Meet Michelle

I used to think my body was a problem that I needed to fix

I struggled for many years with a secret dysfunctional relationship with food and body image. It started in my teen years when I became obsessed with my weight and started dieting. I tried anything to "fix" my body.

I starved myself all day while I was at school. When I got home, my hunger took over, and I would eat out of control. Feeling guilty from my lack of willpower, I would run downstairs and exercise for hours in attempts to burn off the excess calories I consumed.

I hated myself for my out of control emotional eating and inability to stick to any diet. As my binge eating continued, I started to use diet pills and laxatives as well as obsessive exercise to control my weight.

Although I stopped abusing the pills after a few years, it took me almost two decades to move past yo-yo dieting and emotional eating.

My Big Wake-Up Call

While struggling with fertility issues, I learned I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Although PCOS is one of the most common hormonal disorders in women, doctors often give you little hope about what to do next to improve your health.

Just like most women with PCOS, I was prescribed Metformin to help improve my fertility.

When I was finally pregnant, I asked my doctor if I could stop taking the Metformin, he looked at me calmly and said: “well you could stop now, but you might as well stay on it because you will most likely develop diabetes.”

This seemed crazy to me. I knew there had to be a better way.

I decided I would do everything I could to be healthier during this pregnancy and beyond. I would treat my body with more respect. I would nurture my body and my growing baby.

The only problem was I had no idea what eating healthy meant. I had spent the past two decades either dieting or binging.

My idea of healthy eating was “Lean Cuisines,” low-fat yogurt (oops…when they take the fat out they add sugar) and “skinny” mochas. I had a lot to learn.

I became fiercely dedicated to taking better care of my body and getting over my sugar addiction.

A change in perspective

I started viewing my body as worthy of being taken care of rather than a problem I needed to fix.

I learned about real, healthy food and started getting busy in the kitchen.

It became easier and easier to cut back on sugar and instead choose delicious, healthy foods because they gave me energy and made me feel great.

I moved my body because I loved the way it made me feel. This was far different from my old methods of using exercise solely as a means to lose weight.

I started spending time more time in the woods. Nature is truly nourishing to me. It feeds my soul in a way no food could ever do.

My vision as a health and wellness coach:

To empower women all over the world to Befriend Their Bodies by letting go of dieting, guilt, and shame and falling in love with true nourishment and self-care.

I believe we all deserve to be our best, most vibrant healthiest selves. I am grateful every day for the opportunity to share my passion for health with my family, friends, and clients.

My Certifications:

• Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

• Culinary Nutrition Expert

• Ace-Certified Personal Trainer