‘It all started here, in Queenstown’ my husband chimes in.
Which rather took my breath away.
It had indeed.
Just over five years ago, in late summer, I lay curled in the foetal position on the bathroom floor of a Queenstown hotel, in between bouts of vomiting from the sudden pain. Absolutely unwilling to miss my 40th birthday present, trekking the Milford Track with hubbie, my parents looking after our children, I somehow struggled onto the transfer boat and along the 4-day hike. Each time the pain took over, every ten minutes or so, I’d assume the foetal position, initially on the dry track, later in the mud, trying to focus on the rain on my face, rather than the wave of agony rising, and thankfully also falling, in my groin.
An unknown dermoid ovarian cyst had ruptured, spilling its toxic contents into my pelvic cavity.
Rupture to removal was only two weeks, yet this was to be a radical turning point in my life. No longer would I accept frequent migraines, overwhelming fatigue and irregular menstrual cycles. Having moved many times as an adult, I’d not had continuity of care from a health professional, nor had anyone been able to take the time to provide thorough health care. I decided to invest in my health by finding someone willing to help me discover the root causes of my deteriorating health, along with researching it a whole lot more myself.
I was diagnosed with various conditions, including Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis (autoimmune underactive thyroid) and stage 4 Adrenal Fatigue.
I studied through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York, becoming a certified health coach in 2013.
Combining lifestyle changes with supplements and medication, my health is slowly and surely on the mend.
And here I am now in Queenstown, at a large round table, being asked ‘what do you do?’
‘I help people tweak their lifestyle so they have greater energy and enthusiasm for life.’
‘Wow, so how did you get into that?’
‘It all started here, in Queenstown’ my husband chimes in.
Thank goodness it did. I wonder what my health might have been heading toward had it not. You see, I thought I was living a relatively healthy life, like almost everybody I knew. Constant busyness. Convenience food. Regular alcohol. Comfort food. Chemical-laden skin care products. Toxic cleaning products. Physical stress. Emotional stress.
Life in the 21st century.
The changes I’ve made have been gradual and deliberate. I don’t feel in any way deprived, I know I am better off avoiding gluten and dairy; choosing walks and yoga over cross fit or triathlons; working my own business so I can balance work pressure; choosing healthy skin and cleaning products.
Best of all, I’m in an industry I truly love, helping others boost their health and wellbeing.
A cliché perhaps, however I feel it really is a health journey. You don’t suddenly arrive at good health. You work at it, reaping the benefits of greater energy and enthusiasm along the way. It might not be a smooth ride, but hey, at least we’re on it!
Any tweaking of lifestyle you need to do before you’re forced to?
Happy to help if you’d like a hand!
