What do you think about when you first hear the word food? Chips and queso dip, pizza, cookie dough blizzards, salt and vinegar chips, chicken and waffles…oh sorry, I’m getting a little carried away! Or maybe your thoughts go to that tasty energy ball you just made in an effort to eat healthier. But those thoughts of food may also conjure up some feelings. Maybe it’s enjoyment, nourishment, satisfaction…but what about stress, anxiety, confusion, frustration? While the purpose of food is to nourish and sustain us, somewhere along the way our relationship with food may become marred or we may just not know the proper way to fuel our bodies for optimal health.
Why is our nutrition so important? Improper nutrition can lead to sluggishness, weight gain, mood swings, decreased performance, and chronic disease. Having the proper tools and knowledge of nutrition enables us to make the best choices to live our best life!
So, I am a pharmacist…why be a nutrition coach? Well, a lot of the reasons do overlap. I became a pharmacist because I love to help people, especially when it comes to their health. But one of the things that I started to notice more and more, especially as my health improved, is how UNHEALTHY people are! This affects so many parts of their lives and it saddens me because it does not have to be this way! Your relationship with food can be positive and you can be equipped with the tools and knowledge to remedy the confusion and frustration when it comes to nutrition.
Through my personal experience, I was able to see that improving or managing our health reaches far beyond taking the next medication prescribed to manage our diseases. In my 20s, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and started taking blood pressure medication. I just thought of it as the natural course of events…since my dad dealt with high blood pressure for as long as I could remember, it was inevitable that I would also have high blood pressure. However, through exercise and healthier eating, I lost some weight and my blood pressure returned to normal. That was over 15 years ago (now I may be telling my age!) and I have not had any blood pressure issues since! Through exercise and nutrition, I was able to improve my health and avoid daily blood pressure medication.
So, that’s just one health issue….it does not even touch the numerous other chronic diseases that can be tied to what we eat and how we take care of ourselves…diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart disease, stroke, depression, and sleep apnea, to name just a few. My experience gave me an even greater desire to help others on their journey to great health.
I want people to know that low energy, weight gain, poor exercise performance, and declining health do not have to be a normal way of life or natural result of aging. Proper nutrition is one of the most important elements of optimal living. With the proper tools, accountability, and encouragement, you CAN feel better, be energized, keep up with your kids, fit into those jeans, hit that PR in the gym, and love and serve others well! It’s time to gain your life back and be the best version of yourself!
Coach Kim
