About Me

Hi, I'm Karen Robinson

Navigating the journey to Wellness can be deceptive and filled with potholes of conflicting information, and intentional misinformation.

I started running in 1999 and over time, running became my therapy for managing my stress and my weight. The more stress I encountered the more time I spent running. Overall, I thought my diet was pretty good. I knew I liked baked goods and chocolate, but I believed that running cancelled out the junk food, so I ignored my sugary cravings. My favorite snack was peanut M&Ms, my pre-run fuel. I was also aware that eating too much chocolate gave me a headache, but sometimes I just couldn’t control the craving, so I ate the chocolate and took the Tylenol. Sound familiar?

My husband’s health began declining and for two years, I helped with home dialysis before he received a transplant. His health issues piled up and I ran more 5Ks, 10ks, and half marathons.

The greatest wealth is good HEALTH.

The Problem

I noticed the first signs of hip strain in 2014, but a little physical therapy, medication and rest and I was back to running. The pain persisted and I had my first MRI in 2015. I was shocked when I heard “you have significant damage to your right hip and will likely need a hip replacement in a few years. “Are you kidding me??” is what I said to the doctor, you must have the wrong MRI! I just couldn’t believe it. Well, thanks to three steroid shots, I ran another 3 years before the intermittent pain was just too much to bear. Running had been MY DRUG, MY LIFE, MY THERAPY. I was going to have to give it up and deal with my stress. I was in bad shape, both physically and mentally.

I eventually made the decision and had the hip replacement on my 58^th birthday. My surgery and recovery went well, but the imbalance in my mind, body and soul was awful. I had no way to manage my stress. I was addicted to sugar and no way to burn off those calories. The anxiety and my weight rose like a boiling pot of water. My Ah-haa moment came when my lab results indicated “pre-diabetes”. No way! I was a registered nurse and spent many years taking care of “heart patients” and educating patients about diabetes. I was NOT going down that road.

The Solution

I had to figure this out. In my nursing career I held positions in quality management and enjoyed research. So, I started researching holistic care. I learned about Functional Medicine/Functional Nutrition. It’s different from conventional medicine in that it looks at the “root cause” of illness. Instead of immediately giving you a pill to mask the symptoms, the approach involves teaching you how nourish your body with anti-inflammatory foods and the power of a balanced gut microbiome. It also focuses on the remarkable healing power of regular and sufficient sleep, the importance of stress management and the importance of the right exercise for your body and age. Basically, I was looking at a Lifestyle Change with a purpose.

I completed a Functional Nutrition Program and with the knowledge I gained, I became my first client. I focused on giving my body nutrient-dense foods. I also created a regular sleep routine. I discovered low impact exercises that helped reduce my stress, as well as strengthen my core and toned my entire body.

Sleep is now my friend. I “feel” sleepy when it’s bedtime and I wake up refreshed. I admit, I had to make some changes in my lifestyle, but it was worth it to feel this great!

Everyone has their story and their “Aha” moment. Does my story resonant with you? Do you need help getting control of your lifestyle? I know it can be overwhelming, but if you are ready to start that journey, I’m here to help you.

My Healing

My new hip is almost 5 yrs. old. My flexibility and strength are better than ever. It took 2 years to find the right mix of exercises to replace the JOY I experienced with running. However, I am in much better shape at age 62 than I was at age 42.

My nutrition journey led me to a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet (90%), I do eat Alaskan salmon whenever I want it. My greatest accomplishment has been conquering my sugar addiction. We finally broke up on May 9, 2021. It took three attempts, but I’m finally free. As of Jan 2022, my blood tests show I am no longer in the “pre-diabetes” range.