other foods I was sensitive to. I made progress, but still had many lingering symptoms. 

Then I became passionate about health and wellness.  Health became my hobby. I decided to be the best teacher, mom and wife, I had to take care of me. I read and learned everything I could about health and living gluten-free and with my new knowledge, step by step I optimized my health and energy.  I changed my diet, dealt with some gut issues, exercised smarter (not excessively), prioritized sleep, and managed stress.

I became a gluten detective.  It wasn’t easy, but was well worth it.  I learned which personal care products and beauty products I could use, how to avoid cross-contamination, where to shop, how to meet all my nutritional needs on a gluten free diet, how to heal the damage gluten had done to my gut, how to eat at restaurants and with friends and family and how to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the stress of it all.  From that point on I knew I wanted to help others live a healthy and balanced life.