I’m so excited you’re here.
My name is Caroline, and I’m the Integrative Nutrition Health Coach behind Serenity Health. Since this is my first blog post, I thought it was time to officially introduce myself and tell you more about me, my story, and my mission.
First, a little bit about me.
I grew up right outside New York City (shout out Chappaqua!), went to college at the Fashion Institute of Technology to study Advertising & Marketing Communications (my career path is its own blog post in and of itself), and now live in Brooklyn with my S.O.
Some of my favorite things include (in no particular order): food, restaurants, meditation, loungewear, being in nature, skin care, music, candles, natural wine, and pilates. I’m a Virgo, an empath, and a strong believer in the power of manifestation.
Next, my story.
Before making the decision to enroll at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to become a Health Coach, I felt like I was living in a chronic state of being unfulfilled. On paper, I was on a great path. I had an impressive start to my career, strong relationships, a healthy family, and an amazing apartment in the best city in the world. I thought I felt and looked “healthy”. I didn’t eat much processed food, worked out at least 4x a week with spin, HIIT, or yoga, and I was happy with my weight and skin. Of course I had my struggles and insecurities, as almost all young women do, but overall I felt fine (physically).
But something wasn’t right. I was drinking way too much. My energy was up and down, but usually down, and I felt depleted. There were days when I literally couldn’t get out of bed to go to work. I dreaded most work days. I was suffering with chronic gut issues like nausea and bloating no matter what I tried.
Eventually I had made the decision to come off of hormonal birth control, which I had been on for 8 years, and immediately my physical and mental health went all over the place. I started suffering from horrible acne and immediate and unrelenting weight gain no matter what or how much I ate. It was taking a huge toll on my confidence and mental health.
When I was told I had Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), I honestly felt crushed. Shattered. Like my body wasn’t doing what it’s supposed to do. I’ve, very fortunately, never had to deal with health issues before - but I felt betrayed by my own body. For those that don’t know, PCOS is a hormone imbalance that up to 20% of women in reproductive age face. It can present itself in such a variety of ways so it’s often hard to diagnose and treat. Symptoms can include irregular or lost periods, increased androgen hormones, insulin resistance, and/or cysts on the ovaries.
For me, the most overwhelming feeling was shame. As a woman, when your hormones aren’t balanced the way they’re supposed to be it feels like there is a lot of stigma around that. Things like “that time of the month for her”, feminine virtue, and fertility, all come to mind.
In the Spring of 2020, the pandemic was at its most horrifying point in NYC. The mental and physical health of myself and everyone close to me became the most important thing, and I knew I needed to make a change. I realized more than ever before that if you don’t have your health, you won’t show up as your best self. And I wanted to help myself and the people around me feel their absolute best.
I finally felt a calling to shift everything and focus on my own healing, while creating a life that I truly loved. I felt comfort knowing that so much of what I had been feeling: low energy, mood swings, bloating, were not my fault. My body was finally speaking to me and I knew I had to listen.
Most importantly, my mission.
I’ve always been so passionate about health and wellness (see favorite things above!), which is part of the reason I knew being a Health Coach was meant for me. One day I sat down and literally wrote a list of all the things I already love to do, think about, read about: things like yoga, food, wellness and beauty, meditation, mindset, and helping others. Once I made the decision to enroll at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and become a Health Coach, my entire perspective transformed. I knew that healing myself would be a process, and it still is (TRUST ME!), but little by little I have found strategies that work for me. I want more than anything to partner with other women to find strategies that work for them.
Serenity Health empowers you to feel your most serene and inspired self through personal nutrition and lifestyle coaching. Combining my desire to help people and love for all things wellness, I approach health from a holistic point of view that focuses on every aspect of your life to build sustainable habits that help you feel your best.
Health is not one size fits all and it’s not a single destination. It’s a constant practice. I started small - 5 minutes of meditation in the morning, herbal tea in the afternoon, adding in different varieties of vegetables, walking a little more every day - and I started to feel my symptoms and my life transform. My cycles became more regular, my skin improved, and I finally started to feel more like myself.
As your Health Coach, I can help you tap into your true motivation and desire, uncover what habits do or do not serve you, and implement actionable strategies that help you feel your most serene and inspired self.
I can’t wait to connect with all of you.
x, Caroline
