Your health. your terms.
Reconnect. Reevaluate. Restore.
Hello!
My name is Amelia and I am a Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Nutrition Advisor, as well as a Behavior Change Specialist. I usually refer to myself as a Food-First Personal Trainer and Metabolic Health Coach because my number one goal is to help people identify nourishing foods first, so their metabolic health can thrive in every aspect of their lives — mind, body and culture. Learn more below!
Why do I label myself a “Food-First” Personal Trainer?
The food-first concept is rooted in the science of metabolic health: what we eat affects our mind and body. The two are inseparable. In order to understand and respond effectively to your mental and physical health, we must look at what you eat first. Since we know that food is part of the problem, then it is certainly part of the solution. I would be a failure as a personal trainer if I said, “just work double time at the gym, so you can work off that problematic food you eat.” My strategy is to help you find food that you love to eat, so you have the energy and stamina to live your best life. Check out my growing list of free recipes here!
Why do I focus on Metabolic Health?
The term “metabolic health” is a holistic, science-based understanding of physiology. It includes mental, physical, environmental and even spiritual components. Telling you what to eat and how much isn’t the answer to your metabolic health problems. Instead, I help you understand that everything we do in our daily lives impacts our metabolic health. In addition to the food we eat, our environment impacts our blood pressure, blood sugar and other metabolic markers. Bridging the gap is essential. I advocate for sustainable solutions, not silver-bullet, magic-pill ones. Disorders of the body and mind can be overactive, under-active or have absent functions (think hyperthyroidism, hypoglycemia or autoimmune disorders). Simply put, as humans, our one common link is that we want to thrive in all systems of existence! Check out The Symposium for Metabolic Health to learn more about me and other metabolic health advocates and practitioners.
My Certifications and Qualifications
AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE (ACE) CERTIFICATIONS:
Personal Trainer Certification completed January 2022. Certified Specialties: DEI Ethics, Coaching and Training Women, Exercise Science 101, Weight Management, Behavior Change Specialist.
Completed Courses - Certified Nutrition Advisor, Therapeutic LCHF Nutrition, Addictive Eating
ADDITIONAL TRAINING:
Motivational Interviewing, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and Group Facilitation (The Conciliation Project)
MY PODCAST: On February 21, 2024, I launched a podcast with my bestie Dr. Funmmy Awoyomi entitled: The Magic of Metabolic Health. Watch it on YouTube!
MY COMMUNITY: I am a member of The Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners. See their free resources on how to talk to your doctor, signs of insulin resistance and therapeutic carbohydrate restriction protocol (TCR)!
And a random fun fact: I also own and operate The Great Surprisal. Check out my entertaining shenanigans there!
My Strategy - The Four Essential Steps
How do you Reconnect, Reevaluate and Restore your relationship with “Health”? My strategy is simple and straight forward — the Four Essential Steps — aiming for lasting and desired behavior change.
Step 1. Find Your Why
Think of your Why as your Ride or Die bestie: they are always there when you need them, especially when you struggle or need support. They know you well and keep you in check when you slip up. So in the context of behavior change, your Why has to be the same— nearly unbreakable. Maybe your Why is to be able to play with the grandkids, or maybe it’s to stay off medication. Or maybe you’re just sick of being tired all the time and you simply crave joy, ease and happiness! Whatever your Why is, I am here to help you maintain an unbreakable bond with it, in order to optimize your metabolic health.
Step 2. Gather Your Successes
In order to succeed in anything, I believe we need to harness a solid sense of self-efficacy. This is the foundation we build upon that utilizes your past successes to help you achieve your future goals. Some call this a strength-based approach. We start by creating an inventory of successes so you can truly honor yourself and your potential as we navigate your metabolic health goals.
Step 3. Use Food As Your Premium Fuel
The reason I am a Food-First Personal Trainer is because I want all of my clients to understand the power of food to transform their lives. It’s similar to poor quality gasoline or the wrong kind of engine oil; if you are constantly feeding your body fuel that isn’t optimal, your mind and body will certainly be affected. I help you identify foods that hinder optimized states of being and how they impact your behaviors (yes, food can cause mood swings, fatigue, poor sleep and more!). Together, we prioritize strategies that transform your relationship with food so you can enjoy eating with less mental overload, and allow your body and mind to thrive.
Step 4. Re-Build Culture
When the culture we live in advocates for daily indulgence of ultra-processed foods, normalizes alcohol use at almost any time, and inundates us with holiday “must-have” treats, it makes metabolically-healthy choices pretty challenging for anyone!
Step Four helps you assess how to modify traditions that you value (like family holiday time, office parties or birthdays), so you don’t feel like a stick in the mud or experience FOMO. Traditions are an integral part of our lives as communal beings so I am committed to keeping those traditions alive! I also acknowledge the impact of resources, financial availability, work culture, and inter-generational dynamics within your family unit. You get to be in the driver’s seat so you can lead your best life, and by proxy, influence your own culture for good!
LET’S GET PERSONAL…ABOUT ME
My mind. I have always been a big thinker. An observer. A curious adventurer. I have also struggled with depression and anxiety much of my life. To address these concerns, I have explored a variety of therapeutic modalities, including meditation, counseling, intergenerational trauma clearing, ritual, ceremony and many different food lifestyles. I continue to explore remedies to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, while I build supportive, affirming habits in my daily life. I also attend Metabolic Health conferences, take health coaching courses and read books on mental health. My favorite books right now include Brain Energy by Dr. Christopher Palmer and Change Your Diet Change Your Mind by Dr. Georgia Ede. I love learning about mitochondrial health and how certain food ingredients can impair functioning of our metabolic state. As a Metabolic Health Coach, I value the importance of building my network with other metabolic healthcare experts through the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners (SMHP), where I am a current member.
My body. I love to move. I grew up playing sports and acting in theatre. I struggled with disordered eating and body image from an early age. Nowadays, I use movement and food as my main medicine. What do I eat? Mostly animal proteins, fats and small amounts of carbohydrates (like squash, radishes, onions and green veggies). I love to lift weights, practice hand balancing, design band and body weight workouts, climb jungle gyms, and immerse myself in the four elements. I cook simple, satiating meals twice a day, I love to garden, forage, scuba dive, travel, dance and sing all the time!
My culture. I was raised in what I call a polyculture, so I celebrate and practice diverse cultural traditions—from European to Lakota (Native American) to West African and East Asian. I went rogue as a teenager and took a deep dive into punk rock culture, veganism, sustainability and social justice efforts, so my DIY mentality is still very strong. My worldview is rooted in Lakota tradition and Eastern European Paganism. My ethnic ancestry consists of Eastern and Western European as well as Ho-Chunk Native American. I value the influence and importance of sacred culture for all people and encourage anyone to learn about their ancestry in order to reconnect with their diverse healing traditions.
FAQs
Why Primitive Pulse? Primitive Pulse is a value system. It is about reconnecting with your innate, ancestral wisdom and learning how to optimally function in a modern, and sometimes backwards, world. It’s about restoring your mind, body and culture so you can thrive mentally, physically and socially. And for those who dare, even spiritually.
What is Metabolic Health Coaching(MHC)? MHC is a holistic approach to health, where we address symptoms of chronic conditions (disease) and mental health through the lens of food lifestyle and functional movement. Understanding the different facets of your metabolism helps you familiarize yourself with common symptoms like indigestion, bloating, chronic headaches, sleep issues, blood sugar and blood pressure, as well as other biomarkers. As a Metabolic Health Coach, I seek to empower you to make sustainable changes that will lead you to optimal health. Learn more about Metabolic Health here.
Do I have to change my diet to work with you? If you are content with your mood, sleep, energy, digestion, weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar, then no. But if you’re NOT satisfied…I encourage you, and support you, to reevaluate the food you eat. I don’t ever recommend a diet; instead I focus on helping you identify which foods offer you sustainable energy, and which ones cause uncomfortable or even dangerous side effects (anyone familiar with the blood sugar rollercoaster?). The goal is to develop a food lifestyle that is not only nourishing but is satisfying—one that you enjoy! When we talk about food, we focus on the value of abundance instead of “restriction.” The term “moderation” is not something I use or recommend and instead, I encourage modification.
Where do we work out if we train together? I come to your home or we meet virtually.
Are virtual sessions the same price as in-person? For one hour, yes. However, I do offer a 30 minute virtual session at a different rate (which is not offered in-person).
Do I need equipment to work out with you? Nope! If you have equipment, we use what you have. I focus on utilizing your home environment as a place for simple, functional movement. If you want to build muscle, get out those laundry baskets and water jugs, baby!
Here is an example of what I do in my clients’ homes!
check out more videos on Instagram
PSA — No Shoes Needed!
If I could give up hyper-modern shoes forever, I would! But since I live in a concrete jungle, I have a big value compromise to make. However, for four years now I have been exercising primarily in bare feet or moccasins (made by Jamie Gentry Designs). Those tiny tendons and muscles in my feet are finally thanking me! See for yourself what happens when you get rid of over-stuffed, high profile, foam soles.