My health journey began back in 2017. I was addicted to processed foods and was the heaviest I had ever been. Boredom and stress were triggers for mindless eating, excessive alcohol intake, and it didn't help to have a partner whose metabolism let them eat whatever they wanted without consequence (IYKYK). At the time, I didn't realize how bad I was feeling; I didn't even realize I was putting on weight. Looking back, I definitely had symptoms of estrogen dominance but my knowledge & interest in the world of women's hormones hadn't started quite yet. 

In January 2017 I got married and when I looked at the pictures of myself I didn’t see ME. I looked unhealthy & inflamed. It was at that moment I realized things needed to change. By late March my husband deployed and the day he left was the day I started my health journey.  

At the time Keto was the new “fad” and I’d heard from people we knew that you could get fast weight loss by eating meat, cheese & butter - who wouldn’t want to jump on that train! A 1,200 calorie keto diet turned into intermittent fasting and going to the gym every day. 7-months later by husband came home and walked past me at the airport. I was 60lbs lighter and unrecognizable. 

Up until this point, keto was easy peasy. However, that didn't last for long. A few months later I started slowly putting on weight and there was nothing I could do to take it off. This led me down a 2-year battle of calorie-restriction, over-exercise & never being satisfied with my body. Eventually, keto turned into one meal a day and the carnivore diet (which BTW also didn't make my weight or body composition budge). I was at my lowest point. I was "depressed", had no sex drive, no confidence & my relationship with my husband was on the rocks. 

One thing I will credit keto for is starting me off on my health journey and leading me into the holistic health & wellness space. I learned about the negative effects of birth control and in late 2018 decided to get off the pill after 10 years. Surprise, surprise, I never got my period back. Despite not having a period or libido, I still had a burning desire to be a mother. That desire along with wanting to regain my relationship with my husband drove me to want to learn more about how to holistically heal my hormones. 

After a lot of research, I stumbled across “hypothalamic amenorrhea” or HA. I read everything I could about HA and joined every Facebook group. After a while, it became clear that the combination of keto, calorie restriction & exercise were NOT doing my hormones any favors. After everything I learned I was still resistant to change because of fear of "gaining weight". I fell into the trap of comparing myself to others and thinking, "I'm not underweight like they are" or "She is still exercising and got her period back". It took me another full year to FINALLY take the leap and commit myself to nourishing and resting my body.

Although my health journey began in 2017, I like to think that it really began in November of 2019. This marks the date when I chose my hormones, happiness & overall wellbeing over aesthetic goals and restriction. Just so you know - I didn't just jump in cold turkey. I added in calories and carbs slowly and was still going to the gym. ACTUALLY, I was going to the gym way too much! I thought going from 1,200 to 2,000+ calories and eating more carbs would negate my exercise during recovery - Wrong again. Luckily, COVID hit, gyms closed & I was forced to rest.  

July of 2020 is where the real change started to happen! Within a few months, my period returned and by November I had a regular cycle again! In March 2021 we found out we were pregnant with our daughter and the rest is history.  

Since regaining my period, my life and my families life has been forever changed. My relationship with food is solid. I have gained a nourishment & abundance mindset that allows me to provide my body with the fuel it needs without guilt, restriction or negotiation. Exercise is still an important part of my life, but no longer use it to punish my body or "stay small". Most importantly, I can enjoy my time with my husband and daughter without constantly thinking about food. 

This is not to say I don't struggle from time to time. I am a real person, just like all of YOU. However, this journey has given me the ability to quickly recognize old tendencies, nip them in the bud & move on with life. 

These experiences are what drive me to want to help women like YOU who are in the same boat.