Hi there!
I’m glad you landed here! You are most likely on this site because you care about your health, and perhaps you’ve lost your way trying to navigate through all the different diets out there. I am here to help!
My name is Sarah, and I am a certified Functional Health Coach who studied with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and have learned what I know not only through my training, but from years of my own research and experience in the field of nutrition and functional health. It is my own struggles with health and my personal journey that brought me to where I am today, and I am grateful to get an opportunity to help others with the lessons I’ve learned.
I practice a functional approach to health and nutrition, which means that I look at the body and mind as a whole, and always aim to find the source of imbalances rather than applying a band-aid method. I believe that all parts of the body (including the brain) are inter-connected, and always strive to identify the root cause of symptoms.
I know from experience that nutrition can be a very overwhelming topic and I have had my fair share of challenges in that area. Over the past decade of my life, I have tried almost every single mainstream diet out there, from Vegan to Paleo to Keto, I’ve tried it all. While each diet offered some benefits and provided an initial relief of some symptoms, they all had their pitfalls, and ultimately none of these ways of eating solved my persistent health issues. While health is never a linear journey, I finally feel like I have found a way of eating that really nourishes my body and provides it with what it needs. The difference that this way of eating and living has made on my health is radical, and I love sharing it with my clients to help them regain their quality of life.
There is no name or label for the way I eat per say, but I apply key concepts of an animal-based diet while integrating a pro-metabolic approach. What does this mean?
To give you an idea of what my core principles are as a coach, here are a few important points you can read through. I hope these are helpful in allowing you to determine whether I would be a good fit for you as a coach.
A PRO-METABOLIC APPROACH
Nobody wants to eat 1200 calories a day, and nobody should (unless you’re 8 years old!). Eating enough calories and nutrients is a core component of health, hence you should never have to starve or deprive yourself. This is not to say that every food is created the same; some foods enhance your metabolism and nourish your thyroid, while others suppress it. A pro-metabolic approach is one that focuses on nutrient-density, pays attention to restorative sleep, strength building, and healthy hormones. It is a sustainable way of life that works long-term and optimizes your well-being.
FOCUS ON NUTRIENT DENSITY
I don’t believe in dieting, but I do believe in making smart food choices that are intentional and aligned with the quality of life that we seek. When we eat the right foods and give our body the nutrients it needs, we feel full and satisfied, and we tend to eliminate most of our food cravings. Binge eating and cravings are usually signs of nutrients deficiencies, which can be corrected when someone eats nutrient-dense foods that are bio-available. Animal foods are the centre of the diet here, with the inclusion of fruits, root vegetables, honey, and a lot more. Foods like beef, lamb, wild fish, seafood, eggs, organ meat, bone broth, and cheese are all encouraged. Eliminating foods like seed oils, grains, legumes, and highly processed foods is also a key point. The focus is always nutrient-density, metabolism optimization and reduction of symptoms.
EATING WITH THE SEASONS
I am a firm believer in eating with the seasons and enjoying the foods that are available around you. In the fall and winter I make meat the centre of my diet, with some root vegetables, squashes, pumpkin, apples and pears, summertime is usually a bit lighter with the inclusion of a few more fruits and easy to digest vegetables. I encourage all my clients to make themselves familiar with what grows around them by going to their local farmer’s market and getting in touch with their local farmers to source their animal products. Knowing and trusting where your food comes from is important.
WHY YOU BINGE
There is a reason you binge, and it isn’t a psychological weakness. Binging tends to occur when we deny our body what it needs and following a diet that doesn’t provide us with appropriate nutrition. By changing your diet to one that focuses on high quality protein, fat, and the right carbohydrates, you are providing your body with the necessary amino acids and sugars it needs to repair and build, and the body rewards you by providing you with a feeling of satiety. This is why we can eat thousands of calories of certain foods without ever feeling full; they do not contain enough of these amino acids and nutrients! By eliminating empty processed foods and focusing on the right foods, we naturally normalize our satiety signals and stop overeating.
I have worked with clients with all sorts of auto-immune disorders and have helped them improve their health, regain quality of life, and feel good in their body again. If you have been wanting to improve your health but simply don’t know where to start, I’d love to help! Please keep in mind that I only work with clients who are deeply committed and have a willingness to make changes. If you are not ready, there is simply nothing I can say or do that will change that. If you are ready to make a commitment to your health and live your best life, I invite you to schedule a consultation with me. During this session, we will discuss your current health and lifestyle to determine how I can best support you in achieving your goals.