Hi, I'm Jess 👋

Here's me in 2021, wearing this blazer for the first and last time.

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Since 2020, I've lost 88lbs (40kgs) and kept it off, wrangled my depression, and improved my metabolic health markers. Now, I want to help you 🌞

My professional training is in social work with a specialty in trauma and its impact on mental health. 🧠 But the more you learn about trauma, the more you find its connections to metabolic health. 🕸️

COVID-19 and its connection to obesity was the push I needed. And I needed a really big freaking push. Who knew a deadly global pandemic would be the catalyst to rethinking my life choices? 💁🏻‍♀️

And I have tried ALL the things:

I done did all the diets. ALL. 🥗
pricked my finger each day to measure my blood sugar. 🩸
upgraded to tracking my blood sugar with an embedded monitoring device like a human cyborg. #continuousglucosemonitor 🤖
ran my first marathon. 🏃🏻‍♀️
peed on ketone sticks. 🟡
attempted a 120km endurance race in the wildest part of South Africa with my crazy cousins and got injured. Why did I do that!?❌
started a tennis career in my thirties.🎾
worked with a health coach to finally achieve lasting change. 🏆
explored functional and integrative medicine. 🟢
spent a crap ton of money on genetic testing to discover all sorts of weird and wonderful things. 🧬
turns out my genes say I'm extremely sensitive to caffeine. Thanks for nothing, as if I didn't already know. #coffeetremors ☕
did CrossFit until it made me sick. 🏋🏻‍♀️
quit CrossFit. Obvs 💁🏻‍♀️
fasted for 10 days straight. 💦
joined a women's weight loss group and ended up on a luxury yacht in a bikini with celebrities. ⛵

Here's me in 2020, "running" my first and last ultra-marathon.

It's been a weird and wonderful journey. 🏔️ And I have spent hundreds of hours researching and experimenting with what works and doesn't. 🧪 What leads to lasting change, and what will get you into your old skinny jeans for only two weeks. 👖Don't do it. Mom jeans are in any way and the quick "wins" are never wins after all.

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Now I want to share those insights, successes and failures in the hopes that they will help others. I'm currently thinking about and building innovative solutions to obesity and the metabolic health crisis 🥗 #digitalhealthinterventions

If you have any questions, want me to write for your publication or want to work together, feel free to reach out, I'd love to connect. 👋

For the first half of 2023, you'll find me working on consolidating my tech skills. I'll be busy with a full-time software development Bootcamp. #craftingyourownapprenticeship🚀