Why Trust Me?

Apart from the fact that I am accredited and have nationally recognised qualifications, I know change is hard.

If you want to get through something, find someone who has gone through it.

People Don't Care How Much You Know
Until They Know How Much You Care

Anxiety & Depression

I had my first panic attack during an English exam in Year 9. I remember sitting at the front of the hall with 250 girls reading and writing whilst I couldn't understand a thing.

Going back in time, I remember having an anxiety attack at the age of 5 when my father was having brain surgery.

High Cholesterol

At 21 years of age I had a cholesterol level of 7.5mmol/L which my doctor couldn't understand. Even though I had the knowledge and access to food to eat well, I still wasn't doing so.

Sedentary Lifestyle

Studying hours on end without getting up has resulted in stage 2 neck issues which can not be reversed but can be prevented from worsening. A sedentary lifestyle contributed to my mental health issues and exacerbated my poor relationship with food.

Eating Disorder

Moving countries meant big changes in my routine and schedule which I did not understand. My cultural background and eating habits were very different to what my new environment called for.

IBS

From cramping, bloating, constipation to diarrhoea. Symptoms vary immensely. There was a time I was afraid of eating fruit, grains or anything out of my "ordinary" list of foods.

Stress

Thought high school and university I was kept up by exam preparation. I have had to learn techniques to calm the nervous system to allow for better sleep.

Deranged LFTs

I have never been a drinker yet my Liver enzymes were regularly deranged throughout university. Learning to manage stress improved my health immensely. It was also part of under- fueling as I was in a catabolic state most the time!

Underfueling

Underfueling is a risk for anyone who has strength & conditioning goals. The gym became my outlet and escape from university and other responsibilities. However, with heartbreak came intentional more training and unintentional less eating.

Heartbreak & Grief

Heartbreak & Grief are not a linear experience. We are familiar with stages of grief nowadays. However, one may not experience them in the order another does. Breakups, death of a pet or loved one, big life changes all bring about immense emotion.

I have experienced the difficulties of change

My Story

"...but have you every struggled with mental health issues?"

- a question I got asked

Mental health is one of the wellness pillars I educate about. I try to stay positive but see when it gets harder. It correlates with my responsibilities and family events. Personally, I have struggled with anxiety and depression to the extent of not going to school and not going outside and not wanting to live. Throughout high school I struggled with change, experienced panic attacks and chose to control my food. I restricted. I got down to 40kg (at 170cm tall, BMI of 13.8kg/m2) it took years of education, showing myself compassion and empathy to forgive myself and heal.

The only thing that separated me from anorexia nervosa was my growth mindset. I wanted to learn and use my experience. The best thing my doctor and the people around me at the time did was NOT label me as the illness. I believe mental health issues and mental illnesses are still more prevalent than we talk about. In fact, Dietitians Australia have recently reported a 300% increase in Eating Disorders which go hand in hand with mental health.

I am my number 1 client. I now know why and what and how. I've learnt what works for me. I've learnt the things I need to do to stay positive. I check in with myself regularly in a proactive way. I to have great coaches that I reach out to and call upon when I need help!

This is how I got here and this is why I do what I do.

I am a dietitian - health coach. I am here to educate when asked, it is not my role to give advise or recommendations that are not solicited. I guide clients in moving forward towards their personal health vision and finding what works for them. What worked for me might not work for others.

No one is you, and that is your power! I want to help you change your Health and Wellness story! Where you are the real hero.

Trial, error and correction leads to success.

Turn obstacles into opportunities.

Just like my obstacles led me to a career I am so very passionate about.

Surround yourself with like minded people

We become much like the people we surround ourselves with. Surround yourself with people who are on a similar mission.

2012 - 2022

10 years apart

I had to dig hard for this photo. I went through all my boxes and USBs to find it. That girl on the left hid very well behind her studies, high achievements, awards, baggy school uniform, library time and low profile. Little did anyone know the battles…

Maybe more people knew than wanted to point it out. January 2012 I was still very much engulfed by my eating disorder even though I was on the road towards recovery. I don’t remember much but I know I feared certain foods, feared losing control and feared letting go of my ‘safety’ of counting calories.

I wish someone had told me it’s all normal…

I wish someone had told me I might binge and I might feel sad/ angry/ frustrated and I might feel hungry/ stuffed/ like I’ve gone backwards. Most of all, I wish someone had told me I might feel very misunderstood. I wish someone had told me recovery is messy and uncomfortable. I wish someone had told me: No matter how I’m feeling - I can and I will do better and get better. I can and I will change my story. I can and I will find my peace. I can and I will get strong.

10 years later on the right.

After years of ups and downs, self-care, travel, self-discovery, heartache, heartbreak, loving, being loved, crying, laughing, gratitude, gaining understanding and showing myself compassion. Giving myself the time and space to heal and forgive myself. After years of commitment to let go of hurts I’ve held onto for so long. Here I stand proud of being 20kg stronger and 10 years wiser. Instead of shrinking myself to fit into society, here I stand proud of my culture, my knowledge, my experiences, my struggles and triumphs. Proud of the markings on my body. The tattoos, the stretch marks, the scars.

Proud to say I am living life and giving it a red hot crack.

The biggest change I see is my spirit.

You can see the pain, discomfort and disappointment I felt 10 years ago compared to the pride and joy I feel now.