Alessandra

The impetus of working with Rachel was my hunt for a vegan nutritionist. Unfortunately, I could not find anyone that I deemed suitable, but, as I was scrolling through my Youtube subscription box, frustrated and dejected, Rachel had posted a video. I had been watching her videos for years and remembered that she had mentioned training or something of the like in one of her previous uploads. I decided to bite the bullet and reach out. I had been in a rut with my running abilities and felt stuck in the mud with the lack of progress I was making. I'd also had a history of an eating disorder and about 10 years of disordered eating under my belt. It was time to come to terms completely with the state of my health, and I was ready for a change. So it was set, I would be working to change my fitness and nutrition with Rachel. Little did I know, it wouldn't be just the way I looked at myself in the mirror that would change.

The first month, for me, was a breeze. Rachel really eases you into workouts and changing your nutrition lifestyle. She asks about dietary concerns - mine being vegan - and she worked patiently with all my requests -- all the meals were comprised of foods and types of meals I enjoyed so the process was not too much of a shock. She also does a pretty intensive set of questionnaires at the beginning to gain as much knowledge as possible. The long distance/different country setting was never an issue. I personally noticed physical results in the first four weeks. I felt less bloated, less tired, and I was able to run distance again, which was one of my initial problems I came to Rachel with. The mindset courses were a wonderful way to ease into the program with a full mind-body-spirit analysis of how my life is completely interconnected. Rachel was always attentive and patient if I had any questions.

During the second month, I came down with a debilitating illness that forced the halting of training. I reached out to Rachel and she was nothing but kind in telling me to take the time to get better, checking in and being a wonderfully reassuring and calming force that everything would work out. Ultimately - after many ER visits/specialty doc visits and exams - I was diagnosed and on the road to recovery. I was able to get back on track right away after my program was paused, but I had lost considerable strength from being so ill. Rachel was encouraging and reasonable in dealing with such a curveball -- she told me not to push too hard and do what was manageable; the program was modified with my current dilemma. The program she creates is about health and well-being, not numbers on a scale and it was so reassuring to hear this.

During this process, Rachel was an engaged listener, and it was wonderful to be able to discuss my illness and treatment with someone, as well as deal with the more mental side of health in the way of mindset coaching to handle triggers/addictions/other issues. I also began therapy during this time, and I do credit this change in lifestyle to Rachel’s help, seeing myself clearly allowed me take such a monumental step that I had been putting off for years. This transformation whilst working with Rachel was becoming less and less about vanity and more and more about who I was as a human being and how I could improve within my own skin -- such an existential, but welcome quest.

The third month I worked with Rachel was all about getting back on track and continually improving, both mentally and physically. I built back some of the strength I had lost and made some big medical choices that I had been putting off for a long while. Rachel was a wonderful guide in that process and a great outside perspective. My final call with Rachel had felt like years had passed since starting this journey, when in reality it was only 90 days (plus the time when I was ill and training was paused). I remember during the first phone call Rachel said she could hear the tension in my voice -- the static crackling of anxiety, fear and being completely overwhelmed with what my life had become. With the final call, I now could tell the difference in my own voice, and coming through the other side, I felt assured, more confident and finally understood that life is now what I make it. In August, did I think that I would hire a trainer/coach and complete a program more proud of who I was on the inside than the changes made on the outside? -- absolutely not. But I am forever grateful it worked out this way. If you have any doubts about starting this program, quash them. Rachel will tailor your program to get you on the other side of whatever bridge you may need to cross. Mine just happened to be an illness that I truly did not think I would come out of securely on the other side. It may sound beyond cliche, but thank you Rachel, your program allowed me to change the trajectory of my own life.