About Funky Guts Coaching
My Mission
My mission is to guide individuals on a transformative journey toward holistic wellness, empowering them to achieve their optimal health and vitality.
Through personalized coaching and support, I aim to inspire a life filled with energy, balance, and a profound sense of well-being.
Kris Picker
Head Coach at Funky Guts Coaching
Kris is a dedicated and passionate Gut Health Coach committed to transforming lives through holistic well-being. With a profound understanding of the intricate connection between gut health and overall vitality, Kris empowers individuals to embark on a transformative journey toward optimal well-being.
Armed with a background in nutrition and a deep appreciation for the gut-brain axis, Kris brings a personalized approach to coaching, recognizing that each individual’s path to wellness is unique. Guiding clients with empathy and expertise, Kris addresses digestive issues, inflammation, and low energy levels through tailored nutritional guidance and lifestyle adjustments.
As a Gut Health Coach, Kris believes in the power of education and empowerment. She equips clients with the knowledge and tools to make informed choices, fostering a sustainable and nourishing relationship with food. Beyond the realm of nutrition, Kris integrates stress management techniques and mindfulness practices, recognizing the holistic nature of well-being.
With a mission to cultivate a community of individuals thriving in mind and body, Kris celebrates each success, no matter how small, and encourages clients to embrace the journey toward lasting health and happiness. Through her guidance, individuals discover the profound impact of gut health on their overall quality of life, unlocking a path to sustained vitality and well-being.
Kris provides personal coaching in-person at her office in Port Kembla, NSW for women who are looking to improve their health and wellbeing, as well as group or personal coaching online.
Why I became a Coach
I went through divorce 10 years ago and it completely shattered my world and my confidence. I am now a person I love being and I want to share my knowledge with you!
I have moved states, taken up new hobbies, traveled overseas, created new friendships and am now part of an incredible community!
Everything I’ve wanted to do I am now doing, well other than ballet… I took up surfing a few years ago and while progression is slow going I love learning and my surf posse. I have made such great friendships on the water!
After divorce I started getting sick from most foods which turned out that all the stress of the relationship ending gave me leaky gut, more specifically fructose malabsorption. I have worked on my health with assistance from many Gut Health Specialists and had a lot of road bumps and different diagnoses over the last 8yrs but I am now in a place of the best health I’ve ever had.
I’m living my perfect life now! I go for sunrise surfs, have an incredible doggo, go nudie swimming at the beach, skateboard, I do handstand classes, journal, take myself out for solo date nights, ice baths, breath work and completely love my life!
My Journey
I got extremely sick about 10 years ago and everything I ate made me feel unwell.
I was diagnosed with Fructose Malabsorption and given a referral to see a dietitian who recommended that I eat a low FODMAP diet.
My symptoms were IBS symptoms or a weird foggy-headedness that could last for days!
I felt like the modern medical system had failed me and I had no idea where to turn or what to do to navigate this life of being so restricted.
Over time I’ve come to realise that it’s likely that some of the significant events in my life have led to my immune system going into overdrive resulting in inflammatory symptoms
Some of the significant life events that contributed to my sickness were:
- Suffering from migraines and being medicated from a young age. At 23yrs I decided I needed to drink at least 2ltr of water a day, surprisingly my headaches/migraines reduced to 1 or 2 a year instead of weekly!
- As a teenager I suffered from an eating disorder
- I was always on birth control pills due to the horrific period pain, later discovered to be caused by endometriosis.
- At 21yrs I would get long bouts of tonsillitis which required penicillin shots and months of antibiotics for it to finally end.
- For a number of years I didn’t really drink water, I just coke and coffee, I ate so much takeaway, mostly ate 2min noodles, I cannot really remember eating nutritious meals unless someone else cooked for me, like Mum or Grandma! Everything I ate was processed.
- I’ve had 10 surgeries, most of them I would have been pumped full of antibiotics as part of the unknown process, and pain killers after.
- I had a major motor bike accident at 23yrs, I was hospitalised for a number of weeks including being put into a drug induced coma. While this saved my life the medications given would have added to my terrible gut health. I was also in huge amounts of pain for two years after where some days I could easily take up to 16 pain killers a day.
- I went through divorce at 31yrs, which was the most stressful 12 months of my life!
- I had an undetected parathyroid tumor for quite possibly a number of years that added to my mental health stress among other things.
I have since learnt that one course of antibiotics can mess up your gut health for up to 12 months, imagine what my gut would have been like after all of this!
How did I improve my gut health?
I used to be very scared of eating. Fortunately, I was able to find an excellent doctor who diagnosed me with fructose malabsorption. This condition allowed me to have a better understanding of what I can safely eat.
After eliminating sugar, dairy, grains, and processed food from my diet, I started consuming more low-carb and high-fat foods. The usual way of eating, which was high in carbs, left me feeling weak and tired. For example, after running five kilometers, I would need to sleep for two hours, which was ridiculous!
Over the last eight years, I have made significant changes to my diet, added supplements, undergone gut microbiome tests, and followed the GAPS diet for several years.
However, last year, I received a gut microbiome test result indicating a leaky gut, a lot of bad gut bacteria, candida, and an imbalance of good bacteria.
I realized that I needed to heal my gut, and after extensive research, I decided to undertake a 23-day fast. Although it was the hardest thing I have ever done, the fast was equivalent to six to twelve months of the GAPS intro diet. After completing the fast, I continued to follow the GAPS diet for around six months, and then slowly introduced foods like homemade spelt sourdough wraps and an occasional beer. I also started DIY enemas, but in the end decided to reach out to the professionals at Wollongong Colon Cleansing Centre for a professional colonic.
I recently took a follow-up gut microbiome test, which came back free of leaky gut, candida, and bad bacteria. I am thrilled with the results!
I’ve been sleeping much better lately and feeling more energized. Although I don’t typically eat grains, sugar, or dairy, I’ve noticed that I don’t experience any negative reactions when I do eat them in small amounts.
If you’re struggling with a chronic illness, I can help you with the healing process. Even if you’re not up for a 23-day fast, I can provide you with tools and advice to help you feel better.
Book a free session with me and we can determine if we’re a good fit to work together.
I Now Live a Life that Sparks Joy
I am based in Wollongong, NSW Australia. I live near the beach in Port Kembla which means that every day I get to live my best life!
How do you spend YOUR days?
I actively do many things that spark joy, I even schedule these before any other activities in my life!
My days consist of:
- Walking my doggo Eva
- Beach walks
- Beach nudie swimming
- Taking myself out for breakfast
- Journaling while drinking amazing cashew milk coffee
- Surfing
- Morning movement
- Gym classes
- Eating a nutritious whole food diet; and
- Learning about all the intricacies of how the human body works.
If you want to learn how to live a life that sparks joy, contact me for more information
Certified Life Coach
Having been trained by The Life Coach School my focus is on my clients committing to a healthier lifestyle. Committing to a new life can be challenging but I break it down into easy steps. My commitment is to provide you with accountability, understanding and support.
Healing
My goal is to help you navigate healing your gut and to manage all the information on how to heal. I will give you the tools and support to live a life with abundance and ease!
Freedom
I have the tools, experience and understanding to help you heal your gut and have a freedom to choose what ever you want from a menu!
Abundance
By fostering positive mindsets, setting meaningful goals, and providing tailored strategies, I will guide you on a transformative journey toward a life overflowing with fulfillment, joy, and success.