In 2009 I started my journey toward health. I began in January by transforming my body and mind with Bill Phillips. I lost 22 lbs and went through his transformation program that shook up a lot of old cobwebs, reminded me to ask forgiveness and forgive. I let go of a lot of resentments and baggage...and at the age of 51 became young again. It truly was like I was full of this new found love and light.
After about a year I started becoming sicker and sicker....all while practicing my new healthy lifestyle. My doctor was sure I had Celiac and Crohn's. I did have Crohn's markers, but not active Crohn's. I took tests ...every test that a Gastroenterologist has in their arsenal of diagnostic tricks. I even swallowed a camera that took 60,000 pictures of my insides and there was nothing amiss. So...since there was no diagnosis ...there was no treatment. The doctor could do nothing for me and I was on my own.
On January 1, 2011 I gave up all animal products, dairy, gluten and a lot of other odd things my holistic doctor told me I was allergic too. That left me with fruits and vegetables. I learned that raw foods made me feel better. By January 3 my health problems were GONE! By the middle of 2011 I was 95% raw and had read everything I could get my hands on to learn about nutrition so I wouldn't starve to death. I learned a lot. I studied David Wolfe through the Body Mind Institute...I gobbled up his whole (1 year) course in one weekend, took the difficult tests and became certified in Raw Nutrition. I studied Brendan Brazier, T. Colin Campbell, The Hippocrates Series, Mark Hyman...and lots more. I decided I wanted to know more than what I had learned in my college nutrition classes. I found The Institute of Integrative Nutrition by googling. I couldn't believe the teachers...they were all the people who I had studied and more! Andrew Weil, David Katz, John Douillard, David Wolfe, Mark Hyman, Deepak Chopra, Neal Barnard, Walter Willett, Joe Fuhrman, Paul Pitchford ...not to mention one of my favorites...Joshua Rosenthal!
If all these people believed IIN was the place to be...then I wanted to be there!
I think I received my beautiful box of IIN goodies in June or July. It included a book, fully loaded Ipod and some other fun things. I started listening immediately. I listened when I was driving (a lot)...I listened in airplanes when I traveled...I listened in the museum when I was waiting for my granddaughter's art class to release. I even listened at night when I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. I was through the class before the classes started. I loved everything I heard...and not all of it was agreeable. I re-listened to some and took the tests. I loved it and it did not interfere with my business or my life at all.
We learn about all the dietary theories and are able to reason what works and what doesn't and we find that there really is no right answer for everyone....that is where the theory of bio-individuality comes in. I had to quit watching the animal cruelty films, the important thing is that we grasp the magnitude of the problem and do something about it.
We learned about primary foods...which really resonated because of my work in transformation. I am still not sure which comes first, the chicken or the egg...but if it all happens together it is magic.
We learned that it is not all or nothing. Small incremental changes are sustainable, especially with support.
We learned the energetics of food, food and mood and superfoods. We learned nutrition science....we learned a lot!
The business end was well set up and is very good for anyone who wants to walk right out of school and start their own business. I have never seen so many entrepreneurs in my whole life...and I am one for over 30 years! IIN gives you a workbook with elementary business operational practices. They give you a nice little start on marketing with pre-written letters. (I suggest you make them more personal and put them into your own words...with your passion and authenticity behind it.) They give you an outline!!!! They give you a whole 6 month program set up for you. All you have to do is get the client and start working from the program. It is all on pdf's and word doc's!
People ask me how much time school takes. This school is so individualized that you could spend 24/7 on it or a very minimum (if you have the passion and soak it up like I do). There is class material and there is so much additional material made available to you that your potential for knowledge is almost unlimited.
I have been to the last 2 events that IIN put on...one in New York and another in Long Beach! They were FREE! Unbelievably free! I got to see my heroes! Dr. Fuhrman, Dr. Hyman, David Wolfe......all in person. I meditated with Deepak Chopra! I got to see Sally Fallon on the same stage as Joe Cross from Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead! The contrasts are so unbelievable. You see night and day theories and they all seem to work for those who believe in them. We got to see other students who have succeeded and the diversity in their outcomes...and incomes! I learned most in my modules....I was inspired most by the events. My BIG IDEAS came...they just popped into my head when I was at these events! The energy is magical.
I am in a study group. We bounce things around and share. This is an important part of your education at IIN. Your education is facilitated by the IPod. Your creativity is facilitated by the events. Your education grows with your group. My group shares notes, ideas, complaints and triumphs. We owe a lot to each other.
I had my own health coach! Her name is Janet. She taught me what a good health coach is through my experience with her. She was so empowering and helpful. She enjoyed me, I could tell. She even hooked me up with a person to share a room with in Long Beach. Now, who would have thought to put an Orthodox Jew in with a Catholic...we had a ball and we learned a lot from each other. I am very grateful for that weekend!
The price of education was very good. Really unbelievable. It makes it even easier because if you are a little worried about paying it all up front...they have a very nice payment plan.
This profession is so important in the world right now. I look at obese and sick children and adults and want to cry. What do you do about it? I think this is a good start.
My new business, The Health Coach, is a group of health coaches who have different specialties. They get to work with the clients...which is what they love, while they develop their own businesses. The Health Coach does all the marketing and health histories and chooses the coach who is best suited to the client. This is a win/win for everyone. We have a scholarship fund to help others who do not have the ability or...maybe show exceptional ability to go to school. We have an internship program for new health coaches to volunteer, get experience and help some people who can not afford health coaches. I am at the beginning of an incredible journey. My business is up and running. We have 24 health coaches, clients....and I graduate in August!
Happy learning! ~Cathy
http://www.thehealthcoach.net
cathy@thehealthcoach.net
https://www.facebook.com/Thehealthcoach.net
Cathy, I completely agree with the healing properties of foods. I eat a vegetarian, gluten-free diet that includes lots of raw, organic foods and it's as whole as I can get it. It's so exciting to read about how your diet healed you and I love your passion!
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