Meet Danielle: busy mama, corporate professional & former road warrior
Background
In 2006, I was diagnosed with second stage Lyme disease. Prior to this diagnosis, I had always been committed to healthy living. I was active, ate healthy (or so I thought) and enjoyed a full life. Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that is often misdiagnosed, under-reported and a huge hidden epidemic. When I was finally diagnosed (10+ doctors later in three different states), I was in bad shape. My symptoms were like nothing I had ever experienced; I had insomnia, a rash, vertigo, headaches, depression, digestion problems, cognitive impairment – the list goes on and on.I followed the doctors’ orders and went through 3+ months of heavy-duty oral antibiotics followed by one month of round the clock intravenous medication. After completing these intense antibiotics, my acute symptoms (rash, vertigo and migraines) disappeared. However, I had many lingering symptoms (insomnia, reduced cognitive ability, intense fatigue, poor digestion, etc.) that resulted in a poor quality of life much different than I had experienced before I contracted Lyme disease. Thankfully, I was NOT ready to accept that this new poor quality of life as permanent and decided I needed to take my health into my own hands.
I researched everything I could get my hands on about Lyme disease, chronic symptoms and successful therapies for improving quality of life. I started going to yoga religiously, had weekly visits with an amazing acupuncturist and herbalist and completely changed my dietary habits from low fat, low sugar (fake foods) to organic, whole foods. Despite having such a horrible disease, my health started improving. Over the past five years, I have transformed my health and my life for the positive.
Through my personal experience with Lyme disease, I learned that food and lifestyle is truly thy medicine. With my health coach training (see below for more information), I am now able to help others create the healthy, energetic, fulfilling lives they deserve.
Training
I received my training as a Health Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition's cutting-edge Health Coach Training Program.
During my training, I studied over 100 dietary theories, practical lifestyle management techniques, and innovative coaching methods with some of the world’s top health and wellness experts. My teachers included Dr. Andrew Weil, Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; Dr. Deepak Chopra, leader in the field of mind-body medicine; Dr. David Katz, Director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center; Dr. Walter Willett, Chair of Nutrition at Harvard University; Geneen Roth, bestselling author and expert on emotional eating; and many other leading researchers and nutrition authorities.
My education has equipped me with extensive knowledge in holistic nutrition, health coaching, and preventive health. Drawing on these skills and my knowledge of different dietary theories, I work with clients to help them make lifestyle changes that produce real and lasting results.
In 2006, I was diagnosed with second stage Lyme disease. Prior to this diagnosis, I had always been committed to healthy living. I was active, ate healthy (or so I thought) and enjoyed a full life. Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness that is often misdiagnosed, under-reported and a huge hidden epidemic. When I was finally diagnosed (10+ doctors later in three different states), I was in bad shape. My symptoms were like nothing I had ever experienced; I had insomnia, a rash, vertigo, headaches, depression, digestion problems, cognitive impairment – the list goes on and on.I followed the doctors’ orders and went through 3+ months of heavy-duty oral antibiotics followed by one month of round the clock intravenous medication. After completing these intense antibiotics, my acute symptoms (rash, vertigo and migraines) disappeared. However, I had many lingering symptoms (insomnia, reduced cognitive ability, intense fatigue, poor digestion, etc.) that resulted in a poor quality of life much different than I had experienced before I contracted Lyme disease. Thankfully, I was NOT ready to accept that this new poor quality of life as permanent and decided I needed to take my health into my own hands.
I researched everything I could get my hands on about Lyme disease, chronic symptoms and successful therapies for improving quality of life. I started going to yoga religiously, had weekly visits with an amazing acupuncturist and herbalist and completely changed my dietary habits from low fat, low sugar (fake foods) to organic, whole foods. Despite having such a horrible disease, my health started improving. Over the past five years, I have transformed my health and my life for the positive.
Through my personal experience with Lyme disease, I learned that food and lifestyle is truly thy medicine. With my health coach training (see below for more information), I am now able to help others create the healthy, energetic, fulfilling lives they deserve.
Training
I received my training as a Health Coach from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition's cutting-edge Health Coach Training Program.
During my training, I studied over 100 dietary theories, practical lifestyle management techniques, and innovative coaching methods with some of the world’s top health and wellness experts. My teachers included Dr. Andrew Weil, Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; Dr. Deepak Chopra, leader in the field of mind-body medicine; Dr. David Katz, Director of Yale University’s Prevention Research Center; Dr. Walter Willett, Chair of Nutrition at Harvard University; Geneen Roth, bestselling author and expert on emotional eating; and many other leading researchers and nutrition authorities.
My education has equipped me with extensive knowledge in holistic nutrition, health coaching, and preventive health. Drawing on these skills and my knowledge of different dietary theories, I work with clients to help them make lifestyle changes that produce real and lasting results.