Aloha! I’m Martha. In 2016 I was 52, but my body felt like I was 82. It hurt to get on and off a chair, I could only walk about a half-mile, and stairs had become my nemesis. I had pain in my knees and hips so severely that I had to take each step very slowly and hold on to the railing. This was coupled with the onset of menopause and the lovely symptoms that brings: night sweats, hair falling out, hot flashes, and brain fog.
I decided that my OBGYN was a good first stab at figuring out what was wrong. We talked, and thankfully she listened. We did blood tests and confirmed that I had something called Mixed Connective Tissue Disease. What? No idea what that was or what an autoimmune disease was. I was scared! Our son was only 12 and I had way too much life to live to be this unhealthy.
Luckily, she knew I was into alternative medicines and when asked she recommended a functional medicine doctor. Within 24 hours of receiving my diagnosis, I found the Autoimmune Protocol “AIP”. I read everything I could find online. I went to my appointment with the functional medicine doctor armed with ideas. He agreed with every one of them. I instantly went on AIP. I decided I wanted to recover my health as fast as possible, so I went cold turkey. I was ALL IN! Nothing was going to stand in my way. It wasn’t easy. I had to rethink everything I knew about food and food preparation. I had to set aside my impatient tendencies and learn to relax, to breathe.
For the next 8 months:
I ate AIP.
I did gentle yoga and stretching 5 days a week for 30 minutes and walked our dog several times a week.
I slept when my body was tired and focused on quality sleep.
I started meditating.
I started saying “No” to the extra things in life.
I explained to my husband and son that I needed their support and patience.
I put myself and my health first in my life.
It worked! When I went back for my 6-month check-up I had lost 43 pounds (I wasn’t trying to lose weight, but my body was settling) I was actually sleeping 8 hours a night, every menopause symptom was gone, and my leg and hip pain was 100% gone! I could walk as far as I wanted, stairs were not an issue, and I was a better and much healthier version of myself
I know first-hand that what we eat matters. What lifestyle choices we make matters. How much stress we are under matters. The quality of sleep, movement, and joy in our life matters.
It was NOT easy, and it was not always fun. But it was VERY worth it. I would not have done it any other way. You can take charge of your health too! I created my website for several reasons:
To share my knowledge as a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner by working with women who want to take charge of their own health.
To share tasty healthy recipes. My recipes are paleo, often AIP, and free of the most problematic foods (gluten, soy, refined sugar) for those with autoimmune issues.
To help teens learn about holistic nutrition and how to eat and live to help prevent chronic disease in the first place.
To share Hawaii. Food, restaurants, experiences, and the beauty of this amazing land.
Let’s connect on Instagram or Facebook and let’s change your life for the better! Until we meet again you will find me reading a good book, homeschooling our teenage son, walking on the beach with our lab Paisley, or attempting to learn to stand up paddle.
A Hui Hou!