My Story

I graduated from nursing in 1991. My how time has flown.

I loved the adrenalin rush and was a bit of a nomad, so I worked in many different areas and moved every few years. I looked for opportunities to learn new things and expand my knowledge.  That led me to work in cardiac, wound care, management, ER, recovery room, medical sales, education, accreditation, project management, and medication safety. All the constant change and stress played its toll on my health not to mention working shift work when I struggled with chronic insomnia.

In 2005 I was teaching nursing, going to school, renovating a house, and dating my now husband. I really wanted everything that was in my life, but I had hit bottom. There were days when I didn't know how I was going to make it to 2 pm never mind the end of the workday. Every day was a challenge to try to be the high achieving, high standards nurse, employee, partner, stepmom that I wanted everyone to believe I was. I started dating and then married my husband during that time. I actually dreaded our honeymoon and any other fun activity because of the energy it would take to get through it. I had been diagnosed with thyroiditis and was given no information how to improve my thyroid function, lose weight and get my energy back. I remember taking 3 days to recall a co-worker’s name. I refused to look it up because I thought it was so ridiculous and embarrassing. 

I was in survival mode. I focused on how to get through. How to survive each day when I had almost no energy or capacity to do anything. This was really stressful because I have always set high standards for my performance at work. Occasionally I still struggle with feelings that I disappointed my colleagues, my students, my family and myself. I wanted to be the best and give my best to my career as well as have the energy to fill my life with adventure and family fun. There was a time I was actually ashamed about how poorly I felt, and I did my best to hide it from everyone.  I was the person that would have abdominal paint, fever, with abdominal distention the day my family helped me move and I never told anyone and worked most of the following week until I could get in to see my NP. So, to describe myself as stubborn and proud wouldn't be far off. Afterall, my family role is caretaker.  Thank goodness things have changed not only physically but emotionally.

I wasn't capable of being my best, but my life was transformed when I decided to try and lose weight. Little did I realize that the small online group that I joined to lose weight (using real food) was going to give me my life back. The weight was just a symptom of all the damage stress and a poor diet had done to my body. When I realized this, I spent more and more time researching and learning how to support my body in ways that I could not only enjoy my work again but have energy to invest in my family, friends and even some life adventures.  I will never be arrogant enough to let you believe that I have it all figured out.  Maintaining my health continues to be an ongoing journey.

We often feel that we just need to handle everything that life throws at us.  We are nurses and we are expected to manage an incredibly increasing stressful work life along with all the added stress that the world has thrown at us.  I just don't believe that. I've lived it, recovered from it and now want to help you get your life back. I know that you want to be great, an amazing partner, parent, and friend all with incredible energy so you can throw in some life adventure as well.

I want to help you get there.

Shonda Holt BScN

Nutritional Endocrinology, Gut Health, and Balanced Blood Sugar Coach