About Me

Hello! I am Gabriela and this is the story of my health journey. I hope my story inspires you and gives you hope. It is possible to feel better and you can make the difference in your life and your health if you really want.

Like many of you, I thought I was living a relatively healthy life until I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition at age 35. After the diagnosis, I was in shock. Why me and why Lupus? I started reading about it and the stories were horrible, scary and depressing. I then started taking medication that made me feel sick and strange in my own body - nothing made sense. Doctors couldn't tell me why my body was acting up and I felt sad and hopeless.

One day, I came across the term "Leaky Gut" as a possible cause for my condition. The more I read the more everything started to make sense. Suddenly, I had an explanation for the bloating, the lack of energy, the being chronically tired, the headaches, etc. I realized it was time to take charge of my own health and make lifestyle changes.

At the beginning, food was my primary focus. I changed my diet and everything started to change. I was not bloated anymore, I regained my energy and the terrible headaches went away.

It has been more than 15 years since my diagnosis. During this period, I have improved my relationship with food, and I've made lifestyle changes that led me to stop taking prescription drugs. I also found a functional medicine doctor who helped me tremendously in this journey. Up to this day, I feel better than ever before.

I felt so good that in 2018 I reached out to the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and after a year I became a Health Coach. I knew that if I could help others make lifestyle changes to recover their health, they could help their families and friends and little by little, we could change the life of many.

I believe that we have the power to make changes to bring health, joy, and happiness to our lives.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this story. My intention is for you to find hope and be happy. Also, to know that it is possible to help our bodies feel their best. I hope you find a starting point with any information you find in this website. If you then feel that you need extra help, let's talk and see how I can support you even more.

Thanks for reading.

Gabriela - Integrative Nutrition Health Coach

My Training

I graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition where I learned innovative coaching methods, practical lifestyle management techniques, and over 100 dietary theories – Ayurveda, gluten-free, Paleo, raw, vegan, macrobiotics, and everything in between. I am also certified as a bilingual instructor so I can work with clients in English and Spanish.

My education has equipped me with extensive, cutting-edge knowledge in holistic nutrition, health coaching, and prevention. Drawing on my expertise, I work with my clients to help make lifestyle changes and choose health-promoting ways that produce real and lasting results.

I help you develop a deeper understanding of food and lifestyle choices. You decide what works for you but working together we can accomplish so much like having more energy, balance, health, and happiness.

Each session will leave you feeling inspired and motivated. We will talk about things beyond food, seeking to bring balance to important elements of your life such as love and relationships as well as career and money. I will personally and carefully guide you to make simple, small changes that transform your life.

Why hiring a health coach is a good idea?

I know it is hard to decide what is best for us sometimes. But, what if I tell you that when you work with a coach, it is like having a mentor that does not judge you but instead help you look inside yourself to find the love you need to make positive changes to your life.

Like you, I have felt stuck, I have felt sad, I have felt like nothing I did work, I have felt like I had no hope, I went through rough moments trying to find answers. At the end, I wish I had had someone to guide me to the other side where I felt great, inspired, motivated, happy and vibrant. That is the reason why I am a health coach, to help you and empower you to find those answers, to help you feel better by creating new healthy habits, and to be happy.

Studying to be a coach helped me understand that health coaches are not for everybody. But, we all need support sometimes from somebody who is not part of our family and who will not judge you. Someone who is objective and honest. Someone with the knowledge and willingness to help you improve the way you feel despite of where you are in your health journey. Do you need a coach?

Would you like to know what kind of coach I am? Here are a few things that I value in life in no particular order. I won't list all because I don't want to bore you. :)

Cooking

I enjoy cooking a lot. I learned with the years that cooking is essential to keep my good health. I have learned to cook all kinds of foods, basically, anything that I want from a restaurant, I can make it at home with quality ingredients that are good for me and my family's health.

My family and friends like the way I cook, at least that is what they say. I take cooking classes myself and include cooking classes in my program to teach others to cook as well.

Being around nature

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I enjoy being outside. I have learned the importance of recharging your energy from nature. The benefits of being in touch with nature are highly underestimated. I try to be outside as much as I can. I like walking barefoot on the grass and on the sand. I enjoy visiting different places and relax while recharging. I love going for outside walks and spending time in the garden.

Traveling

I like traveling despite of the jet lag and the food challenges. I have learned how to prepare myself to travel and take with me what I need food wise. I love learning about different cultures because I value our individuality. I know we are all different and we all react to different things in different ways. Seeing other cultures and testing other foods help me help clients from different countries.

Me in portugal

Family and Friends

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Having good relationships with friends and family is very important to our health. I think family is our pillar and our friends are the family we choose. I love spending time with them, my parents, my husband, my sisters and nieces. I am blessed to have a great family. My friends are also very important to me so I make time to spend time with them as well as much as I can.

Soul food

I enjoy "me" time where I can do things I like. I enjoy reading, gardening, cooking, meditating, knitting, studying, and doing things with my hands. Having "me" time helps me relax, and grow as a human being, which is crucial for my overall wellbeing.

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As a coach, I put the power back in YOUR hands.

Learn more about my training and my unique approach to health coaching.

Are you curious about how health coaching can help you? Let’s talk. Schedule a free initial consultation with me today.

"Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity." - Hippocrates
"It is health that is real wealth not pieces of gold and silver." -Mahatma Gandhi
"Happiness is the highest form of health." - Dalai Lama

Relationships, exercise, career, and spirituality are just as important to your health as the food you eat. As a Health Coach, I understand this and I take a holistic approach to coaching to support you. Find out how I can help you. Wellness is a journey.