05/03/2022
✨ This year I chose curiosity and courage as two values I wanted to live by. In keeping with that, I am curious how by sharing my own experiences and what I have learned after 3 years of grad school, I can be of greater service to my community and others who are struggling. While personal FB posts come easy to many, it definitely takes courage for me to write about my own experience here. I also realized that perhaps it would be, in a way, selfish of me not to share.
✨ While it wasn’t until 2015 that I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, many of the symptoms had been there for years - bloating so much I looked 6 months pregnant (when I definitely was not), IBS, migraines, anxiety around dinners or parties with friends or even date nights with my husband because I feared how I would feel afterwards, extreme mood swings, exercise intolerance (in yoga classes, the teacher would actually yell out “ Katherine, make an effort!!” when I was doing all I physically could, slow weight gain even though I was constantly moving (hint! hint!), so much joint pain that for 3 months I couldn’t even practice yoga due to inflammation in my knees and wrists, irregular periods, PTSD - I had lived in war zones for years and never even realized that I had it until our dog died a tragic death in my arms. At the same time our son was struggling with asthma which would result in me taking him to the ER in the middle of the night, alone, in a foreign country while my husband was traveling for work. It seemed to go on and on, and there was no room to breath. My adrenals were shot and my ability to handle even small stressors was waning.
✨ So many symptoms I see in my clients today are things I experienced as well. There is so much confusing information out there on the internet - trust me, I went through ALL that as well1 Which elimination diet will solve all my problems? Should I be exercising more even if I’m not up for it? What supplements will make all my symptoms disappear? How did I wind up with disease anyway? Why was my body doing this TO me?! I wanted a replacement and NOW.
✨ The honest answer is that there is no one size fits all solution for autoimmune disease, such as Hashimoto’s. There is no diet or unique protocol that will solve everyone’s problems. Each person’s autoimmunity is their own and everyone’s root cause/s and triggers are unique to them and their individual story. It could be emotional, physical, psychological, epigenetics, genetics. . . .the list goes on. Hashimoto’s is the number one cause of hypothyroid in the U.S., but it is still an autoimmune condition and must be treated as such.
✨ Although Hashi’s very very common, I had no idea what to do! I seemed to be trying everything out there, but nothing was really working. I was incredibly lucky to have been in graduate school for Clinical Nutrition and Integrative Health when I tested positive for Hashi’s. Becoming more aware of how different foods affected me, knowing how and when to use elimination diets only if necessary but not for too long, improving my sleep, learning to say no, and using movement in a ways that actually nurtured my body instead of adding more stress made all the difference. I started feeling better and better. But it wasn’t over night and I couldn’t have done it alone.
✨ I can now say that my autoimmune condition is in remission, and I am over the moon happy to be able to help women empower themselves with the necessary tools to get their energy back, get rid of those frustrating GI symptoms like bloating and IBS, and improve their mental health by using dietary, lifestyle, and movement to nourish their mind, body and spirit. Working with the right practitioner is important. Find someone you trust and that you can relate to. It will make all the difference!
✨ Tell me, what are YOU Curious about? What else would you like me to share here? Curious about finding out more about working with me individually? Now that we are living in Florida, you can find me here: nourishingrootsfl.com
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