My Story

Hi there! My name is Joe. I’m a holistic life & health coach. My mission is to help men and women who want to feel better in their day to day lives. This might involve losing weight, gaining muscle, reducing stress, or having more energy. And moreover, having a feeling of connectedness and purpose. 

I currently live in the Twin Cities, where I grew up enjoying the outdoors year-round. From a young age I have always believed that each of us has the power to improve ourselves and make positive changes; that we can be so much more than what we currently see. This belief lead me on some incredible adventures and continues to inspire my actions. But along the way a combination of SAD food & stress culminated in a health disaster. I suffered until I discovered a new kind of health and wellness beyond what I’d believed was possible. This experience of suffering and recovery is why I now dedicate myself to helping others who want to make transformations.

It may seem hard to believe that a lean, athletic guy could have a health crisis. As a competitive cyclist & cross-country skier I spent nearly two decades in endurance sports with some great podium & age group finishes and as a Wave 1 skier in the American Birkebeiner. That took dedication! But as the years went by and personal and work stressors increased, sports took on a darker, escapist side.

There were some early warning signs. As a kid, I remember being doubled over in pain when I’d eat certain foods. In college and beyond, I struggled with worsening asthma symptoms, severe acne, and strange allergic rashes. I also suffered from some very unpleasant, recurrent digestive issues. When I joined the workforce after law school I gained some weight, so I used exercise as a means to keep it under control. Because of my diet & lifestyle, I was inflamed and dependent on prescription drugs that had nasty side effects. My doctors didn’t see any issues and just treated symptoms. 

I grew up in the shadow of the fat phobia of the 70s and 80s, and subscribed to conventional wisdom which meant eating a high carbohydrate, low fat diet. PB&J bagels, footlong subs, and homemade pizza fueled my busy days, and energy drinks, gels, and bars fueled my workouts.

I couldn’t go for more than a couple hours without feeling hungry or moody. When 4:00 rolled around each day at work I would destroy snack food by the fistful and fought the urge to doze off. At night after hard workouts, I would struggle to fall asleep. I started to regularly feel as though I was on fire: burning lungs, frequent coughing, and stinging eyes. I experienced skin issues including strange fluid-filled bumps and psoriasis.

I didn’t know how to do anything else. I was supposedly the picture of health: eating whole grains & low fat, and getting plenty of exercise. But the stress started to catch up with me, and in my early 30s the wheels came off my wagon. As an experienced athlete I periodized my training and there were years when I was more or less aggressive with my pursuits. Yet all of those years were marred by the same ugly health issues, including back into my childhood.

Then it happened. In late 2010 I was in the midst of a lot of stress at work. When I lost my voice, I thought it was just a cold, but my vocal cords swelled up and didn’t go back down. I visited doctors and therapists, but weeks turned into months, and I struggled to hold down my job because I couldn’t speak properly. My throat hurt, and talking just made it worse, so I withdrew from social activity which lead to isolation and depression. I used to enjoy singing, but I couldn’t sing anymore either, and I felt like I’d been robbed of my last form of soulful comfort. My emotions turned very dark.

I visited the Mayo Clinic in a desperate plea to see what could be done. As wonderful as the doctors were, I was told to be prepared to spend the rest of my life dealing with this disability. I tried every remedy I could find. There I was at 33 years old, dealing with what might be a permanent disability and feeling like I wanted to die. 

As I searched for answers, I discovered something called an ancestral or primal diet, and a guy named Mark Sisson, who had been one of the world’s top runners and triathletes. His journey out of inflammation, pain, and unbalanced exercise sounded a lot like where I was coming from, and his “primal” lifestyle provided a way to eat, manage stress, and be a thriving human, all while working less and enjoying food more. There began my transformation. 

My symptoms immediately improved: great skin, reduced asthma & allergies, and I started to lose fat I didn’t even realize I had. But what amazed me most of all, is that my voice began to sound clearer! Within a matter of months I was able to talk longer and more clearly than I had in two years. While my voice took nearly 9 years to heal, this process helped me immediately gain back function, socialize more, and feel like I was living again. Sugar cravings disappeared too, and yet I never felt deprived.

Now I use workouts to improve my life. I know that the entire environment we create, including stress, sleep, food, and movement, contributes to true overall wellness. 

So what’s next? I’m here to lead the way and show you how you can do the same thing, bringing all of my hard-earned knowledge and experience with sports performance, food, health, and personal balance into my practice as a health coach.

My mission is to help others like me who have struggled with work, stress, exercise, and food, to achieve improved health with less effort.

It’s easy to learn how to tap into your body’s own powerful healing systems and feel amazing. I wish I had a coach when I was in my darkest days, and I’m here to be that person for you, so you can be the best version of yourself.

Be well,

-Joe