Hey there, i’m courtney,
You may wonder, how am I so passionate about what I do today?
Way back when I was in grade 3 the class had their weight and height on the wall. I remember this boy commenting on my weight and he said something like 'wow you weigh more than me!' I was devastated and embarrassed that the whole class was looking and comparing my weight with the other guys in my class...
Then, a few years later when I was in grade 7, I started to develop a really bad relationship with food and my body following a my parents going through a divorce and a few other negative comments which were said to me at school.
I was noticing my body start to change/develop and I wasn't okay with it. I actually couldn’t stand it. I started to heavily restrict my calories and increase my exercise. I would make sure I did some sort of exercise after almost everything I ate. . even if I had to do burpees in my bedroom.. I was obsessed with the numbers and had absolutely NO idea about basal metabolic rate.
The thoughts were harsh and repetitive and there was no way that I would have spoken to anyone else like how I spoke to myself.
This battle with restriction and over exercising went on and off throughout my high school years and into adulthood. During year 10 I rebounded into binge eating and drinking, saw weight starting to gain so I quickly started restricting myself again with the obsession to be smaller. The pendulum was kept swinging. Looking back, I find it so sad that during one of the most dramatic hormonal changes in my life, I was depriving myself of essential nutrients needed to thrive while destroying my body physically at the same time.
After high school I moved to Brisbane and decided to study to become a personal trainer, seemed fitting as I was so obsessed with excessive movement right?
This ‘image’ I was trying to portray made me continue to push my body while barely eating anything which of course developed hormonal imbalances due to the constant state of fight or flight I was putting myself through every day. My metabolism started to put on the breaks which lead to a diagnosis of hypothyroid (underactive thyroid) which I was then placed on medication for.
When I started working as a PT I kept seeing clients who like me, needed far more than just exercise to be healthy. I further developed my passion for nutrition and started to educate myself in what I thought was right for my body. By this stage I was so depleted, had extreme fatigue, terrible gut health, many food intolerances, hormonal imbalances and of course a long history of disordered eating with excessive exercise. I finally realised I needed professional help, so I booked in to see a naturopath who specialised in fatigue.
After a few consultations and many supplements later I really found a love for what naturopathy could do to rebalance my body. We worked together to find out my triggers and she gave me a few tools to take away and practice with myself to heal my poor relationship with my body and food. This took alot of hard work and consistency. My body started responding to treatment and I started to turn my health around.
It was at this point, I knew I wanted to study naturopathy but was riddled with self doubt. I didn't think I could study health science for 4 years, I couldn't stand sitting still, I couldn't focus and was SO fatigued.. but I pulled the trigger and never looked back. Throughout my degree I tried all different diet programs, gut healing protocols, extensive blood tests, elimination diets and it wasn't until the end of my degree where I found the answers on how to TRULY heal the body and achieve sustainable results. This involved the study of nutrigenomics medicine, which is - how nutrients affect the cell. I then started treating at a cellular level and the results were INSANE. This was life changing for me and although I wish I knew earlier, this was my path. I have developed a passion to help people develop a healthy relationship with themselves and food, reconnect to their body, elevate their energy and truly step into the healthiest versions of themselves.
My Interests
Nutrigenomics
Mental health
Thyroid conditions
Fatigue management
Gastrointestinal complications
Detoxification
Weight management
Chronic inflammatory conditions
Hormonal complications through all life stages
Qualifications
Certificate III & IV in fitness
Pilates matwork, ball circle band, pre & post natal
Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) - registered with ANTA
Nutrigenomic practitioner (G.E.M.M)