Hi, I’m Christy.
I’m the founder of Fasting in Paradise. My health journey spans three decades and reads a little like a functional medicine case study: migraines that started in my late teens, gut challenges, an Epstein-Barr diagnosis, toxic heavy metals, surgeries that changed everything, a handful of genetic mutations (hello MTHFR), and now menopause, which I’m meeting with the same curiosity I’ve brought to every chapter before it.
Somewhere along that road I became part researcher, part wellness detective. I read the studies, not just the headlines, questioned the marketing, and went looking for the mechanisms underneath. The questions came first; and the credentials followed, because I needed the answers for my own body long before they were ever for anyone else’s. Today those include training as an Integrative Health Practitioner and an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, among others you’ll find further down this page.
Why I couldn’t plant my flag.
Here’s the thing all that searching taught me, and it made me a little uncomfortable in this industry: I couldn’t plant my flag.
Not even in fasting; the very thing I’ve built my life’s work around. A five-day fast isn’t right for every woman. Neither is OMAD, or 16:8, or any single protocol handed down like gospel. Every time the science evolves, or my own body teaches me something new, I’m willing to move.
Most wellness voices reward certainty. I’ve found more healing in nuance. What I keep asking, of every protocol and every body, is a quieter question: what is just right for this particular woman, at this particular moment in her life? Not too much, not too little. My flag is there; it’s just swaying in the wind.
And now it’s a place.
That question became my life’s work, and now it’s becoming a place. Fasting in Paradise opens shortly after construction finishes in Paradise Valley, Arizona; a boutique retreat designed from the ground up for women who are serious about healing. Every material, every system, every detail was chosen with your nervous system in mind. The space itself is part of the work; while you rest, it’s doing quiet repair, removing the hidden stressors your body has been fighting so it can finally turn toward healing.
I’m not here to hand you a protocol and send you home. I’m here to offer three decades of lived experience, a space that was built to hold you, and the tools to reconnect with what your body already knows.
Welcome to the journey.
A month after Goose came home, Gracie made up her mind about him; you can see it in her face.
Meet the rest of the welcoming committee.
Gracie and Goose, our two golden retrievers, are very much part of life at Fasting in Paradise. You'll likely meet them in the garden or around the property, where their calm presence offers an unexpected layer of nervous system support. Research shows time with dogs lowers cortisol and increases oxytocin — something your body will already be primed for during fasting.
(For those who love the science, research on dog-owner interaction links it to higher oxytocin in both people and their dogs, and lower cortisol on the human side.)
We maintain air filtration and non-toxic cleaning protocols to manage dander for sensitive guests.
What Guides My Work
My approach didn't come from a textbook. It's shaped by three decades of personal healing, thousands of hours of training across multiple modalities, and a pretty relentless commitment to what actually works in real life.
Research-Driven
I read the studies, not just the headlines. I question the marketing, dig into the mechanisms, and only recommend what's backed by actual science. Then I translate it into something you can actually use.
Experience-Informed
Twenty years of navigating my own health journey taught me what no certification can — how healing actually feels, what obstacles show up along the way, and why your unique biology matters more than any one-size-fits-all protocol.
Outcome-Focused
As the founder, I'm personally invested in your experience here. Your results matter to me. Your transformation is my mission. You'll benefit directly from my lived experience and professional training.
The Training Behind the Approach
My training spans nutrition, functional health, metabolic and fasting science, nervous system regulation, coaching, and movement; each one a different lens on the body. I pursued them out of genuine curiosity and desire to understand how every system connects. And the learning continues; I'll keep deepening my knowledge so I can bring you current science.
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International Association for Health Coaches represents the gold standard in health coaching recognized globally, demonstrating mastery of ethical coaching practices and accountability frameworks that guide clients toward sustainable wellness transformations.
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Foundations of Polyvagal Informed Practice equips practitioners with Deb Dana's clinical framework for applying Polyvagal Theory, focusing on nervous system mapping and regulation techniques that help clients move from protective survival responses into states of safety and authentic connection.
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Integrative Health Practitioner Level II provides advanced functional lab training that uncovers root causes through evidence-based testing protocols, blending seven integrative disciplines including Ayurvedic Medicine, Traditional Naturopathy, and Functional Medicine to address systemic health imbalances at their source.
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Through Integrative Health Practitioner Level I, I mastered Dr. Stephen Cabral's proprietary DESTRESS Protocol™, combining functional medicine principles with orthomolecular and bioregulatory approaches to restore the body's self-regulating capacity and address underlying imbalances rather than symptoms.
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My Certified Keto & Intermittent Fasting Coach training equipped me with specialized training in metabolic optimization through evidence-based ketogenic nutrition and intermittent fasting protocols, addressing insulin resistance, inflammation reduction, and sustainable fat adaptation for long-term metabolic health.
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My Integrative Nutrition Health Coach certification provided comprehensive holistic health education emphasizing bio-individuality and the concept that true wellness extends far beyond the plate, equipping me to guide clients through personalized dietary and lifestyle transformations using science-backed methodologies.
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Through my Certified Professional Coach Training, I gained rigorous ICF-recognized expertise in Core Competencies, demonstrating proficiency in creating transformational partnerships that empower clients to unlock their full potential through powerful questioning, active listening, and goal-oriented frameworks.
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Going though Sumits Yoga Advanced Yoga Teacher - 300 certification program, I gained specialized hot yoga training guided by Sumit Banerjee's 25+ years of teaching methodology. This advanced training equipped me with expertise in the therapeutic benefits of heat-enhanced practice for detoxification, flexibility, and deep tissue healing.
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Through the training I received at the Nosara Yoga Institute, I integrated traditional yoga philosophy with modern anatomical understanding via Yoga Alliance certified training, learning to guide safe, effective classes that honor the mind-body connection and support nervous system regulation.
Every Body is Different: The Importance of Bioindividuality
Every body is different, literally. All the beautiful things that make each of us unique - our age, biology, living situation, past experiences, etc — mean that what works for one woman might not work for all.
Because of this, the tips and tools I share are meant to inspire change in a way that feels right to you, not to prescribe.
The suggestions shared here are rooted in the wisdom of scientists, experts, and physicians whose insights have helped me on my wellness journey, but they are just that: suggestions.
Exactly how much, how often, when, and whether you apply them depends on your own physiology, life context, and health goals. Your needs can and do shift with your biology, stress levels, and your season of life. The image of the woman’s silhouette is a reminder of that. When you see it on my website and social media, remember that these are insights and not rigid rules to follow. Always honor your own inner signals.