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Amanda Coe was a fast rising star in the Canadian business world having worked for the Canadian Federal Government in her 20’s. But then a mysterious health crisis sidelined her.
Coe became extremely ill and was bedridden for months. “That really cut me off at the knees,” she says.
It turned out she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a bowel disease that left her with severe cramps, nausea, bleeding, and, at times, incontinence. “I had some dark moments,” Coe confesses. “And I thought if this is life, is it really worth living?”
After more than a year dealing with this painful disease, Coe began her road back to health. The right medication combined with some major changes on the lifestyle front forced the disease into remission.
Then Coe decided to make a major change in her business life as well turning to the health and wellness industry. She wanted to be part of the solution.
“Often times it is our own health stories that drives us into the fitness industry,” she says explaining how she decided to buy into The Exercise Coach franchise in Scottsdale, Arizona.
In this interview we talk about why muscle matters and how building muscle helped her come back after being weak and bedridden.
“Studies show strength resistance training can add up to seven years to your life expectancy, “ she shares. “As we age we lose muscle mass. Over the age of 30, the average adult will lose 5-7 pounds of muscle every decade. Only way to maintain that strength or reverse muscle loss is resistance training.
She also had to clean up her diet. Coe only eats anti inflammatory foods and, for her, that means no gluten, dairy, sugar or beans.
“I implemented this change in eating a decade ago and that is what keeps me on track,” Coe explains. “The second I veer off and incorporate those foods into my diet I have a serious digestive disorders.”
This powerful and painful health journey made Amanda Coe want to be an advocate for others. Now, in her 40’s, she is a thriving business owner and a first time mom.
“We can take control of our health and we can live our optimal life. It means taking action,” she shares. “But there are opportunities in exercise and nutrition that are non invasive, non surgical that can truly help us live our optimal lives.”
The Exercise Coach has 50 locations open and operating across the country. Their mission statement is: Strength Changes Everything. http://exercisecoach.com/
