My Story
Hi, I’m Anna, and here’s a little about me and my story…
My parents were Mediterranean Armenian, I was bought up in a vibrant, busy family, where we all lived inter-generationally. My grandparents used herbs to aid all kinds of aliments, incorporating them in tinctures , poultices and teas. They grew their own fruits and vegetables, and bottled and fermented these for later in the year. We always ate seasonally.
My Father Simon, was a firm believer in “Let medicine be thy food and food be thy medicine” teachings of Hippocrates. He was a trained pharmacist, and knew that there was more to health than just a prescription picked up at the pharmacy. Through my father’s somewhat difficult personal health journey, he showed me how to ‘eat my vitamins’ and adapt his diet to help in his recovery. I firmly believe these abiding holistic principles coupled with a vibrant mostly Mediterranean diet, enabled my father to stay curious, mentally alert and enjoy a meaningful life well into his 90’s. He showed me what a good “healthspan” could look like.
Why did I start Kind Wellness?
In 1994 I developed Gestational Diabetes (GA) whilst pregnant. Despite being a normal weight; eating all the wrong foods, not getting enough exercise and working long stressful hours, coupled with moving home, lead to metabolic inflexibility and insulin resistance.
My symptoms of feeling cranky and constantly hungry, “Hangry” , tired all the time I put down to being pregnant and needing more calories to grow my baby.
I had two options; either take insulin or control my GA with diet and lifestyle changes. I chose the latter. My blood sugar normalised, and no medical intervention was needed for the remainder of my pregnancy. I had adopted my new wellness blueprint.
My healthy son was born at term and no signs of high blood sugar. From that day forwards, I made it my mission to take back control of my own health and wellbeing. I knew that if I did not maintain my healthy habits and lifestyle, there was a 50% chance of me getting insulin resistance later on. My body had to remain “Metabolically Flexible”.
Fast forward a few years, my career was taking off, just as I was embarking on my “Peri” years. Long hours in the office, frequent overseas trips, my hormones were all over the place, I was gaining weight and suffering with overwhelm and brain fog.
Juggling my career coupled with the stress of being a single mum, alongside managing the needs of ageing parents, my insulin regulation went AWOL. I had to adapt and do something radical. I became so passionate about what I had learned over the years about me, and the integrative approach to living, that I decided to change careers. I enrolled with the College of Naturopathic Medicine. Building on my Chemistry degree I took the first steps to learn and subsequently share with you, all the aspects of Health and Wellbeing that had served me so well and turned my health around.
This last year has been spent researching and adding to my knowledge of Women’s health. I have embarked on a post diploma qualification in Advanced Weight Loss with the The Health Sciences Academy and Adopting Menopause lifestyle Management Protocols with the IMS (International Menopause Society).
Whatever life stage you are at, whether you want to balance your metabolism, be in the best shape when trying for a baby, improve your nutrition for you and baby during pregnancy, or manage weight during pregnancy and beyond. I am here for you.
You may want to know how to adapt existing lifestyle habits to progress smoothly through your “Peri”and “Meno” years, or just have a check in with me to make sure you are on the right track for your changing nutritional needs, I am here for you.
Book a discovery call
Contact me today to find out how Kind Wellness Health and Nutrition Coaching can be your partner in your journey to being your Best Self.