WHERE I HAVE BEEN

HOW I HAVE CHANGED

WHERE I AM GOING

From adolescence until now I always had weight issues. I had an uncontrollable eating problem in the form of binge eating that haunted me all my life. I also had something called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) which nobody knew anything about when I was a teenager. To sum it all up I have cycled through restrictive eating and binge cycles, gaining weight and losing weight. Throughout these cycles feeling bloated, huge, ashamed, and worthless were the feelings that followed me all around. I had an extremely low body image which affected what I wore and where I went even who I met and who I did not meet because of the way I felt, very fat! I was unhappy most of the time. The feelings of low self-esteem affected all areas of my life. I felt helpless and alone. I was confused as to how to reclaim my life. I was missing out on so much. After all now the problem was not just how I looked but also how my health was falling apart. 

I was able to change all these by studying nutrition, sports nutrition, functional medicine, nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics but more importantly behavior change methods, coaching approach, mindfulness, mindful eating and self compassion. 

Knowledge is powerful but often not enough to take action(s).

I was able to support myself in bridging the gap between knowledge and action.

I know that many people are also struggling with these problems.

I would not want any other person to go through the embarrassment, loneliness, helplessness, and sadness that I have been through.

I was able to change my story with a low-carb ketogenic nutrition approach.

This made me have a natural relationship with food.

Food is no longer my enemy but my friend. I feel fit, energetic and very well.

I am very excited to coach other people to regain their metabolic health, become fit, and feel well and energetic.

I’m a certified practitioner in metabolic and women’s hormone health, helping my clients uncover the root causes behind symptoms such as fatigue, weight gain, digestive issues, PMS and (peri)menopausal changes.

My approach combines evidence-based functional medicine, nutrition, lifestyle and holistic health principles, recognizing that metabolism, hormones, gut health, stress and lifestyle are all interconnected. Next to blood tests, I like to use DNA and DUTCH (dried urine test for comprehensive hormones) testing, for targeted insights into my clients unique physiology.

Originally from Finland and now based in the Netherlands, I’m passionate about empowering women with personalized guidance, education and sustainable strategies that support long-term wellbeing — not just symptom management.

My journey to wellness has been both challenging and transformative. For the past 27 years, I have devoted myself to education—22 as an elementary school teacher and 5 as a physical education teacher—helping students learn and grow. But the most profound learning experience of my life came when I faced my own health struggles. At age 45, I needed two hip replacements due to osteoarthritis, and I found myself battling depression, anxiety, and was dependent on multiple prescription medications. I was both physically and mentally unhealthy, and I knew something had to change. Through research, persistence, and a commitment to my own well-being, I discovered the incredible healing power of focused nutrition, regular movement, stress management, and quality sleep. Over time, I was able to take control of my health and eliminate the need for medications. My passion for understanding metabolic health led me to study under Ben Bikman, and I became an Insulin IQ certified coach so that I could share my journey and the knowledge I’ve gained with others. Now, I am dedicated to helping others find their own path to wellness. I know firsthand how overwhelming health challenges can be, but I also know that lasting, meaningful change is possible with the right guidance and support. Whether you’re looking to improve metabolic health, reduce reliance on medications, or simply feel better in your daily life, I am here to guide and encourage you. Through personalized coaching, practical strategies, and an empathetic approach, I can help you take control of your health and reclaim your vitality.

🔬 [EN] Researcher in Pharmacy and Biochemistry passionate about metabolic health. I focus on type 2 diabetes, obesity, insulin resistance, mental health, food addiction, and the metabolic roots of cancer. 

🧬 [PT] Pesquisador em Farmácia e Bioquímica com paixão pela saúde metabólica. Atuo com diabetes tipo 2, obesidade, resistência à insulina, saúde mental, compulsão alimentar e as raízes metabólicas do câncer. 

🇺🇸 English Version – From Collapse to Liberation: My Calling to True Healing

By Márcio Conte

After more than 15 years watching my own health deteriorate — shelves full of medications to manage all the so-called “diseases of prosperity” — my system finally collapsed. On February 1st, 2020, despite taking over 12 medications daily, I suffered a drug-induced seizure. That moment changed the course of my life.

When I regained consciousness, I realized something crucial: the medications weren’t healing me; they were merely suppressing symptoms. Conventional medicine had failed me. Even as a Pharmacy and Biochemistry student at EPM – Escola Paulista de Medicina, I came to a painful realization: we were being trained not to promote health, but to treat disease. I was deeply frustrated.

That’s when I decided to take charge and search for healing myself. In one of those talks, I discovered a so-called “heretic” doctor — often ridiculed in academia and banned from mainstream media — who spoke the truth with courage: Dr. Lair Ribeiro, a cardiologist and expert in nutrition. He mentioned the ketogenic diet as an alternative therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy and recommended a film starring Meryl Streep called First Do No Harm, based on the true story of a boy named Charlie.

I found the cure that freed me from these “modern world diseases.” I thank God for the existence of these brave doctors, who endure mockery and persecution for doing what is right in the service of life. These heroes deserve our respect — and I now follow their example so that others may also find freedom from the global disease industry.

In seeking to prevent another seizure, I ended up healing from much more:
obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, acid reflux, chronic gastritis, H. pylori infection, and depression.
My self-esteem returned. My physical, mental, emotional, and intellectual strength was restored.
My academic path was redirected toward promoting true, full-spectrum health. Because yes — it is possible.

I now feel a deep calling:
“To heal the sick and set the captives free.”

[PT] - Do Naufrágio à Libertação: Meu Chamado pela Verdadeira Cura

Depois de mais de 15 anos assistindo ao naufrágio da minha própria saúde, com prateleiras repletas de medicamentos para controlar as chamadas “doenças da prosperidade”, meu corpo entrou em colapso. Em 01/02/2020, mesmo tomando mais de 12 medicamentos diários, sofri uma convulsão medicamentosa. Aquela experiência mudou o curso da minha vida.

Quando voltei a mim, recobrei também a consciência: os medicamentos não estavam me curando, apenas mascaravam os sintomas. A medicina ortodoxa falhara comigo. Como estudante de Farmácia e Bioquímica na EPM – Escola Paulista de Medicina, percebi com dor que estávamos sendo treinados para tratar doenças, e não para promover saúde. Isso me frustrou profundamente.

Decidi então buscar por conta própria uma solução real. Em uma dessas buscas, encontrei um médico herético – perseguido pela “santa inquisição” da medicina moderna – que falou de cura com coragem: Dr. Lair Ribeiro, cardiologista e mestre em Nutrologia. Ele mencionou a dieta cetogênica como alternativa terapêutica para convulsões epilépticas refratárias e indicou o filme First Do No Harm (Pela Vida do Meu Filho), baseado na história real do pequeno Charlie.

Encontrei a cura que me libertou das doenças do mundo moderno. Agradeço profundamente a Deus e a esses médicos corajosos que, apesar da zombaria e perseguição, fazem o que é certo em favor da vida. São heróis. A eles, tiro meu chapéu. E sigo seu exemplo, para que outros também possam se libertar do mercado internacional da doença.

Buscando evitar uma nova convulsão, acabei sendo curado de muito mais:
obesidade, resistência à insulina, diabetes tipo 2, síndrome metabólica, hipertensão, refluxo, gastrite crônica, H. pylori e depressão.
Minha autoestima voltou. Meu vigor físico, mental, emocional e intelectual foi restaurado.
Minha vida acadêmica foi redirecionada para promover saúde plena. Porque sim — é possível.

Tenho um chamado: “Curar os enfermos e libertar os cativos.”

Your metabolism is giving you signals every day — most people just don’t know how to read them. I help clients use CGM data to turn the invisible into visible, so they can understand their body’s real-time responses and make better decisions around food, energy, movement, and long-term health.

I’m Gavin George, an Insulin IQ accredited coach, Nutrition Network Practitioner, and co-founder of Ūpgrade Health in South Africa. I’m also an instrumentation engineer turned metabolic health coach — and that combination shapes the way I work.

My journey into metabolic health was personal before it became professional. I know what it feels like to be metabolically unwell, insulin resistant, and pre-diabetic. I also know how frustrating it is when the usual advice does not explain why your body feels out of balance, why energy is unstable, or why weight, hunger, and health markers become harder to control.

What changed for me was learning to look deeper than glucose alone and understand the role of insulin resistance in metabolic health. CGM data gave me something I immediately recognised from my engineering background: a live signal. Suddenly, hidden patterns became visible. Food, stress, sleep, movement, timing, and recovery were no longer abstract ideas — they were measurable inputs affecting a real biological system.

My coaching is calm, practical, and data driven. I do not believe in guessing, generic meal plans, or chasing perfect glucose lines. I help clients connect the dots between what they eat, how they live, what their CGM shows, and how they feel — then turn that insight into realistic, sustainable action.

For many people, improved weight regulation may be one of the benefits of better metabolic health. But weight loss is not the starting point or the only goal. The deeper goal is to improve metabolic function, energy stability, appetite control, resilience, and confidence in the choices you make every day.

The goal is not to control every number. The goal is to understand what your body has been trying to show you — then use that clarity to build better energy, better choices, and a stronger metabolic foundation.

I work with people who feel stuck, tired of pushing without progress, or simply know something has to change.

My approach blends science, lived experience, and empathy — helping you find clarity, reclaim energy, and move forward with confidence.

I listen deeply, ask powerful questions, and create a space where you feel supported, challenged, and accountable.

My background in entrepreneurship, health coaching, and endurance sports means I understand pressure, resilience, and the discipline it takes to adapt and grow.

Health transformation often unlocks breakthroughs in career and personal life too — because energy fuels everything.

My coaching is guided by ICF standards, ensuring professionalism and presence.
 

At the core: empathetic yet practical, measured yet challenging — always client-led, never prescriptive.

I’m a walking testament to how the Standard American Diet—what I call the "SAD"—can quietly wreak havoc on your health, and how Insulin IQ can turn it all around. For most of my life, I thought I was doing fine, relatively healthy. But over time, things started to slip. High blood pressure, sleep apnea, and crushing fatigue became my new normal. Then came the big blows: surgery to remove my gallbladder, kidney stones, a heart attack, and, to top it all off, a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

I was drowning in a sea of eight medications, including insulin, just to keep my head above water. But I wasn’t getting better—far from it. The treatments were masking symptoms, not addressing the root cause. That’s when I found Insulin IQ. Their approach, grounded in tackling insulin resistance head-on, was a game-changer. By ditching the carb-heavy SAD and embracing nutrient-dense, low-carb eating, along with targeted lifestyle shifts, I started to heal. My blood sugar stabilized, my energy surged, and my health began to rebound in ways I hadn’t thought possible.

Today, I’m off all eight medications. I feel healthier and more vibrant than I have in years. Insulin IQ didn’t just treat my conditions—it gave me the knowledge and tools to take back my life.

I’m Tisha (no R), a Human Fuel Expert, Metabolic Health Practitioner (MHP), Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner (FDN-P), National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC), and Certified Nutrition Network Practitioner (NNP). 

But more important than the letters behind my name, I know what it’s like to do “all the right things” and still feel like your body is working against you.

If you’ve been told your weight gain, migraines, fatigue, perimenopause symptoms, or chronic conditions are “just part of getting older” — I’m here to tell you they’re not.

I learned that the hard way. At 8 years old, a PE coach told me to run more and eat less. That sent me into decades of chasing health the wrong way — starving, binging, endless workouts, diet shakes, and appetite suppressants — while the diagnoses stacked up: anemia, PCOS, migraines, adult acne, and more.

By 36, I was living in a cycle of symptoms, meds, and frustration — until a friend asked me, “Who’s going to care for your daughter when you’re gone?” 

That was the turning point.

I stopped chasing a number on the scale and started learning what really makes the body thrive — and what makes it break down. The truth? The food I’d been eating my whole life was never the right fuel for my body.

Now I help high-achieving adults with chronic conditions — like high blood pressure, diabetes, PCOS, perimenopause symptoms, and more — uncover which foods are failing their body so they can restore function, stop collecting diagnoses, and age without becoming a burden.

If you’ve been told your symptoms are normal, your family history is your fate, or that managing symptoms means you’re healthy — you’ve been lied to. My free guide, The 3 Lies Cutting Your Life Short, exposes these myths and shows you what’s really possible for your future health.
Get it here: https://tishacastillo.com/3lies

Adrian, a native of Georgia, is self-educated in the field of nutrition and fitness. After graduating from Georgia State University, he became a CrossFit Coach because of his love for fitness and health. During this coaching time, he found himself going deeper and deeper into the “rabbit hole” of nutrition and well-being.

Adrian knew that good health was something essential and foundational for everyone. Noticing how disconnected we are from food intelligence, it became his goal to become knowledgeable about sound nutrition.

After several years of training clients in and out of the gym, he realized that many people would not get the health-oriented results for which they were striving, no matter how vigorous the workouts or how many calories were restricted.

As for himself, he was always trying to figure out ways to have better sleep because he knew sleep is essential to one’s health. As a coach, he continued to educate himself and experiment with diets and workouts for better and sustainable health for himself and his clients.

After noticing the common ground and parallel information from his research and experimenting, Adrian realized that understanding the relationship between blood sugar and insulin could lead to the healthy lifestyle people are looking to achieve. Once he made these adjustments to his own nutrition, his sleep problem was resolved.

Adrian continues to focus on helping clients using his experience and knowledge, and he hopes to reach as many people as possible to help them achieve their health goals. He is happy to have found Insulin IQ which has created a place for coaches to unlearn some aspects of traditional nutrition and to relearn sound principles to help bring better health for all.