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Freedom Nutrition Coaching takes a radically different approach to weight loss, that head coach, Coach Jon McLernon, calls "Brain-Driven" weight loss.

Frustrated with the weight loss and fitness industries' constant promotion of short term challenges that don't produce lasting weight loss, Coach Jon goes beyond nutrition and fitness to help each individual create a custom plan to not only achieve the weight loss they desire, but to create results that last, by combining behavioral psychology with the science of metabolism, and the compassion of human connection, to help clients create POWERFUL breakthroughs that mean clients truly experience TRANSFORMATION.

A new relationship to self, to their body and with food, Freedom Nutrition Coaching helps clients address mindset, emotional eating, food addiction and more, helping clients lose 50 to 100lbs and more!

The Bra Lounge has been serving Central Alberta women with some of the world’s best in undergarments, lingerie and sleepwear since 2007. Focused on empowering women with quality undergarments and a professional fitting service, The Bra Lounge boasts award winning customer service and an inviting atmosphere for women of all ages. 

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Teri M. Brown is the author of the award-winning debut novel, Sunflowers Beneath The Snow, and her next book, An Enemy Like Me.

In Sunflowers Beneath the Snow, Teri M Brown explores the tenacity of women, showing that even in grueling circumstances, they can, and do, experience all the good things life has to offer - compassion, joy, love, faith, and wonder.   

An Enemy Like Me, is a powerful novel of love, war, and the complexities of family and identity. 

We all have a story to tell, for that I am certain. Mine began as a somewhat flippant comment when I would start to explain the details of the attack I endured in May of 1998. While delving into much of what happened with various people, I often found myself saying, “It’s all just so crazy, I should write a book.”  

Deep down, I meant it, but I was never certain I would actually sit down and write it. Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t try to start right away.  Whether I fully realized it or not, I had a long journey ahead of me. The journey continues, no doubt, but I don’t think I could have written an effective story until now. I had so much left to discover about myself, and a great amount of healing to do.

Healing after trauma is anything but a straight line. It can be confusing, heart breaking, and chaotic. It happens in its own time as well. That being said, it won’t happen at all if you aren’t willing to become an excavator and do some digging. The deeper you get, the scarier it becomes. It’s dark, unknown, and uncomfortable. Your instincts will be to abandon your search. Stay on the surface. However, with the right help, you’ll be given a flashlight. You’ll be supported on your journey, no longer alone as you continue to dig a bit deeper each time you go on your search.

I had some amazing therapists who helped me on my search. But, for a long time, I think I tried looking for answers to the wrong questions. I often became obsessed with finding the answer to the question “why?” Why did this happen to me? What did I do to deserve this? What was it about me that made this man pick me? Why did some people treat me so poorly afterwards? Why did I live through this horrific event?  What am I supposed to do with this? I would be lying if I said I still don’t want the answers to these questions, but I think I had to let them go to truly heal. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. What matters is I lived through this. In fact, I made the decision to live through this. So what was I going to do about it? 

I knew for certain that I wasn’t going to let this man, this event, take over my life. I continued right where I left off. Three months later, I returned to college. Determined to finish my dance degree. I kept pushing forward. After I graduated, I continued to push forward. Trying my best not to live in the past. But the past, if not dealt with, always catches up to us.  

About sixteen years after my attack, I knew that I still needed help. I knew there were things locked away in my psyche. Things so deeply hidden I couldn’t get to them on my own, but they were affecting me every day. And I was tired of it.  I was referred to a trauma specialist and the work we did was deep. Profound. And some of the most difficult I’ve ever done. But it was so worth it.  

Even after this deep work, I struggled. I still had some discoveries left to be made. I’m sure I still do. But all of this has led me here. To writing my story. As much as I had let the why’s and the what’s go, one question still remained. What am I going to do with this? I had always hoped in some way I could help others heal. But was writing my story enough? And who am I to even do such a thing?

If I’ve proven anything to myself after all this time, it’s that I don’t want fear to control me. I had to push through much in order to write my story. Thankfully, I was reminded that storytelling connects us as humans. It brings healing and hope. And that’s what mine could do for others. By being vulnerable, I could help others feel less alone. Be seen. And, in turn, help them gather the courage to tell their own story. It also deepened my own healing. I don’t think I fully know how much yet, but I do know I feel a new sense of release. A new sense of hope.  And deeper sense of gratitude. 

And that, more than anything, is what I want for each of us.

Originally Published on Dec 20, 2022, at: http://booksbywomen.org by Lynn Forney