Hi, my name is Alisa Ramaekers. I am wife to Drew, mom of two boys, follower of Jesus Christ, and certified Holistic Health Coach. I am striving to live an abundant, healthy life that is filled with purpose while helping my family to do the same. I love reading, learning, movies, and music. I have been married to Drew for over 20 years and the past two years of overhauling our way of eating has shown me that he is there to support me even in things he is less than excited about. One of our boys is a growing, active teen who, having lived most of his life on the SAD (Standard American Diet), is my best test subject and cheerleader when it comes to getting this Whole Food Plant Based cooking right. Our little one is an elementary student and is my best support and most willing participant in our new family way of eating.
My journey toward becoming a health coach and to adopting a whole food plant based diet began about 10 years ago. After an easy and relatively healthy first pregnancy I was surprised by the challenge that lay ahead of me two years later. I experienced 3 pregnancy losses and was then referred to a fertility expert who still held no answers and didn’t help us have a baby. Two more losses and two more years led me to a doctor who helped me identify some possible problems. I had an under active thyroid, inflammation, and inadequate progesterone. I went on an anti-inflammatory diet and started compounded T3 for my thyroid. About 5 months later with a positive pregnancy test I started progesterone injections to support a healthy pregnancy. I continued injections through the pregnancy and we have our miracle second son today to remind us. All along our journey of heartache and loss I wondered what I had done to cause my miscarriages. I wanted answers for why my body was messed up and how I could help my thyroid function better and regulate my hormones as well as reduce inflammation. That led me to books that got me increasingly more interested in the health of the body as a whole. I decided maybe other people had the same issues I had and maybe I could help somehow. That is when I decided to enroll in the Holistic Health Coach program through AFPA which I completed in April of 2021.
After reading a lot of research and books by doctors who have decided to “buck the system” after seeing results in their patients and after personally applying it for over a year, I am convinced the healthiest way of eating is a Whole Food Plant Based diet. Allowing for 0-10% occasional organic meat, eggs, butter or olive oil has allowed me the flexibility necessary to make this work for us. I have been learning to cook this way for my family so perhaps some of what we are doing might just work for you too!
I hope you’ll journey with me to learn how best to take care of the bodies we are given so that we can live abundant lives full of purpose no matter how long they may be. For me it isn’t about extending my life but making my life healthy and full while I’m here.