How many times have you said out loud or in your head, “I just want to feel like myself again?”

I remember waking up every morning wanting to feel like myself again so clearly….

…wanting to bounce out of bed instead of dragging myself to the coffee pot

…wanting to feel comfortable in my own body and clothes

…wanting to be free of severe seasonal allergies and able to think clearly

…wanting to not have to work so hard to maintain my weight

…wanting the acne to disappear from my face

…wanting the weird hormonal stuff to just go away

…simply wanting to feel my best so I could live life to the fullest

If you wish you could feel like yourself again, I’m here to tell you it is possible.  With the right tools and resources, you can find the missing pieces to your health puzzle and get back to feeling like yourself again, or for the very first time.

I’m living proof. I’ve done it, and so many of my clients have too.

I bet you know something deeper is going on with your body, but it feels like no one is listening to what you have to say.  

You’ve probably seen specialist after specialist, been recommended a laundry list of supplements, medications, and therapies but nothing has really helped you get YOU back. 

You understand there’s a place for specialists and medications, but you think there’s a better way to get your health and self back so you can enjoy your life to the fullest.

You crave answers like a kid craves candy (and you probably crave foods too for unexplained or uncontrollable reasons!).

Am I right?

I’ve been there; I’ve been told my blood work looked normal even when I didn’t feel that way, or that my hormone issues were a part of aging when I knew better. 

I was searching for answers that no one else could seem to give me.

In this week’s video and blog, I’m going to help you find the missing pieces of your health puzzle and get real answers so you can get back to feeling like yourself again (or for the very first time).

What you need is a new way of looking at disease, to be educated instead of medicated, and then you’ll have the keys to unlock the answers you’ve been searching for.

Here are the 3 exact steps I took and that I guide my clients through to boost energy, balance hormones, achieve weight goals, and overcome just about any other health issues that might be ailing you. 

#1 – Figure out what foods are right for your body so it can function at its potential.
You are unique and therefore your diet should be too.  What works for one person won’t necessarily work for you and yet you’re trying to fit yourself into a specific framework with most dietary approaches.  

There’s a difference between eating healthy and eating right for your body. Eating right for your body may include healthy foods, but not every healthy food is right for your body. 

So how do you figure out what is right for your body?  

You can do this by testing to see which foods your body responds best to, and then dialing in your macronutrient (protein, carb, and fat) ratios using my Food and Body Language Log. 

This will instantly boost your energy, reduce any bloating, and provide the nutrients your body needs to function at its potential.  When I discovered what foods were right for my body, I instantly started feeling more like myself again. 

#2 – Find the missing pieces and restore balance to all body systems.
The body is a complex network of systems, each doing an important job that the other systems depend on.  When one system goes down, they are all affected.

Functional lab testing will help you find the missing pieces so you can see what systems of the body are out of balance and how they are impacting each other, revealing your healing opportunities!  These are NOT your typical blood tests.  They are usually saliva, urine, and stool based to show the physiological aspects of the body and how it’s working, or not working.

Functional lab tests will take a deeper look at your hormones, immune, digestion, detoxification, energy, and nervous system. In turn, this will guide you towards the right diet, rest, exercise, supplementation, stress reduction, and toxin removal you need to feel your best. 

#3 – Tune into your body and give it what it needs to feel your best all the time.
Your body holds all of the answers you need, and it always has, but we’ve been conditioned to disconnect from our body and to search externally for solutions. When something doesn’t feel right in your body, it’s your body asking you to pay attention, to tune into what it’s trying to tell you. When you do, you’ll know what to do to feel your best all the time.

Have you ever noticed that when you have a stressful day you experience the following: your stomach gets upset, you experience joint pain, you can’t sleep, or your skin breaks out?

Or when you eat certain things, your body reacts in some way?

This is your body talking to you, telling you to pay attention to something.

For a long time, I dealt with and ignored joint pain, severe seasonal allergies, weight struggles, migraines, cyclical breast tenderness, fatigue, and much more.  

Hindsight is always 20/20 though. Looking back, I can clearly see that these symptoms were my body’s way of waving the red flag to get my attention and let me know something was wrong.

We’ve become accustomed to accepting things that are common as normal, but just because something is common does NOT mean it’s normal.

Now if my body feels “off” in any kind of way, I tune it; check to see what it needs and give it just that.  

This could mean eating something differently, canceling obligations to rest, getting some fresh air, doing meditation, or simply drinking some water.  Whatever my body needs, I’ve got its back, and it’s got mine. 

The health and aging concerns you are facing today are not your destiny.  They are an accumulation of things that have happened over your lifetime which have slowly chipped away at that “feel good” feeling until you barely recognize yourself anymore.

With these 3 steps you can unravel the doings of time and reveal the REAL YOU.

What step are you committed to taking today so you can feel like yourself again?

Comment below to let me know!

P.S. If you want to explore the missing pieces of your health puzzle on a deeper level so you can actually fix what is wrong and feel your best, then click here to get on my waiting list for an Ideal Health & Weight Discovery Session with me (and get an awesome list of practitioner referrals if you want to take action now)!

I can’t believe this happened again.

Just last week, another client of mine who has been struggling with PMS symptoms and weight loss sent over her thyroid results, which revealed an underlying thyroid imbalance.

But this was the real kicker…

Her doctor said absolutely nothing to her about it!  

They were completely dismissed because her thyroid values fell within the clinical diagnostic lab ranges despite the fact that her symptoms correlate with a thyroid problem.  

And don’t even get me started with typical reference ranges – they don’t reflect optimal healthy ranges.  For example, the standard reference range on this client’s lab results for Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) was 0.5 to 5.33. The optimal range is 0.5 to 2, and her result was 5.16 (pretty close to the high end of the standard range!).  Quite a difference right?

According to the American Thyroid Association, “more than 12 percent of the U.S. population will develop a thyroid condition during their lifetime. An estimated 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease and up to 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition.”

Those are some alarming numbers.  You could be sitting here reading this right now and not even realize you could be a part of those statistics.

It’s Thyroid Awareness Month; so it’s time to check in and see if your Thyroid has been sending an SOS, asking you to pay attention to this important information.

Just about every client I’ve worked with has either been diagnosed with a thyroid condition, has a family history of it, or suspects that they have one.  

Whether you ask Dr. Google or an Endocrinologist about why you might be feeling tired all the time, struggling with weight loss, losing your hair, feeling cold when others don’t, or have menstrual irregularities, chances are the information you get will point to a thyroid condition.

These are the three most commonly overlooked and diagnosed thyroid conditions:

Hyperthyroid – common symptoms can include; weight loss, anxiety, intolerance to heat, hair loss, excessive urination, and panic attacks.

Hypothyroid – common symptoms can include; weight gain, fatigue, intolerance to cold, constipation, depression, and thinning hair.

Hashimotos – this is a more severe case of hypothyroidism with similar symptoms; a genetic component making it an actual autoimmune disease, meaning the body is attacking its own thyroid gland.

However, in most cases, thyroid conditions are a symptom of something else.

The body does not work in singular systems where organs are all minding their own business.  Each system of the body greatly impacts how all of the others are able to function.

To understand what’s happening with the thyroid, we have to start asking “WHY?”

Why is this thyroid epidemic happening?  Why are people’s thyroids all of a sudden “just not working”? – as most of my clients are told.

We need to start looking at our body as the complex system that it is.  Remember that song in preschool… ”the foot bone is connected to the ankle bone, the ankle bone is connected to the leg bone, la la la la…” – everything is connected!

Like I said earlier, in most cases, thyroid conditions are a symptom of something else because it’s all connected.  

If you have been diagnosed, know someone who has, or suspect that you have a thyroid condition, here are the Top 4 Things Throwing Your Thyroid Off.

#1 – Low-Calorie Diet
Calorie restrictions, for as little as a few days, can drop thyroid production by 38 percent!  That’s just over a “few” days; imagine if you’ve been dieting for weeks, months, or years, even if it’s been on and off.  Even if you lost some weight from calorie restriction, the long-term side effects are a slower metabolism from a famished thyroid.

#2- Clogged Liver
Your liver is responsible for converting a huge chunk of your thyroid hormone.  If your liver is clogged from chronic exposure to toxins, medication use, processed foods, and other things, then of course you wouldn’t be converting thyroid hormones as you should and this could look like a thyroid condition.

#3- Adrenal or Cortisol Dysfunction
The HPA-axis (Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Adrenal Gland Axis) is one of the main control centers of the body – consider this the conductor of the train or orchestra.  The Hypothalamus links the nervous and endocrine system via the Pituitary gland, and your thyroid is part of the endocrine system.  If you have Adrenal or Cortisol Dysfunction going on, guess what?  There’s a domino effect causing an imbalance in the thyroid.  This type of dysfunction occurs with prolonged periods of stress and inflammation in the body, which most of us have experienced until we know what to do otherwise. 

#4- Amino Acid Deficiency
For the body to produce thyroid hormones, particularly one called free T4, it needs an adequate supply of amino acids obtained from proteins.  If you are not eating enough protein or absorbing it optimally, then your body is NOT getting enough amino acids to create thyroid hormones in the first place.  With Hashimoto’s, it is critical to support digestion and to consume plenty of protein for free T4-it will help manage the disease better.  Alternatively, those without Hashimoto’s but with impaired digestion or lacking amino acids in their diet could be showing low free T4 counts and be misdiagnosed with a thyroid condition.

There are high chances that one of these four things pertains to you in some way.  It’s rare to see someone who has never dieted, has optimal digestion and protein intake, who doesn’t have a clogged liver, or who has minimal stress and inflammation in their lifetime, making adrenal or cortisol dysfunction irrelevant. 

I want to help you avoid becoming part of this thyroid epidemic!

I’ve written a TON of blogs about thyroid health and thyroid-related health issues to give you all the resources, tools, and pieces of the puzzle you need to support and heal your thyroid naturally.

Check out some of my most popular and insightful blogs about your thyroid so you can prevent or potentially reverse any thyroid issues you might encounter….

Think You Have A Thyroid Problem? Read this
I dive into details about how having a sluggish liver can greatly impact your thyroid function and what you can do to promote optimal thyroid hormone conversion!

What If It’s Not A Thyroid Problem
This blog explores other factors impacting thyroid function that make it look like you have a thyroid problem when it’s really not your main issue.

3 Steps To Support & Heal Your Thyroid
In this 3-part blog series, I share with you the major steps I took (also the steps I guide my clients through) to support and heal the thyroid naturally.

My mission is to support busy, health-minded people like you in getting your hands on the right lab tests and resources so you can have a super healthy thyroid, or so you can simply get back to feeling like yourself again.

If you want to explore the missing pieces of your health puzzle on a deeper level so you can actually fix what is wrong and feel your best, then click here to get on my waiting list for an Ideal Health & Weight Discovery Session with me (and get an awesome list of practitioner referrals if you want to take action now)!

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a magical pill or food you could eat that would stop cravings in their tracks, would give you long-lasting energy, and promote weight loss all at the same time?

There actually is, and it’s called Fat.

Contrary to what you might believe or have been told, new research is showing us how consuming healthy types of fats can be beneficial not only for curbing cravings, boosting energy, and supporting weight loss but also for preventing chronic disease and cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Before we dive into this fat conversation, let’s set the record straight on what types of fats are beneficial for your health.

Fat gets a bad rap, but not all fats are created equal.

There are 4 major categories of fat:

1. Saturated fats
2. Monounsaturated fats
3. Polyunsaturated fats
4. Trans fats

All foods with fat contain various amounts of the different types of fat; saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated.  Some fatty foods can also have naturally occurring or artificial trans fat.

Each type of fat is essential for bodily functions and each comes with its own list of health benefits.

Saturated fats are commonly found in butter, lard, milk, coconut oil, and milk.  They serve as a primary source of energy in the body; as the preferred fuel for the brain, as signaling agents for cells, and can even encourage weight loss.

Monounsaturated fats can be found in avocados, olives, certains meats, and types of nuts. This type of fat is known for its positive impacts on cardiovascular health by reducing LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, inflammation, and blood pressure, and increasing HDL cholesterol.

Polyunsaturated fats are mostly found in fish, some nuts and seeds, and oils such as flax, corn, safflower, and soybean. This type of fat plays a critical role in forming cell membranes, cell function, and regulating gene expression.  Omega-3 and 6’s are a type of Polyunsaturated fat.

Though Trans fats are most controversial, even some of these are healthy for you when they are naturally occurring.  Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is a natural type of Trans fat that reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer, and autoimmunity. It can also improve glucose tolerance, which can prevent or help manage type 2 diabetes.

On the other hand, artificial Trans fats are highly inflammatory and have been shown to increase the risk for cancer, heart disease, obesity, and other chronic inflammatory-related conditions. 

Without dietary fats, or adequate amounts of them (for you), the body can’t function at its potential.

The quality of Fat is what counts.

Aside from the different types of fat, the quality of the fats you are consuming is what counts.

Fat is not only how the body stores energy, but it’s also where the body stores toxins and excess hormones to protect itself from those harmful particles circulating through the system.

If you eat sources of fat that have been exposed to pesticides and herbicides or injected with hormones and antibiotics such as non-organic, grass-fed, free-range meat and eggs, then guess what?  You’re consuming those toxins, hormones, and antibiotics too.

The same goes for fat derived from plant sources such as avocados, olives, and oils.  

To really reap the benefits of dietary fats, you’ll want to avoid all the additives.  Aim to consume them from natural, clean, organic, hormone-free, grass-fed, pasture-raised, free-range, humanely-raised, and minimally-processed sources.

Look for your fats to be:

• Cold-pressed organic oils
• 100% Grass-fed and finished organic hormone-free beef and related products
• Free-range organic hormone-free poultry and eggs
• Organic avocados, olives, nuts, seeds, and coconut products
• Wild-caught fresh fish or packaged in non-toxic containers

Now that you know about fat, its direct health benefits, and what sources of fat to focus on, let’s get to the important stuff- how it can help you lose weight and boost your energy!

In this week’s video and blog, I dive into more detail about why you should eat fat for weight loss, more energy, and better health!

Did you know that 80% of the population is estimated to do better on a higher fat and protein diet and only about 20% thrive with higher carbohydrates?

Yet the dietary guidelines for Americans suggest that your daily food intake should consist of 45-65% carbohydrates.

Let’s talk about what’s wrong with this recommendation…

Carbohydrates are the easiest macronutrient for the body to metabolize. They are instantly converted into glucose (aka sugar) that floods the bloodstream.  Your blood sugar goes up for a period of time, and what goes up must come down.

This is why you may have noticed that you get an instant energy boost after eating a meal higher in carbs, followed by an energy crash –  feeling like you need to take a nap or feeling hunger within 30 minutes to 2 hours after.

As your blood sugar comes crashing down after eating a higher-carb meal, your body loses its energy source and starts craving food to bring your blood sugar back up.

Proteins and fats, on the other hand, require a much more complex and lengthy process to be metabolized and converted into glucose.

Thus, if you eat a meal higher in fat and protein, you’ll have a nice and steady release of glucose over a longer period of time, keeping your blood sugar balanced, energy even, and curbing those cravings.

In fact, fat can’t be converted directly to glucose.  It has to go through an even longer process of conversion before it hits your bloodstream.  

When you eat a diet higher in fat, as your body works to metabolize the fat you ate (which is a long process) it will tap into your existing fat stores for immediate energy, thus promoting weight loss!

In addition to keeping your blood sugar in balance, eating more fat (and therefore less carbs) promotes weight loss and more energy by:

• Increasing your feelings of fullness to curb cravings
• Decreasing appetite-stimulating hormones such as insulin and ghrelin
• Increasing calorie expenditure due to the complex process of metabolizing fat
• Boosting fat loss versus lean body mass due to decreased insulin levels
• Balancing your hormones with essential nutrients needed to make hormones
• Maintaining cell structures for energy production and body efficiency

If you don’t believe me, then I challenge you to try it, just for one meal.

You don’t have to take my word for it. Experience it and challenge yourself to eat one meal higher in fat, with moderate protein and a small amount of carbs.

A great example meal would be a ribeye steak dinner with a side of leafy greens or types of vegetables that grow above the ground (asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, etc.) sautéed or cooked with olive or coconut oil.

Remember, you just want your fat sources to be clean, as previously discussed.

Notice after eating this type of meal how you can go 3-5 hours, or possibly longer, without feeling hungry.  Your energy is even, and when you cut the cravings or need to snack between meals, it becomes easier to manage your weight.

So don’t fear fat.  It does a body good.  Use the right fats to get the results you want!

If you need help figuring out what fats and other foods are right for your body so you can lose weight, have more energy, and get back to feeling like yourself again then, click here to check out my Food & Body Language Log.

P.S. If you are a part of the 20% who don’t do as well with a higher fat and protein diet, you’ll know right away.  Within 30 minutes to 2 hours you’ll experience the opposite effects; you’ll feel sluggish, have a heavy stomach, and want to take a nap while your body is trying to digest.