Functionally Whole

03/14/2026

Habit change isn’t about having more discipline.

(Although sometimes that is necessary.)

It’s about awareness.

It’s about getting curious and exploring why we do the things we do - or don’t do - and then experimenting until we find what works.

It’s about mastering yourself.

And once you master yourself, you can change EVERYTHING.

03/14/2026

All the podcast listeners out there - check out this new podcast my good friend Jessica is starting! (You may also know her as Dixie of Homemade Wanderlust!) While her other YouTube channel is about backpacking, in this podcast she’s going to cover a lot of different topics that interest her in a way that’s like chatting with friends!

The first episode will air next week, so follow along either on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify!

I am excited to finally expand my horizons into the podcasting world. While I've enjoyed sharing my backpacking journeys over the years (and will continue to...

03/10/2026

March is Autoimmune Disease Awareness month! Here are some facts about autoimmunity that you may not know.

If you live with autoimmune disease, I’d like to invite you to join my new Facebook Group - Graceful Resilience: Living Well with Autoimmune Disease.

This group was created to offer a safe community for women with autoimmune disease who want more out of life than what our disease dictates.

Through my own 10 years of experience with autoimmunity, I’ve learned how to build a gracefully resilient life and now support others to do the same.

Join here: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BQPav948U/?mibextid=wwXIfr

03/10/2026

Food is one of the biggest drivers of inflammation.

And in the case of autoimmune disease, what we eat (or don’t eat) can make a HUGE difference in how we feel.

When we eat food that triggers our immune system, this can result in food sensitivity symptoms like:

❗️Fatigue
❗️Hives
❗️Gas
❗️Bloating
❗️Diarrhea
❗️Brain fog
❗️Anxiety

And the more overactive our immune system is, the more collateral damage happens - our immune system attacking our own bodies.

A Functional Therapeutic Diet targets these types of symptoms to lower inflammation, calming the immune system and allowing your body to heal.

There are many layers and factors to healing, but food is one of the primary levers we can adjust to change how we feel - and with some practice, we can learn to make anti-inflammatory eating an enjoyable part of life.

03/08/2026

You may have heard that sniffaris are good for doggos, but did you know they are good for us too?

A sniffari is dog-led, and the nose decides where to go (within safety limits of course). To translate this into human application, for us it would be just going out and wandering, letting whatever catches our attention decide what direction we go, what we stop to look at, and what we feel. Engaging as many senses as possible is a plus.

Going out and wandering, exploring without a clear direction or purpose, allows our brains to rest and work in ways they typically don’t when we’re constantly working towards something.

Some benefits include:

✨ Reduced cortisol
✨ Lower blood pressure
✨ Improves creativity
✨ Reduced stress and anxiety
✨ Improved cognitive function
✨ Improved sleep

Of course, the more often we do this the more benefits we will notice. But let’s be honest - how often do we give ourselves permission to do just take off and walk with no clear purpose?

I know the answer for me is “not enough.” But I plan to change that. 💚

03/05/2026

Ladies, here are three reasons you should join The Wellness Wanderers:

1 - You’ll become part of an uplifting group of women with similar health goals and challenges as you, where you are safe to be yourself

2 - You haven’t been following through on commitments to yourself, and this will give you some needed accountability and encouragement

3 - You get overwhelmed by all the noise in the wellness world and just want simple guidance that you can apply to your life in a sustainable way

You already have what it takes within you to create the life you want. You just need some help to tap into it - so you don’t find yourself stuck in the same spot you’re in three years from now.

That’s why I created The Wellness Wanderers group program. Here’s what’s inside:

💜 A community of like-minded women for belonging, support, and accountability
🩵 Simplified information to become healthier
💜 Guidance on how to apply it to your life in a way that’s sustainable so you can break free of the cycle of extremes
🩵 Help to navigate obstacles and challenges that pop up, threatening to knock you off course
💜 Mindset concepts to change your relationship with food, movement, and your body

This women’s group program runs March through May 2026. Enrollment is only open for ONE WEEK: March 1 - March 7.

To learn more or sign up, go to: https://www.functionallywhole.com/programs/the-wellness-wanderers

03/03/2026

On the go snack/lunch that’s anti-inflammatory! 💜

03/03/2026

One of the most important things I’ve learned from almost ten years of managing my autoimmune disease is learning to balance effort and rest.

In order to do all the things I need (and want!) to do, I have to make sure I build in times where I let my body and my nervous system recover. And I know that if I don’t do this, I’ll end up in a flare.

The balance can be hard to find. It takes a lot of work, a lot of experimenting. It took a lot of mistakes and times of pushing too hard. It took really learning to listen and hear what my body is asking of me.

But the benefit from dedicating myself to learning these things has been priceless. Knowing how to manage my energy allows me to take a proactive approach to living well with chronic illness - and it has changed my life. 💜

03/01/2026

It’s happening again.

You’re sitting on the couch, trying to find the motivation to get up and do the workout or walk you had planned … and you just can’t get yourself up to get started.

You sigh and think to yourself, “I’ll just do it tomorrow.”

But tomorrow, the story repeats itself and you find yourself in a slump, not sure how to break the pattern and what is wrong with you that you can’t just stick to the goals and habits you set for yourself.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

You already have what it takes within you to create the life you want - you just need some help to tap into it.

That’s why I created The Wellness Wanderers group program. Here’s what’s inside:

* A community of like-minded women for belonging, support, and accountability
* Simplified information to become healthier
* Guidance on how to apply it to your life in a way that’s sustainable so you can break free of the cycle of extremes
* Help to navigate obstacles and challenges that pop up, threatening to knock you off course
* Mindset concepts to change your relationship with food, movement, and your body

This women’s group program runs March through April 2026. Enrollment is only open for ONE WEEK: March 1 - March 7.

To learn more or sign up, see below!

02/26/2026

Behind the scenes in my home office … my cat Jim (full name Jimmy Page) was squished behind me in my chair while doing my live video about goal alignment for my Wellness Wanderers Experience group, while Doodle offered moral support from the couch! 🤣

02/25/2026

Join us for a Wellness Wander at the Tall Pines area at Walnut Woods Metro Park!

This hike will also be posted to Girls Who Hike Ohio. All women are welcome!

The Sweetgum Trail is a flat trail that is paved most of the way. It circles around and through stands of sweet gum trees and tall pines and meanders through some meadows. The Tall Pines area is an iconic spot for photography!

We’ll meet at the Walnut Woods Tall Pines Area trailhead at 6833 Richardson Road, Groveport OH on Sunday, March 1st at 1:00pm. Please arrive at the parking area about 5-10 minutes early, as we’ll have introductions and start walking by 1:00.

There are restroom facilities at this trailhead, and plenty of parking.

Pace will depend on group’s speed - we’ll all stay together and enjoy the wander, stopping for pictures along the way.

Sunday, March 1st at 1:00 pm
Walnut Woods Metro Park
Approx. 2.6 miles
Sweetgum Trail listed as easy on AllTrails
Hiking scale level 1

AllTrails Link:
Sweetgum Trail
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/ohio/sweetgum-trail?sh=ezkyno&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality

In the case of inclement weather, hike will be canceled and rescheduled. As of now, the forecast is sunny but on the chilly side.

Dress for the weather, and always bring snacks and plenty of water and electrolytes.

Men: no
Kids: no
Dogs: yes, one dog for the group if well behaved, cleaned up after, and kept on leash for the duration of the hike. (Message me!)

*Disclaimer: Please note that you are responsible for your own safety. By agreeing to go on this hike you do so at your own risk. Functionally Whole LLC is not responsible for any injuries, accidents, or any other unforeseen circumstances that may occur on the trail.

02/25/2026

They say we are the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with. What does that mean for you?