I'm Jess.
Mom of two, blogger,
and holistic health & Hormone coach.
5 FREE Hormone Supportive Recipes
Two of the recipes will make you fall in love with sardines!
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My Story
"You have numerous cysts on both ovaries. You will unlikely become pregnant without medical intervention."
The words hit me like a ton of bricks. I remember the tightening in my chest. I remember the helplessness and overwhelm I felt.
Even more so, I remember the lack of femininity I felt. The same feeling I experienced each time I shaved the dark, thick, hair resembling a beard on my chin, jawline, and neck. The same feeling I felt when doctors told me that I produce too many male hormones.
But this felt worse. Now, I also lacked fertility. The ultrasound results did not really surprise me, because I knew I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). I received the diagnosis eight years earlier. I understood fertility issues often accompanied this endocrine disorder, yet now a mere possibility had become a reality.
I went home and dwelled on my situation for a few days. For most of my adult life, I didn't even know if I wanted children. But had I told myself that because deep down I didn't think I would be able to have them?
During those initial days after the doctor's prognosis, I felt paralyzed. But, eventually, I became frustrated, and I felt a fire light inside of me. I told myself that I would not just sit back and accept what the doctor said.
Fun Facts
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Thus commenced a nine year journey for me. I threw myself into research - a task I already felt familiar with given my legal background. I read numerous books and medical studies and listened to countless podcasts. With each topic that applied to me, I would delve even further into the research.
Then, I began to make lifestyle modifications based on the information I gathered. Most of the changes pertained to nutrition, physical movement/exercise, and stress reduction. I also made changes to what I put on my body and the products I brought into and used in my home.
I didn't implement the changes all at once. Like I said, it's been a journey. But, these changes made a huge impact on my health and my life.
Ultimately, I gave birth to two healthy children without medical intervention. And most of my PCOS symptoms feel very minimal compared to what I experienced in my teens and twenties.
But that doesn't mean it's been smooth sailing. I suffered miscarriages and several issues during pregnancy that were likely PCOS related. And I still have to undergo laser hair removal.
Every day, I must make conscious health choices in order to feel my best. And it's not easy. Some days I don't feel like cooking - the processed foods seem much more convenient. Some days I don't want to exercise. But 9 times out of 10, I do, because I know it's truly worth the effort!
During my journey, I received very little assistance or information from healthcare providers. Their solution: "Go on birth control, take Metformin... oh, and here is another prescription medication for your abnormal hair growth."
This story doesn't even include my struggles with hyopthyroidism. I'll save that for another time.
Through my experiences with hormonal imbalance and overcoming the worst of it, I developed a passion for helping other women with the same or similar struggles.
I empathize with it all - fast weight gain, cystic acne, mood swings, low energy, irregular menstrual cycles, abnormal hair growth.....
why do I coach on health and hormones?
because I want women to realize the agency they have over their health. Especially at a time when our healthcare system is failing us.
My mission is to educate women on agency and eudaimonia. I believe that the former is a prerequisite for achieving the latter, and that both of these concepts play a vital role in our health.
Eudaimonia, a Greek word, is often translated in English as "happiness." But, in contrast to what most people consider happiness - a fleeting feeling based on temporary pleasure - eudaimonia encapsulates true well-being.
In other words, eudaimonia consists of long-term mental and physical flourishing.
While difficult to accept or even recognize, I believe life's challenges often lead to greater satisfaction, ultimately. I also believe in the marriage of health and happiness - if we live in a manner supportive of our health, happiness will naturally result.
So where does agency come into play? Well, agency is the action or capacity to exert power. If we want certain outcomes in life, we need to seize opportunities. We need to take responsibility for the things within our control. We need to exercise independence over our health, including what we put in and on our bodies, what we expose ourselves to both physically and mentally, how we prioritize our time, how we move our bodies, and the people with whom we surround ourselves.
Ultimately, I hope to empower women to take agency over their lives, and consequently their health, without hesitation or trepidation.
Favorite Destination
New Zealand
Favorite Indulgence
Eggplant Parmesan & Red Wine
Favorite Season
Fall
Stargazer Lilies
Favorite Flower
Blue October
Favorite Band
Education/Certification:
Not only has my own personal experience and self-education qualified me to help you, but I'm also a Certified Transformational Nutrition Coach with a specialty in hormones.
Transformational Nutrition is a model of health that blends physical, mental, and spiritual nutrition into one powerful and proven system of coaching.
Imagine walking on this beach with nothing but love for your body and mind because you exerted agency over your health.
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