About

My Story

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, I attended the University of Texas for my undergraduate and graduate studies. I obtained a Master in Professional Accounting, which led to a fast-paced career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). I was often stressed, did not eat well, and rarely had time for exercise. I was in my mid-late 20s, when these bad habits started to catch up with me.

Once my health problems began, I was forced to slow down and understand what I would need to do to regain my health. This led me to develop an interest in nutrition and a passion for helping busy professionals like myself find ways to rebuild their health while maintaining an active lifestyle. I am hoping to share with you what I have learned from my own experiences as well as from my studies at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

The Former Me

I was a busy professional who was always rushing, often over-worked, and rarely made time to relax. I believed that you should “sleep when you’re dead”, hence work and socializing always took priority. I felt that cooking was a chore. I told myself that I did not have time for it, and I did not enjoy it. I didn’t put much thought into what I was eating. I just figured I was young, and I would worry about eating healthy when I was older. I didn’t exactly drink in moderation. Enjoying several drinks in an evening was a pretty regular occurrence for me. I had several ongoing symptoms, which I usually ignored, telling myself that they were typical and something I should simply get used to.

Allow me to elaborate on the symptoms I was experiencing:

• I would have stomach cramping and bloating almost every time I ate.
• I had many other symptoms that were simply diagnosed as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) by an MD, with no further explanation as to what might cause this condition or how to treat it.
• I was almost always tired or had low energy despite getting plenty of sleep.
• I would get a cold or the flu often, usually about once a month.
• My skin would break out occasionally, and I had painful PMS symptoms.
• It was difficult for me to exercise without feeling wiped out.
• If I didn’t eat on time I would get shaky, light-headed, and my energy would drop.
• I felt abnormally cold, even when most people felt warm.
• I was quick to become irritated in stressful or uncomfortable situations.

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? If so, rest assured that there is a solution!

I am a firm believer that the body is always trying to heal; we just need to get out of its way. Several years back I made the decision to get out of my body’s way. I stopped eating foods that did not nourish my body, adjusted sleep and exercise habits, and addressed many issues that caused excess stress in my life. Here are the results:

Present-Day Me

• My IBS symptoms have subsided and my lab results show that I have an extremely healthy digestive system.
• I generally only get tired when it is time for bed.
• I am more focused and have increased mental clarity.
• I rarely get sick.
• I no longer have breakouts and my skin has a rosy glow.
• My painful PMS symptoms are gone, and I barely even notice when it is “that time”.
• I am able to exercise again and it energizes me!
• I am more patient and my moods feel much more balanced.
• I do not get shaky or lightheaded before meals, and no longer have excessive hunger.
• My body temperature is normal; I only get cold when it actually is cold.
• I love to cook and find it very therapeutic.

Training

I am a Certified Health Coach, with board-certification by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners as well. I received my training at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, the only school of its kind to integrate the full spectrum of dietary theories. This includes combining the knowledge of traditional philosophies with modern concepts like the glycemic index, the Zone Diet, and raw foods.

The Institute for Integrative Nutrition also promotes bio-individuality, the concept that each person has his or her own food and lifestyle needs. What works for one person simply may not work for another. This is why it is difficult to follow fad diets: they’ve worked for the person who designed the diet, but may not work for you.

Using the principles of bio-individuality, I will help implement changes that are right for your lifestyle, background, and preferences. I use a customized and holistic approach designed specifically for you.