Tag Archives: nutrition

From Fatigue to Freedom: How I Reclaimed My Energy and Health

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One of my major frustrations when I initially developed autoimmune disorders was the overwhelming fatigue which limited my daily activities. 

For a period of about three months I didn’t even have the energy to climb the stairs in our home. I think I perfected the “craft” of lying flat on my back to pray because I didn’t have the energy to get on my knees… AND MY BODY HURT! 

Thank God for hearing and understanding prayers whether we are sitting, standing, kneeling, or lying down  because BAY-BEH… I was struggling!

I wanted so much to feel better and for my health to improve but I was also afraid that I might get worse and die. Real talk… I hated being afraid.

While my healing didn’t come in the manner I prayed, (I tried to “touch the hem of His garment” for instantaneous healing but I kept waking up sick🤷🏽‍♀️) I slowly began to improve as I implemented a step-by step lifestyle transformation process that I continue to use regularly.

This process includes mindset, nutrition, rest, exercise, and faith. 

Within one year I had improved so much my doctor told me to keep doing whatever I was doing. She agreed to continue to monitor me. THANK YOU LORD!

Perhaps you can relate to some of the frustrations and fears that I experienced as you navigate your journey with chronic illness and autoimmune disorders. If so, I want to encourage you to not lose hope. I’m a living witness that things can get better.

My private coaching clients have achieved success in improving their health and reclaiming their energy as I teach and help them implement the same process I use for myself.

If you are ready to take control of your health and and want help doing so, I invite you to schedule an appointment with me for an Overcome Autoimmunity Discovery call to see if and how I can help you.

Click HERE to schedule your call. I look forward to speaking with you!

From Illness to Wellness: A Journey of Healing

autoimmunity recovery, black women's health, health, healthy lifestyle, lifestyle transformation, personal wellness coaching, wellness, , , , ,

Sometimes, it’s good to take a look back and reflect on where you have been to appreciate how far you’ve come.

I was recently looking through my photos and came across two that share a glimpse into my journey with autoimmune disorders.

The picture on top was taken in 2019, shortly after I became ill and this was how I dressed for bed. I was looking a “hot mess” with compression socks, Elastic bandage on my ankle, knee brace, and I had a heating pad on the floor next to the bed.🤣🤦🏽‍♀️

My body hurt from my neck down to the bottoms of my feet. My joints and muscles were inflamed and I had trouble moving around. It was NOT FUN. 😩

I prayed for instant healing but, it didn’t happen that way. However, as I implemented my step-by-step process for health recovery, my mind, body, and spirit were rejuvenated.

The picture on the bottom was taken 2 years later in early 2021. Praise God!🙌🏾. After my most recent visit with my doctor’s office last month, I was informed that everything continues to be stable! I can keep doing what I’m doing!

In my private coaching programs, I help my clients take control of their health using the same process I use for myself.

Recently, I launched my “Reclaim Your Health and Thrive” 12-Month Private Coaching Program, which allows my clients to experience a full year of a high-level of personalized 1-1 wellness coaching.

If you are ready to invest in yourself for this type of support to take control of your health, I invite you to make an appointment with me for a free “Reclaim Your Health” Discovery Sales call to see if and how I can help you.

Please CLICK HERE to schedule your call today. I look forward to speaking with you!

Blessings,

Dr. Karla

4 Great Benefits of “Green” Eating; especially if you’re sick!

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One of the recommendations that people often hear when they are trying to adopt a more healthful nutrition plan is “eat green leafy vegetables”.  There are several benefits to eating a lot of “greens”.

Chlorophyll is a substance found in green plants.

  1. It acts as a blood detoxifier.
  2. This in turn helps increase circulation to your body’s organs.
  3. It is also thought to help reduce offensive body odors.

Super green foods include the young cereal grasses like wheat, barley, alfalfa, rye, oats, kelp, and chlorella. 

4. These super greens have many nutrients to help support your body’s functions including supporting your immune system.

If you are not already doing so, try adding different leafy greens and super greens to your diet to help you regain and/or maintain your health for good.

Adopting a practical, doable, and enjoyable nutrition plan for health is one of the areas in which I give support to my private clients. 

If you are a woman struggling with chronic illness such as autoimmune disorders and ready to invest in yourself for a high level of personalized support to take control of your health, I invite you to make an appointment with me for a Free Overcome Autoimmunity Discovery Call to see if and how I can help you.

Click HERE to schedule your appointment. I look forward to speaking with you!

The Beauty of A Great Community!

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I’m so blessed to have connections in different cities and I don’t take the kindness and hospitality of others for granted. Whenever, I am the beneficiary of the generosity of others, it encourages and reminds me to be kind to others as well.

I recently traveled to Florida to attend a conference for women entrepreneurs. While I was looking forward to meeting with the other attendees and learning from the various workshops and activities during the conference, I knew there would possibly be some challenges as it related to eating the way I wanted.

My autoimmune disorders are controlled and have been in remission largely due to my nutrition and lifestyle regimen. It can be a challenge finding the proper foods when you are traveling out of town, staying in a hotel, and don’t have a car.

Often, when dining at a restaurant, I can usually find “sides” to order if the restaurant is not known specifically for being “vegan”, “vegetarian”, or “plant-based” friendly. There were not many choices at the hotel restaurant where I was staying, but I was able to manage okay.

HOWEVER, I was so grateful to be able to reconnect with my friend, Denise, who a few years ago had moved with her husband to the city where the conference was being held. Denise came and picked me up to attend Sabbath church services where her husband is pastor. Then she invited me over to enjoy a home cooked “plant based” ‘Sabbath lunch.

Getting ready to enjoy Sabbath lunch!

But she didn’t stop there. My girl had me fix myself a “to-go” plate. She even gave me stuff to share with my conference roommate. Ya’ll, I had my “to-go” food the next day for breakfast and lunch. It was soooo good too! I’m grateful and so glad I reached out.

I’m reminded of the scripture in James chapter 4:2 that says, ” you have not because you ask not”. Now, James may not have been talking about the scenario I just described but I’m still glad I was not too afraid to get in touch with Denise. She and her husband, Pastor Fred, helped to make my visit to Florida a great experience.

As we move forward in 2023 and beyond, let’s look for opportunities to be kind to others. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

If you suffer from chronic illness, such as autoimmune disorders, and are ready to take control of your health so you can fulfill your God-given purpose, I invite you to make an appointment with me for a free Overcome Autoimmunity Discovery Call to see if and how I can help you! Click HERE to schedule your call today! I look forward to speaking with you!

Stay Encouraged! A Peek into my “31 Day-No (or very little) commercially processed foods” journey!

black women's health, lifestyle transformation, nutrition, personal wellness coaching, weight management, wellness, , ,

Almost a year ago I shared a blog post titled, “Start Now, Improve Later.” This is a phrase I heard a few years ago from one of my mentors and she continues to repeat this to her clients and mentees. Sometimes I get a little discouraged when something I’m trying to do takes longer than I think it should (or longer than I want it to take). And then there are the times when I’m trying to do something new or a little out of my comfort zone and I’m not quite satisfied with the results (probably because I’m comparing my results to someone else’s). It is during those times I can hear that phrase in my head: “Start now, Improve later.”

The blog post I wrote with that title shared my dislike for cooking but my desire to eat food that tastes good and is also healthful. (My food journey has been one of gradual change over the past twenty years or so of transitioning to eating less meat, then no red meat, later eliminating chicken, and about seven years ago I decided to eliminate fish and then dairy (for the most part). As much as I didn’t really want to cook, almost a year ago I decided to enroll in an online cooking course taught by another mentor and friend of mine. While my food didn’t look as “pretty” as my instructor’s, I still felt quite proud of myself for just stepping up and completing the class. Now, I didn’t become a gourmet cook or anything like that BUT…I became a little more comfortable with at least trying. One of my goals is to eat food that can be simply prepared but also tastes good and is nutritious. I’m trying to take care of this temple y’all!

So, fast forward almost a year later and a member in one of the Facebook groups I’m in issued “31 day, no processed foods” challenge. “Ooooh”, I thought, “Here’s my chance to work on another one of my goals” (of eating less commercially processed foods and more whole, plant-based fresh foods). I said YES to the challenge maybe a week or two before we were to start. During the time before we were to start, I had planned to do some meal planning and grocery shopping so I would be READY! Well, life just kept happening and it did not slow down enough for me to prepare like I wanted. (Or maybe I just kept procrastinating because I hate grocery shopping too and I didn’t feel like taking the time to plan the menus). Anyway, August 1st comes (start date) and I didn’t want to back out or put off doing the challenge so I had to just jump right in there…! Let me tell you, it has been an interesting experience so far and I’m actually enjoying it. My menus and recipes have been pretty basic and simple but I think my food tastes pretty good. (Well, there was that one time I tried to do something different with my sweet potatoes and I had to throw that mess away ’cause it was NASTY! and I didn’t even THINK of posting a picture- LOL!). I announced on Facebook that I was doing this challenge and started posting pictures of my meals. I had no idea how much just doing that would help keep me accountable because people actually started looking at what I was eating and even started asking me what I would be eating. So, now I’m thinking…”I can’t mess up….I’m in this thing now”. I’m a little over halfway finished with the challenge (I’m on day 20) but I plan to continue with some of the good habits I hope I’m forming. The feedback I have received from others is mostly encouraging. Hopefully,as a result of having done this challenge, it will help me to be even better equipped to serve others and give me even more resources to share with those who are on the journey to achieving “CROWN TO SOLE Wellness”. (I’ll give you a follow up report when the challenge is completed.)

Wherever you are in your journey toward being healthier (wanting to lose weight, getting more physically active, eating better) stay encouraged and don’t quit! “Start Now, Improve Later” and just keep moving forward. Don’t be afraid to get help. Get someone to help keep you accountable! You can do it! Love yourself and take care of that “Temple”!

As always, my mission is to encourage, empower, and equip individuals to take control of their health and create lives of joy, abundance and holistic wellness from the Crown of the Head to the Sole of the foot (that includes mind, body and spirit). Please leave me a comment and let me know what goals you are working on (and feel free to give me some good plant-based simple recipes that I can try).

P.S. I have opened up space in my calendar for a few more clients who are ready to take control of their health and invest in themselves by enrolling in my “Take Control of Your Health in 12 Weeks” private coaching experience. Make your appointment today for a free 30 minute Discovery Call with me so that we can determine if and how I can best help you!. I’m looking forward to hearing from you! CLICK HERE NOW TO MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT!

P.P.S. If you have not already received a copy of my FREE CROWN TO SOLE Wellness Action Guide, please complete the form below so I can send it to you and stay in touch with you!

What’s on your plate? Consider these 5 Foods to help combat Heart Disease.

African-American Women's heart disease, heart disease, nutrition, wellness, ,

I’m one of those people who really don’t like to take medications if I can avoid it. We don’t always like to take medication but sometimes we just don’t know how else to deal with our health issues. Have you ever wondered what you could do to help reduce your need for medications?

Perhaps you have been to your doctor and along with giving you a prescription for pills, he or she told you that “you need to eat better.” When I was a new physician I would advise my patients to adopt a “healthier diet” and thought I had done a good thing. BUT…As I gained more experience and started learning how to change my own way of eating I realized that just saying “adopt a healthier diet” really didn’t mean much if they didn’t know what constituted a healthful diet. People need “real talk” and real suggestions. I KNOW I DID! In previous posts I shared risk factors of heart disease and also warning signs of heart disease/heart attacks. In this post I want to share with you 5 foods that may help you combat heart disease.

This list includes suggestions from the book “Fighting Disease With Food” by Family Home Christian Books.

1) Grapes – they work to maintain blood vessel health, decrease inflammation in the arteries, and help prevent blood clots.

2) Strawberries – neutralize free radicals, may help stop the progression of angina, may reduce the heart attack risk

3) Walnuts – help lower LDL cholesterol, improves health of artery linings, reduces risk of blood clots and heart attacks

4) Flaxseed – high in healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, may help prevent dangerous heart rhythms

5) Barley – high in fiber which helps lower blood sugar and cholesterol

Now, don’t misunderstand and think I am telling you to stop taking your medication and use these foods instead to treat your heart disease. But what I am suggesting is that as you start to make improvements in your diet and other lifestyle changes it is very possible that your body will respond in a way that may help to reduce your need for medication. So take a good look at your plate and see what you are loading on it. If they don’t include items from the above list you may want to add them to your grocery list and give them a try! Please leave me a comment and let me know what type of struggles you are having as it relates to your food selections.

If you don’t already have it please take a moment to download a FREE COPY of my CROWN TO SOLE Wellness Action Guide!