Drained, inflammed, and over-fed but under-nourished. As a new mom navigating this journey with zero mentorship or model of healthy postpartum recovery-- I felt thrown out in the water to sink or swim all while thinking that this is just how it's supposed to be.

This doesn't have to be your story as a new mom!

Continuing to be overwhelmed, over-fed, unhappy and completely clueless about how to take care of myself in a meaningful + sustainable way. I was stuck in a cycle of yo-yo dieting + all of the cardio while bingeing most nights because I hated the way I saw myself.

I went into this pregnancy weighing less than I ever had in my life, completely under-nourished + following a raw vegan diet after spending a couple of years bodybuilding + trying to shrink myself to be as small as I possibly could-- both physically + metaphorically. My metabolism took a nose-dive from the restrictive, dogmatic dieting + training with almost zero fuel. I still had no idea how to care for myself but I knew THAT wasn't the way.

This is where my health took a complete turn for the worse. I looked and felt more depleted than ever, despite doing all of the "right" things... or so I thought.

Around 8 months postpartum I became suddenly ill, but never recovered. For months + months I couldn't tolerate more than a handful of foods, I couldn't sleep despite being SO exhausted + depleted, my hair was falling out in clumps, I lost 30 pounds unintentionally in two months + I could barely walk from the bedroom to the kitchen without nearly fainting.

Little did I know, I had NOTHING left to give-- physically or emotionally because I had never done the work after my previous children to restore + fortify my nutrient stores or care for myself + honor my boundaries. I was stuck in a marriage where I wasn't respected or valued, but literally, physically, couldn't leave.

This is when I began to reclaim my power, but not without a long battle + many, many difficult lessons.

I began to do the work to heal my body + soul when another plan that I never thought possible was revealed to me-- I was pregnant again. I never thought I would be able to live a normal life without this debilitating sickness ever again, let alone fall pregnant, but that was part of my life's plan.

During the pregnancy leading up to this postpartum time I immersed myself in all things ancestral wisdom, took responsibility for my physical, mental/emotional + spiritual health. I began to grow out of the victim mentality that said "why are bad things happening to me"+ began to see the lessons on this journey as catalysts for growth.

I spent that pregnancy nourishing my body, moving consistently + had a beautiful, redemptive birth experience of my only daughter at home. Following her birth, I followed the protocol set forth in "The First Forty Days" of laying in with baby, not leaving the house for forty days, eating warm, nourishing foods + regained so much of the vitality that I had previously lost by rushing to get back to "normal" after birthing.

Honoring the tenderness of this time was time well spent because it all led me to now...

Now, I look + feel better than I ever have, despite being 15 years older and having carried + birthed five children.

Doing thee foundational work to replenish my nutrient stores while honoring the cyclical nature of womanhood has allowed me to experience a radical transformation on all levels of my being.

I have more energy than ever, I have found freedom in eating foods I never thought I would tolerate again, + am able to keep up with the demands of motherhood with ease because I am fully nourished-- and you can be too!