Ok but what are all those letters
Hello! Fun fact about me: I am hella’ credentialed. I’m also probably certifiable, but that’s a post for another day.
I love to learn and I am intensely curious. And when I find a topic that interests me, I lean it and I want to be an expert.
This wasn’t always the case. I spent a big part of my life cruising along, doing enough to get by and just existing and following doctors' orders and medications as I received them. 2000-2017 are kind of a blur (and NOT because I was in college!); I am missing critical memories from my life. My terrible memory is actually a running joke in my family. But I’d be lying if I said there isn’t a part of me that is sad to now understand that some of it is because I was sick and no one I needed to seemed to care or believe me. Migraines, digestive issues, brain fog, extreme fatigue, depression, it was all there right in front of me.
In 2018 I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer after years of being ignored, dismissed and gaslit about my health struggles and something in my soul changed. I became a girl on fire.
I realized that I had been right all along - something HAD been wrong. And that it is wayyyy too easy to dismiss women of a “certain age”, run the same tests over and over and prescribe them things to get them to go away and be quiet and convince them they aren’t unwell… they are just annoying.
And OH BOY did I develop a complex and spend an awful lot of wasted time convincing myself I was just crazy... or worse, stupid. I didn’t trust myself. I trusted the people I was supposed to trust. And those people were wrong. And not just wrong, they were guessing.
Through all the fog and frustration, I began the journey of reclaiming my life. I discovered that healing was more than just following a prescription pad. It took some experimentation and a shit-ton of determination, but I started to piece together what wellness can look like for me.
Since I began my long and winding road to recovery (healing is NOT linear) I have explored and obtained certifications to expand my knowledge and give me the tools I needed to feel confident and educated enough to challenge the people who are often guessing. I am now an active participant in my health and wellness journey.
Since 2018 I have become a
Group Fitness Instructor (GFI) - a qualification that validates an individual's ability to lead and instruct group fitness classes. It involves training in exercise techniques, class management, and safety protocols, enabling the instructor to design and deliver effective group workouts while ensuring participants' safety and engagement.
Certified Wellness Coach (CWC) - a professional trained to help individuals achieve their personal health and wellness goals. They use evidence-based strategies to support clients in making sustainable lifestyle changes, focusing on areas such as nutrition, exercise, stress management, and overall well-being. By providing guidance, motivation, and accountability, wellness coaches empower clients to overcome obstacles and enhance their quality of life.
Certified Nutrition Coach (CNC) - a professional trained to provide guidance on healthy eating and nutrition, helping clients understand and implement broad nutrition principles to support their overall well-being and understand how food impacts energy, mental health, physical well-being and the body.
The vowels and consonants after my name are earned and I am proud of them. I use them to heal myself and to connect with people on a different level and offer guidance where I can.
But don’t let them fool you. I got them because I felt like I needed them to have the credibility to talk intelligently about my own health. You don’t need fancy letters after your name to know how you feel and when something is wrong.
Trust yourself. And if you need some help, just ask.
With love,
Kate
CWC, CNC, GFI
