I love queso. I mean…. LLLLLOOOOOVVVVEEEEE me some of that creamy, cheesy, salty goodness. I have fond memories that were centered around queso since my high school days. Date nights, family gatherings, late night girl talks….. and then all of a sudden, boom. No more queso.
Ever since childhood I’ve always had a little bit of gut issues. Nothing major, but knew it wasn’t working 100%. In my late twenties I started really paying attention to what I ate, eating more clean and following a healthier diet. I threw myself into exercising and fueling my body with the food it needed for energy. My passion then grew stronger for nutrition and fitness. I loved trying new recipes, writing out workout plans for myself and my friends, and even turned my garage into a personal gym. As you can imagine living in Texas, working out in your insanely hot garage was not ideal. But I loved it and it seemed to work for me.
7 years later and insert 3 babies, my body was a tad bit in overdrive. I had my babies back to back, which takes a major toll on your body, not to mention your mental state, and it was after our third that I realized I needed outside help for my current ailments. I was moody, exhausted, couldn’t lose weight even though I was working out regularly, and felt trapped under a fog cloud with no light in sight. Times were tough, but I was blessed to have a friend who’s husband was a Functional Medicine Practitioner here in Texas that worked with people remotely. Jake with Stewarding Life Wellness and my friend, Lillie, helped me get to the root cause of what was going on within my body and what necessary steps I needed to take to travel back to myself.
It was a combination of things, but here I’d like to talk about the nutritional piece of the puzzle. Cutting out dairy, gluten, soy, and refined sugar, I was able to decrease inflammation, reset my gut, and work on my health in a holistic way. Healing from the inside out and really honing in on what imbalances needed additional support. Starting with the elimination diet, I was able to take out the foods that were causing me discomfort and reintroducing ones that my body could thrive off of. It’s been 4 years since I made this lifestyle change and my health has come a very long way.
Since revamping my diet, I have learned what alternatives I can have to replace my once beloved indulgences. I don’t count calories, carbs, or any other measures outside of what my body is craving or needing more of in that moment. I’ve learned for my body, that by cutting out dairy, soy, gluten and most grains, and refined sugar, I can thrive by eating quality proteins, carbs, and fats. With this new lifestyle, I never think twice about indulging in Paleo-friendly sweets and treats.
Yes, it can be difficult to eat out. Yes, there are some things I truly miss that I just cannot have. But ultimately I am thankful for this journey, for it threw me into a passion of learning how to heal your gut from within. Last August I started a Functional Nutritional Program that opened my eyes to how complex our bodies are and how we have the power to truly heal it with nutrition and holistic supplemental support. It gave me strength to stay motivated in my efforts, to use this new knowledge to help educate others to make better choices for their health, and to advance in an area I always knew I had a passion for.
I cannot wait to share more of my journey as a Functional Nutritionist, helping others have the power to take control of their health through the food you eat and lifestyle you live. Oh and I have some yummy healthier alternatives that will knock your socks off. Hello Siete Chips and Cashew Queso!
Have specific questions? Feel free to comment below and I would love to help in any way I can!
