I was always a sick child. I had stomach problems, rashes, joint pain, headaches, fatigue, and brain fog among other symptoms, and no doctor could tell me what was making me sick. When I was 18 I read my first book about nutrition and I was introduced to what I know now is an elimination diet. I followed it for a month and for the first time I was not sick to my stomach and my skin rashes cleared out. So, I started experimenting and identified which foods made me feel well and which made my body feel sick and ended up on a Whole Food Plant Based diet, which I have followed since then.

Even though I always felt ill, growing up I enjoyed being active, however, I was very injury prone, twisting and spraining my ankles, throwing my low back out, spraining my wrists and fingers playing volleyball. I tore the meniscus in my left knee during a basketball game my senior year and had my first surgery at 17. After that injury I learned about weight training, calisthenics and how to strengthen my body so it feels like it's put together. I also learned that my joint pain got better if I move, so I stayed active, eventually becoming a Personal Trainer so I learned more about anatomy and the correct way to exercise, hoping this knowledge would help me have less injuries.

All those things helped, but I still struggle everyday. I knew there was something wrong with me, but I didn't know what it was. Throughout the years I would have flairs of intense abdominal pain that would make me go to the ER but no testing ever found what was causing the pain, and I kept being referred to GI, who would not find anything either. I would do a juice cleanse for a couple of weeks, or fast for a few days and my pain would get better. So, I managed my chronic progressive illness on my own the best way I could.

Through my own research I finally figured out, and then had medically confirmed and diagnosed, that I have Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) a connective tissue disorder that makes all connective tissues in my body too loose, causing all the symptoms I've been experiencing my whole life. I finally have an explanation and validation for all my weird traits.

This has been a lonely road. Not being able to eat like most people, dealing with constant pain and fatigue is really stressful and can wear you out. I have spend the majority of my life figuring out ways to live with this condition and still enjoy my life, and I want to share everything I have learned with you, and provide you with the resources I have found along the way so you don't have to do it on your own. Whether you are managing a chronic illness or condition, or just want to be healthier so you have more energy and less stress, The Healthy Life System can help you reach your health goals.

I'm excited to be part of this community of like minded people who want to normalize health in their lives and commit to a process of discovery and growth.