Health Journey

Read about Desiree's Personal

Health Transformation

My Story
How I transformed My Own Life
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The Dark Times

In 2006 I walked away from a life of addiction. I had become a functional drug addict and alcoholic. I was deeply addicted to toxic people and narcissistic men. I had created a life that had very little meaning and no purpose. The choices I made came from a desire to disappear and forget the pain I was carrying inside. In addition to being terribly unhappy I was also extremely overweight. At the time I weighed 284lbs.

I had what I refer to as my “Awakening Moment” and vowed to change course. I set out on a path to get clean and sober and pursue a life of value.

Surprises Along the Way

Over the years my life changed, and I welcomed many surprises along the way, including getting married and having children. I never dreamed I would get married and have children in my thirties, but it became suddenly clear it was all part of a greater plan. What I was not prepared for was the challenges I would face as a new wife and a new mother to twins with special needs. Both of my children are on the Autism spectrum and have ADHD.

Changing Career Paths

Another change was my career path. I switched from working corporate banking jobs to becoming a full time Licensed Massage Therapist. I later expanded my skill set by adding in aquatic therapy. However, when my children needed more resources for their disabilities, I made the decision to relocate my family and go back to working for corporate America. Though it was a wonderful learning experience, I returned to the work I was drawn to after being laid off. I decided to go back into Water work and opened my own massage practice. I became an Ai Chi Instructor as well, but there was still something missing. My health was still poor. Years of previous abuse, chronic stress, poor diet and little exercise left me weary, frustrated, depressed and emotionally exhausted. And as my boys grew, I became triggered by deep seeded emotions I never dealt with which fed into another addiction I never addressed: My Emotional Connection to Food.

Making BIG Changes

I finally made the decision to change my life again and did so a little at a time and without drugs or surgery. I lost a significant amount of weight (at my heaviest I was well over 320lbs). As I figured out my path, making course corrections as needed along the way I finally got to a place where I decided to do the ugly, nitty gritty and address my old trauma. I dove deeper to uncover what led me to self-medicate and cope with food. To be fully transparent, it is a journey I will always be on, but… I have come a long way, and I am determined to keep going. It’s a painful process but it was necessary for me, and I grow every day as I learn to lean even more fully into my vulnerability.

My Biggest Transformation

I am now at my ideal weight and spend my time setting new exercise goals to crush, enjoying the food I prepare and living my best life free from addiction and self-created conflict and chaos. I have a circle of friends and healthy thriving children that I adore. My life has changed in many ways including going through a divorce in 2024. However, I am abundantly grateful for all of the blessings I have in my life.

You can follow my story on my YouTube Channel, Facebook Page, and Instagram:

YouTube: An Elemental Life and Wellness

Facebook: An Elemental Life & Wellness

Instagram: an_elemental_life_and_wellness

What Came Next??

After changing my life so much I took a look back to reflect and asked myself:

“What’s next”?

"What is my next 'Why'”?

“Where do I go from here”?

The answer came to me during the pandemic… to use my years of personal experience and become a Health Coach! I wanted to help others achieve the same level of success.

But ... I couldn't just stop there; I needed to do more!

And so, after a lot of intense study, I became a Certified FDN-P (Functional Diagnostic Nutrition ® Practitioner) as well as a Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach specializing in Emotional Eating. Essentially, I now wear multiple hats.

As a Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach ~

I provide one-on-one coaching to busy, working women to liberate them from their emotional bonds with food so they can uncover what they are truly starving for, creating a path of openness and healing empowering them to live their best lives with vitality and passion and free from the “One Size Fits All Mindset”, as well as self-created and social expectations that do not honor her as an individual.

As an FDN-P ® ~

I have access to additional labs for my clients who just feel stuck after implementing effective behavior change and exhausting other options. Labs such as a Comprehensive Hormone Panel including a full Cortisol Report, Food Sensitivity Tests, Intestinal Permeability Test and Pathogen Screening are just to list a few. These labs can be tools to help fill in missing pieces of the puzzle for those who already feel they are following a “healthy diet with appropriate exercise” but just not seeing the results they desire or… for those who know that “Normal Range” doesn’t necessarily mean optimal health and want more.

So, if you are ready to take your journey to the next step, contact me today to setup a consult call and see if what I have to offer aligns with your health goals!

Remember... I've walked the walk. I get it. You are NOT alone.

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My Story How I transformed My Own Life ________