Ever wanted to know more about me, Liz — what makes me tick, what I eat, my personality type, how I got started in this career, my worst green habit? I always get lots of questions from ladies with thyroid or autoimmune disease: which brands do I buy, which foods do I avoid, do I eat according to this diet or that, how do I avoid chemicals, etc. Well, here’s your chance to learn more.
I’ve been having fun as a contributing member of the Funtastically Green Sisterhood — writing articles on food and health, highlighting how people can take their health more and more into their own hands.
This week, Lynn over at FuntasticallyGreen.com gets up close and personal with me and hosts a Q&A, learning all about who I am and what I do.
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1. Who are you? Give us the goods girls – we really want to know all about those skeletons in the closet.
I am an INFJ: the most rare personality type — introverted, reserved, organized, driven. I’m also an Aquarius, which makes me a real trail blazer. ;) I have a vision for what I would like to contribute to the world and who I want to be, and I am following through, not allowing convention to stop me. I am a real seeker at heart and very sensitive and a gentle soul. I like seeing how things can be improved and how broken systems can be fixed (ie: health care!). I have a very strong sense of ethics and feel comfortable in situations in which my ethics are respected. I’m also a writer at heart.
This made for some difficult times growing up — being too sensitive, too shy, too soft spoken. I have had to learn alot of adaptation skills along the way, like standing up for what I know is right, verbalizing my opinion, being straight forward with people, advocating for myself or others, and above all — learning to have fun and not be so serious (still have a hard time with that one!).
Now I work as a Holistic Health Counselor and help guide women with thyroid and autoimmune disease towards the good health they want and further away from feeling sick, all with specific food and lifestyle choices. I feel immensely proud that I turned a difficult, dire personal experience (sickness and disease) into a small business with a mission to help others.
2. If there was one thing on the planet that you could protect or change, what would it be?
Our food and water supply. Okay, that’s two. But they’re both in danger — water is being privatized (which means very very bad things), and our food supply is also largely corporate and being manipulated with genetically-modified foods, pesticides, and globalization. Food is my lifeline to good health. Food is mother nature’s medicine. Without it, I certainly would not be where I am today with my health — off of pharmaceuticals, feeling generally good and happy though not in perfect health (a huge deal for someone like me, with a history of sickness and depression). Without pure food and water — our most basic needs — we become sick, sedated, depressed, and infertile. The future of humans is truly at stake here.
3. What’s your WORST green habit?
Starbucks! After I saw the movie “The Corporation” I swore to myself I would, from there on out, make everything myself so no packaging would ever pollute the planet from my end. Well, needless to say, that goal was a bit too lofty. Indeed, I love a huge iced tea from Starbucks and because I frequently meet up with my Health Counseling clients at Starbucks, I can’t help but indulge. I do recycle my cups and re-use the straws, if that means anything.
4. Which eco-guy is cuter? Leo Dicaprio, Woody Harrelson, Surf or Matt Damon
Um, I’m not into any of those guys, and sorry — I’m a cat person.
5. What’s your fav healthy food? Least fav?
I really love most foods. I used to be a picky eater but since having to switch up my diet for my thyroid disease, I have no problem experimenting and usually like the new and exotic foods I try. It would be hard to pick one favorite. I do love cultured food… homemade pickles are pretty wonderful. It’s funny that once I learned I was sensitive to certain foods (gluten, dairy, etc.), the world of food actually opened up to me versus it being more restricted. The more you are forced to experiment and learn, the greater variety you have. You can no longer fall back on wheat/flour and cheese/milk for every meal.
6 If you could adopt an animal from WWF, what would it be? Why?
I don’t think the cats would appreciate that. I’d have to pass. :)
7. If you could have any house, anywhere – where would you live?
Splitting time between Colorado and New York would be great. I have a soft spot for both places. I lived in Brooklyn for a year, but wasn’t really able to enjoy it because I was sick with my thyroid disease at the time. I would love to be able to live-it-up in the city again. And Colorado, well, it’s a real foodies’ dream locale: sustainable, local, organic food. Sounds like heaven to me.
8. Is bigger better? (A house that is girls! Shame on you *snickering*) Would you rather have a small house or a big house? Why?
I don’t care so much about the square footage. I just like room in certain spaces, like the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. When I lived in Brooklyn, the apartment was tiny and the kitchen was an arm’s length; now that I’m in a huuuuge space in San Antonio, I do enjoy the larger areas. Especially when it comes to food prep.
