Three years ago I was a mess. Metabolically, physically, mentally, and hormonally a mess. Thankfully I was also at a place of questioning the conventional “treatment” of all my conditions and knew that I wanted to get to the bottom of my symptoms and not just cover them up with prescriptions. Two years and more…
My JourneyFatigue, weight gain, low moods, hair loss, brain fog, anxiety, low libido. Society wants us to believe that these are merely symptoms of aging. After 30, things simply start to fall apart.
My gut feeling told me this was not normal and that I shouldn’t accept it. I believed I was experiencing these things for a reason. I thought my thyroid was to blame. When my blood work came back in the normal range, I looked elsewhere for answers, adding in supplements like vitamin D and B12.
A year later, symptoms continued to get worse, as new ones reared their ugly heads. Now I was losing muscle mass, my stubborn weight gain had settled around my midsection, and I was experiencing low moods every day. When my hairdresser also noticed the volume of hair I had lost, panic officially set in. I needed answers now!
I decided to have my thyroid tested again, along with a full hormone panel this time. I took a list of 30 symptoms I was experiencing, each broken down into categories of low testosterone, low progesterone, and low thyroid. In spite of the medical professional telling me all my symptoms were signs of anxiety and depression and she could just put me on an anti-depressant, I was still determined to find answers.
Imagine my frustration when blood work, once again, came back in the normal range. But this time was different. This time I understood the difference between normal and optimal. And what was in the “normal range” was not optimal for my body.
I dug deeper and was led down the path of a holistic, whole-foods diet. Within days of changing the way I eat, I felt like a brand new person. Puffiness, aches and pains, and my daily headaches were gone! A whole new world opened up before me that I couldn’t get enough of. For the first time in my life, I saw food as more than just calories. I realized that food is medicine and has the incredible power to heal. I dove in head first on all the reading and research I could get my hands on. Books, podcasts, and YouTube videos from nutrition experts consumed me. When my call to help others couldn’t be ignored, I chose to enroll in the Primal Health Coach Institute to become a certified health coach. I followed that with the Nutritional Therapy Association to become a Nutritional Therapist and further saw how things like digestion, blood sugar regulation, hydration, mineral balance, and fatty acid balance plays such a massive role in overall health and wellness.
It’s been an incredible journey and I love the growth I continue to experience by immersing myself in this world. I am so excited for the opportunity to educate others on their journeys as everyone deserves to live a life full of vitality and well-being. Book a free discovery session with me to see if we are a good fit to work together!
Initial ConsultationI use a detailed intake form, food and mood journal, and a Nutritional Assessment Questionnaire (NAQ) to figure out your individual low, medium, and high priority areas. The NAQ takes the total points from each section and charts them on a graph to correspond with the specific areas that need attention. The Nutritional Therapy Association protocols consist of focusing on the 6 main foundations, which include digestion, blood sugar regulation, hydration, mineral balance, and fatty acid balance, and, of course, the all-encompassing main foundation of a properly-prepared, nutrient-dense whole foods diet. It’s always so incredible to see positive changes downstream in a client’s thyroid or hormone health by simply focusing on the upstream foundations of digestion and blood sugar regulation. It’s a true testament to the fact that our bodies are intricately connected and that you have to focus on the body as a whole to see total body balance (homeostasis) restored.
Taking all the information from your intake forms and trying to piece things together like a puzzle is the best and most fun part for me. I enjoy working like a detective to figure out where the root of the dysfunction is happening and then come up with a nutritional and supplemental protocol that fits your individual needs. You won’t find cookie cutter meal plans here. No two protocols will be exactly alike as no two clients are exactly alike.
If you’re tired of dieting and trying every new gimmick that hits the market or if continuing to do what you’ve always done isn’t working for you anymore, then it’s time for you to try a program that is completely tailored to your needs.
Reach out to me today to see how I can help.
Start nowAngie H.I am so happy I worked with Kristen. I was suffering from headaches and low energy. Kristen suggested new foods and supplements that have made such a difference. I am headache free and I have an increase in energy every day. Changing my way of eating was hard at first, but I took on the challenge and I’ve never looked back. I 100% recommend Kristen.
Tarah H.I can tell you that Kristen is so valuable in her knowledge and understanding on so many levels of the body, it’s function and the role that proper nutrition plays on your whole well being! She is amazing!
Deb P.LIFE CHANGING! I thought I my eating habits were reasonably healthy with a few minor “transgressions”, i.e., good sources of protein, low fat, low salt, keeping desserts to a minimum and adequate hydration most of the time. When it wasn’t working to meet my energy needs, I went to Kristen for help. Slowly and patiently, Kristen helped me discover different ways to understand food, supporting me every step of the way. I am still losing weight and although that wasn't my original goal, it sure is a nice cherry on the top. I thought my aches and pains were just part of aging and my allergies were related to pine pollen and then living in a rural farming community. I remember my mother teaching me that peanut butter and fruit were the way to deal with my sugar crashes when I was a little girl! Well, now I'm 66 with no pain, no sugar crashes, no brain fog as a long as I eat lunch and I still keep steadily losing weight. I'm wearing clothes I haven't worn for at least 4 years! Can't thank you enough. Is there a refresher program in here? I'm quite sure I didn't absorb all that I heard the first time around.
Staci B.My experience was a huge eye opener for me. l learned to listen to my body and learn what it is telling me. Stop looking at the number on the scale and start to fuel your body with healthy foods. I was waking up every night drenched in sweat. I just figured that everyone my age was going through this, and I need to deal with it. You knew right away what my body was lacking and my night sweats were gone within 4 weeks! I also have not touched a sleeping pill since we started our journey together. I couldn't fall asleep without pills and now I wake up rested and I'm not covered in sweat. Your knowledge is valuable beyond estimation, Kristen!! I can't say enough about your expertise. When I started to work with you I knew you would not quit until you found out exactly what my body needed. You have such a friendly, non judgmental approach. I felt comfortable sharing my weaknesses with you. Thank you for helping me figure out my health and wellness and giving me many tools to overcome them. You truly, my friend, are amazing!!!!
Staci B.Kristen is an absolute wealth of knowledge. Prior to my start with her program, I was bloated before the day had really begun. The bloat would last all day. I never felt truly comfortable and energized. The crazy thing is, I didn’t realize all of signs my health was giving me until they started getting better. I had no idea my sleep was an issue. I had no idea my fatigue was an issue. I had no idea my hormones were an issue! I guess I could say I blamed parenthood for all of those things and just thought that is how it was supposed to be. All of those symptoms were related to my health and not just because you deserve to be tired as a parent (ha!). They all began to get better and THAT is when I noticed how much I had needed this change. This has impacted my mental health as well as my physical health. I feel more in control and focused. The hard thing with diet changes is the relationship I had built with food. It is easy to eat junk and unhealthy fats and non-sustainable carbs when we are surrounded by them! When I started this program, I promised myself that this would have nothing to do with weight loss. I wanted a program that would fuel my body and teach me to teach my babies how to be healthy. I wanted a program that would help ensure that I was doing my part to make sure I would be around for them when they need me. Nutrition is a simple change that I could make to be a better mother. There has definitely been the added bonus of 20 pounds gone. I also have degeneration of my disks from my L3-S1. It has made many things impossible for me over that last 6 months. The second promise I made to myself was to keep this nutrition change going! Holy cow do I ever feel good! It makes perfect sense that proper nutrition could handle my inflammation and allow me to be pain free. I have not taken any pain meds, and have not received the steroid injection I was set to receive, because I do not need it! Reaching out to Kristen was the absolute best decision I have made for myself in a long time. I was able to take control of my health, and her support throughout the process has made the change easy.
