about me
WHERE MY JOURNEY
BEGAN
For many years I was going back and forth to my GP, who sent me to various gastroenterologists, which lead to various colonoscopies, and this pattern continued for many, many years.
The most disruptive time was through university. I was no longer slim, but started to become thin, suffered with cold sores continuously and would be scared to eat certain foods in case they upset my stomach.
I had developed an unhealthy relationship with laxatives and Imodium, which became my go-to medicines to try and ‘control’ how my gut would be on certain days. I wanted to lead a normal life, but I would constantly be fearful that my gut would decide when it would and wouldn’t play ball.
As time went by and the GP would continuously tell me it was IBS and no real solution, it led to psychological issues that of course played into, what I now know as, the gut-brain-axis. The more I worried, the more my gut ‘misbehaved’, the worse I’d feel, and then the anxiety would grow. This created a daily cycle that I found hard to change and became exhausting.
This vicious and unhealthy cycle came to head when I met a lovely Doctor, who recommended I went to see a specialist in gut health who used a more holistic approach.
After an initial consultation, it became the most eye-opening experience as for the first time someone had considered my entire picture, unearthing all the issues my body was experiencing.
CONNECTING THE DOTS
I was sent for functional tests to which stool samples identified a parasite and immunological concerns. I had dysbiosis, meaning an unhealthy balance in my gut bacteria and high levels of yeasts (which also explained continued bouts of other yeasts infections). It was obvious I was in desperate need of antimicrobial and pre and probiotic support as well as omega-3s (in the health questionnaire the doctor had identified virtually no omega support) to help with inflammation.
Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) were virtually non-existent, so it was no wonder any beneficial bacteria were unable to feed and multiply, as the non-beneficial bacteria thrived on my high sugar diet.
An unhealthy gut meant my immune system was unable to support my body in the right way, which led to the persistent cold sores and illness. A look at my medical history connected the constant use of antibiotics prescribed for tonsillitis (incidentally during this time was when I first started having bowel issues) to damage in the tiny villi in my gut lining.
These little projections in the small intestine help with nutrient absorption and ensuring nutrients travel around the body (via the bloodstream), so it was no wonder I was feeling pretty rubbish and wasn’t getting the best from my diet.
Too many different parts of my body just weren’t functioning correctly, and it was clear I needed help.
BECOMING THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF
For me, whilst this journey was a poorly one, it did ignite a desire to strive to be the best version of myself. I implemented the changes suggested from the Doctor and had never felt so good. It made me wonder how I had gone on for so long like that!
Shortly after this, I started to look at other areas of my life. I changed careers and trained as a Personal Trainer, but as time went by, I realised the very small module provided on the course, just wasn’t enough to fill me with confidence to support clients and the complex issues they were facing. I decided to embark on a 6-year degree (part time to fit around one child and being pregnant with a second) and I felt extremely proud to finally finish with a first-class honour as a Nutritional Therapist.
I’m hoping all of this combined knowledge, personal experience, being a parent and most of all passion for what I do, will be able to help you too.
Anna is highly knowledgeable, professional, insightful, and inspiring with anything to do with fitness, nutrition and beyond. Anna has a holistic approach to her teaching and shows great care, warmth, and kindness. Anna’s talent to encourage me (and many others) to dedicate time to take their health seriously, on a regular basis, is infectious. The result of working with Anna is that in turn I have been, and am, much stronger, than I would have been without her, to be able to help my family, friends, pupils and others. When I think of Anna five words come to mind: Strong, caring, positive, energetic, kind.
Anna has become such a lovely, special friend too – and I feel sure she is appreciated not only by me but by many other people too!
Debbie WD, Bentworth, Hampshire
Anna has been my personal trainer now for almost 8 years. Throughout this time, when I have seen her three times every week, she has been unfailingly highly professional in terms of the level and variety of training, always appropriately targeted, well prepared and suitably challenging. She is entirely reliable and extremely organised, dealing with my ongoing diary changes with charm and flexibility. More than this, she is a delightful person, always interested and interesting, and always with a smile on her face; her energy and enthusiasm, as well as ensuring you are working hard and progressing, make training fun.
Anna is totally committed to providing the best possible service for her personal training clients, and I would recommend her unreservedly to anyone seeking to develop their fitness, as well as gain other advice around nutrition and lifestyle.
Alison Mayne, Medstead, Hampshire.
If you feel a friendly, free consultation for Personal Training, Nutritional Therapy, or both,
will help your journey, then drop me a line using the contact form below or email anna@annacopping.com
