DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ MY TERMS OF USE POLICY FOR MORE INFO.

Hi there! Welcome to Beyond the Brambleberry!

Hello! Thanks for visiting Beyond the Brambleberry and for taking the time to get to know me.

My name is Rachel, and my mission for this blog is to help you reach your health goals through simple and affordable recipes and meal plans that align with the Mediterranean diet and clean eating. I’m so glad you’re here!

Contact Me

Have a question or just want to say hi? Send me an email at beyondthebrambleberry@gmail.com.

My Health Journey – the very beginning 

My journey is just that – a journey. The following story is detailed, but I share it with you to show how your health can truly transform over time.

My story starts back in high school. I always had blood sugar issues and would become very hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) if I didn’t eat every few hours. It was an occurrence that was a normal part of my day and something I thought I would always have to live with. I always had snacks (usually of the sugary variety) in my bag if I felt my blood sugar dipping and needed a “quick fix” before passing out. At the age of 16, I had my gallbladder removed. I’m still not entirely sure what caused my gallbladder to quit on me, but it happened at a pretty young age. 

My Past Relationship with Food

Like many teenagers, I was very self-conscious of my appearance, especially when it came to my weight. I was never considered overweight, but in my mind, I was never “thin enough” and would often eat very few calories each day. However, when I became stressed or my blood sugar would dip too low, I would overeat (usually on something sugary), which would inevitably cause me to feel guilty. It was a vicious cycle that involved restriction, binging, and guilt. 

At the age of 19, I started eating just 400 calories a day and lost nearly 30 pounds. I became very anemic and experienced other health issues related to eating such a restrictive diet. When I married my husband (yes, at age 19), he encouraged me to eat more to nourish and care for my body. I did gain some weight and started feeling better, but I still was not making the best dietary choices. While my morning routine typically started with eggs and toast, it also included a Grande Soy Caramel Macchiato that I just HAD to have every morning! I would eat a big salad for lunch, but it would include store-bought dressings and processed cheese. For those following years, my diet wasn’t terrible, but there was certainly room for improvement.

Why I Eat Gluten Free

While my diet was improving in that I was actually eating food, I started experiencing terrible brain fog, joint pain, and severe abdominal bloating. My hands would ache so badly that I would literally kneed my husband’s arms because the pressure and massage on my fingers gave them some relief. I just could not believe that, at the age of 20, I was barely able to focus, my entire body constantly ached, and at times I would look 6 months pregnant! This went on for some time, and finally, the doctor diagnosed me with depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, and severe joint pain…. at the age of 20! 

I started researching these topics myself and learned how others found relief by eating a gluten-free diet. I gave it a try and the results were almost instantaneous! My brain fog went away, my joint pain resolved, and I have NEVER looked back. Now, when I am accidentally “glutened,” I can feel the difference almost immediately. I become very bloated, can barely form a complete sentence, and my inner cat comes out again with the need to kneed my husband’s arms for relief (he doesn’t mind the free massage though!)

My Experience with the Mediterranean Diet

My health was okay for a while. By “okay,” I mean I had the energy to work a full-time job and manage my blood sugar levels to keep me going throughout the day, which at the time was a HUGE win. I knew I had so much more room to grow, so I started researching evidence-based “diets” that support long-term health. As one of the healthiest diets in the world, the Mediterranean diet showed up repeatedly in my search.

In 2020, I decided to make the shift towards eating a more Mediterranean-based diet to support my health. Because of my previous food struggles, I also counted my calories and macros using MyFitnessPal to make sure that my diet was well-balanced in fat, protein, and carbohydrates and to ensure I was not eating too little or too much. I was also hoping to lose some weight during this process as I was about 20 pounds overweight at the time thanks to my fairly regular sugary indulgences and obsession with gluten-free pizza. To make sure I would lose weight at a healthy rate, I calculated my calories and macros to support a modest rate of weight loss (I show you how to do this here).

After implementing a Mediterranean-based diet, I quickly noticed my energy levels improving. I was sleeping so much better each night, my skin had become clear and glowing (yay for no more “adult acne!”) and I lost those 20 pounds I was hoping to lose – all in a healthy, balanced way. I was so ecstatic about my results that I put together all the recipes that I had used and created at this time and started sharing them with others with the hopes that they would feel just as amazing as I was feeling. From this came Beyond the Brambleberry and my 30-Day Mediterranean Meal Plan.

Oh, and with my doctor’s help, I was able to wean off my antidepressant medication – a MAJOR win for me!

My Experience with Paleo and Whole30

When you start to feel healthy – TRULY healthy – you start to wonder just HOW good you can feel. The whole world opens up to you and you realize you have so much more to learn about healthy living. I know that probably sounds crunchy and woo-woo to some people, but when you live a part of your life with illness and then experience what true health feels like, it is truly a world of a difference and is such an exciting and incredible experience. It’s easy to get hooked on the feeling!

So, after my experience with eating a Mediterranean-based diet (and never looking back), I wondered if there might be any other ways of improving my health and eating habits. I tried eating Paleo for a time and continued to feel really incredible eating this way. I discovered that my body wasn’t a huge fan of beans and rice, but I do find great joy in eating quinoa, feta cheese, and goat cheese, which are foods that are not eaten on the Paleo diet but are included in the Mediterranean diet.

Completing My First Round of Whole30

I had heard of the Whole30 program and thought it might be something worth trying to see if my body was reacting to any other food groups. It was a fun experiment and a chance for me to try some new recipes. I completed my first round of Whole30 in January 2022, and it was amazing!! I did not have a single episode of low blood sugar the entire month! This alone made the entire month worth it. My mood was also much more balanced (probably due to my incredibly stable blood sugar levels) and my energy levels and sleeping habits improved even more than when I started the Mediterranean diet!

I also confirmed that beans and legumes cause me to get bloated, as well as dairy (which I did already know) except for feta and goat cheese made from sheep milk and goat milk.

Eating Whole30 was an incredible learning experience for me and helped me to hone in more on what my body loves and thrives on. I now eat a diet that is my own version of the Mediterranean and Paleo diet as I find this best supports my health. I often incorporate feta and goat cheese into my diet because it brings me GREAT joy.

Lifelong Learning

That’s my story so far…. I started as a teenager with a rocky relationship with food and a 20-year-old with depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, and severe joint pain to a thriving adult with a healthy relationship with food and a passion for creating delicious and nourishing meals and supporting my health in many different ways.

By restoring my health, I have had the opportunity to reach many of my goals including becoming a registered nurse and promoting health in this role as well as creating this blog which allows me to share all that I have learned throughout my journey in the hopes that some nugget of information will resonate with you and help you live a healthier, happier life.

If at any point you have questions or would like to share your story with me, please feel free to reach out by emailing me at beyondthebrambleberry@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!

Start Your Health Journey With This Free Email Offering

Choosing the right foods makes all the difference in how you feel. Even if you’re not yet ready to go all in, I have something that will help you make a step towards eating healthy and reaping the benefits of a healthy, balanced diet. Download my Top 10 Must-Try Mediterranean Diet Recipes ebook by using the form below to get instant access to this valuable resource. I have also included a Mediterranean Diet Shopping List to help you get started.

I have also put together a resource library containing my top recommended books, kitchen must-haves, supplements to support your health, and more! Click here to check it out!