My Journey to Becoming a Coach
My nutrition journey began in my mid-teens, in the 1990s, when I received a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for my uncomfortable, bloated and often “upset” stomach, but was offered no further treatment, and little was known about the gut microbiome 30 years ago. I, therefore, continued with a typical Western diet, comprising of a lot of ultra-processed foods and sugar, and, not surprisingly, my symptoms never really improved; I just learned to live with them - trying various combinations of fad diets and restrictive ways of eating - to no real consequence.
After having children, and when I reached perimenopause in my mid-40s, my tolerance and sensitivity to processed foods worsened, and my symptoms increased. I felt miserable, unaware of the gut-brain connection and how my eating habits were not only affecting my stomach but also my mood. The pandemic and lockdown hit, and so did my rock bottom with food.
Fortunately, so did the beginning of my journey into a whole food, non-restrictive way of eating that changed my life and my relationship with food and relieved me of the obsession with controlling and restricting foods. I became passionate about exploring more recent discoveries (in the last decade or so) of how to eat and live for optimal health. I wanted to share this message with the many people (mostly women) I knew had experienced similar issues with eating.
In 2021, I qualified as a Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach…
…and have continued to practise personal, healthier eating choices while continuing to read and learn about the impact of diet and lifestyle on health and longevity. I am also a qualified fitness instructor and committed to fitness training and general well-being.
In 2023/24, I took the leap from my role as a Senior Manager within a financial institution to set up my own practice as a Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach. I remain committed and passionate to carrying this message and supporting others in their journey towards optimal health.