Living the Connected Life

by Rowan Beck, December 1, 2011, page 13.....Many have grown up with hearing about the circle of life, ashes to ashes, you are what you eat, or it’s all connected. One Charlotte woman has started her own business and is proving that “it’s all connected.” Maureen Wheeler began her business after having a serious life change about five years ago. She has become a certified holistic health coach and can give people a “serious upgrade” just by helping them find a balance within their lives.
On July 19, 2006, Maureen suffered two mini strokes within 48 hours and was diagnosed with an aneurism. She could not walk unassisted, suffered from severe vertigo, and was practically bedridden. Prior to this she lived what she had thought was a healthy lifestyle, limited her stress, and had even run a leg of Burlington’s marathon. She did not see that her “non-stop adrenaline was really still stress.” She remained in her fragile state for three months, when she finally went to see Dr. Gail Myers, a practicing osteopath as well as an M.D. To Maureen’s surprise, she walked out unassisted. Myers was the first doctor to look at her entire story – her lifestyle, nutrition and stress. Myers ordered tests to look at Maureen’s digestive tract, not her brain, and discovered she had a parasite, her flora was imbalanced, she had heavy metal toxicity and some food allergies. She was put on a strict diet and antibiotics for the parasite. During this time Maureen also sought the care of holistic doctor Bill Warnock. By the following May she had made a full recovery and was ready to run a half marathon. She returned healthier, calmer and more energized. “I was thrilled that this happened to me, a gift, it made me realize my life is what I create.” She learned that what was best for the body was best for family, lifestyle and the environment.
People started asking her if she could help their parents. Doctors asked if she would talk to some of their patients. Over time, she became an advocate, helping people make changes, making her passionate about returning to the workforce. She had something she believed in and it didn’t feel like work. Now, as a certified holistic health coach she looks at all aspects of her clients lives and helps them create balance. She enjoys educating others on health goals and fitness; then she develops a plan for them to achieve those goals. “It’s not about breaking apart foods; it’s looking at the foods you’re eating, motivating change and making a healthy choice.” Maureen also realizes the importance of food that tastes good. Often she will plan test menus around her son, who is the pickiest eater. “If he loves it, everyone will,” she says. People like to eat good food, so she teaches clients about foods that serve the body well and provides them with recipes.
Maureen will work with clients for approximately six months at a time, sometimes longer. She works with people all over the U.S. by phone, by skype and by e-mail. She customizes each program to the individual by having them fill out a health history form and then looking for “patterns and red flags, and where there is room to work.” One of the many services she offers is taking her clients shopping at the Healthy Living store. She’ll walk them through the store, showing them where to find things and how to make it most affordable. Another service she provides is “A Total Food Intervention.” Here, Maureen cleans out the fridge, pantry and freezer of unhealthy foods, then creates a master shopping list and takes the client on a restocking trip.
Over the past five years Maureen has learned that “our bodies are made perfectly and can break down anything in nature. It will expel poisons. Our bodies have all the mechanisms to digest all the food. We do not have the mechanisms to break down chemicals - our bodies haven’t evolved.” In her opinion many foods we eat are making us sick, and she is living proof. She is not “an expert in anything,” just her own experience. People’s actions, attitudes, thinking, eating and doing all connect to the body. She is her own proof that “it’s all connected.” For more information about Maureen and her business, visit her website, itsallconnectedliving.com.