1. What inspired you to become a health coach?
It was during the first covid lockdown, I was sick and tired of my own, unhealthy relationship with food, and myself, and decided to take full responsibility of the situation and finally change things for good. I faced the fact that extreme diets simply didn't work in the long run and did not bring anything positive to my life. Instead I finally committed to playing the long game and started learning about holistic, healthy lifestyle and changing my habits for reasons bigger than "just" my mirror image and the number on the scales. During this I discovered Institute for Integrative Nutrition and decided to enroll on their Health Coach course. What actually sparked it all was stumbling upon Melissa Wood Tepperberg's Instagram account! For those who don't know: she is the ultimate Instagram wellness queen.
2.What brought you to Dubai?
We first moved to Dubai from London in 2014 for my husband's work. His whole team moved over so the transition was easy as we arrived with an immediate group of friends however it was a slow process for me to learn to love Dubai. I was adamant we would return to London, which we did in 2018 only to move back to Dubai again in 2022! We ended up spending the longest one of covid lockdowns here and it sparked the idea to move back to the sunshine. I feel like Dubai is vastly different now to 2014: it's a much busier and buzzier city with more to offer. Whereas back then I missed London terribly and felt slightly isolated here I now wouldn't want to live anywhere else and can really appreciate everything it has to offer.
3.What areas do you specialize in, and how do you help your clients achieve their personal and health goals?
I specialise in coaching women, in particular over 40-years old. Most of my clients are professional women in corporate jobs and often they are also mums. This can mean that for years they've put themselves and their wellbeing to the bottom of the priority order ending them up in a situation where they're unhappy in their bodies and don't feel like themselves anymore.
My coaching style is very much creating solutions for problems. I get to know my clients and what their typical days look like and based on that we make a practical action plan that will help them get to their wellness goals, which most often is or includes weight-loss.
In terms of methods I focus on insulin rather than calories ie. quality rather than quantity, which becomes all the more important for women in perimenopause and menopause.
4.We have heard that you love walking. What’s the most memorable walk you’ve ever done?
The most beautiful walk has got to be "Le Sentiel du Littoral" in Cap d'Antibes in South of France.
Hiking in the Swiss Alps was also an incredible experience.
Let's not leave Dubai out though... My "Burj to Burj" walks have been memorable too, whether because of a stunning sunset or because of doing it in June mid morning temperatures.
5. What’s the number one piece of advice you’d give our readers to achieve a healthy lifestyle?
This is actually quite easy: eliminate or drastically reduce your consumption of ultra-processed foods. They have been designed to make you over eat and are laden with harmful chemicals that can mess up with your hormones. Eat WHOLE food in its original format that nature provides us. The more it has been processed the more trouble your body will have metabolising it. Regularly consuming foods like cereals, breads, crackers, pastas, crisps, sweets, packaced snacks, and juices can lead you living in constant blood sugar roller coaster causing increased hunger, cravings and energy drops amongst other things.
