Through much of my early-mid 20s, I struggled with IBS exacerbated by chronic stress. My double-Ivy League doctor gave me a diagnosis while drinking directly from a 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke and offered me a couple of prescriptions. Not ready to go the prescription route out of the gate, I hit the New York Public Library and took classes to figure out what I could do to mitigate or eliminate the need to triangulate the closest bathroom everywhere I went. Teeny change after teeny change, I got healthier and happier. Others noticed and wanted to know what I did.  I was smart enough to know that what worked for me might not work for others, so I wanted more training.

I filled up my professional toolbox in a big way at IIN. I knew that we are all individuals and what helped me turn my health, and really my whole life, around won't necessarily work for others. It’s really given me different lenses to look through when I’m examining the unique health and lifestyle challenges my frazzled clients bring to our sessions. This helps me confidently work from my natural strengths, especially transitioning from a seemingly different career.

There was a time in my life when I was traveling 98% of the time, working 80-hour weeks, and living on whatever takeout was brought to my desk. I was exhausted, both mentally and physically, and doing what I had to do for the next promotion or bonus. Now, I get out of bed and am excited to get to work most days. Of course, there are challenges to being a small business owner. Yet, this work allows me to be curious, to critically think, and to creatively catalyze change for other women. I’m doing my part to create a vital corps of healthy, assertive go-getters in the world. What could be better than that?

Before enrolling at IIN, I was working as a cost engineer in a project management team for a global energy company. I'd recently made the decision to follow a vegan lifestyle, and I received a ton of questions about what on earth I was going to eat. To keep myself accountable, and to share all the amazing concoctions (and spectacular fails) I was making in the kitchen, I started my first blog.

By the time IIN caught my attention in late 2012, my blog had grown a small readership. One year later, I was SO happy I made the decision to enroll in IIN. Throughout my studies, I learnt and grew more than I could have ever imagined. And to my surprise, I fell in love with the idea of being a Health Coach.

In September of 2013, before I'd even graduated from IIN, I followed my heart and resigned from my corporate role, determined to establish my own health coaching business. It was scary leaving the (relative) security of a highly paid, long-term career, and in running my own business, I’ve worked harder than ever before. But it’s also been the most rewarding, inspiring, humbling, and fulfilling thing I've ever done in my life.

Thanks to IIN, I'm now a best-selling published author and my sobriety memoir, A Happier Hour, has touched the lives of thousands of women from around the world. I spend my days speaking at live events, coaching my beautiful clients (via the magic of Skype), and guiding my life-changing coaching program, Sexy Sobriety. The Sunday Times Magazine named me ‘One of Perth’s leading Healthpreneurs’! I’m honored to have shared my love for health and happiness with more than 100 online, video, audio and print publications.

Before IIN, I was a Personal Trainer and business owner. I managed and ran my own gym. I became interested in IIN since I wanted to start my own nutrition business and add value to my PT Clients. After enrolling, I took the plunge and started my online business Vitality Nutrition, which I manage successfully today.

I truly believe I wouldn’t have had the courage to become a published author if it was not for IIN. I found all of the information in the program to not only be an integral part of my development as a Health Coach, but also as an author, mother and wife! Bio-individuality stood out the most coming from the traditional PT background. I found Donna Gates and the Body Ecology Diet very interesting. Mark Sisson was very relatable and someone I still follow today.

Since IIN, I was asked to co-author a health and fitness book with Stay Strong Mummy, Kimberley Welman. We were approached by a New York agent, New Leaf Literary and a UK Publishing House, Little Brown Book Group. Our book was released in January 2017.

It may be a cliché, but knowing that I am helping people be happier and healthier is my passion! My husband and I (and our kids) live eat and breathe it. It is who we are and how we live everyday. I wouldn't have it any other way.

It is not easy growing up in a society where “the thinner you are the more powerful you are”. Being a woman in Venezuela, the most beauty-obsessed country in the world is challenging. The pressure to conform to an impossible standard of beauty was, and is, incredible.

Very early in life I started dieting, avoiding different food groups and eliminating what I thought were “fattening foods” at that time. I tried every diet on the planet, every pill on the market, and every trick on the books. I had very negative thoughts towards my body and became my biggest obstacle to achieving what I considered then a “perfect” body.  I was on the edge of an eating disorder and very confused about my emotional state and body image.  

It was not until I stopped obsessing about my weight and focused on my wellbeing that I understood what worked for me. Ever since that moment, I developed a true passion for nutrition and became infatuated with my career. After working in the clinical environment for a couple of years and studying patients actions and reactions, I realized people's bodies, metabolism and habits are different in many ways. The Institute for Integrative Nutrition taught me that the one-size-fits all dietary approach simply doesn’t work. Knowing this inspired me to create "YourDietMethod".

My mission is to assist and teach people proper nutrition suited for their lives so they can conduct a successful and healthy lifestyle and never diet again.  I want girls to be comfortable with themselves again, no matter what their environment is. I want women to feel sexy, no matter what their body type is. I want to inspire people to become the best, most healthy version of themselves.          

I graduated from IIN in 2005 and incorporated health coaching into my private NYC-based fitness and martial arts training practice. In 2009, I took my 3rd degree black belt and nutrition expertise to Los Angeles where I created the Stilettos and Self Defense program and DVDs to empower women everywhere to learn how to kick butt. 

My career is forever developing as I continue to follow my dreams. I’ve consulted for major fitness brands, designed corporate wellness programs, and even traveled around Europe, China, Africa and the U.S. with a VIP client as his traveling health coach. My expertise has been featured on The Today Show, E!, The Doctors, Rachael Ray and many more. I love to blog and have recently co-authored my first book, Hear Me Roar: How to Defend Your Mind, Body and Heart Against People Who Suck. 

My current mission is to help prevent sexual assault on college campuses by speaking and training students around the country.

After recovering from my own 15-year battle with full-blown bulimia, I decided I had to do something for people who were still stuck in this dark place. This is how I became a holistic health coach with Integrative Nutrition. Understanding the frustration and desperation that go with endless psychotherapy and medication, I wanted to offer a new and comprehensive approach that worked, looking at the present and future of my patients instead of their past. 

Every day I am happy to witness their results, and I am proud to say that my approach works! I now work via 1:1 coaching and have built my own online program, featuring well-known innovative guest teachers such as Kathryn Hansen. I've also recently created a free 2-week email coaching series, in which I share the basic principles we need in order to transform our relationship with food. 

I used to feel like food was the enemy. It always made me feel guilty, stressed (counting every calorie), bloated or tired. I knew my relationship with food needed an overhaul, so I went to Integrative Nutrition and paired up with my bff to create a food system that would help both of us finally feel like the best version of ourselves again.

Eating the Sakara way helped me realize that food is medicine. It's there to nourish us so that we can glow from the inside out. We decided to turn our mess into our mission and share our life-changing food with the world! We deliver everything totally ready-to-eat right to your door, so that there is zero stress involved in eating healthy. Now we also offer some of our amazing superfood salad dressings, snacks and Beauty Water on our site as well!