I'm so EXCITED to offer this program. I created The SPARK Diet after years of research, working with the best doctors, seeing healer after healer, and spending a ton of money to crack the code on why I felt so bad. 

It was the first time in my very active/healthy life that I felt I didn't have the energy or resilience to take care of myself or my daughter. But I HAD to! I didn’t understand why I was so exhausted. I remember being afraid to get lab tests because of what they might reveal. My life felt like it was falling apart. It was terrifying and caused loads of self-doubt and depression.

Intellectually, I could name why I felt so bad. 
:: several life traumas in a very short time span (shocks to my system)

:: being in a toxic relationship

:: stress of solo parenting and homeschooling my daughter while running my business

:: cruising toward menopause, with hormones shifting radically

But would all that REALLY cause me to need a nap after every hour of work? 
During this time, I was eating healthy and exercising, although my exercising had decreased significantly because I didn't have the strength and energy to workout. I remember several times being on the trails in tears because the bikes and trail runs that used to be some of my happiest activities I just couldn't do. I lost not only my favorite activities but also my social life. 

It was so confusing and frustrating. I had studied health, vitality, and optimal wellness deeply for decades. I'm a researcher at heart and I couldn't FIX myself, not even with the best of the best doctors, blood work (finally had tests), thyroid tests, and investing in so many supplements my home could have been a Nature's Outlet. 

This went on for years, and I did NOT give up searching for ways to feel better. I finally cracked the code in a way that surprised me. I was missing the simplest of lifestyle changes. I doubted that these “habits” were THAT important. But the things below are what finally helped me heal and get my life back. They even healed at an emotional level.

Turns out when you are full of energy and joy, and HOPE you can forgive, heal, and move on so much easier.

THIS IS WHAT HELPED ME. 
After years and years of struggle, I finally put some lifestyle "habits" in place based on my research. I've never been a big fan of habits. They have always sounded boring to this wild, free, fly by the seat of my pants girl. 

:: I gave up alcohol completely for 5 months (I wasn't an alcoholic - most people aren't but I was drinking 2-3 glasses of wine or a couple IPAs to take the edge off every night).

I was eating healthy, but alcohol was affecting my liver (which is everything for weight loss, energy, and to actually utilize the nutrients (hello energy!) I was trying to get with all my healthy food choices).

(I have found that those who don't use alcohol to self-medicate, use junk food/comfort food to self-soothe...not only is this extra empty calories, this also puts an extra workload on the liver which has to process everything.

:: I fixed my sleep (I had a streak of 10 years waking up every night at 2:30 - 3 am) and not falling back to sleep until 6am when it was time to get up. 

We also can't lose weight, with disrupted sleep and cortisol patterns. And even 1 hour of lost sleep impacts mood and your drive/motivation dramatically!

Giving up alcohol was the #1 ingredient to achieving deep sleep. Even 1 drink can throw this off. I also placed a priority on going to bed early and getting up at the same time every morning. To wake up feeling full of life/energy and EXCITEMENT for the day is beyond awesome!

:: I got super hydrated. Hydration is so much more than chugging 64 ounces of water. I didn't know it, but I was severely hydrated at the cellular level. 

Being dehydrated causes (just to name a few) fatigue, especially afternoon slumps, cravings, weight gain, and joint pain.

Before I even started exercising, I lost 16 pounds just from 1) no alcohol 2) fixed sleep and 3) hydrating in a new, cutting edge way (this research is just now coming to the forefront).

:: I switched to a 100% Whole Food Plant-based diet. You don't have to go Vegan, but it is extremely important to eliminate processed foods and infuse your body with NUTRIENTS. And 2-3 supplements can be helpful, but not 30! 

:: I worked out, but 70% less to allow my nervous system to rest and come into alignment and found strength training is far more important than cardio for women over 40 (I'm 50). 

I personally love long mountain bikes and long trail runs, but actually find it harder to control body weight when I do these activities. I’ll do them because I love them, but do take longer breaks now so my body can restore itself.

Other things: 

:: I took myself out of the most toxic relationship and then learned to set strong boundaries to protect my well-being going forward

:: I cleaned up open loops, tolerations, and said NO so much more (and I was already pretty good with that) 

:: I started each morning w/ a powerful morning routine that set me up as a CREATOR of the life I wanted 

I realized that even those who loved me most, would still not respect my boundaries and that it was up to me to be CLEAR on what I needed to protect my well-being and enforce it.

I will guide you through these powerful lifestyle habits and take you through a process to “clean up” your life. The big and even the small things add up. 

Not only did I lose weight and get stronger physically, but my energy soared. The best and most unexpected feeling I had was JOY. A joy I hadn’t felt in almost 20 years.

When you have energy and that level of happiness you literally feel like anything is possible. Life becomes sweet and the DESIRE to do and live what is important to you returns.

It is literally returning yourself to your power, YOUR SPARK.

I can't wait to support you in this journey. What women endure and survive is both inspiring and heartbreaking. I don’t want you to have go this alone. That is my WHY for creating this program.

Much love!

XO!
H