MEET
REBECCA LYNN JOHNSTON

About Rebecca Lynn Johnston

Sharing some of my story

I am no stranger to how living with health conditions...and all the emotions connected to them can deeply affect lifestyle and joy in life.

The roots of my interest in health and wellness stem back to my childhood where I watched firsthand as my father, who was an avid weightlifter and successful Attorney and CPA with his own practice, suffered through a myriad of complications from type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.  He lived through two kidney transplants, and although he did everything he could to stay on top of this chronic disease, in the end, he succumbed to the effects of an insulin reaction in his body.

For the first 23 years of my life, I experienced the overwhelming consequences of living with and managing this disease, as well as becoming a "health helper" of sorts at a young age. Even back then, I sensed there was something more to food than filling our stomachs because I had lived daily with the knowledge that somehow choosing one food over the other, at a specific moment in time, especially for a diabetic, can be all it takes to determine the entire direction of one's health and mood that day.

There could also be strong emotions attached to food, but how did it all connect?

Fast-forwarding to a future point in time, as an adult I began an 18 month period where I suffered from a rapid onslaught of symptoms that at the time were left undiagnosed by my traditional medical practices.

If you can think of an autoimmune symptom, chances are I have had it.

I experienced intense insomnia, crazy rashes, hair falling out, eyelid swelling, nausea, vomiting, dry heaves, loss of appetite, and of course massive fatigue and brain fog, (just to name a few). I later came to learn that I had an autoimmune thyroid condition and even later that I needed to fully detox from mold exposure and heavy metals which can run havoc on your body and lead to many chronic diseases if left untreated.

During that time of “all the symptoms”, something very familiar but distant woke up inside of me.

As much as I tried to push it away, it would not leave me.

It was reminding me of what I have always known. First, I need to step up for myself, be my own advocate, use my God-given brain and figure out a way to get better despite my medical professionals not knowing what to do!  

I did NOT want anyone else to go through this crazy experience on their own. I was reminded of all the times I felt helpless as a girl watching my dad suffer and by how different foods affected him at different times. This was what led me to enroll in the Institute of Integrative Nutrition to pursue my first health coaching certification.

Becoming my own advocate really started at IIN and in that year, I decided I needed more support and accountability around my own health issues, so I found a local IIN coach who helped me immensely. Along with my studies and her initial help, I learned more about food labels, the deception of the food industry as a whole, how grocery stores are set up, and organic food shopping. I cut out processed foods for the most part along with diet sodas, NSAIDS for daily headaches, artificial sweeteners, and massively reduced sugar, dairy, and gluten to lower inflammation. I actually lost 20 pounds, unintentionally, in one year simply by changing my diet to eat whole foods on my own and being my own advocate. 

Feeling empowered by a new healthier lifestyle and certifications, I set my sights on how I could spread this wellness and empowerment to others.

I searched my soul for a meaningful name for my budding health coaching practice. I was drawn back to one of my favorite concepts in psychology, which is the lifelong debate over Nature versus Nurture. Since I was combining psychology and nutritional wellness and wishing to help others find what truly nourishes them in all ways, I connected with the name, “Nature & Nourish Wellness.”

Harvest vegetables in the garden. Selective focus. nature.

What I did not know then, and live by now, is that food is information and medicine!

There is more to food than tasting good and filling our stomachs. It is more than a fun thing to do during social gatherings and celebrations. Everything we consume literally becomes us through our bloodstream and cells. God made us this way for a reason.   

We are stewards of the bodies and minds that are entrusted to us. We have the power within to decide what we eat, what toxins we eliminate, how much sleep we get, who we spend time with, what our spiritual path is like, what career path to take or redirect, and how much quality time we spend in Nature. We are in control of our own nourishment from this glorious home we were gifted, Mother Earth. 

How I Can Help YOU

As a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach and Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach, I am excited about what we CAN do together!

Before we get started, it may be helpful to state that I don’t develop meal plans for you specifically (although I am trained to utilize IFM food plans, such as the Elimination Diet when called for and I can work in conjunction with your Functional Medicine provider). I do not develop fitness routines. I am not a dietician, nutritionist, therapist, or personal trainer.

What I will do is partner with you as your coach and behavior change guide on the side.

This works best when you are seeking to enhance your well-being through self-directed, lasting changes, aligned with YOUR values. In the course of my coaching, I display unconditional positive regard for you and a belief in your capacity for change, honoring the fact that you are an expert on your own life while ensuring that all interactions are respectful and non-judgmental. I offer a safe and secure space to help you achieve your own health and wellness vision, become your own advocate through empowerment, and live a purposeful life.

Ready to begin your journey?

Let’s Get Started with A Complimentary Call

Areas Of Expertise:

Stack of books with laptop on table